Garo Top by Little Rita: Knit a cool, lightweight flared crop top with fine straps on circular needles

4 August, 2020

Laia Guerrero from Little Rita (@littleritaknits on Instagram) is a textile designer. She has always been particularly interested in knitted garments. “Using a yarn to create a garment from scratch presents a great opportunity to develop colour, volume and texture combinations together”. I live in a small village in Euskadi. “From there, I design and illustrate knit and crochet garments and patterns whilst accompanying my family throughout its day-to-day adventures”. In this context, the Garo Top made with the Ultrasoft yarn from Katia Concept is created: a very cool, lightweight and comfortable flared crop top with straps. Follow the knit pattern on circular needles to make the sensual Garo Top by Little Rita in one piece.

flared crop top

Flared crop top with straps

“This garment, with a simple structure, plays with both expansive and gathered stitches to create unusual and flattering volume proportions. The body of the top is worked in fisherman’s rib with bigger size needles than would normally be used. This creates a beautiful drapey effect. The upper part of the flared crop top with straps is worked in ribbing, stockinette st and eyelet st. It is finished off at the top with a lacey stitch. The straps can be made using the i-cord method, a cable using the same yarn as the body or a lace trim to add a special touch. This garment has been developed for the fantastic organic cotton yarn called Ultrasoft from Katia Concept. When made up it is an absolute dream to wear directly on top of your skin”.

flared crop top

Knit pattern for circular needles

This flared crop top is knitted in one piece, from bottom to top, on circular needles. First, a tube form is worked in fisherman’s rib up to the armholes and then the chest is worked flat. The combination of volumes is created by changing the knitting needles to a small size and also changing the knit structure: from fisherman’s rib (very open and expansive) to 1×1 ribbing (tighter and more gathered in). From here, the front is worked flat alternating eyelet stitch and stockinette stitch.

flared crop top

The top needs to be blocked when finished to accentuate the flared shape and stretch out the fisherman’s rib. It is a crop top, so if you want to increase the length you will need more yarn than the recommended amount. The straps are made separately by braiding the yarn and then sewing them on when the top is finished.

Size

The size shown in the photograph is c)

With a chest contour of: a) 29 7/8” (76 cm), b) 31 1/2″ (80 cm), c) 33 7/8” (86 cm), d) 36 1/4″ (92 cm), e) 38 5/8” (98 cm), f) 41” (104 cm), g) 43 1/4″ (110 cm), h) 46 1/2″ (118 cm), i) 49 1/4″ (125 cm), j) 53 1/8” (135 cm).

  • A – Fan shape in fisherman’s rib
  • B – Width from armhole to armhole: a) 14 1/8” (36 cm), b) 15” (38 cm), c) 16 1/2″ (42 cm), d) 18 1/8” (46 cm), e) 19 5/8” (50 cm), f) 21 1/4” (54 cm), g) 20 7/8” (53 cm), h) 21 5/8” (55 cm), i) 21 5/8” (55 cm), j) 22 1/2″ (57 cm)
  • C – Bust width: a) 8 1/4″ (21 cm), b) 9” (23 cm), c) 9 7/8” (25 cm), d) 10 5/8” (27 cm), e) 11 3/8” (29 cm), f) 12 1/4” (31 cm), g) 13” (33 cm), h) 13 3/8” (34 cm), i) 13 3/4″ (35 cm), j) 14 1/8” (36 cm)
  • D – Length from waist to armhole: a) 10 5/8” (27 cm), b) 11” (28 cm), c) 11 3/8” (29 cm), d) 11 3/4” (30 cm), e) 12 1/4″ (31 cm), f) 12 5/8” (32 cm), g) 12 5/8” (32 cm), h) 13” (33 cm), i) 13” (33 cm), j) 13 3/8” (34 cm)

crop top sizes

Materials

  • KATIA ULTRASOFT: a) 2, b) 2, c) 3, d) 3, e) 3, f) 3, g) 4, h) 4, i) 4, j) 4 balls col. 62
  • Circular knitting needles: sizes 4 & 7 (U.S.)/(3.5mm & 4.5mm) with 32” (80 cm) & 40” (100 cm) cables
  • 4 stitch markers (1 being different from the rest)
  • Scissors
  • Wool sewing needle
  • Stitch holder

Abbreviations

  • k – knit
  • p – purl
  • RS – right side of work
  • WS – wrong side of work
  • K2 tog – knit 2 together
  • P2 tog – purl 2 together
  • YO – yarn over
  • R(s) – row(s)
  • sm – stitch marker
  • sm1 – stitch marker at start of work (different)
  • st(s) – stitch(es)
  • rep – repeat
  • nd – needle
  • 1×1 ribbing – K1, P1
  • Stockinette st
  • Circular fisherman’s rib
    • R1: *K1, P1* rep from *to* until the end of the row.
    • R2: *K1 (insert the tip of the needle in the middle of the st on the row below), P1*, rep from *to* until the end of the row.
    • R3: *K1, P1 (insert the needle in the middle of the purl st on the row below).
    • Always rep R2 &3.
  • Flat fisherman’s rib
    • R1 and all following rows: work the sts as they present themselves inserting the needle in the st on the row below.

