Santa Margarita Top in Schachenmayr Journey - Downloadable PDF

Santa Margarita Top in Schachenmayr Journey – Free Knitting Pattern Summary

The Santa Margarita Top is a relaxed, summery knitted top designed by Schachenmayr and worked in their Journey yarn. This free downloadable PDF pattern produces a lightweight, casual top featuring distinctive knotted straps, making it an ideal warm-weather knit. The design is straightforward and well-suited to knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques, as it relies on a single, satisfying stitch pattern throughout.

Sizes Available

• Size 34/36 (smallest)
• Size 38/40 (medium)
• Size 42/44 (largest)

Instructions are written for the smallest size first, with figures for larger sizes given in parentheses or separated by slashes. Where only one figure appears, it applies to all sizes.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a knitted top constructed in two identical flat pieces — a front and a back — which are seamed at the sides. The top features armhole shaping and narrow knitted straps that are left loose and knotted together at the shoulders rather than sewn, giving the garment its relaxed, casual character. The Santa Margarita Top is designed to be a simple, wearable summer layer.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: Schachenmayr Journey in colorway Moos (shade 00071) — a blend of 44% Cotton, 36% Polyacrylic, and 20% Polyamide, with a running length of 90 m per 50 g skein. This fiber blend gives the fabric a soft, slightly structured drape appropriate for a warm-weather top.
• Yarn Amount: 250 g / 300 g / 350 g (5 / 6 / 7 skeins) depending on size
• Yarn Weight: Aran weight
• Needles: Milward knitting needles in 5 mm and 6 mm
• Additional Tools: 1 blunt-tipped wool tapestry needle for finishing

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Garter Stitch (Kraus rechts): The entire top — both the body panels and the straps — is worked in garter stitch, meaning every row is knitted on the right side. This creates a dense, ridged fabric with good body and minimal curling at the edges, making it particularly beginner-friendly. Garter stitch also lies flat without the need for ribbing or border treatments.
• Casting On: 58 / 66 / 74 stitches are cast on for each piece using the 6 mm needles.
• Armhole Shaping: After 36 cm from cast-on, armhole shaping begins on both sides by casting off 1 stitch at each end, then casting off 1 stitch at each end every 2nd row a total of 10 / 12 / 14 times, leaving 36 / 40 / 44 stitches.
• Strap Knitting: After reaching a total length of 43 / 44 / 45 cm from cast-on, the remaining stitches are divided: the first 7 stitches and the last 7 stitches form the two straps, while the central 22 / 26 / 30 stitches are cast off to create the neckline opening. Each set of 7 strap stitches is then worked separately in garter stitch on the 5 mm needles for a further 30 cm before being cast off.
• Seaming: Side seams are joined using the tapestry needle after blocking.
• Finishing: The pieces are pinned to measurements and left to dry under damp cloths before the side seams are closed. The straps from the front and back are then knotted