Top in Schachenmayr Micro Summer Color

Top in Schachenmayr Micro Summer Color – Free Knitting Pattern (Downloadable PDF)

This free downloadable PDF pattern from Schachenmayr provides complete instructions for knitting a classic raglan-style pullover top, known in the original pattern as the Micro Summer Color Pulli. The design is available in two sizes — 36/38 and 40/42 — making it a versatile project for a range of figures. With its lightweight construction and elegant lace-effect stitch pattern, this top is an ideal warm-weather knitting project for intermediate knitters.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a fitted pullover top with set-in raglan sleeves. It is worked in separate flat pieces — a back, a front, and two sleeves — which are then seamed together during finishing. The total garment height measures approximately 45–47 cm for the body and 19–21 cm for the sleeves, resulting in a cropped, warm-season silhouette. The neckline is finished with a round of crochet slip stitches for a clean, polished edge.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Schachenmayr / SMC Micro Summer Color, colorway 00085 Orion Color. This yarn is 100% polyacrylic with a generous run length of 760 m per 250 g skein, classifying it as a worsted weight yarn. You will need 200–250 g depending on your size.
• Knitting Needles: Milward knitting needles in size 3.5 to 4.5 mm.
• Crochet Hook: One Milward crochet hook in size 3 to 4 mm, used solely for finishing the neckline edge.

Gauge / Tension

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for a well-fitting result. Using needles size 3.5–4.5 mm in the main stitch pattern, the gauge is 20 stitches and 31 rows = 10 x 10 cm. Always knit a tension swatch before beginning and adjust needle size as needed.

Techniques Used

• Flat knitting: All pieces are worked back and forth in rows, not in the round.
• Raglan shaping: The defining construction technique of this top. Raglan decreases are worked on both sides of each piece every second row, repeated 20–23 times depending on size. This creates the characteristic diagonal seam line running from the underarm to the neckline.
• Armhole and sleeve cap bind-offs: At the beginning of the armhole and sleeve shaping, stitches are bound off on both sides simultaneously (3–4 stitches per side) before the raglan decreases begin.
• Lace pattern from a chart: The main fabric is worked following a printed stitch chart. Right-side rows are worked according to the chart, while wrong-side (return) rows are purled across, with yarn-overs from the previous row worked as one knit stitch and one purl stitch to maintain the lace structure.
• Crochet slip stitch edging: A single round of crochet slip stitches (Kettmaschen) is worked around the neckline opening to stabilize and neaten the edge.
• Blocking / wet finishing: Completed pieces are pinned to shape, dampened, and left to dry — a standard finishing technique that evens out the lace pattern and sets the final dimensions.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (rechte Masche): The foundation of the right-side rows within the main pattern.
• Purl stitch (linke Masche): Used for all wrong-side return rows, creating the reverse stocking stitch background that supports the lace motif.
• Yarn over (Umschlag): Creates the decorative eyelets that give the fabric its lace character. Each yarn over is resolved on the following return row as one knit and one purl stitch.
• Right-leaning decrease — k2tog (2 Mas