By The Dock Lace Back Top - Free Knitting Pattern for Women in Paintbox Yarns Cotton Mix DK by Paintbox Yarns

By The Dock Lace Back Top – Free Knitting Pattern for Women by Paintbox Yarns

The By The Dock Lace Back Top is a beautifully feminine women's knitted top featuring a decorative lace panel across the back, creating an elegant, airy contrast to a more structured front. Designed by Paintbox Yarns and available as a free downloadable PDF, this pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it a rewarding project for knitters who are comfortable with basic lace techniques and garment construction. The finished top is a versatile wardrobe piece that works equally well as a warm-weather layer or a lightweight transitional garment.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a fitted women's pullover top with a plain knitted front and a lace-patterned back. The design is offered in seven sizes, fitting chest measurements from 32–34 in (81–86 cm) up to 56–58 in (142–147 cm), ensuring an inclusive range of fits. Finished chest measurements range from 32 in (81 cm) to 55½ in (141 cm), and finished lengths range from approximately 20¾ in (53 cm) to 23¾ in (60 cm) depending on size. The combination of a solid front and an intricate lace back gives the garment a subtle, sophisticated detail that elevates it beyond a basic knitted tee.

Techniques Used

• Lace knitting: The defining feature of this top is the lace panel worked across the back. Lace in knitting is created through a combination of yarn-over increases and corresponding decreases, which form deliberate holes and an openwork pattern. This technique requires careful attention to stitch counts across each row but produces a delicate, decorative fabric that is both lightweight and visually striking.
• Worked flat: Both the front and back pieces are knitted flat, meaning they are worked back and forth in rows on straight or circular needles rather than in the round. This is the traditional approach for seamed garment construction and allows each panel to be shaped independently before assembly.
• Seamed construction: Once the individual pieces are complete, they are joined together using seaming techniques. Seamed garments tend to have excellent structure and drape, and the seams themselves add stability to the finished top.
• Garter stitch: Referenced within the pattern abbreviations, garter stitch — knitting every row — is likely used for edging or border details, providing a neat, non-curling finish at hems or cuffs.
• Shaping: Standard garment shaping techniques including increases and armhole shaping are used to achieve a fitted silhouette across all seven sizes.

Stitches Used

• Lace pattern (back): A repeating openwork stitch pattern worked across the back panel, formed through yarn-overs and paired decreases. Gauge for the back lace pattern is 21 stitches and 34 rows over 4 in (10 cm).
• Front pattern stitch: A separate stitch pattern is used for the front of the garment, with a gauge of 22 stitches and 34 rows over 4 in (10 cm) — slightly denser than the lace back, reflecting the more solid fabric structure of the front panel.
• Garter stitch: Used as noted in the abbreviations, likely for finishing edges and borders to prevent rolling and add a clean, polished look.

Materials Required

The pattern calls for Paintbox Yarns Cotton Mix DK, a DK weight yarn available exclusively at lovecrafts.com. The colorway specified is Paper White, giving the finished top a crisp, clean aesthetic that suits the coastal, breezy feel suggested by the design name. Depending on size, you will need 3 to 5 balls of 3½ oz / 100 g each — specifically 3 balls for sizes 32–34 through 40–42, 4 balls for sizes 44–46 through 52–54, and 5 balls for the largest size 56–58.

The cotton mix composition of Paintbox Yarns Cotton Mix DK makes it particularly well suited to a top like this — cotton-blend yarns are breathable, have a pleasant dr