Betty’s Mystique is unusually soft and sleek. Form skimming, face framing, and available in two lengths, Betty’s Mystique is a must for the modern handmade wardrobe. The longer version is intended to perfectly layer with tees and tunics. Upgrade your favorite leggings to a wear anywhere modern aesthetic. The hip-length version will be your favorite thing to wear with shorts this summer.

Betty’s Mystique is knit from the bottom up in the round, and is #sizeinclusive. The front and back are split at the underarm and the straps are seamed together at the shoulder. Three optional cup sizes are included to add up to 4.5” / 11. cm of length to the front only.

CONSTRUCTION

Betty is worked seamlessly from the bottom up in the round. The Front and Back are split at the underarm and worked flat. The straps are seamed at the shoulders (a 3-needle bind-off could be substituted). Applied i-cord edging finishes the neck and armholes.

Optional Bust Shaping

Optional instructions for adding short rows for bust shaping, in three sizes, give you your best fit.

SIZES

1 (2, 3, 4) (5, 6, 7) (8, 9, 10)

Finished bust circumference: 32 (36.5, 40.75, 44.25) (48.75, 52.25, 56.75) (60.25, 64.75, 68.5) inches / 79.5 (91, 102, 111) (122, 131, 142) (150.5, 162, 171) cm

Finished hip circumference: 35.75 (39, 44, 47) (51.5, 55, 60.5) (65, 70.5, 74.25) inches / 89 (97.5, 110, 117.5) (129, 137.5, 151.5) (162.5, 176.5, 186) cm

Download the schematic here.

Your best fit

Choose the size closest to your actual upper chest measurement: 29.75 (33.75, 37.75, 40.75) (43.25, 46, 49) (52, 55, 58) inches / 75.5 (85.5, 96, 103.5) (110, 117, 124.5) (132, 139.5, 147.5) cm.

Upper chest is measured above the full bust, at an angle close to diagonal beneath the underarms, and straight across the back.

Betty is designed to fit with approximately 2 inches / 5 cm of positive ease at the fullest part of your bust.

If you need additional room for the bust, working the optional short row shaping will give you the best fit in the shoulders and armholes, while still making room for your chest. Short rows add length to the front only of the garment, so that the hem does not rise in the front.

Elizabeth is wearing size 2, cup 1, with 0 inches / 0 cm of positive ease at the full bust. Her upper chest is 34.5 inches / 85 cm.

YARN

Sample shown in Sweet Georgia Flaxen Silk Fine

65% silk / 35% linen ; 480 yds / 439 m per 115 g skein. This is a smooth silk blend with loads of drape and crisp stitch definition from the linen. This yarn has a very soft hand and will soften further as the linen wears in. You can substitute this yarn with a true fingering weight silk or plant fiber like organic cotton. A wool or wool / silk blend will also work well but will have a loftier feel and will not hang on the body in exactly the same way.

Tunic Length Yardage (shown in Glow): 935 (990, 1175, 1225) (1405, 1525, 1640) (1785, 1975, 2075) yds / 855 (905, 1075, 1120) (285, 1395, 1500) (1630, 1805, 1895) m; 2 (3, 3, 3) (3, 4, 4) (4, 5, 5) skeins.

Hip Length Yardage: 785 (880, 975, 1095) (1205, 1260, 1455) (1515, 1600, 1685) yds / 720 (805, 890, 1000) (1100, 1150, 1330) (1385, 1465, 1540) m; 2 (2, 3, 3) (3, 3, 4) (4, 4, 4) skeins.

For optional bust darts, you will need an additional 25 - 140 yds / 25 - 130 m.

GAUGE

30 sts and 44 rows over 4 inches / 10 cm in Dot Stitch (both flat and in the round) with size A needles. 32 sts and 40 rows in 4 inches / 10 cm in 1x1 Rib worked in the round with size B needles.

NEEDLES

All garment sizes use all needle sizes:

Size A: US 2 / 2.75mm
Size B: US 1 / 2.25mm, or one size smaller than size A
Size C (for optional tubular cast-on): US 0 / 2mm, or two sizes smaller than size A.

NOTIONS

• Waste yarn in a contrasting color (for optional tubular cast-on)
• Waste yarn or stitch holder
• Tapestry needle
• 8 Stitch markers

TECHNIQUES

• Working German short rows
• Garter stitch selvedge
• Sloped bind-off (optional)
• Applied i-cord edging
• Tubular cast-on (optional)

CREDITS

Tech edit: Jen Hurley
Photography: Source Creative House
Model: Elizabeth Margaret

For UX Knitter credits, visit the pattern page.