Panel Top Knitting Pattern

Panel Top in Noro Nishiki

What Is Being Made

The Panel Top is an intermediate-level knitted garment designed as a pullover top with adjustable sizing. This piece features a contemporary panel construction that creates visual interest through strategic stitch placement and shaping. The finished measurements accommodate a bust of approximately 37½ inches (95 centimeters) with a total length of 25 inches (63.5 centimeters) measured from the front and back neck. The design allows for customization of the final fit by adjusting the armhole depth through lengthening or shortening during construction.

Techniques Used

The Panel Top employs several essential knitting techniques that define its intermediate difficulty level. Increases are incorporated throughout the pattern by adding stitches within a row using methods such as knitting into the front and back of a single stitch. The pattern utilizes make one increases, which involve lifting the strand between stitches on the needle and working into the back loop to add new stitches seamlessly. Decreases are achieved through slip, slip, knit (SSK) and slip, slip, purl techniques, where two stitches are slipped individually and then worked together to reduce stitch count. The garment incorporates pick up and knit techniques along edges to add stitches for finishing elements. Stitch markers are used strategically to identify pattern repeats and panel sections, with the pattern including "no stitch" spaces on charts to indicate areas where stitches have been decreased or not yet created. Selvage stitches are worked at edges to facilitate seaming during assembly.

Stitches Used

The Panel Top construction relies on fundamental knitting stitches executed with precision. Knit stitches form the primary fabric, worked by inserting the needle as if to knit (knitwise). Purl stitches create textural variation and are worked by inserting the needle as if to purl (purlwise). The pattern includes slip stitches, where stitches are passed from the left-hand needle to the right-hand needle without being worked, typically executed as if to purl. These foundational stitches are combined in various sequences according to the charted pattern to create the panel effects and overall garment structure. The use of stitch holders allows sections to be held temporarily during construction before being joined or finished.

Materials and Tools

The Panel Top in Noro Nishiki requires specific materials to achieve the intended finished garment. Yarn: Five skeins of 100 grams each of Noro Nishiki in colorway #04 provide the necessary yardage for completion. Noro Nishiki is a premium yarn known for its distinctive color blending and texture. Needles: One pair of size US 7 (4.5mm) straight needles serves as the primary needles for the main fabric construction, selected to obtain the correct gauge. A size US 6 (4mm) circular needle measuring 16 inches (40 centimeters) in length is used for ribbing or edging work. Notions: Removable stitch markers help track pattern repeats and panel placement throughout the knitting process, while stitch holders temporarily secure stitches during garment assembly. The pattern editor recommends using LYKK brand needles for optimal results.