Inspired by the abundance of details in Italian architecture, Palazzo Top is a celebration of texture. Similarly to its namesakes, this piece is composed of visually distinctive stripes adorned with various decorative elements.

Palazzo is worked sideways, and its textural variety makes the process pretty addictive. Estonian braids, slipped stitches, nupps and eyelets are accompanied by seed stitch and stockinette for a balanced flowy fabric. The finished top has a lot of built-in positive ease and can be worn at least two ways - with a v-neck or a boat neck - which makes it a perfect throw-over piece for when a bit of extra warmth is needed.
Nupps and Estonian braids come with video tutorials.

Sizes

• A (B, C) (D, E, F), measured worn with the V-neck
• To fit 30-35 (35-40, 40-45) (45-50, 50-55, 55-60)“ / 76-89 (89-102, 102-114) (114-127, 127-140, 140-152)cm chest circumference
• Width side to side 32.5 (35, 37.5) (40, 42.5, 45)“ / 83 (89, 95) (102, 108, 114)cm
• Length shoulder to hem, adjustable 16.1 (16.5, 16.9) (17.3, 17.7, 18.1)“ / 41 (42, 43) (44, 45, 46) cm
• Has 30-35” of positive ease when worn with a v-neck facing forward
• Model has 34” / 87cm chest and is wearing size B

Yarn

• Sample Top yarn: Scrumptious Sock from Fiber Circle Studio (80% superwash merino, 20% nylon, 400yds / 100g), in color Italian Clay designed for this piece
• Kits in original colorway from Fiber Circle Studio are available here
• Fingering weight yarn, preferably in solid or lightly variegated colorway to show the textures better
• 1100 (1200, 1300) (1400, 1500, 1600)yds / 1005 (1095, 1190) (1280, 1370, 1465)m

Needles and Gauge

• Swatch to determine your needle size that helps to fit the gauge of 28sts and 40 rows in 4” / 10cm in stockinette stitch, blocked and 29sts sts and 42 rows in 4” / 10cm in twisted rib, blocked; needle size below is a suggestion
• US 6 / 4mm
• Circular needles on at least 32” / 80cm cable

Construction

• The top is worked flat in two panels sideways. The first one is knit from the right arm to the neckline and is placed on hold. The second panel is provisionally cast on and knit from the neckline down to the left arm, mirroring the patterns of the first one.

• The panels are then “seamed” with 3-needle bind off at what could be imagined as shoulder seams. The neckline opening is finished off with an optional i-cord edging.

• The fabric is worked in a variety of horizontal textural patterns: Estonian braids, slipped stitches, nupps (optional), eyelets, seed stitch and stockinette. The edges are worked with an applied i-cord for a polished look.

• The length and the width of the top are easy to adjust to fit the desired measurements. Sides can be seamed as well, but this will prevent the top from being reversible.