Bone Top in Rowan Summerlite DK - RM006-00017-DEP - Downloadable PDF

Bone Top by Martin Storey in Rowan Summerlite DK – Pattern Summary

The Bone Top is an elegant knitted top designed by Martin Storey and published as part of the Rowan pattern collection. Available as a downloadable PDF (reference RM006-00017-DEP), this design is rated as intermediate in difficulty, making it a rewarding project for knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping and lace-style techniques but are ready to develop their skills further.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a women's fitted top available in two length options: a long version and a short version. This versatility allows knitters to tailor the finished garment to their personal style and wardrobe needs. The top is designed with a clean, refined silhouette that suits warm-weather wear, reflecting the lightweight nature of the yarn used.

The design is offered across a wide range of sizes to fit bust measurements from 71–76 cm up to 152–157 cm, with nine sizes in total. The corresponding knitted measurements range from 100 cm to 180 cm, providing generous ease options across the size range.

Design Details and Stitch Patterns

The Bone Top features a distinctive lace or eyelet panel detail worked into the fabric, created through a combination of yarn-over increases and slip-stitch decreases (referred to in the German-language instructions as 1 U, übzAbn — yarn over and slip-stitch decrease). These decorative elements are arranged in a repeating column pattern across the body of the top, giving the fabric a delicate, structured texture.

The lace detail is worked progressively across a series of right-side rows, with the number of plain knit stitches surrounding each eyelet cluster increasing row by row. This creates a tapered or expanding lace motif that adds visual interest without overwhelming the overall simplicity of the garment. The wrong-side rows are worked as plain purl rows, keeping the construction straightforward between the patterned sections.

Techniques Used

• Lace eyelet construction using yarn-over and slip-stitch decrease combinations
• Repeating stitch pattern panels worked across multiple right-side rows with increasing plain stitch borders
• Flat knitting with right-side and wrong-side rows clearly differentiated
• Size-specific stitch placement, with different starting stitch counts and repeat numbers for each of the nine sizes
• Length variation achieved by working additional or fewer rows before finishing

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (Maschen rechts / M re) — used throughout the body and as the base fabric
• Purl stitch (Links) — used on wrong-side rows
• Yarn over (1 Umschlag / 1 U) — used to create the decorative eyelets
• Slip-stitch decrease (überzogene Abnahme / übzAbn) — paired with yarn overs to maintain stitch count while forming the lace pattern

Materials – Yarn and Needles

The pattern is written specifically for Rowan Summerlite DK, a lightweight DK weight yarn sold in 50g balls. This yarn is well suited to warm-weather garments, offering a soft drape and breathable quality that complements the airy lace detailing of the Bone Top. The pattern was photographed in two colourways: Linen 460 and White 465, both of which highlight the delicate eyelet texture beautifully.

Yarn quantities vary by size and version. The long version requires between 6 and 11 balls depending on size, while the short version requires between 5 and 9 balls. As a DK weight project, standard DK-appropriate knitting needles would be used,