LUXURY SILK SHIRT
YARN = 4 balls xcol. 5 (sage green) of LUXURY SILK by LAINES DU NORD
CIRCULAR NEEDLES = size 12 mm points; 60 cm and 40 cm cables.
OTHERS =stitch wire with caps (or scrap yarn), darning needle, pins, stitch marker, scissors, tape measure.
SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate
Work the chest (front and back) with circular needles in round until the armholes; work the top part of back and front in back-and-forth rows separately. At last, join 2 top parts at the shoulders.
Work from bottom yo top, that is from lower edge towards the neckline.
The number before the brackets refer to sizes XS-S-M; the numbers inside the brackets refer to sizes L-XL.
Stocking stitch in round: every round in knit stitch, always on RS.
Stocking stitch in back-and-forth rows: knit the r. on RS; purl the r. on WS.
Extended stitch in round: it consists of 2 rounds.
1st round (RS): (insert the right needle in 1st st. on left needle, wrap yarn twice around right needle and knit) rep. across the entire round.
2nd round (RS): (k1 in k1, unwrap the yarn) rep. across the entire round.
Extended stitch in back-and-forth rows: work the 1st r. (RS) like 1st round of extended st. in round, across the 2nd r. (WS) rep. (p1 in p1, unwrap the yarn).
Selvage: slip 1st st. of every r. (excluded the forth-row in extended st.)
3 needles bind off: use this technique for shoulders stitches binding off. Distribute the sts. of back and front shoulder over two different knitting needles (base needles), put them beside (RS against RS) and, using a third knitting needle (working needle), insert its point in 1st st. of front needle and in 1st st. of back needle, then knit them together, (insert the working needle in next st. of both needles and k2tog, pass 1st worked st. over the 2nd st. of working needle); rep. until you have bound off all sts.
Bind off: k2, then * insert the point of left needle in first of these 2 sts. and pass the st. 1st st. over the 2nd st. *, k1 and rep. from * to *. Cont. running out all sts.
RS = right side of work
WS = wrong side of work
SM = stitch marker
st. / sts. = stitch / es
r. = row / s
incr. = increase
col. = color
k = knit
tog. = together
rep. = repeat
p = purl
foll. = follow / ing
SIZE: 38-40-42
As this garment has a very relaxed fit, we divide the sizes into 2 groups. Each group suitable to the following sizes XS-S-M (M-L).
Procedure
FRONT AND BACK CHEST (UP TO THE ARMHOLES)
Using the circular needles, cast-on 100 sts. 1 st. (110 sts. 1 st.) loosely, close in ring shape and place 1 SM. Before beginning of every next round, remember to move the SM.
From 1st to 5th round: knit until SM.
6th round: 1 extended st. in each st. until SM
From 7th to 9th round: knit all sts. until SM.
10th round: 1 extended st. in each st. until SM.
From 11th to 30th round: knit all sts. until SM.
Cont. in stocking st. in round, until chest measures 30 cm in height.
Using circular needles in back-and-forth rows, cont. working 2 pieces separately (top front and top back).
Leave 50 (55) sts. onto a stitch wire and place the caps at the ends (alternatively you can use a scrap yarn).
TOP FRONT
1st r. (WS): 1 selvage, purl; turn.
2nd r. (RS): 1 selvage, knit; turn.
From 3rd to 18th r.: rep. 1st and 2nd r. 8 times.
19th r. (RS): rep. 1st r.
At the end of 19th round, this part should measure 20 cm in height.
20th r. (RS): extended st.; turn.
21st r. (WS): 1 selvage, purl, unwrapping the extended sts., turn.
22nd r. (RS): 1 selvage, knit; turn.
23rd r. (WS): 1 selvage, purl; turn.
24th r. (RS): extended st.; turn.
25th r. (WS): 1 selvage, purl, unwrapping the extended sts.; turn.
Do not bind off but leave the sts. of top front.
TOP BACK
Pick-up 50 (55) sts. you have left onto the stitch wire at the end of body.
1st r. (WS): 1 selvage, purl; turn.
2nd r. (RS): extended st.; turn.
From 3rd to 10th r.: rep. 1st and 2nd r. 4 times more
11th r. (WS): 1 selvage, purl; turn.
12th r. (RS): 1 selvage, knit; turn.
Check that top back is same height as top front.
FINISHING
Bind off the shoulders.
Join the shoulder using the techniques of 3 needles bind off: turn the garment inside out (on WS), join and bind off first 12 (13) sts. of both top parts, leave 26 (29) central sts. of front neckline and 26 (29) central sts. of back neckline, then join and bind off last 12 (13) sts. of both top parts.
Neckline band
Move 26 (29) sts. of front neckline and 26 (29) sts. of back neckline onto circular needles with 40 cm cable, close in ring shape and place the SM, then work 3 rounds in knit st. At the end, bind off all sts.
Armholes band
Using the circular needles with 40 cm cable, pick-up 26 sts. around the circumference of one armhole, close in ring shape and place the SM, then work 5 rounds in knit st. At the end, bind off all sts. Work the band of second armhole like first one.
Hide the ends on WS.
