Materials
Artfibers Tai Chi: 2 [2, 3, 3] skeins Purple or color of choice
Needles: U.S. size 9, straight or circular
1 U.S. size 11 needle (for CO/BO)
4 safety pins or row markers
Tapestry needle
Blocking supplies (pins, iron, spray bottle, large surface to pin to)Note: Remember that many yarns are seasonal and could be discontinued. If the specific yarn called for is not available, purchase a substitution yarn that comes closest to the specified gauge in your pattern. And be sure to make that all-important swatch to see whether the yarn works for your particular pattern.
Knit-O-Meter Rating: Adventurous Beginner
Chest Measurements: 32 (38, 46, 54)
Gauge: Fishnet over 4" = 10 cm: 13.0 sts by 20.0 rows
Swatch: Love it or hate it, you won’t be able to make this top without first knitting a swatch. The final piece will nearly double in size once blocked, so it's very hard to determine gauge until you have done a swatch and blocked it properly.
Note: I'm doing all cast-ons and bind-offs with a needle two sizes bigger to ensure that the edges stretch as well as all the other rows.
Fishnet stitch
CO with size 11 needle.
Switch to size 9 needles.
Every row: K1 *YO, k2tog* to last stitch, K1.
Work for about 20 rows.
BO with size 11 needle.
Blocking
Spray swatch with a small amount of water and begin to pin to an ironing board or blocking work area, stretching swatch as much as possible. Pin all four corners first, then pin along each edge so that there are no waves or scallops in the edges and the pattern is straight.
With iron and plenty of moisture, steam thoroughly and leave it until it is completely dry and cool.
Unpin and check gauge.
Front and Back
With size 11 needle, CO 56 (66, 80, 92) loosely.
Switch to size 9 needles.
Work in Fishnet for 25 (29, 31, 33) rows. Place safety pin at either end of this row to mark sleeve placement.
Work to a total of 65 (71, 73, 75) rows of fishnet stitch, including the stitches up to the markers.
BO loosely with size 11 needle: front made.
Repeat one more time to create back.
Block both pieces.
Knit front to back at top shoulder edge for 1" on either side.
Sleeves
Pick up 52 (56, 62, 64) stitches between safety pins (this works out to about 3 stitches for every 4 rows).
Work in fishnet for 26 (26, 26, 26) rows.
BO loosely with size 11 needle.
I chose not to block the sleeves so they would be slightly more fitted without requiring any shaping, but if you wish to block them, do so at this point.
Finishing
Fold top at shoulder seam and sew up both sides and under the sleeves.
Weave in all ends, hiding the tails in the seams.
Pull out your favorite black bra or tank top and show the world that you are a Material Girl.
