Cauli Top in Rowan Kidsilk Haze & Fine Lace - ZB298-00006-EN - Downloadable PDF

Cauli Top in Rowan Kidsilk Haze & Fine Lace – Pattern Summary

Designed by Lisa Richardson and published by Rowan, the Cauli Top (pattern reference ZB298-00006) is an elegant knitted top worked in a combination of two luxurious lace-weight yarns. This downloadable PDF pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty and offers five sizes to suit a wide range of figures.

What Is Being Made

The Cauli Top is a fitted, shaped knitted top designed for women. It is constructed with separate panels — a main body section and two side panels — which are seamed together to create a structured silhouette. The garment features carefully shaped armholes, neck shaping, and shoulder shaping, all of which contribute to a refined, tailored finish. The top is sized to fit busts ranging from 81–127 cm (32–50 in), with actual garment bust measurements spanning 91.5–130 cm (36–51¼ in), providing a modest amount of ease across all sizes.

Construction and Techniques

The pattern employs several classic and intermediate knitting construction techniques:

• Separate panel construction: The body and two side panels are knitted individually and then joined, allowing for precise shaping and a clean finish at the seams.
• Armhole shaping: Stitches are decreased at the armhole edges to create a smooth, fitted curve.
• Neck shaping: Detailed neck decreases are worked over multiple rows — decreasing 1 stitch at the neck edge over 8 consecutive rows, then on alternate rows, then on every 4th row, every 6th row, and finally every 8th row — producing a graceful, gradual neckline curve.
• Shoulder shaping: Stitches are cast off at the shoulder to complete each side symmetrically, with the centre stitches placed on a holder and the second side worked to match the first with reversed shapings.
• Holder usage: Centre stitches (19 or 27 stitches depending on size) are slipped onto a stitch holder while each side of the neck is worked separately, a standard technique for clean neck openings.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch (g st): The side panels begin with 4 rows of garter stitch, worked by knitting every row. Garter stitch creates a firm, textured fabric with natural elasticity and lies flat without curling, making it ideal for borders and panel edges.
• Pattern stitch (patt): The main body of the top is worked in a stitch pattern that is maintained throughout the shaping sequences. The pattern instructs knitters to keep the pattern correct while working decreases, which requires careful attention to stitch counts — a hallmark of intermediate-level knitting.

Materials – Yarn

The Cauli Top is worked using two Rowan yarns held together or used in combination, both in the lace weight category:

• Rowan Kidsilk Haze in shade Shadow 653 (Yarn A) — a famously lightweight and lustrous yarn spun from super kid mohair and silk, available in 25 g balls. The pattern requires 3–4 balls depending on size.
• Rowan Fine Lace in shade Cobweb 922 (Yarn B) — an ultra-fine yarn with a delicate, refined handle, available in 50 g balls. The pattern requires 2 balls across all sizes.

The combination of Kidsilk Haze and Fine Lace is a popular pairing in Rowan design, producing a fabric that is simultaneously lightweight and subtly textured, with a soft halo from the mohair content of the Kidsilk Haze complementing the crisp structure of the Fine Lace.

Materials – Needles

• 3 mm (US 2/3) knitting needles are specified for the side panels and are consistent with the fine gauge required by lace-weight yarns at this scale.