Ariel Top in Adriafil Venezia - Downloadable PDF

Ariel Top in Adriafil Venezia – Free Knitting Pattern Summary

The Ariel Top is a stylish, lightweight knitted top designed using Adriafil Venezia yarn in a warm golden yellow (shade no. 44). This free downloadable PDF pattern produces a flattering summer top with a distinctive tied-strap neckline, making it an ideal warm-weather knitting project for intermediate knitters. The design is worked in separate pieces — a back, a front, two shoulder straps, and two decorative tie-ups — then seamed and finished by hand.

Garment Overview

The Ariel Top features a relaxed silhouette with subtle waist shaping achieved through side decreases. The upper body transitions into a ribbed border, and the neckline is defined by two knitted straps that are held together at each shoulder with a tied bow, giving the top a romantic, adjustable finish. The pattern is written for size 42, with sizes 40 and 44 included in parentheses.

Techniques Used

• Casting on and binding off stitches for each individual piece
• Side shaping via paired decreases worked inside a 4-stitch border — 1 stitch decreased every 2 rows, 5 times, then a further single decrease after 12 rows on each side
• Seaming the front and back together along the side edges using a tapestry needle
• Strap attachment by sewing each strap to the upper edge of the front and back pieces at measured intervals from the side seams
• Tie-up construction — two long knitted strips are threaded through the straps and tied into decorative bows at each shoulder

Stitches Used

• K1/P1 Rib Stitch — used for the lower border (1 cm) and the upper body border (1.5 cm), providing a neat, elasticated edge on both the back and front pieces
• Knit Stitch (Stockinette / Plain Knit) — used for the main body of both the front and back panels, creating a smooth, classic fabric
• Purl Stitch — used exclusively for the straps and tie-ups, worked flat for 3 cm each, giving these narrow strips a slightly textured, reversible appearance

Materials Required

• Yarn: Adriafil Venezia in golden yellow, shade no. 44 — 250 grams total. Venezia is a worsted weight yarn, well suited to warm-season garments thanks to its smooth, workable texture.
• Knitting Needles: Size 5 mm straight knitting needles
• Tapestry Needle: Required for seaming the side edges and attaching the straps

Gauge

Achieving the correct gauge is important for a well-fitting result. The pattern specifies 19 stitches and 28 rows over 10 x 10 cm, worked in knit stitch on 5 mm needles using Adriafil Venezia. Always knit a swatch and adjust needle size if necessary before beginning the main pieces.

Construction Notes

The back and front are worked identically, beginning with a 1 cm k1/p1 rib border, then continuing in plain knit stitch. Waist shaping is introduced through decreases at both sides, worked inside a 4-stitch guard to keep the edges clean for seaming. The upper portion of each panel finishes with a 1.5 cm rib border before binding off. The two straps are each cast on with 66 (62–70) stitches and worked in purl stitch for 3 cm, then bound off. The two tie-ups are longer strips, each cast on with 120 stitches and also worked in purl stitch for 3 cm. Once the sides are seamed, the straps are sewn to the upper edges of the front and back, positioned 7 (6–8) cm from each side se