[shareprints gallery_id=”324″ gallery_type=”masonry” gallery_position=”pos_left” gallery_width=”width_50″ image_size=”xlarge” image_padding=”0″ theme=”light” image_hover=”false” lightbox_type=”slide” titles=”true” captions=”true” descriptions=”true” comments=”true” sharing=”true”]The Smock Top Sweater features a form-flattering ribbed body topped by feminine smocking. The turtleneck is knit with ever-increasing sizes of needles to drape softly at the neck line.

Knit from the bottom up, the body’s 2×2 ribbing flows seamlessly into the smocking pattern that adorns the yoke. At the top of the smocking, the ribs flow up to match at the shoulder, making for a pretty join.

The merino content of Cashsoft DK creates a soft sweater, while the cashmere gives it warmth without excess weight.

The traditional style of the Smock Top Sweater lends itself well to dressing up – maybe with pretty black slacks? –  or dressing down – paired with jeans for cozy fall and winter gatherings. Its versatility makes it useful in a time when we are all trying to get the most out of our garments.

I hope you’ll find this sweater a joy to create and comfortable to wear.

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Finished Bust Size 30 (34, 38, 41.5, 45.5, 49.5, 53)”
Length 22.5 (23, 23.5, 23.75, 24, 24.5, 25)”
Very-close fitting.  Shown in size 34” on a bust size 34” (0 ease)

Yarn

RYC Cashsoft DK (57% extra fine merino, 33% acrylic microfiber, 10% cashmere, 142 yards [130 meters]/50 grams): Shade 505 – Mist, 9 (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) balls.

Needles

1 pair US#5 (3.75 mm) straight and 24” circular (optional)
1 set each: US#5 (3.75 mm), US#6 (4 mm), and US#7 (4.5 mm) double-pointed needles

Gauge

25 sts and 28 rows = 4” in k2p2 ribbing pattern, with US#5 (3.75 mm) needles, blocked slightly stretched

Notions

Stitch holders, tapestry needle

The pattern is knitted from the bottom up. The cast-on stitch count includes two selvedge stitches for use in seaming. Neck is shaped by using three different sizes of needles for a nice drape that doesn’t ride up the neck. Some wraps on the short-row wraps will not go all the way around the stitch as usual. They will work out as you work the completion row.

Smocking Stitch Pattern

Worked as multiple of 8 plus 8 sts for edge ribbing and selvedge.
Row 1 and every alt row (WS): P3, k2, *p2, k2, rep from * to last 3 sts, p3.
Row 2: K3, p2, *k2, p2, rep from * to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 4: K3, p2,  *wyb, insert right-hand needle from front between 6th st (a knit st) and 7th st (a purl st) on the left-hand needle and draw through a loop, slip this loop onto left-hand needle and knit it tog with the first st, then k1, p2, k2, p2; rep from * to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 6: K3, p2, *k2, p2; rep from * to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 8: K3, p2, k2, p2, *wyb, insert right-hand needle from front between 6th st (a knit st) and 7th st (a purl st) on the left-hand needle and draw through a loop, slip this loop onto left-hand needle and knit it tog with the first st, then k1, p2, k2, p2; rep from * to last 7 sts, k2, p2, k3.

CO 94 (106, 118, 130, 142, 154, 166) sts on size 5 (3.75 mm) straight or circular needles in ribbing pattern as est in setup row below.
Setup Row (RS – for sizes 30, 38, 45.5, and 53” only): K1, p1, *k2, p2; rep from * to last 4 sts, k2, p1, k1.
Setup Row (RS – for sizes 34, 41.5, and 49.5” only): K2, *p2, k2; rep from * to end.
Work in ribbing as est until piece measures 13.5”, ending with a WS row.

Armhole Shaping

BO 5 (6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7) sts at beg of next 2 rows; 84 (94, 106, 118, 128, 140, 152) sts rem.
Dec 1 st at each end of every RS row 2 (3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12) times; 80 (88, 96, 104, 112, 120, 128) sts rem.
Keeping first and last st of each row in St st for selvage, work even in ribbing until armhole measures 8 (8.5, 9, 9.25, 9.5, 10, 10.5)” ending with a WS row.
Shape neck and shoulders (RS): Work 24 (27, 30, 33, 36, 39, 42) sts (do not break yarn), slip next 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) sts onto a stitch holder, join a second ball of yarn and work remaining 24 (27, 30, 33, 36, 39, 42) sts. You will have 24 (27, 30, 33, 36, 39, 42) sts for each shoulder.

