We are stepping into the fall little by little! It’s already September! Here in the Netherlands the weather is screaming fall, raining most of the day, which I kind of like or learned to like it.

 We are starting to adapt our summer wardrobe, putting a cardigan over or wearing light sweaters. 

This exact period I had in mind when I started to work on the Down Time Blouse. I wanted a long sleeve light sweater/top perfect to wear in this transition weather days.

You can Purchase the easy printable PDF version of this pattern here:

Because I am less experienced in knitting than Crochet, even I start learning knitting before crochet, but I don’t have too many knitted designs yet. So, I keep them simple, first because I am not confident enough to adventure into more complicated designs and second, because I don’t want to yet   😁

Like the name of this blouse, knitting is for me like a downtime, when my brain is taking a break. I found  it so relaxing and it’s wonderful that I can relax and be productive in the same time.

All designs that I make, I make them for me. In them, I found my strength and power and beside made them to wear , I made them for the feelings I put in them. I experience a lot of good vibes when working on something and I want to share with you all and make you part of my journey and let experience the same feelings as I did because is totally worth it.

Because I am getting too nostalgic, while I am writing this post, blame the weather, let’s just see what we will need and how to make the Down Time Blouse.

 

 

MATERIALS

  • Yarn
    • Category 3 ( Light, Dk)
  • Needles
    • 5.5 mm (circular or straight)
    • 5 mm crochet hook (optional) for bind off and cord
  • You will need a yarn needle for wave in ends
  • Scissors
  • Stitch markers or safety pins

 ABOUT DESIGN

The garment has a drop-shoulder sweater construction. 4 rectangles, back and front panels and sleeves which are seamed together.

The blouse is oversized with a positive ease of approximate 28 cm around bust circumference and has a waist length. A cord is attached on the waist to give to the final piece a “balloon” shape.

MEASUREMENTS

FRONT/BACK

Bust width a: 57 cm (62, 67, 72, 77, 82, 87, 92)

Length b: 54 cm (58, 58, 60, 60, 63, 64, 64)

Neck c : 26 cm (27, 26, 26, 27, 27, 26, 26)

*the neck width vary because of the stitch count for the shoulders

SLEEVE

Width a: 34 cm (40, 40, 46, 46, 52, 52, 52)

Length b: 39 cm (39, 41, 41, 42,42, 43, 43))

*all measurements are taken after blocking

 

These measurements will fit:

To Fit S M L XL 2XL 3XL 4XL 5XL
Bust 86 96 106 116 126 136 146 156

 

How much yarn do you need?

For this Down Time Blouse I used Prima Cotton from We Are Knitters. Because I wanted to add a bit of a contrasting color, I used for the cuffs or last few rows of the sleeve another same weight yarn.

You can Purchase the easy printable PDF version of this pattern here:

The amount of yarn below is for a single color. In case you want to change the color for the cuffs you will need with approximate half a skein less, from the main color and half a skein (or a whole skein if you are using a 50 /skein yarn) from a different color.

Prima Cotton WAK S M L XL XXL 3XL 4XL 5XL
100 g/212 m 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 9

 

Each ball of Prima cotton has 100 g/212 meters

ABBREVIATIONS

k – knit

p –  purl

YO – yarn over

CO – cast on

BO – bind off

Ss – slip stitch

St (s) – stitch (e)

R| – row

** – repeated section

STITCH PATTERNS

Stitch pattern 1 – Garter Stitch

The first 4 rows and the last 3 rows of each rectangle are made using the garter stitch

R1: sl 1st st, k all sts to the end of the row

Repeat R1 for as many rows as indicated in the pattern

Stitch Pattern 2 (main stitch pattern) – Mesh Stitch

R1| ss 1st st, k1, *pass the 3rd st over the first 2 sts, k1, YO, k1*. **repeat to the end of the row except last 2 sts. Finish the row with k2.

R2| ss 1st st, p all stitches, except last one. K last stitch.

R3| ss 1st st, k2, **pass the 3rd st over the first 2 sts, k1, YO, k1*. **Repeat to the end of the row, except last st. Finish the row with k1

R4| repeat R2

Repeat R1 to R4 to the desired length or for as many rows as pattern requires.

 GAUGE

21 sts = 10 cm

18 rows = 10 cm

*The tension is measured in the mesh stitch pattern after blocking

You can Purchase the easy printable PDF version of this pattern here:

PATTERN NOTES

The mesh stitch pattern requires a multiple of 3+1 sts. In case you want to adjust the width, make sure to cast on a multiple of 3 +1

All 4 panels are worked flat.

Start every row by slipping the first st and finish the row with k1

Numbers for sizes M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL and 5XL are written between brackets. If not the pattern applies for all sizes

INSTRUCTIONS

BACK/FRONT

CO 121 (130, 139, 151, 160, 172, 181) st

R1 – R4| Stitch pattern 1 (garter st)

*see the STITCH PATTERNS section

R5 – R93 (99, 99, 103, 103, 105, 111, 113) Stitch Pattern 2

*see the STITCH PATTERNS section

*last row in the Stitch Pattern 2, will be a right side row.

Next 3 rows up to R96 (102, 102, 106, 106, 108, 114, 116)

Stitch pattern 1 (garter stitch)

BO all stitches

Repeat the pattern for the second panel.

SLEEVES

CO 73 (85, 85, 97, 109, 109) sts

R1 – R4| Stitch pattern 1 (garter st)

*see the STITCH PATTERNS section

R5 – R67 (67, 71, 71, 73, 73, 75, 75)) Stitch Pattern 2

*see the STITCH PATTERNS section

*last row in the Stitch Pattern 2, will be a right side row.

Next 3 rows up to R70 (70, 74, 74, 76, 76, 78, 78) Stitch pattern 1 (garter stitch)

BO all stitches

*the pattern for the sleeves is written for one single color. In case you want to use a different color for the cuffs as the sample, work the last 20 rows (including the last 3 garter st rows) using a different color

Repeat the same pattern for the second sleeve.

ASSEMBLING

First, use 2 stitch markers to mark the shoulders and the neck line.

Shoulders: 33 (37, 42, 48, 52, 58, 63) for each shoulder

Neck Line: 55 (56, 55, 55, 56, 56, 55) sts

*because of the total number of sts for each size and because we need an equal number of sts for each shoulder, the neckline number of sts is not progressively bigger with bigger sizes.

You can adjust the width of the neck line, just by stitching less or more sts on the shoulders.

You can follow the diagram billow for assembling

After assembling the FRONT and BACK panels, stitch the sleeves. Use a stitch marker or a safety pin to mark the middle of the sleeve and join it with the shoulder seam. Then place 2 stitch markers, joining the corners of the sleeve width with the body of the blouse at the same distance on the back panel and front panel.

You should have approximate 17 (20, 20, 23, 23, 26, 26) cm from the shoulder seam on the back and front panel or approximate 30 (36, 36, 41, 41, 46, 47, 47) rows + the garter stitch section.

After finishing joining the sleeves with the body, stitch the edges, starting from the bottom of the sweater to the cuff.

TO FINISH

Wave in all remaining ends and block the blouse to measurements.

Insert a cord through the bottom stitch pattern spaces.

CORD

You can make the cord using a 5 mm crochet hook or you can knit one

I crocheted a cord of 200 chain stitches (size S) and then slip stitch into each stitch across.

And done! you have a new blouse or top to wear made by yourself! 

You can Purchase the easy printable PDF version of this pattern here:

In case you need it, you can find here a step by step video tutorial

 

 

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