Top in Sirdar Cotton DK - 7083 - Downloadable PDF

Sirdar Cotton DK Boat Neck Top – Knitting Pattern 7083

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Sirdar provides full instructions for a classic boat neck top worked in Sirdar Cotton DK. The design is clean, wearable, and versatile, featuring a relaxed silhouette with a wide, elegant neckline that sits across the collarbone. One of the standout features of this pattern is its generous size range, making it genuinely inclusive for a wide variety of body types.

Sizes and Fit

The pattern covers six sizes designed to fit bust measurements from 81/86 cm (32/34 in) up to 132/137 cm (52/54 in), with actual garment measurements ranging from 83 cm (32¾ in) to 134 cm (52¾ in). The full length of the finished top ranges from approximately 54 cm (21¼ in) for the smallest size up to 66 cm (26 in) for the largest, making it a comfortable, hip-grazing length suitable for everyday wear. The pattern explicitly highlights that it includes larger sizes, which is a welcome feature for knitters who often find sizing stops at a smaller range.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a boat neck pullover top — a garment characterised by its wide, horizontal neckline that follows the curve of the collarbone, with no separate collar or neckband shaping required. This style of neckline is timeless and flattering across many body shapes. The top is knitted in DK weight yarn, giving it a lightweight feel that is particularly well suited to the cotton fibre content, making it ideal for spring, summer, and transitional dressing.

Techniques Used

• Thumb method cast on – used to begin the back piece, this technique creates a firm, elastic edge that is well suited to ribbing and structured hems.
• Stocking stitch (st-st) – the main body fabric is worked in classic stocking stitch, knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows, creating a smooth, flat surface.
• Diamond lace pattern – a decorative element worked into the design, adding visual texture and interest to what might otherwise be a plain top. Lace knitting involves deliberate yarn-over increases paired with decreases to create an openwork pattern.
• Shaping via increases and decreases – the pattern uses M1 (make one) increases, picking up the loop between stitches and knitting into the back to avoid a hole, as well as s1, k1, psso (slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over) decreases to shape the garment through the body and armhole areas.
• Working without shaping – sections of the pattern are worked straight, with explicit row counts given for each size to ensure correct proportions across the full size range.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch – the primary stitch pattern used throughout the body of the top.
• Diamond lace pattern – a structured lace motif incorporated into the design for decorative effect. Lace patterns typically use yarn forward (yfwd) to create eyelets, combined with paired decreases to maintain stitch count.
• Knit (k) and purl (p) – the fundamental stitches underlying all sections of the pattern.
• Decrease stitches – including k2tog (knit two together) and s1, k1, psso for directional shaping and lace construction.
• M1 increase – a neat, nearly invisible increase used during body shaping.

Materials – Yarn

The pattern is written for Sirdar Cotton DK shade 512, a 100g ball yarn. The quantity required ranges from 3 balls for the two smallest sizes up to 5 balls for the two largest sizes, with intermediate sizes requiring 3, 4, 4, and 5 balls respectively. Sirdar Cotton DK is a smooth, machine-washable cotton yarn that offers excellent stitch definition, making it particularly well suited to lace patterns where clarity of the motif is important. Its breathable, natural fibre content makes the finished top comfortable to wear in warmer weather.