A Collection of Vintage Knitting Patterns for the Making of Summer Tops for Women

By Anon Anon

This book contains a lovely collection of vintage knitting patterns for the making of summer tops for women. Full of designs in different styles and sizes, there is something for everyone. From a 'Top for Parties' to a 'Simple V-Neck', this book has a piece for all occasions, and ensures every woman can stay beautifully dressed throughout the whole summer. With patterns of varying difficulties, this should be suitable for most levels of skill. The content has been carefully selected for its interest and relevance to a modern audience.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: Sep 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781473358188

Book preview

Border

Original jumper was decorated with a diagonal arrangement of star flowers, each star consisting of 7 bugle beads stitched round a centre pearl (using 252 bugle beads and 36 pearls in all). Life-size close up shows a section of this arrangement, quite clearly, and you will be able to work from this and the model photograph if you wish to copy the original.

Alternatively, beads can be arranged to your own design, and you may prefer to plan them around the neckline instead of right down the front. Knitting instructions are given for 3 sizes.

Materials: Of Patons Beehive Fingering 2-ply, Patonised, 4 (5) 5 ozs. Pineapple Green 233. Pair each No. 12 and No. 13 Queen Bee needles. 4 small gold buttons. Amber bugle beads and pearls for embroidery. A No. 13 crochet hook.

Measurements: To fit 34–35 (36–37) 38–39 inch bust; length from top of shoulders, 19 1/2 (20) 20 1/2 ins.

Tension: 9 sts. and 11 rows to an inch over stocking-stitch on No. 12 needles.

N.B.—Instructions are given for 3 sizes. Where one set of figures is given this applies to all sizes.

FRONT

** With No. 13 needles, cast on 117 (125) 133 sts. and work 1 1/2 ins. k. 1, p. 1 rib, increasing 4 (6) 8 sts. evenly across on last row: 121 (131) 141 sts.

Change to No. 12 needles and work straight in stocking-stitch until front measures 5 1/2 (5 1/2) 5 1/2 ins. from start. With right side facing, continue in stocking-stitch, shaping sides by increasing 1 stitch at each end of next and every following 4th row until there are 161 (171) 181 sts. Work straight until front measures 13 1/2 (14) 14 ins. down centre.

With right side facing, shape for sleeves by casting on 3 sts. at beginning of next 2 rows: 167 (177) 187 sts. **.

Work straight until sleeve edge measures 5 1/2 (5 1/2) 6 ins. With right side facing, shape shoulders by casting off 5 (6) 6 sts. at beginning of next 6 (6) 6 rows, then 5 (5) 5 sts. at beginning of following 18 (18) 18 rows. Continue straight on remaining stitches for a further 3/4-inch. Cast off loosely using a bigger needle.

BACK

Work as for front from ** to **, 167 (177) 187 sts. Work straight over all stitches until sleeve edge measures 3 1/2 (3 1/2) 3 1/2 ins. Here divide for back opening. NEXT ROW: right side facing, k. 83 (88) 93, turn and leave remaining stitches on a spare needle. NEXT ROW: k. 2, purl to end.

Continue straight in stocking-stitch on these 83 (88) 93 sts., keeping 2 sts. at neck edge in garter-stitch throughout, until back matches front.

With right side facing, shape shoulders by casting off 5 (6) 6 sts. at beginning of next and following 2 alternate rows, then 5 (5) 5 sts. at beginning of following 9 alternate rows. Continue straight on remaining 23 (25) 30 sts. for a further 3/4-inch. Cast off loosely using a bigger needle.

With right side facing, rejoin wool to remaining stitches, cast off centre stitch, knit to end. Finish to correspond with first shoulder.

TO MAKE UP

Press parts on wrong side under a damp cloth. Join shoulder seams. With right side facing and No. 12 needles, pick up and k. 101 (101) 109 sts. round each sleeve edge. Work 3/4-inch k. 1, p. 1 rib; cast off loosely in rib. Turn ribbing to wrong side and slip-hem.

Embroider front with beads and pearls with a decorative line as in photograph. Join side seams; turn under ribbing all round lower edge and slip-hem. Turn under 3/4-inch at back of neck to wrong side and slip-hem; turn under front in the same way but graduating hem to a depth of about 1 3/4 ins. at centre front.

