Lya Top MODE Collection in Rowan Summerlite DK PDF

Lya Top – MODE Collection in Rowan Summerlite DK by Quail Studio

The Lya Top is a stylish, fitted knitted top from the MODE Collection, designed by Quail Studio and published as a downloadable PDF pattern. Rated as intermediate in difficulty, this garment is a rewarding project for knitters who are comfortable with shaping techniques and cable work. The design is photographed in Seashell 466, a soft neutral colourway that highlights the textural detailing beautifully.

What Is Being Made

The Lya Top is a women's knitted top worked in DK weight yarn. It features a shaped silhouette with armhole shaping, a front slope neckline, and a decorative cable panel. The garment is sized to fit a wide range of chest measurements, from 71–76 cm (28–30 in) up to 152–157 cm (60–62 in), with actual garment chest measurements ranging from 88 cm (34¾ in) to 170 cm (67 in), offering generous ease options across nine sizes.

Design Details and Construction

The Lya Top is constructed with careful attention to fit and shaping. Key construction elements include:

• Armhole shaping worked through a series of cast-offs and decreases over multiple rows, tailored precisely for each of the nine sizes
• A front slope neckline created through gradual decreases on alternating rows and every 4th and 6th rows, giving the neckline a graceful, angled line
• A centre stitch marker used to track and work increases at the centre front, adding structure and symmetry to the shaping
• Shoulder shaping that includes a decrease across the top of the cable panel on the final cast-off row, ensuring a neat and professional finish
• Stitches placed on a holder to allow each side of the neck to be worked separately, which is standard practice for achieving a clean, symmetrical neckline

Techniques Used

This pattern draws on a variety of intermediate knitting techniques, making it an excellent project for knitters looking to develop their skills beyond basic garment construction:

• Cable knitting – a decorative cable panel runs through the design, worked with the aid of a cable needle; the cable is referenced in the final shoulder shaping where stitches are decreased across the top of the cable
• Armhole and neckline shaping – simultaneous decreases at both the armhole edge and the front slope edge are worked at the same time, requiring careful attention to pattern instructions
• Knitwise increases – used at the centre stitch to build the front shaping
• Working stitches from a holder – each side of the neck is completed separately after dividing the work
• Stitch marker placement and repositioning – a marker is used dynamically throughout the shaping sections
• Circular needle usage – a long circular needle is used, likely for picking up and working neckband or edging stitches

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (st st) – the main body fabric, with tension measured over stocking stitch
• Cable pattern (patt) – a repeating cable motif referenced throughout as patt, worked over a set number of stitches
• K2tog (knit two together) – the primary decrease stitch used for armhole and front slope shaping
• Knitwise increase – used at the centre stitch during front shaping

Materials

The Lya Top is designed to be knitted in Rowan Summerlite DK, a lightweight 50 g DK weight yarn. The pattern requires 4 to 7 balls depending on the size being made. The yarn is photographed in Seashell 466. Summerlite DK is a Rowan yarn known for its breathable, relaxed quality, making it well suited to a warm-