Colorful granny square motifs make the top of this tunic truly amazing. When transitioning to fall, this is a great top to pair with leggings when it’s just a little cold out but summer is still lingering.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: 2 (4, 6, 8) Finished Bust Size 21 (23, 25, 26½)”
1-2” positive ease recommended.
Shown in size 6”
Gauge: 14 sts and 11 rows = 4” [10 cm] in hdc before blocking.
Materials
Yarn:
Knit Picks Swish Worsted (100% Superwash Merino Wool; 110 yards [101 meters]/50 grams): 27226 Clementine (MC), 3 (4, 4, 5) balls
Knit Picks Chroma Fingering (70% Wool, 30% Nylon; 306 yards [362 meters]/100 grams): 26545 Carnival (CC), 1 skein.
Hook: US size H/8 (5 mm); US size 5 (1.90 mm) steel hook
Notions: Tapestry needle
Special Stitches
Double crochet 5 stitches together (dc5tog)
(Yo, draw up lp in next st, yo, draw through 2 lps on hook) 5 times, yo, draw through 6 lps on hook.
Double crochet 6 stitches together (dc6tog)
(Yo, draw up lp in next st, yo, draw through 2 lps on hook) 6 times, yo, draw through 7 lps on hook.
Pattern Notes
This pattern is worked flat in pieces from the bottom up.
Pattern
Back
With MC and larger hook, ch 43 (47, 51, 55).
Row 1: Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across, turn – 42 (46, 50, 54) sts.
Row 2: Ch 2, hdc in each st across row, turn.
Row 3: Ch 2, *hdc in next st, ch 2, sk next 2 sts; rep from * across to last 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, turn.
Row 4: Ch 2, hdc in each st and ch across row, turn – 42 (46, 50, 54) sts.
Rows 5-6: Rep Rows 3-4.
Row 7: Ch 2, hdc in each st across row, turn.
Row 8 (Dec): Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc across row to last 2 sts, hdc2tog, turn – 2 sts dec’d; 40 (44, 48, 52) sts.
Rows 9-20: Ch 2, hdc in each st and ch across row, turn – 40 (44, 48, 52) sts.
Row 21 (Dec): Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc across row to last 2 sts, hdc2tog, turn – 2 sts dec’d; 38 (42, 46, 50) sts.
Rows 22-37: Ch 2, hdc in each st and ch across row, turn – 38 (42, 46, 50) sts.
Row 38 (Dec): Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc across row to last 2 sts, hdc2tog, turn – 2 sts dec’d; 36 (40, 44, 48) sts.
Work even in hdc without decreasing until piece meas 16¾ (18, 19½, 21)” from beg.
Fasten off.
Front
With MC and larger hook, ch 43 (47, 51, 55).
Row 1: Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across, turn – 42 (46, 50, 54) sts.
Row 2: Ch 2, hdc in each st across row, turn.
Row 3: Ch 2, *hdc in next st, ch 2, sk next 2 sts; rep from * across to last 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, turn.
Row 4: Ch 2, hdc in each st and ch across row, turn – 42 (46, 50, 54) sts.
Rows 5-6: Rep Rows 3-4.
Row 7: Ch 2, hdc in each st across row, turn.
Row 8 (Dec): Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc across row to last 2 sts, hdc2tog, turn – 2 sts dec’d; 40 (44, 48, 52) sts.
Rows 9-20: Ch 2, hdc in each st and ch across row, turn – 40 (44, 48, 52) sts.
Row 21 (Dec): Ch 2, sc2tog, hdc across row to last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn – 2 sts dec’d; 38 (42, 46, 50) sts.
Rows 22-37: Ch 2, hdc in each st and ch across row, turn – 38 (42, 46, 50) sts.
Row 38 (Dec): Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc across row to last 2 sts, hdc2tog, turn – 2 sts dec’d; 36 (40, 44, 48) sts.
Work even in hdc without decreasing until piece meas 12 (12, 12½, 12½)” from beg.
Fasten off.
Motif (make 8)
With CC and smaller hook, ch 5, join with sl st to form ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), work 4 dc in ring, (ch 7, 5 dc) 3 times in ring, ch 7, join with sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-3 – 4 ch-7 sp.
Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in next dc, *2 dc in next dc, dc in next 2 dc, ch 2, (3 dc, ch 5, 3 dc) in next ch-7 sp (corner made), ch 2**, dc in next 2 dc; rep from * twice, then from * to ** once more, join with sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-3 – 4 ch-5 corner sp.
Rnd 3: Ch 2, dc5tog across next 5 dc, *ch 5, sk next dc, dc in next dc, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-5 sp, ch 3, sk next dc, dc in next dc, ch 5, sk next dc**, dc6tog across next 6 dc; rep from * twice, then from * to ** once more, join with sl st in top of first cluster.
Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc in first cluster, *3 sc in next ch-5 sp, sc in next dc, 3 sc in next ch-3 sp, sc in next 2 dc, 3 sc in next ch-2 sp, sc in next 2 dc, 3 sc in next ch-3 sp, sc in next dc, 3 sc in next ch-5 sp**, sc in top of next cluster; rep from * twice, then from * to ** once more, join with sl st in first sc.
Fasten off.
Finishing
Block Front, Back, and Motifs. Weave in all ends.
With CC and smaller hook, join motifs using photo as a guide.
With MC and larger hook, attach motifs to Front Bodice, leaving a gap in the center to mimic a Henley style top.
With MC and larger hook, seam shoulders across motifs on the end, only leaving the center motifs unseamed for the neck opening. Seam sides, leaving 4¼ (4½, 5, 5½)” from shoulder seam for Sleeves.
Sleeves
Rnd 1: With MC and larger hook, join at underarm seam, ch 2, hdc evenly around armhole, join with sl st.
Rnd 2: Ch 2, hdc in next st, *ch 2, sk next 2 sts, hdc in next st; rep from * around, join with sl st. Fasten off.
Rep for second Sleeve. 