Valley Yarns Gallica Shell Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Gallica Shell: Lace Sleeveless Knit Top

What Is Being Made

The Gallica Shell is a sheer, fitted sleeveless top designed by Kirsten Hipsky. This garment features an elegant rose lace motif with velvety petals adorning the neckline and front yoke. The design is worked from the top down, creating a sophisticated layering piece suitable for advanced beginner knitters seeking to develop their lace and shaping skills.

Finished Measurements

This pattern is available in eight sizes, with finished bust measurements ranging from 32 inches to 56 inches. The sample shown is knitted in size 36 inches, demonstrating the fitted silhouette of this sleeveless design.

Techniques Used

• Top-Down Construction: The garment is worked from the top down, beginning with the front yoke lace pattern
• Lace Knitting: An original rose lace motif is incorporated into the front yoke using yarn overs and decreases to create the characteristic openwork pattern
• Worked Flat and In The Round: The front yoke is worked flat in rows, followed by the back yoke also worked flat, then the remainder of the lower body transitions to working in the round for seamless construction
• Seamed Construction: Shoulder seams join the front and back pieces together
• Stitch Shaping: The pattern uses increases and decreases to achieve the fitted silhouette and proper garment shaping

Stitches Used

The Gallica Shell employs a variety of fundamental and intermediate knitting stitches essential to lace construction:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): Forms the primary fabric base, worked in both rows and in the round
• Yarn Overs (yo): Create the openwork eyelets characteristic of the rose lace motif
• Knit Decreases: Including knit 2 together (k2tog), knit 3 together (k3tog), and knit 3 together through back loops (k3togtbl) to balance the yarn overs and shape the lace
• Purl Decreases: Purl 2 together (p2tog), purl 3 together (p3tog), and slip, slip, purl (ssp) for shaping on wrong-side rows
• Make 1 Increase (m1): Creates new stitches by knitting into the back of the strand running between stitches for invisible increases
• Slip, Slip, Knit (ssk): A left-leaning decrease used for balanced lace construction
• Special Stitch Technique: A unique stitch expansion method (k1, yo, k1) in one stitch, which creates three stitches from one, adding dimension to the rose petal motif

Materials and Yarn

The Gallica Shell is designed to showcase the luxurious properties of Valley Yarns 2/14 Alpaca Silk yarn. This blend combines 80% alpaca with 20% silk, creating a fabric with exceptional drape and a soft, lustrous finish. One cone of yarn provides 1,736 yards total, with the pattern requiring approximately 475 to 925 yards depending on size selection. The sample garment shown in size 36 inches uses the burgundy colorway, which beautifully highlights the delicate lace patterning.

Needles and Tools

The pattern calls for US size 6 (4.00mm) circular needles in lengths of 24 inches for smaller sizes and 32 inches for larger sizes, allowing flexibility as the garment grows in circumference. Circular needles are used even for flat sections, facilitating the transition to in-the-round knitting for the lower body. Additional materials include five stitch markers to denote pattern sections and a scrap yarn or spare circular needle to hold stitches temporarily during construction.

Gauge and Blocking

The pattern specifies a gauge of 5 stitches and 7 rows per 1 inch in stockinette stitch after blocking. Achieving proper gauge is essential for this fitted garment, and the pattern notes that gauge should be consistent both when working in rows and in the round. Blocking is required to set the lace pattern and ensure accurate finished measurements.

Design Features and Alterations