Kebi Top

Kebi Top by Taiga Hilliard Designs

What is Being Made

The Kebi Top is a women's knitted garment designed with a flattering silhouette featuring an eyelet yoke and a loose but positive ease body. This top-down construction piece offers versatility across six sizes, ranging from XS to XXL, with bust measurements accommodating 28-30" (XS) through 48-52" (XXL). Size M is featured in the pattern photography.

Construction Method and Techniques

This garment is knit top down in the round, a popular construction method that allows for easy fitting adjustments and seamless construction. The pattern incorporates short row shaping in the yoke area to create a custom fit across the shoulders and upper back. The short rows are worked using the wrap and turn (W&T) technique, with specific instructions to not pick up the wraps as you come to them, creating a smooth visual transition in the finished fabric. The eyelet yoke adds both decorative interest and breathability to the design.

Stitches and Stitch Details

The Kebi Top employs fundamental knitting stitches to create its structure:

• Knit stitch – forms the primary fabric on right-side rows
• Purl stitch – creates texture on wrong-side rows and contributes to the reversible aesthetic
• Eyelet stitches – integrated into the yoke section for decorative openwork

The pattern begins with a garter stitch foundation (alternating knit and purl rounds) worked three times total before transitioning into the short row shaping section.

Yarn and Materials

The Kebi Top is designed to showcase fingering or sock weight yarn (4-ply), a lightweight and delicate yarn category ideal for creating garments with drape and breathability. Yardage requirements vary by size: XS requires 600 yards, S requires 660 yards, M requires 750 yards, L requires 950 yards, XL requires 1,050 yards, and XXL requires 1,150 yards.

The pattern is specifically recommended for natural fiber yarns including bamboo, silk, cotton, and linen, all of which provide excellent drape and comfort for a lightweight summer or transitional top. These fiber choices enhance the garment's breathability and movement.

Needles and Gauge

The pattern calls for US size 8 (5.00 mm) needles, or whichever needle size is necessary to achieve the specified gauge. The target gauge is 17 stitches and 25 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished bust measurements and overall fit across all six sizes.

Difficulty Level

The Kebi Top is rated as an intermediate knitting project. While it uses basic stitches, the combination of top-down construction, circular knitting, short row shaping, and eyelet placement requires foundational knitting experience and comfort with reading pattern instructions and managing stitches in the round.