Violetear Top Knitting Pattern

Violetear Top in Berroco Iris

What Is Being Made

The Violetear Top is a women's knitted garment designed by Mel Kennelly, available in 11 different sizes ranging from extra small to extra large. This top features a fitted yoke with a relaxed body, offering finished bust measurements from 32¼ inches up to 74¾ inches to accommodate various body sizes. The garment is designed to be worn with 4–10 inches of positive ease, providing comfortable room for movement while maintaining a flattering silhouette. The center back length ranges from approximately 20¼ inches to 25½ inches depending on size.

Construction Technique

The Violetear Top is constructed using the popular top-down, seamless method. The entire garment is worked in one continuous piece beginning at the neckline and progressing downward. The yoke—the fitted upper portion of the garment—is shaped using short rows, a technique that creates vertical shaping without visible seams. This construction method allows for easy customization of fit and length as you work, and eliminates the need for seaming at the shoulders and sides.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch used throughout the Violetear Top is stockinette stitch (abbreviated as St st), which creates a smooth, classic knit fabric with a V-shaped texture on the right side. The yoke pattern can be worked either from written row-by-row directions or from accompanying stitch charts, providing flexibility for knitters who prefer visual references. Short-row shaping is employed in the yoke to create the contoured fit across the shoulders and upper chest.

Yarn and Materials

The Violetear Top is designed to be knitted using Berroco Iris yarn, a 100-gram skein weight. The yardage required varies by size, ranging from 2 hanks for the smallest size up to 6 hanks for the largest size. The specific colorway shown in the pattern is #11609 Blush, a soft, neutral shade suitable for versatile styling.

Knitting needles required include:

• One 16-inch circular needle in size 5 (3.75 mm) for working the smaller ribbed sections
• One 16-inch circular needle in size 7 (4.5 mm) for the yoke shaping
• One 32-inch circular needle in size 7 (4.5 mm) for working the larger body circumference
• One set of double-pointed needles (or preferred small-circumference needles) in both sizes 5 and 7 for working the sleeves in the round

Additional notions needed are minimal: a stitch marker to denote the beginning of rounds and waste yarn to temporarily hold stitches during construction.

Gauge and Finishing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 18 stitches and 29 rounds measured over 4 inches in stockinette stitch on the larger (size 7) needles. This gauge is measured after blocking, making it essential to knit a gauge swatch, block it according to yarn care instructions, and verify your gauge before beginning the project. Taking time to check gauge ensures that your finished garment will match the intended finished measurements.

Skill Level

The Violetear Top is rated as an intermediate level pattern, making it suitable for knitters with some experience. The combination of circular needle work, short-row shaping, and seamless construction requires familiarity with these techniques, though the straightforward stockinette stitch base keeps the project accessible to those ready to advance beyond beginner patterns.