Knitting in front of nail-biting soccer matches has its pitfalls. High tensions result in tight knitting. Jumping in celebration leads to dropped stitches. Mournful losses extinguish all desire to even pick up your needles. Oh, but when a game is good and you’re working in speedy, soft bamboo, progress really barrels along!

Bamboo Shell | Purl Soho

I did not initially envision this top to be quite so long, but before I knew it, I had breezed through 6 inches of seed stitch and 12 inches of stockinette, bidding farewell to the cropped top dancing in my head and saying hello to an elegant, hip-length version. Loving this length, but unable to quite let go of my original vision, my Bamboo Shell pattern gives instructions for both, plus an in-between waist-length style.

Bamboo Shell | Purl Soho

Back to the action… The fast-growing back of my sweater meant I needed to quickly work up and over the shoulders in order to knit a slightly shorter front. Translation: I had a lot of knitting ahead of me, but a lot of soccer too! I couldn’t have been happier.

Bamboo Shell | Purl Soho

Habu’s Dyed Bamboo is beyond delightful. It’s cool and quick, but what’s even better is its magical property of perfecting stitches. My knitting was far from steady during these past few weeks of exciting soccer action, and yet, my stitches have never looked so smooth and even.

Bamboo Shell | Purl Soho

Perhaps it is the Dyed Bamboo’s rich, saturated color and subtle sheen that highlights stitch patterns so well. Shoot, maybe it was the magic surrounding the World Cup. I know not! What I do know is that I’ll be knitting this Bamboo Shell again. Baseball anyone? -Laura

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.

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

Materials

Bamboo Shell | Purl Soho

  • Habu’s Dyed Bamboo, 100% bamboo. Each skein is 760 yards/ 269 gram hank. (NOTE: We no longer offer Habu Dyed Bamboo, but choose from one of our other sport weight yarns.)
    • Short, waist-length shell: 1 (2, 2, 2, 2) skein(s); approximately 638 (733, 832, 945, 1063) yards required.
    • Medium, dropped-waist shell: 1 (2, 2, 2, 2) skein(s); approximately 694 (797, 903, 1024, 1149) yards required.
    • Long, hip-length shell (pictured here): 1 (2, 2, 2, 2) skein(s); approximately 751 (860, 974, 1103, 1236) yards required.

OR

  • Purl Soho’s Burnish, 100% rayon from bamboo. Each skein is 339 yards/ 100 grams. (NOTE: We no longer offer Burnish, but choose from one of our other sport weight yarns.)
    • Short, waist-length shell: 2 (3, 3, 3, 4) skeins; approximately 638 (733, 832, 945, 1063) yards required.
    • Medium, dropped-waist shell: 3 (3, 3, 4, 4) skeins; approximately 694 (797, 903, 1024, 1149) yards required.
    • Long, hip-length shell (pictured here): 3 (3, 3, 4, 4) skeins; approximately 751 (860, 974, 1103, 1236) yards required.

You will also need…

Gauge

27 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Sizes

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

32 (36, 40, 44½, 49)

  • Finished Chest Circumference: 32 (36, 40, 44½, 49) inches
  • Length from Shoulder to Underarm: 8½ (9, 9½, 10, 10½) inches
  • Length from Underarm to Front Bottom Edge for Short (Medium, Long) versions: 12 (14, 16) inches
  • Length from Underarm to Back Bottom Edge for Short (Medium, Long) versions: 14 (16, 18) inches

Ease: This garment is designed with a 1 to 3-inch ease around the chest.
Sample: Pictured here is Size 36, Long.

Bamboo Shell | Purl Soho

Notes

The shoulders of this shell are shaped using short rows. For our complete Short Row Tutorial, please click here. NOTE: Because the short rows are worked in seed stitch in this pattern, you do not have to pick up the wraps; simply ignore the wraps when you come to them and work the wrapped stitch normally.

wrp-t (wrap and turn): Bring yarn to front, slip next stitch purlwise from the left needle to the right needle, bring yarn to back, return the slipped stitch to the left needle, bring yarn to front, turn work.

