Alexia Top in Adriafil Giada - Downloadable PDF

Alexia Top in Adriafil Giada – Free Knitting Pattern Summary

The Alexia Top is a stylish, fitted knitted top designed to be worked in Adriafil Giada, a DK weight yarn. This free downloadable PDF pattern is suitable for knitters who are comfortable with garment construction techniques, including neckline shaping, side shaping, and working each front half separately. The result is a elegant, wearable top with a carefully shaped neckline and structured front opening, making it a versatile addition to any handknitted wardrobe.

Garment Overview

The Alexia Top is a single garment design featuring a shaped back and a split upper front with distinct left and right front panels. The pattern is written for multiple sizes, with stitch counts given as three size variants throughout (for example, 14-18-22 stitches for the center bind-off, and 21-24-27 stitches for the front panels). This makes the pattern accessible to a range of body sizes.

Back Construction

The back of the Alexia Top is worked first. Knitters work upward until the piece measures 50 cm, at which point neckline shaping begins. The center 14, 18, or 22 stitches (depending on size) are bound off to create the neck opening. Each side of the back neck is then worked separately, with stitches bound off at the neck edge in a stepped sequence: 1 time 3 stitches, 1 time 2 stitches, and 5 times 1 stitch, worked every 2 rows. This gradual decrease creates a smooth, rounded neckline. The back shoulder stitches — 7 stitches per side — are bound off when the work reaches 64 cm in total length.

Front Construction

The front is worked to match the back until the piece measures 32, 31, or 30 cm (varying by size), at which point the construction diverges to create the distinctive split upper front. The front stitches are divided, with a set of 21, 24, or 27 stitches placed on a stitch holder while the upper right front is worked over the remaining 37, 40, or 43 stitches.

Upper Right Front Shaping

The upper right front follows the same side edge increases and decreases as the back. At the neck edge, a total of 25, 27, or 29 single stitch decreases are worked, alternating between every 2 rows and every 3 rows to create a gradual, elegant neckline curve. The decrease method on right side rows involves working 1 edge stitch, slipping 1 stitch, knitting 1 stitch, and passing the slipped stitch over (PSSO) — a left-leaning decrease. On wrong side rows, the 2nd and 3rd stitches are worked together, creating a corresponding decrease on the reverse. The shoulder is bound off at 7 stitches, matching the back length exactly.

Upper Left Front Shaping

The upper left front is worked by returning to the 21, 24, or 27 stitches held on the stitch holder. An additional 16 stitches are picked up from the loops at the back of the upper right front, bringing the total to 37, 40, or 43 stitches — mirroring the right front. All shaping is worked in reverse. On right side rows, the neck edge decrease is worked as: knit to the last 3 stitches, K2tog, 1 edge stitch — a right-leaning decrease that mirrors the left-leaning PSSO used on the right front. This careful mirroring ensures a symmetrical, professional finish on both sides of the neckline.

Techniques Used

• Neckline shaping with stepped bind-offs and gradual single-stitch decreases
• Side edge shaping with increases and decreases worked consistently across back and front
• Working each front half separately using a st