Going in Circles Top in Caron Simply Soft - Downloadable PDF

Going in Circles Top in Caron Simply Soft – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Going in Circles Top is a children's knitted pullover top designed by Lisa Gentry, available as a free downloadable PDF. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty and is sized for children, covering Child's sizes 8, 10, and 12, with finished chest measurements ranging from 26 to 30 inches (slightly stretched) and finished lengths from 18 to 20 inches. This is a charming, colorwork-accented top that combines structured knit-purl stitch patterning with decorative crochet finishing details and plastic bone rings, giving it a distinctive, playful aesthetic well-suited to older children.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a children's pullover top worked in multiple contrast colors. The garment features a shaped back and front with armhole shaping, neck shaping, and what appears to be a decorative construction incorporating Susan Bates Plastic Bone Rings in two sizes — 1 1/8 inch and 7/8 inch — which are a signature design element of the "Going in Circles" concept. These rings are likely used as part of a woven or looped yarn embellishment that gives the top its circular, graphic character. The finished top is a structured, fitted children's garment with colorblock or striped colorwork using four contrast colors.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Caron Simply Soft yarn, a popular aran weight (medium/worsted-weight) acrylic yarn sold in 170 g / 6 oz skeins with approximately 288 m / 315 yards per skein. Four contrast colors are used:

• Contrast A – Plum Wine (9722): 2 skeins for sizes 8 and 10; 3 skeins for size 12 — the primary color used throughout the body
• Contrast B – Off White (9702): 1 skein for all sizes
• Contrast C: 1 skein for all sizes (color name not specified in the pattern excerpt)
• Contrast D – Chocolate (9750): 1 skein for all sizes

The multi-color palette creates a rich, contrasting visual effect across the garment. Caron Simply Soft is known for its smooth, soft drape and ease of care, making it an excellent choice for children's garments that need to withstand frequent washing.

Needles, Hook, and Notions

• US 8 (5 mm) knitting needles — used for the main body construction
• US H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook — used for finishing details and edging
• Susan Bates Plastic Bone Rings, 1 1/8 inch: 14 pieces
• Susan Bates Plastic Bone Rings, 7/8 inch: 14 pieces
• Yarn needle for seaming and weaving in ends

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 17 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm in the Basic Pattern. Achieving correct gauge is especially important for children's sizing, as even small variations can significantly affect the finished chest and length measurements. Knitters are encouraged to swatch and adjust needle size as needed before beginning the project.

Stitches and Techniques Used

Stockinette Stitch

Stockinette stitch is one of the most fundamental knitting stitches, formed by knitting all stitches on the right side and purling all stitches on the wrong side. It creates a smooth, flat fabric on the knit side and a bumpy texture on the purl side. In this pattern, stockinette stitch is used at the edges of the garment pieces to frame the central stitch pattern and provide clean, stable selvedge edges for seaming.

Basic Pattern (10-Stitch Repeat)

The Basic Pattern is the primary textural stitch used across the body of the top. It is worked over a multiple of 10 stitches and consists