Swift Top Knitting Pattern

Swift Top in Rowan Four Seasons

What is Being Made

The Swift Top is a knitted garment designed as an advanced beginner knitting project. This top is tailored to fit chest measurements ranging from 71-76 cm (28-30 inches) up to 152-157 cm (60-62 inches), with corresponding finished chest measurements from 82.5 cm (32½ inches) to 162.5 cm (64 inches). The pattern provides a comprehensive range of sizes to accommodate various body types and fit preferences.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Swift Top employs several intermediate knitting techniques appropriate for an advanced beginner level. The construction involves shaping the back neck through strategic decreases, with separate shaping for each side of the neck worked individually. The pattern uses slip stitch techniques for edge definition and selvage control, incorporating both knitwise and purlwise slips throughout the construction. Decrease techniques including K2tog (knit two together) and sl 1, K1, psso (slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over) are used to shape the garment at the neck and armhole areas. The top features stockinette stitch as the primary fabric, creating a smooth, classic knit appearance.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch used throughout the Swift Top is stockinette stitch (abbreviated as st st), which creates the foundational fabric of the garment. The pattern incorporates garter stitch borders in specific areas for structure and definition. Edge stitches are worked using slip stitches to maintain neat selvages. The pattern includes purl stitches strategically placed to create textural interest and define different sections of the garment. Decreases such as K2tog and sl 1, K1, psso are used for shaping, while the pattern also employs basic knit and purl combinations to construct the body of the top.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Swift Top is designed to be knitted using Rowan Four Seasons yarn, a 50-gram ball weight. The pattern specifies yarn quantities ranging from 7 to 10 balls depending on the chosen size, with the sample photographed in the colorway Blossom 006. Two pairs of needles are required for construction: 4.5mm (UK size 7 / US size 7) needles and 5mm (UK size 6 / US size 8) needles. The pattern specifies a tension of 16 stitches and 24 rows to 10 centimeters, measured over stockinette stitch using the 5mm needles. Additional notions required include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping points, and stitch holders for managing stitches during the shaping of the back neck and other construction stages.