Faye Summer Top

Faye Summer Top by Irene Lin

What Is Being Made

The Faye Summer Top is a knitted garment designed as a lightweight, warm-weather piece. This top features a sophisticated construction method that combines separately worked sections before joining for seamless finishing. The design is available in five sizes, with the sample photographed in size 1. The finished length ranges from 53 cm (21 inches) in the smaller sizes up to 63 cm (24.75 inches) in the largest size, and the top can be extended to a desired length for customization.

Construction Technique

The Faye Summer Top employs a multi-stage knitting construction that begins with the back piece. The back is worked flat from the top down to the base of the armholes. Both front pieces are then picked up from the top edge and knitted separately, working downward to the base of the front neck edges. Once both fronts reach the appropriate length, all pieces are joined together and the front is worked to the armhole level. Finally, the back and front sections are joined and knitted in the round to complete the hem, creating a seamless transition at the side seams and a polished finished edge.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch pattern used in the Faye Summer Top is stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric ideal for summer garments. The pattern includes charted stitch patterns presented on pages 12 through 15 of the instructions. These charts are designed to complement and work in conjunction with the written row-by-row instructions, and the pattern notes emphasize that charts must be read together with the written instructions rather than used independently.

Gauge and Fit

Accurate gauge is essential for this project. The recommended gauge is 21 stitches and 29 rows over 10 x 10 cm (4 x 4 inches) in stockinette stitch after blocking. The pattern recommends checking gauge carefully and adjusting needle size as needed to achieve the correct tension. The Faye Summer Top is designed with positive ease, with a recommended ease of 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 inches). The sample garment shown was knitted with 20 cm (8 inches) of positive ease for a comfortable, relaxed fit.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Faye Summer Top is designed to be worked in DK weight yarn, which is a light and versatile yarn weight perfect for creating breathable, drape-friendly summer garments. The specific yardage requirements are not detailed in the provided content, but DK weight is typically suitable for lightweight, warm-weather pieces. Knitting needles appropriate for DK weight yarn should be selected based on the desired gauge of 21 stitches per 10 cm; needle size may be adjusted up or down to achieve the correct tension before beginning the project.

Difficulty Level

The Faye Summer Top is rated as an intermediate knitting project. This difficulty level reflects the multi-part construction process involving separate pieces that are later joined, as well as the use of charted stitch patterns that must be coordinated with written instructions. Knitters should have solid foundational skills including flat and circular knitting, the ability to pick up stitches, and comfort reading both written instructions and stitch charts.