Manon Top MODE Collection in Rowan Summerlite 4ply and Fine Lace

Manon Top MODE Collection by Lisa Richardson

What is Being Made

The Manon Top is a knitted garment designed as part of the MODE Collection by designer Lisa Richardson. This is an intermediate-level knitting project that creates a fitted top with shaping at the armholes and shoulders. The pattern is available in nine size options, ranging from 28-30 cm (11-12 inches) to 60-62 cm (23.5-24.5 inches) chest measurements, with corresponding finished garment measurements from 83.5 cm to 166.5 cm (32¾ to 65½ inches).

Techniques Used

This knitting pattern employs several intermediate-level shaping techniques essential for creating a well-fitted garment. The construction includes armhole shaping achieved through strategic cast-offs at the beginning of rows, followed by paired decreases on both knit and purl rows to create sloped edges. The pattern uses slip-stitch decreases (slip 1 purlwise, slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over) on right-side rows combined with purl decreases (P2tog and P2tog tbl) on wrong-side rows to maintain pattern continuity while reducing stitches. Shoulder shaping is accomplished through sequential cast-offs, and the pattern includes back neck shaping worked over multiple rows. Stitch markers are placed to denote important shaping points, and the garment is worked in a consistent stitch pattern throughout.

Stitches Used

The Manon Top features a 12-row repeating stitch pattern that forms the primary texture of the garment. The pattern incorporates knit and purl stitches arranged in a specific sequence to create visual interest. Key stitch techniques include:

• Knit stitches (K) and purl stitches (P) as the foundation of the pattern repeat
• Slip stitches worked purlwise (Sl 1 purlwise) for edge definition and decrease preparation
• Knit two together (K2tog) decreases for right-leaning shaping
• Pass slipped stitch over (psso) for left-leaning decreases
• Purl two together (P2tog) and purl two together through the back loop (P2tog tbl) for decreases on wrong-side rows
• Cast-on and cast-off techniques for creating edges and shaping shoulders

Materials

The Manon Top is designed to be knitted using two complementary Rowan yarns that work together to create the finished garment. Yarn A is Rowan Summerlite 4ply in Navy Ink (color 429), which forms the primary component of the top. Yarn B is Rowan Fine Lace in Mariana (color 955), used as an accent yarn. The pattern specifies yardage requirements that vary by size, with quantities ranging from 3 to 6 balls of Summerlite 4ply and 1 to 2 balls of Fine Lace, depending on which size is being knitted. Each ball of yarn weighs 50 grams.

The pattern calls for two sets of needles to accommodate the different gauges created by the yarn combinations. 2¼mm (US size 1) needles are used for initial cast-on and ribbing sections, while 3mm (US size 2/3) needles are used for the main body of the garment where the stitch pattern is worked. The tension is established at 28 stitches and 39 rows to 10 centimeters when measured over pattern using the 3mm needles and Summerlite 4ply yarn, which is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements.