Villa Top in Berroco Medina - 394-6 - Downloadable PDF

Villa Top by Amy Christoffers – Knitting Pattern Summary (Berroco Medina, DK Weight)

The Villa Top is a stylish, lightweight knitted top designed by Amy Christoffers and published by Berroco. Available as a downloadable PDF, this intermediate-level pattern produces a flattering, semi-fitted top with distinctive textural detailing, cap sleeves, and a refined silhouette. It is worked in DK weight yarn and is rated as an intermediate project, making it well-suited for knitters who are comfortable with shaping techniques and working with multiple needle sizes.

What Is Being Made

The Villa Top is a pullover-style knitted top featuring integrated cap sleeves and a textured lower band. It is designed with approximately 2–4 inches of positive ease, giving it a relaxed yet polished fit. Finished bust measurements range from 34 to 62 inches across eight sizes, and the finished length ranges from 19 to 22 inches depending on the size selected. The sample shown in the pattern is knitted in size 38 inches. This is a seamed garment, meaning the pieces are worked separately and then joined, which gives the finished top excellent structure and durability.

Design Details and Construction

One of the most distinctive design elements of the Villa Top is its garter stitch lower band, which is worked sideways — cast on as a narrow strip and worked lengthwise before stitches are picked up along its edge to begin the main body. This creates a neat, horizontal textural border at the hem. The body of the top is then worked upward in stockinette stitch, transitioning smoothly from the garter band. Cap sleeves are shaped directly into the body using increase rows, creating an elegant, integrated sleeve that requires no separate sleeve pieces.

• Lower Band: Worked flat in garter stitch on smaller needles, then stitches are picked up along the side edge to begin the body
• Body: Worked flat in stockinette stitch on larger needles
• Cap Sleeves: Shaped using M1R and M1L increases worked every right-side row to build the sleeve cap organically from the body
• Construction: Seamed, worked flat — pieces are knitted separately and sewn together for a clean, structured finish

Techniques Used

The Villa Top employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques. Knitters will work flat knitting throughout, managing both right-side and wrong-side rows. The pattern uses seamed construction, so finishing skills such as seaming are required. Key shaping techniques include:

• M1R (Make 1 Right) and M1L (Make 1 Left) increases for cap sleeve shaping — these lifted increases create neat, directional increases that blend seamlessly into the fabric
• Picking up and knitting stitches along the garter stitch band edge to transition into the body — a technique that creates a clean join between the two stitch patterns
• Stitch markers used to mark key shaping points within the construction
• Stitch holder used during construction to hold live stitches as needed
• Binding off knitwise for a tidy, even edge on the garter band

Stitches Used

The Villa Top relies on two classic knitting stitch patterns, each worked at a different gauge and on different needle sizes to achieve their intended texture and drape:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The primary stitch pattern for the body of the top, creating a smooth, fluid fabric. Gauge is 23 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches on the larger needles.
• Garter Stitch: Used for the lower band, worked by knitting every row to produce a ridged, reversible texture. Gauge is 25 stitches and 46 rows = 4 inches on the smaller needles. The lower band is worked over just 19 stitches for its full length, then rotated to serve as the hem border.

Materials Required