- Syrtos, one of the most popular dances throughout Greece, in which the dancers link hands to form a chain or circle, headed by a leader who intermittently breaks away to perform improvised steps.

It was on the terrace of a seaside tavern in Crete, one spring evening, sipping a glass (maybe two) of Retsina, with the gentle murmur of the waves in the background, that I first contemplated the strains of the Syrtos performed by local dancers and fell (even more) in love with that land that blessed me with such a happy memory. Later on, one of the dancers told me about the folkloric tradition about the origins of the dance: during the fall of Constantinople, the Cretan defenders of the City, in the pauses of battle, sang between themselves poetic words urging each other to bravery. When the City fell, the Sultan, observing the bravery of the Cretans, allowed them to return to their homeland.
That dance inspired this pattern, one that speaks of bravery in the face of challenges and of those places where you just always feel at home.

Syrtos top is a circular short sleeve yoke that is worked seamlessly from the top down. The neck is worked first, after that, several series of short rows are used for a comfortable and beautifully shaped finish.
The yoke is shaped with increases that are evenly distributed around the entire circumference of the upper body followed by several raglan sets.
Sleeves are then placed on hold and the body is worked toward the hem.
The sleeve stitches are then placed on the needles again and worked in the round toward the cuffs.
Beginner-friendly as you only work with 2 colors at a time.
Please note that the stranded pattern is charted only.
As the top is knitted top-down lengths are easily adaptable.
The lower edge of the body and the sleeves are finished with an i-cord bind-off.
Please, read the whole pattern carefully before you start knitting. As the pattern gives detailed calculations for all sizes, I recommend highlighting all numbers related to your size in order to have an easy overview of the pattern.

Sizes 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
Bust circumference of the finished sweater: 91 (95, 102,5, 114, 125,5, 137, 148,5) cm / 35¾ (37½ , 40¼ , 45, 49½ , 54, 58½ )’’. The top is designed to be worn with approximately 0-5 cm / 0-2’’ of positive ease.
Model has 85 cm / 33½’’ bust, stands 164 cm / 64½’’ and is wearing size 2.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
A = Bust circumference
B = Yoke depth
C = Length from armhole to lower edge
D = Armhole circumference
E = Sleeves length (from underarm)

Yarn
Balam Bamboo by Antonio del Rio
65% bamboo, 25% cotton, 10% linen 50g/105m/115 yds

Sample shown in shade 100 — (MC), shade 500 — (CC)
MC: 592 (650, 711, 768, 824, 889, 945) m / 647 (711, 779, 840, 902, 972, 1033) yds
CC: 69 (75, 80, 86, 91, 97, 103) m / 75 (82, 88, 94, 100, 106, 112) yds
Note: If you are new to colorwork I would not recommend using “sleeky” yarns (avoid, 100% silk and linen, as they are not easy to work with). Making a generous colorwork swatch is the best way to understand how your yarns will behave.

Needles
3 mm / US 2½ circular needle 24”/60 cm or 32”/80 cm and 3,5 mm / US 4 circular needle 24”/60 cm or 32”/80 cm

Notions
4 stitch markers (1 different for BOR) • waste yarn for holding the sleeve stitches • tapestry needle to weave in the yarn ends • 3,5 mm crochet hook for provisional cast-on

Gauge
21 sts and 30 rows - 10x10 cm / 4x4’’ in stockinette stitch in the round and in colorwork pattern with 3,5 mm / US 4 needles, washed and blocked.
You may want to go up in needle size if your colorwork swatch is tight.