Lace Top with Lily-of-the-Valley Pattern

Sizes: US 4 (6) 10 / UK 6 (10) 14

Materials:  

300 (350) 400 g of yarn (60% cotton, 40% viscose, 131 yds/50 g); US size 4 (3.5 mm) knitting needles; US size D-3 (3 mm) crochet hook.

Stockinette stitch: knit all stitches on right-side rows, purl all stitches on wrong-side rows.

Lily-of-the-Valley lace pattern:  

Work according to the chart, which shows only the right-side rows.  

On wrong-side rows, purl all stitches and yarn overs.  

Work once from row 1 to 48, then repeat from row 15 to 48.  

The stitch pattern increases and decreases in width due to shaping within the pattern.  

All stitch counts in the instructions are based on a pattern width of 29 stitches. For neckline and shoulder shaping, adjust the number of stitches accordingly to maintain pattern symmetry.

Gauge:  

1 pattern repeat = 29 stitches = 4.75 in (12 cm);  

Stockinette stitch: 22 stitches and 29 rows = 4 x 4 in (10 x 10 cm).

Back:  

Cast on 94 (104) 114 stitches and work between edge stitches as follows: 8 (12) 13 stitches in stockinette stitch, 24 beginning stitches of lace pattern,  2 (3) 7 stitches in stockinette stitch,  24 beginning stitches of lace pattern,  2 (3) 7 stitches in stockinette stitch,  24 beginning stitches of lace pattern, end with 8 (12) 13 stitches in stockinette stitch  = 109 (119) 129 stitches including three 29-stitch lace repeats.  

When work measures 15.75 (16.5) 16.5 in [40 (42) 42 cm] from cast-on edge, bind off at both sides for armholes:  3 (4) 4 stitches once,  then in every other row: 0 (1) 1 time 3 stitches, 2 times 2 stitches, and 1 (1) 2 times 1 stitch.  

When armhole measures 6 (6.25) 6.75 in [15 (16) 17 cm], bind off the center 29 (31) 31 stitches for the neckline and finish each side separately.  

At the neckline edge, bind off 3 stitches once on the 2nd row.  

At the same time, for shoulder shaping, bind off 9 (9) 11 stitches at the outer edge and then 10 (10) 11 stitches two more times in every other row.  

When neckline depth reaches 0.75 in (2 cm), all stitches should be bound off.

Front:  

Work as for the back, but with a slit at the center front.  

To do this, 2 cm (0.75 in) after beginning the armhole shaping, increase 1 stitch at the center, then on the following row divide the work and finish each side separately.  

At the left side of the slit, do not knit 3 stitches together (which would be the center of the lace repeat); instead, work a slip-slip-pass-over decrease: slip 1 stitch knitwise, knit 1, and pass the slipped stitch over.  

At the right side of the slit, work 2 stitches together through the knit.  

When the slit reaches 2.25 (2.75) 3.25 in [6 (7) 8 cm], shape the neckline by binding off at the inner edge:  8 (9) 9 stitches once,  then in every other row: 1 time 3 stitches, 2 times 2 stitches, and 3 times 1 stitch.  

When the neckline depth reaches 3.5 in (9 cm), all stitches should be bound off.

Sew all seams.  

Work 1 round of single crochet stitches along all edges using the crochet hook, followed by a round of picots:  * 1 slip stitch, chain 3, 1 slip stitch into the first chain, skip 1 single crochet from the previous round, repeat from *.