Pattern

Back

Begin at Bottom Back Edge

Cast on 108 (122, 136, 150, 166) stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Row 1 (wrong side): P2, [k1, p1] to last four stitches, k2, p2.

Row 2: K2, [p1, k1] to last four stitches, p2, k2.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until pieces measures 6 inches, or desired height of Back Edge, ending with Row 2.

Continue Back Body

Row 1 (wrong side): P2, k1, purl to last three stitches, k1, p2.

Row 2: K2, p1, knit to last three stitches, p1, k2.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece measures, for the short (medium, long) shell, 14 (16, 18) inches from the cast on edge, or desired height to underarm, ending with Row 2.

Shape Back Armholes

SIZES 44 1/2 AND 49 ONLY

Row 1 (wrong side): P2, k1, purl to last three stitches, k1, p2.

Row 2: K2, p1, ssk, knit to last five stitches, k2tog, p1, k2. [2 stitches decreased]

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 – ( – , – , 3, 9) more times. [ – ( – ,  – , 142, 146) stitches]

ALL SIZES

Row 1 (wrong side): P2, k1, purl to last three stitches, k1, p2.

Row 2: K2, p1, knit to last three stitches, p1, k2.

Row 3: Repeat Row 1.

Row 4: K2, p1, ssk, knit to last five stitches, k2tog, p1, k2. [2 stitches decreased]

Repeat Rows 1 – 4 four (17, 18, 17, 15) more times. [98 (86, 98, 106, 114) stitches]

SIZE 32 ONLY

Row 1 (wrong side): P2, k1, purl to last three stitches, k1, p2.

Row 2: K2, p1, knit to last three stitches, p1, k2.

Rows 3 and 4: Repeat Rows 1 and 2.

Row 5: Repeat Row 1.

Row 6: K2, p1, ssk, knit to last five stitches, k2tog, p1, k2. [2 stitches decreased]

Repeat Rows 1 – 6 seven ( – , – , – , – ) more times. [82 ( – , – , – , – ) stitches]

Shoulders and Front Armholes

Separate for Left and Right Shoulders

Row 1 (wrong side): P2, k1, purl to last three stitches, k1, p2.

Row 2: K2, p1, k14 (14, 20, 22, 24), p1, k2, place previous 20 (20, 26, 28, 30) stitches on stitch holder or scrap yarn for Right Shoulder, bind off next 42 (46, 46, 50, 54) stitches, k1, p1, knit to last three stitches, p1, k2. [20 (20, 26, 28, 30) stitches remain for Left Shoulder]

Left Shoulder

NOTE: For this portion of the pattern, you will be working back and forth in short rows, turning the work part way through each row rather than continuing to the end for the needle. For our complete Short Rows Tutorial, click here. Also, for this section, you will be working just the 20 (20, 26, 28, 30) stitches of the Left Shoulder.

Row 1 (wrong side): P2, [k1, p1] to last four stitches, k2, p2.

Row 2: K2, [p1, k1] 6 (6, 9, 10, 10) times, wrap and turn (wrp-t; see NOTES at beginning of pattern).

Row 3: [K1, p1] to last four stitches, k2, p2.

Row 4: K2, [p1, k1] 5 (5, 7, 8, 8) times, wrp-t.

Row 5: Repeat Row 3:

Row 6: K2, [p1, k1] 4 (4, 5, 6, 6) times, wrp-t.

Row 7: Repeat Row 3.

Row 8: K2, [p1, k1] 3 (3, 3, 4, 4) times, wrp-t.

Row 9: Repeat Row 3.

Row 10: K2, [p1, k1] 2 (2, 1, 2, 2) time(s), wrp-t.

Row 11: Repeat Row 3.

