Emil Top in MODE at Rowan Cotton DK

Emil Top – Knitting Pattern by Quail Studio in Mode at Rowan Cotton DK

The Emil Top is a beautifully crafted knitted top designed by Quail Studio and worked in Mode at Rowan Cotton DK yarn. This intermediate-level knitting pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and offers an impressive nine size options, making it a versatile choice for a wide range of body types. With its elegant lace patterning and clean silhouette, the Emil Top is a sophisticated warm-weather knit that showcases the drape and breathability of cotton yarn.

What Is Being Made

The Emil Top is a women's knitted top designed to be worn as a standalone warm-weather garment or layered piece. It is worked flat using a pair of straight needles and features a repeating lace pattern across the body. The garment is photographed in Denim 014, a classic cool-toned colourway that highlights the delicate texture of the lace motif. The top is sized to fit a chest measurement ranging from 71–76 cm (28–30 in) up to 152–157 cm (60–62 in), with actual garment chest measurements spanning from 89.5 cm (35¼ in) to 171 cm (67¼ in), providing generous positive ease across all sizes.

Techniques Used

The Emil Top is rated as an intermediate knitting project, meaning it is best suited to knitters who are comfortable working beyond basic knit-and-purl construction and are ready to engage with lace patterning and stitch manipulation. Key techniques used throughout this pattern include:

• Lace knitting – the body of the top is worked in a repeating lace pattern that creates an open, decorative fabric with excellent drape
• Working flat – the garment is constructed using a pair of straight needles, knitting back and forth in rows rather than in the round
• Stitch count management – the pattern note specifically advises that the stitch count varies while working the lace pattern rows, and knitters are instructed to count stitches only after pattern rows 5 and 6, requiring careful attention and row tracking
• Shaping – standard garment shaping techniques are used to create the fitted silhouette of the top
• Use of stitch holders – stitches are placed on holders at key construction points, a common technique when working necklines and shoulder seams

Stitches Used

The Emil Top's signature lace pattern is built from a combination of classic knitting stitches and lace techniques. Stitches and stitch operations featured in the pattern include:

• Knit (K) – the foundational stitch throughout the pattern
• Slip 1, K1, pass slipped stitch over (sl 1, K1, psso) – a left-leaning decrease used to shape the lace motif
• K2tog (knit two together) – a right-leaning decrease that pairs with the sl 1, K1, psso to create the symmetrical lace design
• Yfwd (yarn forward) – a yarn-over technique that creates the decorative eyelets central to the lace pattern, and also compensates for the decreases to maintain stitch count across pattern repeats
• Repeat sequences – the lace pattern is worked over a repeat of 15 stitches (half a pattern repeat of 30 stitches), with the number of repeats varying by size

Because the stitch count fluctuates mid-row during the lace pattern, knitters are advised to use stitch markers (listed as optional extras) to separate pattern repeats and make counting more manageable. All stitch counts given in the pattern refer to the original, stable stitch count rather than the mid-row variable count.

Materials

Yarn

The pattern calls for Mode at Rowan Cotton DK, a DK-weight yarn sold in 50 g balls. This is a cotton yarn, making it an ideal choice for a warm-weather top due to its breathability, stitch definition, and smooth finish. Cotton DK yarns hold lace patterns beautifully, allowing the e