Arch Lace Panel Top

Arch Lace Panel Top by Sian Brown

Garment Overview

The Arch Lace Panel Top is a knitted garment designed by independent designer Sian Brown. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a fitted top with decorative lace paneling, available in seven size options to fit bust measurements from 82cm (32 inches) to 112cm (44 inches). The finished garment lengths range from 54cm to 60cm (21¼ to 23½ inches), making this a versatile piece suitable for various body types and proportions.

Construction and Techniques

This intermediate-level knitting project employs a combination of fundamental and decorative knitting techniques. The garment is constructed using a combination of stockinette stitch for the main body and a specialized lace panel motif that serves as the focal design element. The construction begins with a ribbed cast-on edge worked on smaller needles to create a fitted opening, then transitions to larger needles for the main body fabric.

The defining feature of this top is the Arch Lace Panel, a repeating 11-stitch motif that creates an elegant openwork design. This panel is worked over 14 rows and incorporates multiple lace-working techniques to achieve its distinctive arch-shaped pattern.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The Arch Lace Panel utilizes several key knitting stitches and decreasing techniques:

• Yarn overs (yo) – create the openwork eyelets characteristic of lace knitting
• Skpo (slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over) – a left-leaning decrease used throughout the lace panel
• K2tog (knit two together) – a right-leaning decrease that balances the directional decreases
• Sk2po (slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over) – a double decrease that creates the central arch motif in rows 7, 9, 11, and 13
• Stockinette stitch (st st) – knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows, forming the smooth main fabric
• Garter stitch – created by knitting every row for the initial edge detail

The lace panel is strategically repeated across the garment to create visual interest while maintaining structural integrity. The interplay of yarn overs and decreases produces the characteristic arched openwork that defines this design.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

This pattern is designed to work with Sirdar Summer Linen, a dk-weight yarn composed of 90% lyocell and 10% linen. The yarn is supplied in 50-gram balls, each containing 98 meters of yarn. Depending on the size selected, the project requires between 7 and 10 balls of yarn in the colorway Buttermilk 203, a neutral cream shade.

The dk-weight classification indicates this is a medium-weight yarn suitable for garments with good drape and breathability. The lyocell and linen fiber blend creates a fabric with natural moisture-wicking properties, making this top ideal for warm-weather wear.

Tools and Equipment

Two sizes of knitting needles are required to complete this project: 3.25mm needles for the ribbed edge sections and 4mm needles for the main body fabric. The needle size change creates the necessary tension differential to produce a fitted edge that transitions smoothly into the main garment body.

Tension and Gauge

Achieving the correct tension is essential for this garment to fit properly. The pattern specifies a gauge of 22 stitches and 28 rows measured over a 10cm square of stockinette stitch, worked using the 4mm needles. This gauge measurement ensures that the finished bust measurements and garment length match the designer's specifications across all seven size options.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, indicating it is suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to work with lace techniques. Familiarity with basic decreases, yarn overs, and the ability to read a written pattern are necessary to successfully complete this project.