Row 12: Repeat Row 8.

Row 13: Repeat Row 3.

Row 14: Repeat Row 6.

Row 15: Repeat Row 3.

Row 16: Repeat Row 4.

Row 17: Repeat Row 3.

Row 18: Repeat Row 2.

Row 19: Repeat Row 3.

Left Front

Set-Up Row (right side): Cable cast on 32 (34, 34, 36, 38) stitches, working across newly cast-on stitches and remainder of row… k2, [p1, k1] nine times, p2, place marker, knit to last three stitches, p1, k2. [52 (54, 60, 64, 68) stitches]

Shape Left Front Armhole

Bamboo Shell | Purl Soho

SIZE 32 ONLY

Row 1 (wrong side): P2, k1, purl to marker, [k1, p1] to last four stitches, k2, p2.

Row 2: K2, [p1, k1] to two stitches before marker, p2, knit to last four stitches, make 1 right (m1R), k1, p1, k2. [1 stitch increased]

Row 3: Repeat Row 1.

Row 4: K2, [p1, k1] to two stitches before marker, p2, knit to last three stitches, p1, k2.

Row 5: Repeat Row 1.

Row 6: Repeat Row 4.

Repeat Rows 1 – 6 seven ( – , – , – , – ) more times. [60 ( – , – , – , – ) stitches]

ALL SIZES

Row 1 (wrong side): P2, k1, purl to marker, [k1, p1] to last four stitches, k2, p2.

Row 2: K2, [p1, k1] to two stitches before marker, p2, knit to last four stitches, make 1 right (m1R), k1, p1, k2. [1 stitch increased]

Row 3: Repeat Row 1.

Row 4: K2, [p1, k1] to two stitches before marker, p2, knit to last three stitches, p1, k2.

Repeat Rows 1 – 4 four (17, 18, 17, 15) more times. [65 (72, 79, 82, 84) stitches]

SIZE 44 1/2 AND 49 ONLY

Row 1 (wrong side): P2, k1, purl to marker, [k1, p1] to last four stitches, k2, p2.

Row 2: K2, [p1, k1] to two stitches before marker, p2, knit to last four stitches, m1R, k1, p1, k2. [1 stitch increased]

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 – ( – , – , 3, 9) more times. [ – ( – , – , 86, 94) stitches]

ALL SIZES

Cut yarn. Place 65 (72, 79, 86, 94) Left Front stitches on stitch holder or scrap yarn.

Right Shoulder

NOTE: for this section, you will be working just the 20 (20, 26, 28, 30) stitches that have been on hold for the Right Shoulder. And again, you will be working back and forth in short rows, turning the work part way through each row rather than continuing to the end of the needle.

Set-Up Row (right side): With the right side facing, join yarn, k2, [p1, k1] to last four stitches, p2, k2.

Row 1 (wrong side): P2, [k1, p1] 5 (5, 9, 10, 10) times, k1, wrp-t.

Row 2: [K1, p1] to last three stitches, p1, k2.

Row 3: P2, [k1, p1] 4 (4, 7, 8, 8) times, k1, wrp-t.

Row 4: Repeat Row 2.

Row 5: P2, [k1, p1] 3 (3, 5, 6, 6) times, k1, wrp-t.

Row 6: Repeat Row 2.

Row 7: P2, [k1, p1] 2 (2, 3, 4, 4) times, k1, wrp-t.

Row 8: Repeat Row 2.

Row 9: P2, [k1, p1] 1 (1, 1, 2, 2) time, k1, wrp-t.

Row 10: Repeat Row 2.

Row 11: Repeat Row 7.

Row 12: Repeat Row 2.

Row 13: Repeat Row 5.

Row 14: Repeat Row 2.

Row 15: Repeat Row 3.

Row 16: Repeat Row 2.

Row 17: Repeat Row 1.

Row 18: Repeat Row 2.

