Lagos Top in Berroco Vera - Downloadable PDF

Lagos Top in Berroco Vera — Knitting Pattern Summary

What You Are Making

The Lagos Top is a knitted tank top designed by Alison Green and published by Berroco. It is a sleeveless, fitted-to-relaxed silhouette worked seamlessly in the round, making it an elegant warm-weather layering piece or standalone top. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated Intermediate in skill level, making it well-suited to knitters who are comfortable working in the round, reading charts or written stitch pattern instructions, and executing finishing techniques such as the three-needle bind off.

The Lagos Top is offered in an impressive range of 11 sizes, labeled 1 through 11, with finished bust/hip measurements spanning from 32" / 81.5 cm up to 71¾" / 182 cm. Finished lengths range from approximately 19" to 24" / 48.5 to 61 cm depending on size. The sample shown is knitted in size 2 at a finished measurement of 35¾" / 91 cm, modeled with approximately 2" / 5 cm of positive ease. The recommended ease for this design is 0–2" / 0–5 cm positive ease, giving knitters the flexibility to choose a close fit or a slightly relaxed drape.

Construction Method

The Lagos Top is constructed bottom-up and in the round. The body is worked as a single tube from the cast-on edge up to the underarm, at which point the work is divided so the back and front are worked separately. This seamless approach to the lower body eliminates side seams and creates a smooth, comfortable fabric. Shoulder seams are joined using a three-needle bind off, a technique that creates a neat, sturdy seam directly on the needles without requiring a sewn finishing step. Stitch markers are used throughout to track the beginning of round and other key points in the construction.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Stockinette stitch (St st) — the primary fabric stitch, worked in the round as all knit stitches, creating a smooth, classic knitted surface
• Pattern stitch — a decorative stitch pattern is included in the design, which can be followed either from written directions or a chart, offering flexibility for different learning styles
• Working in the round — using circular needles for the body and, for smaller sizes, double-pointed needles or preferred small-circumference needle methods for tighter areas
• Three-needle bind off — used to join shoulder seams neatly and efficiently
• Gauge swatching and blocking — gauge is measured after blocking, which is an important step when working with a yarn that may relax or bloom once washed and dried

Yarn: Berroco Vera

This pattern calls for Berroco Vera, a DK weight yarn sold in 100 g balls. The colorway used in the sample is #11505 Carving Party. Depending on size, the pattern requires between 2 and 5 balls — smaller sizes (1–4) use 2–3 balls, mid-range sizes (5–7) use 3–4 balls, and larger sizes (8–11) use 4–5 balls. Berroco recommends using the specified yarn for best results, as the gauge and drape of the finished garment are calibrated to Berroco Vera's particular weight and fiber characteristics.

Needles and Notions

• 32" / 80 cm circular needles in sizes US 5 / 3.75 mm and US 7 / 4.5 mm, or size needed to obtain gauge
• 16" / 40 cm circular needle in size US 5 / 3.75 mm for smaller circumference sections
• Spare needle, size US 7 / 4.5 mm for the three-needle bind off
• For sizes 1, 2, and 3