I long ago had a favourite sleeveless top. But it was commercially made in a very fine yarn and in a ribbed pattern. How to translate this to hand knitting? It took me years to bite this bullet, but I’m glad I did. Yes, it’s a lot of ribbing on a fine yarn, but I think the result worth it.

I am sorry that I no longer have the labels and color numbers for the yarn used. But really, any colour that looks good on you is the right colour!

Since first publishing this pattern (in only sizes S, M, L), I’ve realized that it could and should be shown in/for larger gauges. The way I found to offer it in sizes 1X and 2X is to knit it on larger yarn, with larger needles, and to a larger gauge. See the note below.

PS This pattern was first published in 2008, on the site Patternfish. It was a wonderful site that no longer exists. But thanks to its visionary, Julia Granau, for helping me re-position this on Ravelry. (As you will see, Julia’s pattern presentation is oh-so-much prettier than mine!)

Here are the sizes offered. The pattern could be noted as “negative ease,” but that is because it is ribbing so “at rest” will give the bust measurements shown below. But with wearing, it will stretch to standard ease. And with steam pressing this will also change, and the maximum to which it can stretch is noted.

S (M, L, 1X, 2X)
Finished waist (at rest) 26 (29, 32, 35, 41-1/2)”
Finished bust (at rest) 29 (33, 37, 40-1/2, 48)”
Finished bust (stretched) 34 (45, 50, 55, 55+)”
Finished length (at back) 15-1/2 (16, 16-1/2, 18, 21-1/2)” Finished shoulder width (at rest) 12 (12-1/2, 13, 14-1/2, 17)”
(The model is quite slim, and she is shown in a size M. This shows what the garment looks like “at rest.” To this point, you might choose to make a size larger than you normally would.)

Here are the gauge and materials suggestions. (I would expect you to use approximately the same amount of yarn if you knit the larger sizes with the larger yarns and to the larger gauges, but that’s just a guess.)

S (M, L) only, 820 (875, 1050) yds (740 790, 945m) heavy fingering (I used Koigu premium merino)
I would suggest sport weight for the 1X and DK for the 2X, knit to the gauges shown here.

S (M, L) only 34 stitches X 40 rows = 4” (10cm) over 2X2 rib
1X only 30 stitches X 35 rows = 4” (10cm) over 2X2 rib
2X only 26 stitches X 30 rows = 4” (10cm) over 2X2 rib