Cap Sleeve Lattice Top | Purl Soho

I can remember lying for hours under the pergola in my grandmother’s yard. In the fall I’d watch the grid-like shadows shift across the grass as the sun moved across the sky. And in the spring I’d stare up, tracking the path of the vines weaving in and out of the lattice work structure. Empty or abundant, I loved the woven wood overhead.

Cap Sleeve Lattice Top | Purl Soho

My fondness towards this geometric patterning does not stop at the garden wall. It carries over to painted kitchen floors, pie crusts and, as you see here, knits! The lattice stitch I used is an organic interpretation of the woven grids and crisscrossing ridges that I find so fascinating and beautiful!

Cap Sleeve Lattice Top | Purl Soho

I made this Cap Sleeve Lattice Top with one of our newest (and most favorite!) yarns, MadelineTosh’s Tosh Sport. It’s a superwash merino wool, machine spun but hand dyed, with gorgeous depths of color (even in the neutrals). The pattern, like the sweater, is easy breezy, knit up the back over the shoulders and down the front, two seams and you’re done!

Cap Sleeve Lattice Top | Purl Soho

Watching the sparce grid of the pergola become overrun with wisteria and roses was a sure sign of the hot summer days to come. This sweater is a delightfully quick project to welcome spring and to wear right through summer. I think if I found myself sitting under that pergola right now, I’d be sporting this top, cool beverage in hand, gazing up at the greenery! -Laura

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.

Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoCapSleeveLatticeTop. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Materials

Cap Sleeve Lattice Top | Purl Soho
  • Main Color (MC): 2 (2, 3) skeins of Madeline Tosh’s Tosh Sport, 100% superwash merino wool. Each skein is 270 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 500 (540, 600) yards required. I used the color Silver Fox.
  • Contrast Color (CC): 1 (1, 2) skeins of MadelineTosh’s Tosh Sport; approximately 250 (270, 300) yards required. I used the color Antler.
  • US 5 (3.75 mm), 16- or 24-inch circular needles, depending on size you are making
  • US 6 (4 mm), 16- or 24-inch circular needles, depending on size you are making

NOTE: Unfortunately, we no longer carry Tosh Sport. Instead, we recommend Anzula’s Cricket, 80% superwash merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon. Each skein is 250 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 2 (3, 3) skeins of MC and 1 (2, 2) skeins of CC required.

Gauge

24 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette stitch on larger needles

Sizes

NOTE For help picking a size, please check out our Understanding Ease + Selecting Size Tutorial!

34 (36, 38)

  • Finished Chest Circumference: 34 (36, 38) inches
  • Finished Length from Shoulder to Cast On Edge: 18½ (20½, 22½) inches
  • Finished Length from Underarm to Cast On Edge: 12 (13, 14) inches

Note

To alter the size be sure to cast on an odd number that is a multiple of 3 plus 1.

Pattern

Back

Back Ribbing

Cap Sleeve Lattice Top | Purl Soho

Using the smaller needles and MC, cast on 103 (109, 115) stitches, leaving a 24 inch tail. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Row 1 (Wrong Side): P1, *k1, p2, repeat from * to end.

Row 2 (Right Side): *K2, p1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece measures 1¾ inches from cast on edge, ending with a WS row.

Change to larger needles.

Eyelet Row (RS): K2, *yarn over (yo), knit two together (k2tog), k1, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, yo, k2tog.

Back Body

Cap Sleeve Lattice Top | Purl Soho

Next Row (WS): Purl.

Next Row (RS): Knit.

Continue in stockinette stitch until piece measures 12 (13, 14) inches from cast on edge, ending with a RS row.

Cut yarn leaving a 24 inch tail.

Back Lattice

Change to CC.

Lattice Row 1 (WS): K1, *yo, k2tog, repeat from * to end.

Lattice Row 2 (RS): Knit.

Lattice Row 3 (WS): K2, *yo, k2tog, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.

Lattice Row 4 (RS): Knit.

Repeat Lattice Rows 1-4 until you have 6½ (7½, 8½) inches, ending with Lattice Row 4.

Back Neck

Cap Sleeve Lattice Top | Purl Soho

Next Row (WS): K1, (yo, k2tog) 11 (12, 13) times, bind off the following 57 (59, 61) stitches knitwise, *yo, k2tog, repeat from * to end. (46, 50, 54 stitches)

Front

Front Neck

Next Row (RS): K23 (25, 27) cable cast on 57 (59, 61) stitches, knit to end. (103, 109, 115 stitches)

Front Lattice

Starting with Lattice Row 3, work the four Lattice Rows until piece measures 6½ (7½, 8½) inches from cable cast on, ending with Lattice Row 4.

Front Body

Change to MC.

Next Row (WS): Purl.

Next Row (RS): Knit.

Continue in stockinette stitch until piece measures 10¼ (11¼, 12¼) inches from end of lattice stitch, ending with a WS row.

Eyelet Row (RS): K1, *yo, k2tog, k1, repeat from * to end.

Front Ribbing

Change to smaller needles.

Next Row (WS): *P2, k1, repeat from * to last stitch, p1.

Next Row (RS): K1, *p1, k2 repeat from * to end.

Repeat previous 2 rows for approximately 1¾ inches (1 fewer row than for Back Ribbing).

Bind off in pattern on WS, cut yarn leaving a 24 inch tail.

Finish

Seam the Sides

Cap Sleeve Lattice Top | Purl Soho

Take your knit piece and fold it in half so that the bottom hems align. Using the mattress stitch and the tails of yarn you left, seam the rib and stockinette sides of the sweater together at the main color.

Block your new top if you want and wear it all spring!