Clady Top in MODE at Rowan Cotton DK

Clady Top in MODE at Rowan Cotton DK – Pattern Summary

The Clady Top is a knitted pullover top designed by Quail Studio and worked in MODE at Rowan Cotton DK yarn. It is a clean, wearable wardrobe staple suited to an advanced beginner knitter who is ready to move beyond the very basics and tackle straightforward garment shaping. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF (reference MIP47-ENPCLADY) and covers a wide range of sizes, making it accessible to a broad audience.

What Is Being Made

The Clady Top is a close-to-the-body knitted top designed to be worn as a standalone piece or layered. It is constructed in separate pieces — a back and a front — which are seamed together in the traditional flat-knitting method. A neckband is worked in the round as a finishing detail, giving the neckline a neat, polished edge. The garment is sized to fit a chest measurement ranging from 71–76 cm (28–30 in) up to 152–157 cm (60–62 in), with actual garment chest measurements spanning from 84.5 cm (33¼ in) to 166.5 cm (65¼ in), providing generous positive ease across all sizes.

Techniques Used

• Flat knitting: Both the back and front pieces are worked flat on a standard pair of needles, row by row, before being seamed together. This is a classic construction method well-suited to beginner and intermediate knitters building their garment-making skills.
• Knitting in the round: The neckband is worked on a 4mm circular needle no more than 40 cm long, introducing the knitter to short circular needle technique for small circumference finishing.
• Armhole shaping: The pattern includes structured armhole shaping, with the front piece worked to a specific row count relative to the back before shaping begins — a technique that teaches knitters how to match front and back pieces precisely.
• Seaming: Once the individual pieces are complete, they are joined using standard seaming methods, a fundamental garment construction skill.
• Stitch holder use: Stitch holders are listed as required extras, indicating that stitches are placed on hold at certain points — most likely at the neckline — and returned to needles later for finishing.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (st st): The main body fabric of the Clady Top is worked in stocking stitch — knit on right side rows, purl on wrong side rows — producing a smooth, classic knitted fabric. Tension is measured over stocking stitch at 22 stitches and 32 rows to 10 cm using 4mm (US 6) needles.
• Seed stitch / moss stitch rib: The cast-on edges are worked in a K1, P1 alternating rib pattern that creates a textured, non-curling border. Row 1 reads K1, *P1, K1, rep from * to end and Row 2 reads P1, *K1, P1, rep from * to end. This style of ribbing — sometimes called seed stitch or British moss stitch depending on the repeat — provides a tidy, stable hem finish.

Materials

Yarn

• Yarn: MODE at Rowan Cotton DK, a DK weight yarn sold in 50g balls.
• Colourway shown: The photographed sample is worked in Fossil 016.
• Yarn quantities required: Between 7 and 13 balls depending on size — 7 balls for the two smallest sizes, rising to 13 balls for the two largest sizes.

Needles and Extras

• 1 pair of 4mm (no 8) (US 6) straight needles for the main body pieces.
• 1 x 4mm (no 8)