Odeleite Top Knitting Pattern

Odeleite Top in Berroco Indio

What is Being Made

The Odeleite Top is a knitted pullover garment designed by Amy Christoffers. This intermediate-level project creates a fitted top with cap sleeves, available in eight size options ranging from 35 inches to 64 inches in bust measurement. The finished length varies from 21¾ inches in the smallest size to 24¾ inches in the largest size, making it a versatile layering piece or standalone top.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques to construct the garment. The back and front pieces begin with a garter stitch border, created by alternating knit and purl rows to establish a textured edge. The main body is worked in stockinette stitch, which creates the smooth, classic knit fabric appearance. The pattern incorporates the backwards-loop casting method for adding stitches at specific points during construction. Increases are worked using the M1R (make one right) and M1L (make one left) techniques to shape the cap sleeves, ensuring even and invisible increases throughout the garment. The top features a circular yoke construction with strategic increases to create the cap sleeve shaping.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The primary stitch used for the main body of the garment, creating a smooth, flat fabric with characteristic V-shaped stitches on the right side
• Garter Stitch: Used for the initial border section, created by knitting every row to produce a textured, reversible fabric
• Make One Right (M1R) and Make One Left (M1L): Increase stitches used for shaping the cap sleeves, worked by lifting the horizontal strand between stitches and knitting through it
• Backwards-Loop Cast On: A provisional casting method used to add stitches at the side seams during construction

Materials and Gauge

The Odeleite Top is designed to be knitted with Berroco Indio yarn, a 50-gram ball weight yarn. The yardage requirements range from 6 balls for the smallest size to 12 balls for the largest size, with the pattern shown in size 51½ inches using yarn color #7370 Basalt. The project requires multiple needle sizes to achieve proper gauge and construction: size 4 (3.50 mm) needles for ribbing and finishing, size 6 (4.00 mm) needles for the main body, and a size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needle measuring 16 inches for yoke work. Additional notions include two size 4 (3.50 mm) double-pointed needles, one stitch holder, stitch markers, and removable stitch markers for tracking pattern sections. The recommended gauge is 22 stitches and 32 rows per 4 inches when worked in stockinette stitch on the larger needles, making accurate gauge checking essential for proper fit and finished measurements.