Top with Openwork Border in Schachenmayr Arizona - S9505 - Downloadable PDF

Top with Openwork Border in Schachenmayr Arizona – Pattern S9505 Summary

This free downloadable knitting pattern, designated S9505, provides instructions for a pullover top featuring an openwork (ajour) border worked in Schachenmayr Arizona yarn. The design is rated intermediate difficulty and is available in three sizes: Small, Medium, and Large. The finished garment is a lightweight, warm-weather top distinguished by a decorative lace border at the hem that transitions into a smooth stockinette body — a classic combination that adds visual interest without overwhelming complexity.

Garment Overview

The top is constructed in two main pieces — a back panel and a front panel — both worked flat and then seamed. The lower edge of each piece begins with an openwork (Ajourmuster) border of eight rows, which creates a delicate, eyelet-style hem. After the border is complete, the fabric transitions into a straightforward stockinette stitch (Glatt rechts) body. Armhole and neckline shaping are worked with specific decrease techniques to ensure clean, even edges. The front piece includes a center front neckline that is shaped separately on each side for a neat, finished look.

Techniques Used

• Flat knitting worked back and forth in rows on a circular needle
• Openwork / lace patterning (Ajourmuster) — a four-row repeat incorporating yarn-overs and decreases to create eyelet effects
• Stockinette stitch (Glatt rechts) — knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows — used for the main body
• Armhole shaping with paired decreases — at the beginning of decrease rows: knit the selvedge stitch and next stitch, then k2tog; at the end: slip 1, k1, pass slipped stitch over (psso), followed by the final stitch and selvedge stitch
• Casting off (binding off) for armhole openings and shoulders
• Neckline shaping on the front piece by casting off center stitches and working each shoulder separately
• Gauge swatching in both stitch patterns to ensure accurate sizing

Stitches Used

• Openwork / Ajour pattern (Ajourmuster): worked over a stitch count divisible by 8, plus 1 stitch, plus 2 selvedge stitches. The four-row repeat consists of: Row 1 – knit all stitches; Row 2 – purl all stitches; Row 3 – a lace row with yarn-overs and decreases; Row 4 – purl all stitches and yarn-overs. This repeat is worked for the first 8 rows of each piece.
• Stockinette stitch: the primary stitch for the body of the top after the border section
• Selvedge stitches (Randmaschen): maintained at each edge throughout for clean seaming
• k2tog (two stitches knitted together) and sl1-k1-psso: paired decrease methods used symmetrically at armhole edges

Construction Details

The back piece begins by casting on 83 / 91 / 99 stitches for S / M / L. The first row is worked as a wrong-side (purl) row, after which the 8-row openwork border is worked. Row 9 is a plain knit row, and Row 10 is a decrease row on the wrong side in which stitches are evenly reduced — 9 / 10 / 11 times k2tog — bringing the stitch count to 74 / 81 / 88 stitches. The body then continues in stockinette until armhole shaping begins at a total length of 35 cm. Armhole shaping involves an initial cast-off of 3 / 4 / 5 stitches on each side, followed by 5 single decreases every other row, leaving 58 / 63 / 68 stitches. The back is cast off at