Boy does it feel like I’ve been waiting to write this blog post for a while! This new knitting pattern – The One That I Want crop – hasn’t even been in the works for that long, but it’s taken up rather a large chunk of my brainspace for the time it has been around. In a good way! I had an idea, became fixated on said idea, made my first sample and loved it… and the process of writing, grading, editing, sharing with testers, and getting excited every time I see their versions has been ongoing since. Much the same as for any other design of mine, but somehow this one just feels a bit more exciting! Probably because it’s different to anything I’ve done before, and yet feels possibly the most ‘me’ out of everything I’ve made.
Scroll down for details and to download the One That I Want crop knitting pattern
grading & sizing
The One That I Want crop is worked sideways, beginning at the centre back. Bust darts created with short rows were the starting point of the whole design; I had a mental image of how the garter stitch darts would look and fit, and luckily they came out as I hoped. The construction is reminiscent of a sewn corset (ie. lots of panels), but with the stretch of knitted garter stitch factored in. The pattern is graded with 9 sizes, each with 2 bust options – a ‘smaller’ and ‘fuller’ bust. This, combined with the fact that the top comprises 15 sections, made for the most challenging grading task I’ve attempted in quite some time, but it all adds to the satisfaction in the end! After a few tweaks during the test knitting process, I now have a pattern that will hopefully hug any body just right.
Negative ease is super important with this one – it needs to be tight in order to work. Any positive ease and the underarms will gape, the edges will flare, and it will just look sloppy, so I’d highly recommend checking your gauge and if you’re between sizes, size down! I’m stressing this point because sometimes people ask me if they can just size up for a looser fit, and whilst (very occasionally) that works, with fitted items it rarely does, and in this case it definitely won’t. So I thought I’d better clear that up first! Due to the sideways nature of the cropped top, the width can be tweaked by the individual as you go along, and extra room can be added in the centre if need be. It’s very customisable! Better to start off on the snug side and add extra room, than end up with an item that’s far too big. Body length and strap length can be tweaked to your preference too.
Test knitter roundup
I’m always excited to share my test knitters’ creations, but especially so on this occasion since these guys really used my pattern and made it their own! I thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the different versions crop up (pun intended) in our test knitter chat over the past few weeks. Stripes, colour blocks, half and half, contrast trims… it’s a good one for stashbusting, that’s for sure. And layering! My plain version now feels rather boring, although I am a fan of the minimal look too. Can you tell I’m a bit excited by all these fabulous knits?
Test knitters – thank you all SO much for your help with this pattern!
Introductory discount
The One That I Want Crop isn’t the only pattern I’m releasing today – it just worked out that the end of the testing periods for both this pattern and my latest cardigan design coincided. Two new patterns in one day it is! So I’m offering an introductory discount for purchasing both The One That I Want Crop and The Pink One Cardigan together. One of the test knitters actually made both items in the same yarn since they’re both DK weight, and I LOVE how they look together as a twinset. Just an idea. 😉
For the first 48 hours (until 2pm GMT on Monday 29th March), I’m offering both patterns for a discounted price of £11 when purchased together. This discount is available via Ravelry (where it is automatically added), and here via Payhip. If you click ‘Buy Now‘ or ‘Add to Cart‘ below, you’ll see a popup offering a 43% discount on The Pink One cardigan, which brings the total to £11. The discount isn’t available on Etsy.
The One That I Want Crop pattern details
YARN: DK weight yarn for main body. Sample shown in Stitch & Story Secret Garden DK, (60% cotton, 40% acrylic), in shade Syringa Lilac. If using this yarn, you will need 2 (2; 2; 2; 2) [3; 3; 3; 3] balls.
Smaller bust version: 249 (279; 313; 354; 384) [422; 464; 498; 529] metres / 271 (304; 341; 386; 419) [460; 506; 543; 576] yards.
Fuller bust version: 253 (283; 317; 359; 393) [426; 469; 505; 536] metres / 276 (309; 346; 391; 429) [465; 511; 550; 584] yards.
You will also need a small amount of fingering / sport weight yarn for edgings.
GAUGE: 19 stitches and 40 rows to 4 inches / 10cm in garter stitch, blocked. If your gauge is borderline, I would recommend sizing down a needle size; err on the side of too many stitches / rows rather than too few, as the item will stretch with wear.
NEEDLES & NOTIONS: 3.75mm / gauge size needles of any length (straight or circular)
3.5mm crochet hook
6 buttons of approx. 14 mm diameter
Tapestry needle
SIZING: 1 (2; 3; 4; 5) [6; 7; 8; 9] detailed below, designed to be worn with 5 – 7 inches / 13 – 18 cm negative ease. Sample shown is a size 2 worn on a 34” bust with around 5 inches / 13 cm negative ease. Smaller and fuller bust versions roughly correspond to an A-C cup and D+ cup respectively.
To fit waist: 24(26.5; 30.5; 34.5; 38.5) [42; 46; 50; 54] inches / 61 (67; 77; 88; 98) [107; 117; 128; 138] cm
To fit bust (smaller): 29 (33; 37; 41; 45) (49; 53; 57; 61) inches / 74 (84; 94; 104; 114) [124; 135; 145; 155] cm
To fit bust (fuller): 31 (35; 39; 43; 47) [51; 55; 59; 63] inches / 79 (89; 99; 109; 119) [130; 140; 150; 160] cm
Yarn choices: I would recommend a plump, bouncy DK for this pattern for a firm fabric without much drape. Since the fit relies on negative ease, a cotton blend, wool, acrylic or other yarn that keeps it shape will work well.
Contrast yarn: the yarn used for the sample edgings (Rico Baby Cotton Soft DK) was also technically a DK, but was definitely finer than the yarn used for the main body. This worked better than using the same yarn in a different colour, which produced edges which flared slightly. I would recommend using a light DK or sport weight yarn for the edgings.
The One That I Want Crop knitting pattern is also available via Ravelry and Etsy.
Lily Kate x
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1 Comment
Kathleen Mathison
7th April 2021 at 6:21 pmI tried to buy the pattern but the pay credit card window doesn’t come up. Thank you Kathy