Back Left Shoulder and Right Front Shoulder (do not work decreases for front):     
Row 1 (WS): Work to last 3 sts, ssp, p1.
Row 2: K1, ssk, work to last 6 (6, 6, 7, 7, 10, 10) sts, w&t.
Row 3: Work to last 3 sts, ssp, p1.
Row 4: K1, ssk, work to 5 (5, 5, 7, 8, 8, 9) sts before previous wrapped st, w&t.
Row 5: Work to end of row.
Row 6: Work to 4 (7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 8) sts before previous wrapped st, w&t.
Row 7: Work to end of row.
Row 8: Work across all sts, picking up the wraps; 20 (23, 26, 29, 32, 35, 38) sts. Place sts on holder.

Back Right Shoulder and Left Front Shoulder (do not work decreases for front):     
Row 1 (WS): P1, p2tog, work to last 6 (6, 6, 7, 7, 10, 10) sts, w&t.
Row 2: Work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Row 3: P1, p2tog, work to 5 (5, 5, 7, 8, 8, 9) sts before previous wrapped st, w&t.
Row 4: Work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Row 5: Work to 4 (7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 8) sts before previous wrapped st, w&t.
Row 6: Work to end of row.
Row 7: Work across all sts, picking up the wraps. Place sts on holder.
Break yarn, leaving a long tail for use with the three-needle bind-off when joining shoulders.

Front

Work as for Back until piece measures 15.25”, ending with a WS row. Begin smocking pattern starting with Row 8 of the Smocking Stitch Pattern.
Continue in smocking pattern until armhole measures 6.5 (7, 7.5, 7.75, 8, 8.5, 9)” , ending with a WS row.
Shape neck(RS): Work 29 (32, 35, 38, 41, 44, 47) sts, slip the next 22 (24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34) sts onto a holder, join a second ball of yarn and work remaining 29 (32, 35, 38, 41, 44, 47) sts. Working both sides at the same time, dec 1 st at each neck edge every row 9 times, until 20 (23, 26, 29, 32, 35, 38) sts remain for each shoulder. You may continue the smocking stitch on either side of neck if desired.
When armhole measures 8 (8.5, 9, 9.25, 9.5, 10, 10.5)”, shape each shoulder separately using short rows as for Back. (Note: decreases in short row instructions are for Back only. For Front, you will only follow instructions for the short rows.)

Sleeves

CO 50 (50, 54, 58, 62, 62, 66) sts on US#5 straight needles..
Setup Row (RS): K2, *p2, k2, rep from * to end.
Inc 1 st at each end every 6 (6, 6, 4, 4, 4, 4) rows 2 (13, 16, 7, 8, 23, 27) times, then every 8 (8, 8, 6, 6, 6, 6) rows 12 (4, 2, 14, 14, 4, 2) times; 78 (84, 90, 100, 106, 116, 124) sts.
Work even until sleeve measures 17.5 (17.5, 18, 18, 18.5, 18.5, 19)”, ending with a WS row.
Shape cap. BO 5 (6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7) sts at beg of next two rows; 68 (72, 78, 88, 92, 102, 110) sts rem.
Dec 1 st at each end of every RS row 19 (19, 18, 15, 14, 11, 8) times, then dec 1 st at each end of every row 0 (0, 2, 8, 10, 16, 22) times; 30 (34, 38, 42, 44, 48, 50) sts rem. BO 3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5) sts at beg of next 4 rows. BO rem 18 (22, 26, 26, 28, 28, 30) sts loosely.

Blocking

Weave in ends that will not be used for seaming.
Block all pieces.

Seam Shoulders

Join shoulders using three-needle bind-off.

Turtleneck Collar

With RS of work facing and US#5 (3.75 mm) dpns, pick up and work 7 sts from right back neck edge, 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) sts from back neck holder, 7 sts from left back neck edge, 16 sts from left front neck edge, 22 (24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34) sts from front neck holder, and 16 sts from right front neck edge. Total 100 (104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124) sts.
Using US#5 (3.75 mm) dpns, work 2.5”  k2p2 ribbing.
Change to US#6 (4 mm) dpns and continue ribbing for another 2”.
Change to US#7 dpns and continue ribbing until collar measures 6.5” total.
Bind off loosely in pattern.

Finishing

Sew sleeve caps into armholes.
Sew sleeve and side seams.

Schematic