Od-Op Top

Will introduce here something absolutely different from “12 Men’s Character Sweaters”. Those 3 remaining men’s sweaters will be posted soon (2 of them are almost ready), but today we will celebrate the springtime :-)

With this Od-Op Top I’m starting "12 Nautical Tops for 12 Pretty Girls".This project will be a tribute to my Daddy. I think he would love the idea!  Although he retired from the navy service in 60s, he always loved the sea and everything associated with it. He owned a lot of nautical uniform undershirts and proudly wore them from time to time.

Od-Op Top is inspired by the warm summer atmosphere of Odessa Opera House located by the Black Sea maritime port. Anja is wearing it with a silver necklace pinned as a brooch.

Yarn: Elann Esprit (98.3% cotton/1.7% elastic). Colors: French Navy + Natural.

2 balls of each for size XS and S, 3 balls of each for size M and L.

Needles: #4 (3.5 mm) and a crochet hook #3 if the straps are to be crocheted.

Gauge: 20 sts = 4” (10 cm) on stockinet

Sizes: XS-S-M-L

Schematics with measurements:

Note: all the measurements are provided for a non-stretched piece that is why the piece is much smaller than the dimensions or the top when worn. Front and back pieces are identical. Straps are about 16” long, open work trimming band is 20” long.


Main Stitch pattern:

Start with navy color. 4 rows in 3x2 rib. Switch to natural color, 1row - all k, 3 rows of 3x2 rib. Switch to navy, 1 row – all k, switch to natural, etc. When switching a color, always knit 1 row to get solid stripes.

Lace pattern:

yo – yarn over

k2tog – knit 2 together

Cast on 13 sts. Rows 1 – 16:

Row 1 (Right Side): slip 1 purlwise, k6, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, k2.
Row 2 and all even rows: yo, k2tog, all k till the end of the row
Row 3: slip 1 purlwise, k5, [yo, k2tog] 2 times, k2, yo, k2.
Row 5: slip 1 purlwise, k6, [yo, k2tog] 2 times, k2, yo, k2.
Row 7: slip 1 purlwise, k7, [yo, k2tog] 2 times, k2, yo, k2.
Row 9: slip 1 purlwise, k5, [k2tog, yo] 2 times, k2, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k1.
Row 11: slip 1 purlwise, k4, [k2tog, yo] 2 times, k2, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k1.
Row 13: slip 1 purlwise, k5, k2tog, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k1.
Row 15: slip 1 purlwise, k4, k2tog, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k1.

Swatch

Back and Front (identical): Cast on 67-77-92-117 sts (65-75-90-115 sts + 2 selvage stitches) and work straight 28 rows (7 strips).

In the 3rd row of the 8th stripe decrease evenly 7-8-9-11 sts (right side row: 1 ss, *k2tog, 1k, 2 p, 3k, 2p*, repeat *…* to the end of the row).

Work straight 5 more stripes (9th through 13th), then in the 3rd row of the 14th stripe decrease evenly 6-7-9-10 sts by switching completely to 2x2 ribbing.

Work straight 13 stripes (15th through 27th), then in the 3rd row of the 28th stripe add evenly 7-8-9-11 sts in the same spots where the first decreases were made.

Work straight 2-3-6-13 stripes and cast off. Make 1 more piece.

(Note about selvage stitches (ss): Always slip the first stitch purlwise (with yarn in back) in the beginning of each row and purl the last stitch in the end of each row.).

Lace trimming band: cast on 13 sts and repeat the lace pattern (all 16 rows) 13-14-16-18 times.

Knit (I-cord) or crochet the straps (approximately 16’/40 cm each), or use 1 yard of purchased ribbon.

Assembly: assemble side seams of the bodice and the trimming band using mattress stitch. Pin together upper edges of the trimming and the bodice (right side of the bodice to the wrong side of the trimming). Attach the trimming easing in as appropriate; attach the straps making necessary adjustment. Loosely sew on the tips of the trimming corners to the bodice, otherwise they will stick out. Decorate with a brooch or a corsage flower.