Lars Top in MODE at Rowan Alpaca Haze

Lars Top in Alpaca Haze by Mode at Rowan – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Lars Top is an elegant knitwear design by Quail Studio, published as a digital downloadable PDF pattern under the Mode at Rowan brand. The pattern offers knitters two distinct versions of the same garment: a sleeveless top and a sleeved jumper, giving crafters the flexibility to choose the silhouette that suits their style or the season. Both versions are worked in the same stitch pattern and share the same construction instructions unless otherwise stated within the pattern, making it an efficient and versatile project.

What Is Being Made

The Lars Top is a fitted or semi-fitted upper-body garment designed for a wide range of chest sizes. It is available in nine sizes, fitting chest measurements from 71–76 cm (28–30 in) up to 152–157 cm (60–62 in), with actual garment chest measurements ranging from 89 cm to 169 cm, indicating a comfortable amount of positive ease across the size range. The sleeveless version is a wardrobe-friendly layering piece, while the sleeved version functions as a standalone lightweight jumper.

• Sleeveless version – photographed in Jasmine 014
• Sleeved jumper version – photographed in Capri 019

Both colourways are shades from the Alpaca Haze yarn range, showcasing the soft, hazy quality of the fibre beautifully in a structured stitch pattern.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Alpaca Haze by Mode at Rowan, a sport weight yarn sold in 25 gram balls. Crucially, the yarn is worked held double throughout the pattern, which creates a denser, more substantial fabric than a single strand would produce while still retaining the characteristic lightness and halo of an alpaca-blend yarn. Holding yarn double is a common technique used to achieve a specific tension and drape, and it also adds a subtle depth of colour to the finished fabric.

• Sleeveless version: requires 6 to 13 balls depending on size
• Sleeved jumper version: requires 9 to 18 balls depending on size

In addition to yarn, knitters will need a stitch marker and stitch holders as notions, which are used during shaping and construction to keep live stitches safely aside while other sections are worked.

Needles

The pattern requires one pair of 3.5mm (UK No. 10/9, US 4) straight needles. This needle size, combined with the yarn held double, produces the specified tension of 24 stitches and 36 rows to 10 cm measured over the stitch pattern. Achieving this tension swatch before beginning is particularly important in a fitted garment like the Lars Top, as accurate gauge ensures the correct chest measurement and overall proportions across all nine sizes.

Techniques and Construction

The Lars Top is rated as an intermediate level knitting project, making it well-suited to knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping techniques and reading multi-size patterns. The construction follows a traditional flat knitting method, working the back and front pieces separately on straight needles before seaming.

Key techniques referenced within the pattern include:

• Shaping with decreases – the pattern explicitly uses ssk (slip, slip, knit) and K2tog (knit two together) as paired decrease stitches on right-side rows to create neat, mirrored shaping along the sides or armholes
• Selvedge stitches in purl – the use of P2 at each end of right-side decrease rows indicates a purled selvedge or border detail, which helps create a clean edge for seaming or finishing
• Stitch pattern throughout – the body is worked in a defined stitch pattern (referred to as patt throughout), which runs consistently across both the back and front pieces
• Holding yarn double – a practical technique requiring