Valley Yarns Persimmon Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Persimmon: Elbow-Sleeved Lace Top

What Is Being Made

The Persimmon is a sophisticated elbow-sleeved tee designed by Julie Turjoman, featuring a mid-hip length with graceful A-line shaping. This top is specifically engineered for summer wear and is intended to be worn with generous positive ease (6–8 inches at the hips) for enhanced drape and movement, while maintaining a more fitted silhouette at the bust. Available in nine sizes ranging from XS to 4XL, with finished bust measurements from 32¾ inches to 60¾ inches and lengths from 22 inches to 28 inches.

Construction Technique

The Persimmon employs a bottom-up construction method, meaning the garment is worked from the hem upward to the armholes. The body is worked flat on circular needles before being divided for front and back pieces at the armhole. This approach allows for easy adjustments to length before the armhole shaping begins. The design features a deep lace border at the hem, which creates visual interest and contributes to the elegant aesthetic of the finished garment. The slight A-line shaping is achieved through strategic increases and decreases that gradually widen the garment from the waist downward, creating a flattering silhouette.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The primary stitch pattern is stockinette stitch, which provides a smooth, classic fabric base. The lace border at the hem incorporates lace techniques that add delicate openwork detailing to the garment. The pattern utilizes several essential knitting decreases and shaping techniques:

• K2tog (knit 2 stitches together): a single-stitch decrease
• K3tog (knit 3 stitches together): a double-stitch decrease for more pronounced shaping
• Ssk (slip, slip, knit): a left-leaning single-stitch decrease
• Ssp (slip, slip, purl): the purl-side equivalent of ssk
• S2kp (slip 2 stitches as if to k2tog, knit 1, pass slipped stitches over): a centered double-stitch decrease often used in lace patterns

These decreases are essential for creating the lace motifs at the hem and for shaping the armholes and sleeve caps. The pattern also employs increases to create the A-line shaping throughout the body of the garment.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Persimmon is designed to be knitted in Valley Yarns Charlemont, a fingering-weight yarn composed of 60% Fine Superwash Merino Wool, 20% Silk, and 20% Polyamide. Each skein contains 100 grams and yields 439 yards, making it an ideal choice for a delicate, breathable summer top. The yardage requirements range from 2 skeins for the smallest size (XS) to 5 skeins for the largest size (4XL). The sample shown was knitted in the color Thistle.

The pattern calls for US 6 (4mm) circular needles in both 16-inch and 32-inch lengths, as well as double-pointed needles (DPNs) of the same size for working the sleeves. A US 3 (3.25mm) 16-inch circular needle and matching DPNs are also required for the lace border at the hem, which is worked at a tighter gauge to create definition. The recommended gauge is 24 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch pattern, blocked, using US 6/4mm needles.

Additional Materials and Notions

Beyond yarn and needles, the pattern requires stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and construction points, a stitch holder or waste yarn for temporarily holding stitches during the armhole division, and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and seaming any necessary sections.

Skill Level and Complexity

Rated as Advanced Beginner, the Persimmon is suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle intermediate techniques. The combination of lace work, bottom-up construction, shaping with multiple decrease types, and the transition between flat and in-the-round knitting makes