For the Ultimate Sweater Machine®

Girl's Smocked Top

designed by Kathy Perry

SIZES
Child's 4 (6, 8, 10)    

TECHNIQUES USED
Machine Knit with Smocking and Crochet edging

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest 23 (25, 26 1/2, 28)"/58.5 (63.5, 67.5, 71) cm
Length to underarm 9 1/2 (10 1/2, 12 1/2, 14)"/24 (26.5, 32, 35.5) cm, including edging
Note: Straps are adjustable for desired total length.

YARN
Caron® International Simply Soft® Heather (100% Acrylic): 5 (5, 5, 5) oz (MC)
Caron® International Simply Soft® (100% Acrylic): 6 (6, 6, 6) oz (CC)
Shown in: #9505 Plum Heather (MC); #9717 Orchid (CC)

Click to enlarge images

Printer Friendly PDF

MATERIALS
Ultimate Sweater Machine®
(Suitable for USM/ISM/Bond Classic or 6.5 to 9 mm knitting machine)
Latch tool
Single-prong transfer tool
Claw weights
Embellish Knit!™ (optional)
Waste yarn (WY)
Yarn needle
Sewing needle and thread
Crochet hook H/8 (5mm)
Decorative buttons

KEY PLATE
USM/ISM KP#3.5, or appropriate tension to obtain gauge (MC)
USM/ISM KP#2.5, or appropriate tension to obtain gauge (CC)

OPTIONAL (for I-cord)
Bond America's Embellish-Knit ® Automatic Spool Knitter
or
Two double pointed needles, size US 8 (5mm)

GAUGE
In Stockinette stitch, with KP#3.5 and MC, 16 sts and 20 rows = 4”/10 cm
In Stockinette stitch, with KP#2.5 and CC, 17 sts and 22 rows = 4”/10 cm
After Smocking (front only), 25 sts and 23 rows = approx 4"/10 cm

SPECIAL TECHNIQUE
I-Cord: May be worked using either method below:
Using  Embellish-Knit ®: Follow manufacturer's instructions.

Using double pointed needles: On a double pointed needle, cast on 4 sts; DO NOT TURN.  * Slide sts to the opposite end of the needle and knit them, pulling yarn firmly behind sts; repeat from * to desired length.  After a few rows, you will see that you are knitting a tiny tube; give it a gentle tug now and then to adjust any loose sts.  Bind off all sts, leaving a 12" tail for finishing.

KNIT STITCHES USED
Stockinette stitch (St st): Knit side = right side
1 x 3 Rib - for Smocking (multiple of 4 sts +3 –)
Beg LHS, using latch tool, * skip 3 sts, convert next st; rep from * across, end skip last 3 sts.
Note: For ease in working, * knit 4 – 6 rows, drop sts to be converted down and reform; repeat from *.

CROCHET STITCHES USED
Chain (ch): Begin by making a slip knot on your hook. * Wrap the yarn around the hook (yarn over) and pull up a loop, [draw the yarn through the loop on the hook to form the first chain]. Repeat from * for number of chains required.
Note: The loop on the hook is not included when counting the number of chains.

Single Crochet (sc): Insert hook in stitch indicated, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw through both loops on hook.

Slip Stitch (slip st): Insert hook in the stitch indicated, yarn over and draw through both the stitch and the loop on the hook.

Picot Crochet: Sc in first sc, *ch3, sc in same sc, sc in next sc, sc in next sc and rep from * around.

NEEDLES REQUIRED
92 (100, 108, 116)

NOTE
For a fast and easy version of Girl's Top: Follow instructions - except make 2 Backs, eliminating the Smocking on the Front.

BACK
Body: Beg at lower edge, using KP#3.5, closed CO Method and MC, CO 92 (100, 108, 116) sts. COR. RC=000.
K to RC=027 (029, 035, 037).
Remove to WY, leaving long tail.
Yoke: With WS facing, rehang piece on 47 (51, 55, 59) ndls, (2 sts on every ndl except 1 st on end ndls for selvage).
Change to KP#2.5; using long tail, K 1 R.
Change to CC. COR. Reset RC=000.
K to RC=018 (024, 030, 036).
Bind off, (Chain st).

FRONT (yoke is smocked)
Body: Work as for Back.
Remove to WY, leaving long tail.
Yoke: Turn piece over; with RS facing, rehang piece on 71 (79, 83, 87) ndls, (double up sts approx every 3-4 ndls - this does not have to be exact; keep only 1 st on end ndls for selvage.)
Change to KP#2.5; using long tail, K 1 R.
Change to CC.  COL. Reset RC=000.
Beg 1x3 Rib: work to RC=025 (031, 037, 043).
Bind off (Chain st).

FINISHING
Smock Front Yoke (see technique section): Mark, then beg smocking, (leaving a tail to weave in later) by bringing bottom sts of #2 and #3 right bottom ribs tog. On next Smocking st bring tog ribs #2 & #1 at first mark. Foll technique instructions to complete yoke smocking.
Sew side seams.
Edging: Using CC and hook, work one row sc, then one row picot crochet on lower edge.
Top edge and Strap loops: Measure in 2 (2 1/2, 3, 3)" from side seams; mark for 4 strap loops on top edge.
Using CC, work one row sc evenly around top edge; join with a slip st in first st.
Ch 1, sc around, working loops at each marker as foll: * Work to marker, [ch 3, skip 1 sc] for loop; repeat from * 3 times, sc to end; join with a slip st in first st.
Straps: Using Embellish Knit! and CC, make two 12 (13, 14, 16)" pieces of cording (longer if you want straps to cross in back). Adjust to desired length and tie in place through strap loops.
Decorate with buttons, if desired (see photo).

More projects for the Ultimate Sweater Machine!