Wandering Vines Top Knitting Pattern

Wandering Vines Top Knitting Pattern

Project Overview

The Wandering Vines Top is an intermediate-level knitting pattern designed by Nancy Rieck for Cascade Yarns. This downloadable PDF pattern provides instructions for creating a fitted knit top with decorative scalloped leaf edging details. The design is worked primarily in stockinette stitch with specialty techniques including short rows and custom edging construction.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a classic knit top with a fitted silhouette. The garment features a round neckline finished with a scalloped leaves edging and matching decorative edging along the bottom hem and sleeve cuffs. The top is designed as a pullover style with set-in sleeves and is suitable for everyday wear.

Finished Measurements

• Chest circumference: 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, or 52 inches
• Length: 16 to 18 inches
• Six size options allow customization for different body measurements

Knitting Techniques Used

This intermediate pattern incorporates several advanced knitting techniques that add visual interest and structure to the garment. Short-row shaping is employed using the wrap and turn method to create custom fit and contoured shaping. The pattern includes detailed instructions for making wrapped stitches nearly invisible by working the wrap together with its corresponding stitch on subsequent rows. Circular knitting is used for seamless construction on circular needles, which reduces finishing work and creates a more polished final garment.

The scalloped leaves edging is a specialty technique worked separately using double-pointed needles and then joined to the main garment pieces. This decorative edging requires working right-side rows onto a circular needle, then turning to work wrong-side rows on a double-pointed needle, creating the characteristic scalloped leaf pattern.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

• Stockinette stitch forms the primary fabric of the garment, creating a smooth, classic knit surface
• Scalloped Leaves Edging is the featured stitch pattern, applied to the neckline, hem, and sleeve edges
• Increase stitches used include Make One (M1) and Knit Front and Back (KFB) for shaping
• Decrease stitches include K2tog (knit two together), SK2P (slip, knit two together, pass slipped stitch over), and J2tog (join two together) for custom construction
• Slip stitches and wrap and turn techniques create the short-row shaping

Materials and Gauge

The Wandering Vines Top is worked in DK weight yarn. The pattern sample shown uses Cascade Ultra Pima in color #3740, though any DK weight yarn may be substituted. Yardage requirements vary by size: 1320 yards for the smallest size (32 inches) up to 3100 yards for the largest size (52 inches).

The pattern calls for U.S. size 3 (3.25mm) circular needles in 24, 32, or 40-inch lengths depending on the size being knitted, along with matching double-pointed needles size 3 (3.25mm) for working the scalloped leaves edging. A C/2 (2.75mm) crochet hook is also required, likely for finishing details or securing yarn ends.

Gauge is 24 stitches and 34 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch using size 3 U.S. needles. Achieving correct gauge is essential for proper fit, and knitters are advised to adjust needle size if necessary.

Additional Notions and Finishing

Beyond yarn and needles, the pattern requires waste yarn or cable holders for stitch management during construction, stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping points, and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and any necessary seaming.