Saison Top

Saison Top by Corrine Walcher

What is Being Made

The Saison Top is a three-season tank top designed by Corrine Walcher, offering versatility as a light layering piece suitable for multiple seasons. This knitted garment features a modest lace detail at the hem, adding visual interest while maintaining a practical, wearable design. Available in six sizes ranging from 32 inches to 52 inches in chest circumference, the Saison Top accommodates a wide range of body measurements with finished lengths varying from 13 to 15 inches from cast-on to underarm.

Craft and Techniques

The Saison Top is created using the knitting craft, worked primarily in the round using circular needles. This construction method allows for seamless construction and efficient stitch work. The pattern employs classic knitting techniques including stockinette stitch as the primary fabric structure, combined with lace work at the hem to create decorative openwork detailing. The design incorporates shaping techniques to achieve a fitted silhouette appropriate for a tank-style garment.

Stitches Used

The Saison Top utilizes fundamental and intermediate knitting stitches suited to its intermediate difficulty level:

• Knit (K) – the basic stitch forming the primary fabric
• Purl (P) – used in combination with knit stitches
• Knit two together (K2tog) – a right-leaning decrease used in shaping and lace patterning
• Slip, slip, knit (SSK) – a left-leaning decrease providing balanced shaping
• Yarn over (YO) – creates the openwork characteristic of the lace hem detail

Materials and Specifications

The Saison Top is designed to be knit with Dragonfly Fibers Dance Rustic Silk, a 100% silk noil yarn that provides an exceptional hand while knitting and offers an ideal weight for creating a lightweight layering piece. The yarn comes in 450-yard skeins per 4 ounces, with yardage requirements of 2 skeins for sizes 32 through 48 inches, and 3 skeins for the 52-inch size. The sample featured in the pattern was knit in the Mermaid colorway.

This pattern accommodates 3-ply and 4-ply yarn weights, as well as sport weight yarn, allowing knitters flexibility in fiber selection while maintaining the intended drape and finished dimensions. The recommended needle size is US #5 (3.75mm) circular needles, 32 inches or longer for the body of the top, with larger sizes potentially benefiting from longer needles. Knitters should use their preferred method for knitting small circumferences in the round, or adjust needle size as needed to achieve the specified gauge.

The pattern requires a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows per 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Additional notions needed include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping, waste yarn or stitch holders for managing stitches during construction, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends.

Pattern Details

The Saison Top is presented as a downloadable PDF pattern created by independent designer Corrine Walcher. The pattern is classified as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle lace work and garment shaping. The modest lace detail at the hem provides visual sophistication without overwhelming complexity, making it an accessible introduction to lace knitting for intermediate-level crafters.