Reverie Top Knitting Pattern

Reverie Top by Quail Studio

What is Being Made

The Reverie Top is a knitted garment designed by Quail Studio, available in MODE at Rowan Cotton DK or Alpaca Haze yarn. This is a beginner-level knitting project that creates a fitted, elegant top suitable for a range of sizes from 71-76 cm chest (28-30 inches) up to 152-157 cm chest (60-62 inches). The garment features a classic construction with shaped armholes and neckline shaping, making it a versatile wardrobe piece.

Techniques Used

The Reverie Top employs several fundamental knitting techniques appropriate for beginner knitters looking to develop their skills. The pattern includes wrap and turn (W&T) shaping, which is used to create gradual decreases and custom fit in specific areas of the garment. This short-row technique allows knitters to add depth and dimension to the fabric without cutting yarn or creating visible seams.

The pattern also incorporates armhole shaping and neckline shaping, which are achieved through strategic decreases worked at regular intervals. The decreases are performed at both armhole edges and neck edges simultaneously on certain rows, creating a professional-looking fitted silhouette. The construction method works both the back and front pieces alike, simplifying the knitting process.

Additional techniques include working with stitch holders to hold stitches while working other sections, and using stitch markers to track pattern repeats and shaping points. The pattern requires working in stockinette stitch (st st) as the primary fabric, which is the most fundamental stitch in knitting.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch (st st) – The primary stitch throughout the garment, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side, producing a smooth, classic fabric
• SSK (Slip Slip Knit) – A left-leaning decrease stitch created by slipping two stitches individually as if to knit, then inserting the left needle through both slipped stitches and knitting them together as one
• K2tog (Knit Two Together) – A right-leaning decrease stitch that reduces stitch count by one
• Wrap and Turn (W&T) – A short-row technique where a stitch is wrapped and the work is turned to create shaping without visible gaps

Materials

The Reverie Top can be knitted using either MODE at Rowan Cotton DK or Alpaca Haze yarn. The Cotton DK option requires between 4 and 10 balls of 50-gram yarn depending on size, while the Alpaca Haze option requires between 3 and 5 balls of 25-gram yarn. The pattern was photographed in Honey 022 for Cotton DK and Jasmine 014 for Alpaca Haze, though knitters may choose from the full range of available colorways.

Needles required include 4.5mm (US 7) straight needles for the main body of the garment and a 4.5mm (US 7) circular needle measuring at least 60 cm for working the neckband. The pattern also calls for stitch holders to temporarily hold stitches and stitch markers to track shaping points and pattern repeats throughout construction.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is worked to a tension of 20 stitches and 29 rows to 10 centimeters over stockinette stitch using 4.5mm (US 7) needles. This gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements. The Reverie Top is available in nine sizes with actual chest measurements ranging from 88 cm (34¾ inches) to 176 cm (69¼ inches), accommodating a wide range of body types and fit preferences.