Catherine Top in Rowan Summerlite 4 Ply - ROC011 - Downloadable PDF

Catherine Top in Rowan Summerlite 4 Ply by Jennie Atkinson – Detailed Pattern Summary

The Catherine Top is a beautifully crafted knitted top designed by Jennie Atkinson and published by Rowan. This advanced-level pattern is available as a free downloadable PDF and showcases an elegant combination of knitting techniques and decorative bead embellishment, making it a stunning project for experienced knitters looking to expand their skills. The finished garment is a lightweight, fashion-forward top suited to warmer seasons, thanks to the delicate yarn chosen for its construction.

Garment Overview

The Catherine Top is a single garment design — a fitted knitted top worked in Rowan Summerlite 4 Ply, photographed in the colourway Buttermilk 421. The top is available in five sizes to fit bust measurements ranging from 81–86 cm (32–34 in) through to 122–127 cm (48–50 in), labelled as S, M, L, XL, and XXL. This broad size range makes the pattern accessible to a wide variety of knitters in terms of fit.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: Rowan Summerlite 4 Ply, a lightweight 4 ply yarn, used in Buttermilk 421
• Yarn quantity: 4 to 6 x 50g balls depending on size (S/M require 4 balls; L/XL require 5 balls; XXL requires 6 balls)
• Needles: 1 pair of 3mm (no 11) (US 2/3) straight needles; a 3mm (no 11) (US 2/3) circular needle no more than 80 cm long
• Crochet hook: 2.50mm (no 12) (US B1/C2) crochet hook, plus a very fine crochet hook for bead placement (the hook must fit through the hole in the beads)
• Beads: Swarovski Light Topaz Selection 9825101-00010 — 6mm faceted crystal beads, supplied in packs of 50; 3 to 4 packs are required depending on size, with a total of 139 to 185 beads needed across the size range

Tension

The pattern calls for a tension of 28 stitches and 36 rows to 10 cm measured over pattern using 3mm (US 2/3) needles. Achieving the correct tension is particularly important in a fitted top of this nature, and knitters are strongly advised to work a tension swatch before beginning.

Techniques Used

The Catherine Top employs a sophisticated mix of knitting and crochet techniques, making it well-suited to advanced knitters who are comfortable working with multiple methods simultaneously. Key techniques include:

• Garter stitch — used at the cast-on edge of the front, worked over the first few rows to create a neat, stable border
• Elongated stitch / dropped loop technique — stitches are worked by winding the yarn multiple times around the needle, then dropping the extra loops on the following row to create long, flowing elongated stitches that form the base of the bead embellishment
• Bead knitting using a crochet hook method — rather than the traditional method of pre-threading beads onto the yarn before knitting, this pattern uses a very fine crochet hook to place beads directly onto stitches as the work progresses; a bead is slipped onto the crochet hook, the elongated stitch is slipped off the needle onto the hook, pulled through the bead, and then replaced onto the left needle before being knitted — this encloses the double strand of the elongated stitch within the bead for a secure and polished result
• Crochet finishing — the 2.50mm crochet hook is used in finishing elements of the top, with crochet abbreviations including chain (ch) and slip