Gauge

Using the size 4 needles (or the required size needles to match the tension square = before blocking) work as follows:

  • Cast on 21 sts.
  • R1-6: work in stockinette st
  • R7: K3, YO, K2 tog, *K1, YO, K2 tog* rep from *to * until the last 2 sts, K2.
    R8-12: work in stockinette st
    R13: rep R7
    R14-18: work in stockinette st
  • R19: rep R7
  • Rep R8-19: 2 more times
  • Rep R8-16: 1 more time

Garo Top by Little Rita

Notes: this top is knitted in two parts, one circular part and one flat part. When knitting the flat part work edge sts (k) at the start and finish of each row. We recommend that you use a lifeline every 2 3/4″ (7 cm) when working the fisherman’s rib.

lifeline knit

Body

Using KATIA ULTRASOFT col. 62 and the size 7 needles with the 32”/40” (80/100 cm) cable, cast on a) 152, b) 158, c) 164, d) 174, e) 182, f) 190, g) 198, h) 204, i) 212, j) 222 sts. Place sm1 and join the work to continue in the round.

R1 and following rows: work in fisherman’s rib until work measures a) 9 1/2″ (24 cm), b) 9 7/8” (25 cm), c) 10 1/4″ (26 cm), d) 10 5/8” (27 cm), e) 11” (28 cm), f) 11 3/8” (29 cm), g) 11 3/8” (29 cm), h) 11 3/4″ (30 cm), i) 11 3/4″ (30 cm), j) 12 1/4″ (31 cm).

Bust

Slip sm1 and work in knit st inserting the needle in the middle of the st on the row below: work a) 18, b) 19, c) 20, d) 22, e) 24, f) 24, g) 26, h) 28, i) 31, j) 33 sts, place sm, work a) 56, b) 56, c) 56, d) 56, e) 56, f) 58, g) 60, h) 58, i) 58, j) 58 sts, place sm, work a) 18, b) 19, c) 20, d) 22, e) 24, f) 24, g) 26, h) 28, i) 31, j) 33 sts, place sm, work a) 60, b) 64, c) 68, d) 74, e) 78, f) 84, g) 86, h) 90, i) 92, j) 98 sts.

graph

Slip all the sts onto a stitch holder except for the a) 60, b) 64, c) 68, d) 72, e) 77, f) 82, g) 85, h) 90, i) 92, j) 98 front sts.

Continue working flat

R1: work in fisherman’s rib

R2: work 2 sts tog as they present themselves, follow the fisherman’s rib until the last 3 sts, work 2 sts tog as they present themselves (-4 sts).

R3-4: rep R1.

R5 and following rows: rep R2 a) 6, b) 6, c) 6, d) 8, e) 8, f) 10, g) 10, h) 12, i) 12, j) 12 more times. Total: (a) 46, b) 50, c) 54, d) 56, e) 60, f) 62, g) 64, h) 64, i) 66, j) 72 sts.

knitting flat

Change to size 4 needles

Pick up a) 6, b) 9, c) 8, d) 10, e) 10, f) 12, g) 12, h) 14, i) 15, j) 15 sts along the side of the chest section, bring back into work the sts left of the stitch holder and pick up a) 6, b) 9, c) 8, d) 10, e) 10, f) 12, g) 12, h) 14, i) 15, j) 15 sts along the other side of the chest. Total: (a) 150, b) 162, c) 166, d) 176, e) 184, f) 192, g) 200, h) 206, i) 216, j) 226 sts.

armhole

Work in circular

R1: work in 1×1 ribbing so that the knit and purl sts coincide with the fisherman’s rib sts for a total of a) 5, b) 5, c) 5, d) 5, e) 5, f) 7, g) 7, h) 7, i) 7, j) 7 rows.

Next row: bind (cast off) the sts from sm1 to the 4th sm (leave the stitch markers in place after casting off the sts), and work the remaining a) 46, b) 50, c) 54, d) 56, e) 60, f) 62, g) 64, h) 64, i) 66, j) 72 sts flat.

Chest

R1(RS): work a) 3, b) 3, c) 2, d) 3, e) 2, f) 3, g) 3, h) 3, i) 2, j) 2 sts in knit st, YO, K2 tog, *K1, YO, K2 tog* rep from *to* until the last 2/3 sts, a) 3, b) 3, c) 2, d) 3, e) 2, f) 3, g) 3, h) 3, i) 2, j) 2 in knit st.

R2-6: stockinette st.

R7(RS): rep R1.

R8-12: stockinette st.

R13(RS): work a) 3, b) 3, c) 2, d) 3, e) 2, f) 3, g) 3, h) 3, i) 2, j) 2 sts in purl st, YO, P2 tog, *P1, YO, P2 tog* rep from*to* until the last 2/3 sts, a) 3, b) 3, c) 2, d) 3, e) 2, f) 3, g) 3, h) 3, i) 2, j) 2 sts in purl st.

R14(WS): work all sts in purl st.

R15-17: stockinette st.

Bind (cast off) all the sts leaving a 23 5/8” (60 cm) length of yarn to sew with later.

Fold the work along R13 to make a hem, with the wrong sides of the fabric facing together. Sew the cast off edge to R8 through the back of the loop.

straps

Straps

Cut 12 lengths of yarn each measuring 19 5/8” (50 cm) long = 6 lengths for each strap. Make two braids. Sew on each strap or braid from the sm at the armhole, going around the arm and to the other sm at the armhole. If desired, the straps can be crossed over each other at the back. Bought tapes or laces can also be used for the straps of your flared crop top. Use the front stitch markers as guides for the strap placement.

blocking a top

Blocking

To block the flared crop top, submerge in warm water with a small amount of soap and gently squeeze out the excess water using a towel. Do not twist the garment when removing the water. Place the garment onto a mat, or similar surface, and fix in place with pins. Gently pull the lower part of the top to create the fan shape and straighten the waves at the bust.

flared crop top