Shell Top Knitting Pattern

Shell Top in Plymouth Yarn Arequipa Boucle

What Is Being Made

This is a women's sleeveless shell top designed for intermediate knitters. The garment is available in five sizes ranging from Small to XXL, with finished chest measurements of 44", 47", 50", 53½", and 57½" respectively. The shell features a classic fitted silhouette with 8–10" of positive ease at the chest and a length from neck ranging from 26¼" to 28" depending on size. This versatile layering piece is constructed using stockinette stitch as the primary fabric, with shaped shoulders and armholes for a tailored fit.

Techniques Used

The pattern employs several intermediate-level shaping techniques to create its structured form. Waist shaping is achieved through paired increases worked on the right side at regular intervals—specifically, increases are repeated every fourth row to create a gradual taper. Shoulder shaping utilizes short rows worked with the wrap-and-turn method, which creates smooth, stepped shoulders without visible jogs. Armhole shaping is accomplished through paired decreases (ssk and k2tog) worked on right-side rows to reduce stitches gradually. The short-row shaping technique requires working to specific points before the wrapped stitch on subsequent rows, demonstrating intermediate construction knowledge.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch (st st): The primary fabric throughout the garment, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side
• m1R (Make 1 Right): An invisible increase worked by placing the left needle from back to front into the bar between stitches and knitting through it
• m1L (Make 1 Left): An invisible increase worked by placing the left needle from front to back into the bar between stitches and knitting through the back loop
• ssk (Slip, Slip, Knit): A left-leaning decrease used for armhole shaping
• k2tog (Knit 2 Together): A right-leaning decrease used for armhole shaping
• w&t (Wrap and Turn): A short-row technique that wraps a stitch before turning the work to create smooth shoulder shaping without visible steps

Materials and Gauge

This pattern is designed for Plymouth Yarn Arequipa Boucle in color 105 Dark Grey. Yardage requirements vary by size: Small requires 4 balls (400g total), Medium requires 5 balls (500g), Large requires 6 balls (600g), and both XL and XXL require 6–7 balls respectively. Each ball is 100 grams.

The recommended gauge is 12 stitches and 18 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch using US Size 10½ (6.5mm) needles after blocking. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements.

Needles and Notions

Construction requires a US Size 10½ (6.5mm) circular knitting needle measuring 24 inches, which is used for flat knitting in rows. Additional notions include 4 stitch holders for holding stitches during construction, 1 stitch marker for tracking pattern repeats, and 1–2 yards of smooth yarn in a matching color for seaming the finished pieces together. The use of a smooth seaming yarn prevents the textured boucle yarn from creating bulky seams.