Albini Top in Rowan Summerlite DK & Kidsilk Haze - Downloadable PDF

Albini Top in Rowan Summerlite DK & Kidsilk Haze – Knitting Pattern Summary

What Is Being Made

The Albini Top is a knitted pullover top designed for a relaxed, elegant finish. It is a beginner-level project available as a downloadable PDF from Quail Studio. The pattern 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), making it an inclusive and versatile design. The actual garment chest measurement ranges from 85.5 cm (33¾ in) to 165.5 cm (65¼ in), offering generous ease across all sizes.

Design Details

The Albini Top features a simple, symmetrical construction — the back and front pieces are worked identically, which simplifies the knitting process and makes this an ideal project for those newer to garment construction. The top includes a ribbed neckband worked in the round and neat armbands that finish the sleeveless silhouette cleanly. Shoulder seams are joined using mattress stitch for a professional, invisible finish, and side seams are joined from the hem to a stitch marker.

Yarn Used

This pattern uses a distinctive two-yarn held-together technique, combining one strand each of two Rowan yarns simultaneously throughout:

• Rowan Summerlite DK in Cantaloupe 456 — a lightweight DK-weight yarn sold in 50g balls. The number of balls required ranges from 3 to 7 depending on size.
• Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Burnt Caramel 680 — a delicate lace-weight yarn sold in 25g balls. The number of balls required ranges from 3 to 7 depending on size.

Holding a DK-weight yarn together with a lace-weight mohair-blend yarn is a popular technique in knitting that adds a subtle halo, warmth, and depth of colour to the finished fabric without significantly increasing the weight or bulk of the garment. The combination of Summerlite DK's cotton-blend structure and Kidsilk Haze's signature mohair softness creates a fabric that is both breathable and beautifully textured — well suited to a warm-weather top.

Needles and Notions

• 1 pair of 4mm (UK no 8 / US 6) straight needles — used for the main body pieces
• 1 set of 4mm (UK no 8 / US 6) double pointed needles — used for working the neckband and armbands in the round
• Stitch holders — used to hold neck stitches while shoulder seams are completed
• Stitch markers — used to denote the start of rounds when working the neckband and armbands

Tension

The pattern requires a tension of 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm, measured over pattern using 4mm needles with one strand of each yarn held together. Achieving the correct tension is important for ensuring the finished top matches the stated measurements, so knitters are encouraged to work a tension swatch before beginning.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Cast on and cast off — standard techniques used at the beginning and end of pieces, including a loose cast off for the neckband and armbands to ensure comfortable stretch
• Stocking stitch / knit stitch — the main body fabric is worked in a straightforward knit-based pattern, making this accessible for beginners
• K1, P1 ribbing — used for the neckband to create a neat, stretchy edge that sits close to the neck
• Knitting in the round — the neckband and armbands are both worked in the round using double pointed needles, a useful technique for beginners to practise on small circumferences