Pedrera

Pedrera Top by Natalia Prats

What is Being Made

The Pedrera Top is an intermediate-level knitted garment designed by Natalia Prats. This top takes inspiration from the architectural details of the famous Pedrera building created by Antoni Gaudí in early 20th century Barcelona. The design is available in five sizes, ranging from bust/hip measurements of 101.5-106.5 cm (Size 1) to 142-147 cm (Size 5), making it suitable for a wide range of body types.

Knitting Techniques and Construction

The Pedrera Top employs intarsia as its primary colorwork technique, allowing for the creation of detailed architectural-inspired patterns using two contrasting colors. The garment is knit flat for the body, which is a traditional method that allows for easier manipulation of intarsia colorwork across larger surface areas. However, the neckline and straps are knit in the round, providing a seamless finish in these areas.

The pattern uses a provisional chain cast on, which creates a flexible edge that can be picked up later for additional finishing or construction details. This technique is particularly useful for garments with specific design requirements around the cast-on edge.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch structure is stockinette stitch (abbreviated as St st), which creates a smooth, classic knit fabric with a flat appearance on the right side. This stitch is ideal for showcasing intarsia colorwork patterns, as it provides an even canvas for the color changes that define the architectural design.

Yarn and Materials

The Pedrera Top is designed to be knitted with Wendy Supreme yarn, which is composed of 100% mercerised cotton. This fiber choice creates a breathable, lightweight fabric suitable for warm-weather wear. The yardage is 200 meters per 100-gram skein. The pattern requires 3 to 4 skeins of the main color (blue) depending on size, and 2 skeins of the contrasting color (brown) for all sizes.

Construction requires 4mm (US 6) circular needles measuring 80cm (32 inches) in length, which provide adequate needle length for working the flat sections of the garment. A 4mm (US 6) crochet hook is also needed, likely for the provisional cast on and finishing details. Additional materials include scrap yarn for the provisional cast on and optional stitch markers to help track pattern repeats and shaping.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 23 stitches and 31 rows over a 10-centimeter (4-inch) square in stockinette stitch. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for obtaining the proper finished measurements across all five available sizes.