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I’ve been intending to make this top for a long
time. I just knew it would be something
I’d like and wear and it is, so much so that I made 2 of them. What inspired me was a knit-along sponsored
by the Machine Knitting group on Ravelry.com.
http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/machine-knitting/2516194/1-25
It’s modeled after ‘T-Time’ from
KangaMooKnits.com, made on a Bond USM.
KangaMooKnits.com dissolved a couple of years ago but the wayback
machine was able to pull an archive file.
http://web.archive.org/web/20061230164311/http://www.kangamooknits.com/freepatterns/t-shirt.htm
This is a basic T-top that’s knit from cuff to
cuff for the sleeves and bodice. Then
the body is knit in 2 pieces from the bottom up, sewed to the bodice and seamed
on the sides. Several knitters have
joined the Ravelry knit-along and we’ve all been able to personalize it to make
it our own. I knit mine on my midgauge
SK860 machine with DK weight yarns and added a crochet edging around the cuffs
and bottom hem to control the curl on my first one and knit a 1” 2x2 ribbing at
garment tension at the edges on the second one.
Hung hems could easily be done. For this crocheted edge trim, I single crocheted around the entire piece, decreasing over the ladder stitches for the mock rib. Then I used a larger hook and worked a sc, chain, sk 1 sc around on the first row. On the next and subsequent rows, I worked a sc into the chain space of the previous row and continued as in row 1 with a chain, sk 1 st and a sc into the space. I put 3 rows on the sleeves and 4 on the bottom. KangaMooKnit's pattern is perfectly lovely as it is if you don't mind the curl at the edges.
I also added a couple inches to the
length of the sleeves and didn't want to do the math so I used the calculator at http://www.getknitting.com/ak_0603mfcalc.aspx
to determine the number of increases/decreases required for my altered length.
http://web.archive.org/web/20061230164311/http://www.kangamooknits.com/freepatterns/t-shirt.htm
This is a basic T-top that’s knit from cuff to
cuff for the sleeves and bodice. Then
the body is knit in 2 pieces from the bottom up, sewed to the bodice and seamed
on the sides. Several knitters have
joined the Ravelry knit-along and we’ve all been able to personalize it to make
it our own. I knit mine on my midgauge
SK860 machine with DK weight yarns and added a crochet edging around the cuffs
and bottom hem to control the curl on my first one and knit a 1” 2x2 ribbing at
garment tension at the edges on the second one.
Hung hems could easily be done. For this crocheted edge trim, I single crocheted around the entire piece, decreasing over the ladder stitches for the mock rib. Then I used a larger hook and worked a sc, chain, sk 1 sc around on the first row. On the next and subsequent rows, I worked a sc into the chain space of the previous row and continued as in row 1 with a chain, sk 1 st and a sc into the space. I put 3 rows on the sleeves and 4 on the bottom. KangaMooKnit's pattern is perfectly lovely as it is if you don't mind the curl at the edges.
I also added a couple inches to the
length of the sleeves and didn't want to do the math so I used the calculator at http://www.getknitting.com/ak_0603mfcalc.aspx
to determine the number of increases/decreases required for my altered length.
The bodice can be knit longer by casting on
desired amount of stitches (where the pattern instructs you to mark for the
sleeves) on each side after the first sleeve is completed, then binding off the
same number of stitches after the bodice is knit and before starting the second
sleeve. See my last schematic.
I must add that as I made this on my midgauge machine with DK weight yarns, I transferred every 6th st instead of the 5th as in the pattern on the denim colored top and transferred every 7th st in the teal top to make the 'mock rib' effect.
I must add that as I made this on my midgauge machine with DK weight yarns, I transferred every 6th st instead of the 5th as in the pattern on the denim colored top and transferred every 7th st in the teal top to make the 'mock rib' effect.
The top can be made for any size with any machine
and yarn. Swatch, launder and dry your
yarn as you would the finished garment to get a good gauge. Use the schematics below to fill in your
measurements, stitches and rows, decide on your edging treatment, if you want to
control the curl and you’re ready to knit a T-top following the written pattern
from KangaMooKnits.
This is my 2nd T-top knit with teal Berroco Vintage DK on my SK860 and ribber. On this one I began each body piece with an inch of 2x2 ribbing knit at body tension. I like it just as well as the first one and with less finishing.
AFTERTHOUGHT: I wore the teal top today with the ribbed edge trim. It was wonderful, except that if I make more with the ribbed trim, I would increase the tension (decrease tension dial) of just the bottom edge by up to a full number instead of knitting at body tension. It had a tendency to stretch out as the day wore on. The sleeve trim at body tension held up well.
ANOTHER AFTERTHOUGHT: This T-top pattern was used during a Knit-A-Long in the Machine Knitting group on Ravelry.com. This is good because it sparked conversations along the way on how others made their tops. One of the conversations led to a nice improvement on how to attach the body pieces to the bodices. Instead of making the body pieces separately and seaming them afterward, the body piece was knit after hanging the bodice on the machine which leaves no seaming after it's off the machine. So for future tops, I intend on hanging the bodice on the main bed, knitting one row, transferring the stitches to make the mock rib design and continue to knit the body piece. Easy!
This is my 2nd T-top knit with teal Berroco Vintage DK on my SK860 and ribber. On this one I began each body piece with an inch of 2x2 ribbing knit at body tension. I like it just as well as the first one and with less finishing.
AFTERTHOUGHT: I wore the teal top today with the ribbed edge trim. It was wonderful, except that if I make more with the ribbed trim, I would increase the tension (decrease tension dial) of just the bottom edge by up to a full number instead of knitting at body tension. It had a tendency to stretch out as the day wore on. The sleeve trim at body tension held up well.
ANOTHER AFTERTHOUGHT: This T-top pattern was used during a Knit-A-Long in the Machine Knitting group on Ravelry.com. This is good because it sparked conversations along the way on how others made their tops. One of the conversations led to a nice improvement on how to attach the body pieces to the bodices. Instead of making the body pieces separately and seaming them afterward, the body piece was knit after hanging the bodice on the machine which leaves no seaming after it's off the machine. So for future tops, I intend on hanging the bodice on the main bed, knitting one row, transferring the stitches to make the mock rib design and continue to knit the body piece. Easy!
Sandy, your sideways knit turned out to be a winner. Love the blue and am anxious to see your next one!
ReplyDeleteIt's a real beauty. Have just picked up on your RSS feed so I can keep up with your blog. No idea what too me so long. I'm a lazy blogger, but occasionally post projects at http://3bagsfulled.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteJean (aka Scoop LaRue)
Thanks, Jean. I just checked out your blog too. Very nice. I just love how we can develop a commaraderie to keep the good crafting works going now.
Delete