With crochet hook, work a row of d.c. down each side of back opening, then work a 2nd row down right side making 4 buttonhole loops evenly spaced. Press all seams. Sew on buttons.

plain shape trimmed with scarlet berries

Materials: 6 ozs. Patons Beehive Fingering 3-ply, Patonised, in main shade, and 1 oz. contrast. Odd scraps of two other shades for embroidery. A pair each No. 10 and No. 12 Beehive needles; medium-sized crochet hook. Three press-studs.

Measurements: To fit 33–35-inch bust; length from top of shoulders, 20 inches; sleeve seam, 5 inches.

Tension: 7 1/2 sts. and 10 rows to an inch over reversed stocking-stitch.

N.B.—M = main; C = contrast.

BACK

Begin by winding contrast wool into 3 balls. With No. 12 needles and main shade, cast on 110 sts. and work 3 1/2 inches k. 1, p. 1 rib, increasing to 111 at end of last row. Change to No. 10 needles and work 2 rows reversed stocking-stitch, i.e., 1 row purl, 1 row knit.

Change to pattern. 1ST ROW (right side facing): p. 28M., join in 1st ball of contrast and knit into front and back of next st. four times (this will be referred to as start bramble), p. 53M., join in 2nd ball of contrast and start bramble, p. 28M.

2ND ROW: k.28M., p.8C., k.53M., p.8C., k.28M. 3RD ROW: p. 26M., start bramble, p. 1M., slip next 7C. sts. on to right-hand needle, knit into last contrast stitch on left-hand needle in M., now slip 7C. sts. over stitch just knitted (this will be referred to as finish bramble), p. 1M., start bramble, p. 49M., start bramble, p. 1M., finish bramble, p. 1M., start bramble, p. 26M.

4TH ROW: k. 26M., p. 8C., k. 3M., p. 8C., k. 49M., p. 8C., k. 3M., p. 8C., k. 26M. 5TH ROW: p. 26M., * finish bramble, p. 1M., start bramble, p. 1M., finish bramble, * p. 49M.; repeat from * to * once more, p. 26M.

6TH ROW: As 2nd. 7TH ROW: As 3rd. 8TH ROW: As 4th. 9TH ROW: As 5th. 10TH ROW: As 2nd. 11TH ROW: p. 28M., finish bramble, p. 53M., finish bramble, p. 28M. 12TH ROW: Knit. 13TH ROW: Purl. 14TH ROW: Knit. These 14 rows form pattern.

Continue in pattern, shaping side edges by increasing 1 stitch at each end of next and every following 6th row until there are 131 sts., keeping increased stitches in reversed stocking-stitch. Work 1 row straight to end of 5th pattern.

Now keep side edges straight and introduce 3rd bramble panel down centre front thus:—NEXT ROW (1st row of pattern): p. 38M., start bramble, p. 26M., start bramble, p. 26M., start bramble, p. 38M. NEXT ROW (2nd row of pattern): k. 38M., p. 8C., k. 26M., p. 8C., k. 26M., p. 8C., k. 38M.

Continue thus in pattern until back measures 13 inches. With right side facing, shape armholes by casting off 8 sts. at beginning of next 2 rows, then k. 2 tog. at each end of next 7 purl rows (101 sts.). Work straight until back measures 20 inches.

With right side facing, shape shoulders by casting off 10 sts. at beginning of next 6 rows. Cast off remainder.

FRONT

Work exactly as for back to end of 10th pattern. With right side facing, shape neck thus:—Pattern 45, turn, leavingremaining stitches on a spare needle. Continue on first half of work, decreasing 1 st. at neck edge on every row until 30 sts. remain. Work straight until front matches back.

Shape shoulder by casting off 10 sts. at beginning of next 3 alternate rows, armhole edge.

Return to remaining stitches, slip centre 11 on a safety-pin, then rejoin wool to last 45 sts. and work to correspond with first shoulder.

SLEEVES

With No. 12 needles and main shade, cast on 82 sts. and work 1 inch in k. 1, p. 1 rib. Change to No. 10 needles and reversed stocking-stitch, shaping side edges by increasing 1 st. at each end of next and every following 4th row until there are 92 sts. Work straight until sleeve measures 5 inches.

Shape top by casting off 4 sts. at beginning of next 2 rows, then k. 2 tog. at each end of every alternate row until 46 sts. remain, then at each end of every row until 26 sts. remain; cast off.

NECK BAND

Join right shoulder seam. With No. 12 needles, right side facing and main shade, pick up and knit 120 sts. all round neck, including 11 from safety-pin. Work 1 inch k. 1, p.