goldsmobile top

Hi all!

There definitely has been a shortage of design posts on this blog in recent memory (well, a shortage of posts in general), but I suppose that’s what happens when you’ve got a toddler and a newborn!

I’m happy to report, however, that there IS a new design to share in the Fall 2017 issue of Interweave Knits (IK): meet the “Goldsmobile Top”! (More on the pattern name in a minute…)

This has to be one of my favorite pieces that I’ve designed to date. Conceived as a versatile garment that can be layered over a turtleneck, a flannel shirt, a t-shirt, a dress, or whatever you choose, the Goldsmobile Top has an easy, oversized vibe without any shaping in the body. The armholes are extra deep to accommodate the layered look while the thick turtleneck creates that extra bit of coziness and warmth for the body.

To maintain the structure of such a casual garment, the front and back are each knit separately and seamed together with a split hem detail. Then the turtleneck and armhole ribbing are picked up and knit.

The pattern offers 5 different sizes, all with at least a few inches of positive ease to allow you to style your layers as you wish!

Apart from being thrilled to have this piece chosen for Interweave Knits’ latest issue, I’m happy to say that the cable pattern is something I designed after wondering how many times I could twist the ribs of a traditional 2×2 ribbing pattern around each other without going completely bonkers. You know how I love a good cable!

I also think that the folks at IK chose a great yarn to give the garment and the cable pattern more impact: the super bulky “Chill” yarn from Sugar Bush Yarns of Canada. This 100% merino roving-type yarn is milled in Italy and comes in a wide palette of color choices. And with such a big-gauge yarn, you can knit this Top in no time. I finished the sample in less than 2 weeks back in January, when the sunny yellow color (a perfect Autumn hue) was a welcome departure from the dark gray skies.

A bit more about Chill: I was very pleasantly surprised by this yarn. As you know, roving is soft, lofty, and gives a great rustic texture to your knitting, but it can be difficult to work with for seaming and tearing out/re-knitting purposes. Not so with this yarn. It held its structure and smoothness through a lot of handling. I highly recommend it!

Finally, the styling and the name. I LOVE how this piece was styled by the editorial staff and photography crew at IK (not least because my own closet is filled with striped shirts and dark skinny jeans). The photos show how wearable the design really is. And although I submitted this design for IK’s consideration with a different pattern name, after seeing the photos, I can see why they went with “Goldsmobile” instead hahaha 🙂 Makes me smile everytime I look at this last photo!

I hope you love this design, and all of the designs featured in another beautifully curated and styled issue of IK, as much as I do. Please click here to view the entire issue and purchase it.

And if you do knit the Goldsmobile Top, please share your pictures on Ravelry or on Instagram; it’s such a thrill seeing everyone’s finished projects and I think this piece makes the perfect first Fall knitting project! (It is August after all….EEK!)

Happy knitting and happy rest of the Summer,
xoxo Danielle