I dove on this one on a whim. I didn’t plan to do any new test knits, but this one jumped out at me. AND I had stash for it.
I did The Sky at Night by the same designer this past winter and I really liked how the pattern was written. Maliha Designs patterns are lovely, full of colour, and unique in their layout. I have followed the group ever since I did that first pattern.
That’s how I found out that this test knit was ready to go. It jumped out at me with its simplicity and shape. I hadn’t done a top like this before and the weather was getting perfect for it, so I could wear it right away.
Because this came out during the time of isolation, I was only going to sign up if I had the yarn on hand. I checked my stash and I actually had a few options to work with. With assistance from the designer the final decision was yarn from The Blue Brick in the Taj Mahal colourway.
The colour in this yarn is fantastic! It is so subtle and so soft! I had originally bought this yarn with a shawl in mind, but I had a lot of those in different levels of assembly at the time of this test knit. So, I thought that this top would be a great opportunity to really show this yarn off in a different way.
The overall pattern was a lot of fun. The tulip design is really easy to memorize so I didn’t have to have my charts on me all the time. The way the pattern is written also allows for a lot of customization so you can get the shirt fit that you want. For my shape, I don’t mind a flowy shirt, but prefer that it be more towards fitted over too oversized. So I opted to do a smaller size, but extended the number of repeats so that there was a lot of the pattern showing off the yarn.
Once you’re done the pattern on the front and back you finish off with a body of stockinette and a few more tulips before the ribbing. It’s the perfect summer project. Due to the great flexibility and the way that the pattern is written, this top is knit up in no time. Some of my fellow testers were able to make multiple versions ahead of the test deadline.
I would definitely recommend this pattern to any beginner to tops. It helps give you the idea of some of the basic techniques I have used in sweaters in the past (minus the sleeves obviously) without any complications with increases and decreases. You also aren’t starting with an intimidating five skeins of yarn. I just used two. So it’s a great way to ease yourself into larger projects, or a different way to really show off those double skeins you have around.
I am so happy with how mine finally came out. The designer even chose my picture as one of the features (eeeeee!). This pattern and yarn combination came together so nicely and I am so proud of the final result.
You can never go wrong with an Ambah pattern. Her writing style is so clear and accessible. She is able to turn simple stitches into gorgeous works of art. This pattern is no exception. I always enjoy her build up of stripes, it makes for great TV/social group knitting, and it gives that variegated yarn in your stash an opportunity to shine.
Hues & Tones 