Xander slipover

Xander Slipover by Brian Smith Designs

What Is Being Made

The Xander slipover is a sleeveless knitted top designed as an intermediate-level project. This garment is constructed from the bottom up, featuring a fitted silhouette with ribbed edging and a textured main pattern. Available in four sizes ranging from 38 to 44 inches chest circumference, the slipover is designed to be worn as a layering piece or standalone top after blocking.

Techniques Used

This knitting project employs several fundamental and intermediate techniques. The construction begins with casting on using a provisional or long-tail method to establish the foundation stitches. Knitters will work ribbed edging at the lower body to create elasticity and structure. The pattern then transitions to a main stitch pattern worked over a larger needle size to create textural variation. Armhole shaping is achieved through strategic casting off at the beginning of rows followed by decrease stitches worked at each end on alternating rows. The garment is finished with blocking, which is essential for achieving accurate finished measurements and professional appearance.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) – the fundamental stitch forming the base of the fabric
• Purl (P) – used in combination with knit stitches to create the ribbed texture and pattern definition
• Ribbed Pattern – alternating knit and purl stitches in a 1x1 configuration (K1, P1) worked over 3 to 4 inches depending on size, creating vertical lines and elasticity
• Main Pattern – a repeating sequence of knit and purl stitches (K3, P3) that creates a textured, dimensional surface
• Slip Slip Knit (SSK) – a left-leaning decrease stitch used during armhole shaping to maintain pattern integrity
• Purl Rows – worked across the wrong side to create smooth transitions between pattern repeats

Materials and Specifications

The Xander slipover is designed to be knitted with John Arbon Knit by Numbers 4-ply yarn in shade KBN81. The yardage requirement varies by size: 3 skeins for sizes 38, 40, and 42 inches chest, with 4 skeins required for the largest 44-inch size. Two needle sizes are essential for this project: 2.25mm straight needles measuring 30 centimeters for the ribbed edging sections, and 3.25mm straight needles also measuring 30 centimeters for the main pattern body. The gauge is measured over a 3x3 ribbed pattern at 24 stitches and 36 rows per 10 centimeters after blocking, which is critical for achieving the correct finished measurements.

Finished Measurements

After blocking, the Xander slipover is available in the following dimensions:

• Size 38: 25 inches (63.5 centimeters) length, 19.5 inches (49.5 centimeters) width
• Size 40: 26 inches (66 centimeters) length, 20.5 inches (52 centimeters) width
• Size 42: 26 inches (66 centimeters) length, 21.5 inches (54.5 centimeters) width
• Size 44: 27 inches (68.5 centimeters) length, 22.5 inches (57 centimeters) width

Pattern Structure Overview

The pattern begins with casting on between 129 and 147 stitches depending on the desired size. The ribbed cuff is worked first, requiring 3 to 4 inches of alternating knit and purl rows to establish the lower edge. After completing the ribbing, stitches are worked on the larger needle size to execute the main pattern, which consists of alternating knit and purl stitches in a K3, P3 repeat. This main section continues until the work reaches approximately 14 to 15 inches from the cast-on edge. Armhole shaping then begins with strategic decreases: 7 stitches are cast off at the beginning of two consecutive rows,