Right Front

Set-Up Row (wrong side): Cable cast on 32 (34, 34, 36, 38) stitches, working across newly cast on stitches and remainder of row… p2, [k1, p1] nine times, k2, place marker, purl to last three stitches, k1, p2. [52 (54, 60, 64, 68) stitches]

Next Row: K2, p1, knit to marker, [p1, k1] to last 4 stitches, p2, k2.

Shape Right Front Armhole

SIZE 32 ONLY

Row 1 (wrong side): P2, [k1,p1] to two stitches before marker, k2, purl to last three stitches, k1, p2.

Row 2: K2, p1, k1, make 1 left (m1L), knit to marker, [p1, k1] to last 4 stitches, p2, k2. [1 stitch increased]

Row 3: Repeat Row 1.

Row 4: K2, p1, knit to marker, [p1, k1] to last 4 stitches, p2, k2.

Row 5: Repeat Row 1.

Row 6: Repeat Row 4.

Repeat Rows 1 – 6 seven ( – , – , – , – ) more times. [60 ( – , – , – , – ) stitches]

ALL SIZES

Row 1 (wrong side): P2, [k1,p1] to two stitches before marker, k2, purl to last three stitches, k1, p2.

Row 2: K2, p1, k1, make 1 left (m1L), knit to marker, [p1, k1] to last 4 stitches, p2, k2. [1 stitch increased]

Row 3: Repeat Row 1.

Row 4: K2, p1, knit to marker, [p1, k1] to last 4 stitches, p2, k2.

Repeat Rows 1 – 4 four (17, 18, 17, 15) more times. [65 (72, 79, 82, 84) stitches]

SIZE 44 1/2 AND 49 ONLY

Row 1 (wrong side): P2, [k1,p1] to two stitches before marker, k2, purl to last three stitches, k1, p2.

Row 2: K2, p1, k1, m1L, knit to marker, [p1, k1] to last 4 stitches, p2, k2. [1 stitch increased]

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 – ( – , – , 3, 9) more times. [ – ( – , – , 86, 94) stitches]

ALL SIZES

Row 1 (wrong side): P2, [k1,p1] to two stitches before marker, k2, purl to last three stitches, k1, p2.

Front

Connect Right Front and Left Front

Place Front Left stitches on spare needle.

Bamboo Shell | Purl Soho

Set-Up Row (right side): Starting with the Right Front stitches, k2, p1, knit to marker, remove marker; holding the needle with the Front Left stitches behind and parallel to the needle with the remaining Front Right stitches and simultaneously working the stitches on both needles… p1, k18, p1, k2, remove marker on back needle; now working just the Front Left stitches, knit to last three stitches, p1, k2. [108 (122, 136, 150, 166) stitches]

Bamboo Shell | Purl Soho

Continue Front Body

Row 1 (wrong side): P2, k1, purl to last three stitches, k1, p2.

Row 2: K2, p1, knit to last three stitches, p1, k2.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece from the Connect Right Front and Left Front measures the same distance as from the beginning of the Back Armhole shaping to the top of the Back Edge.

Finish with Bottom Front Edge

Row 1 (wrong side): P2, [k1, p1] to last four stitches, k2, p2.

Row 2: K2, [p1, k1] to last four stitches, p2, k2.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until Front Edge measures 4 inches or desired height of Front Edge.

Bind off in stitch pattern.

Finish

Side Seams

Use mattress stitch to seam the sides from the top of the Front and Back Edges to the beginning of the Front and Back Armhole shaping.

Armholes

With the right side facing and beginning at the center of the underarm, pick up 1 stitch from each stitch along the entire armhole edge, binding off as you go.

Neckband

Bamboo Shell | Purl Soho

With the right side facing and beginning with the Front Right, pick up 1 stitch from each stitch along the entire neckline edge: first the Front Right, then the Right Shoulder, then the back Neck, then the Left Shoulder and finally the Front Left, binding off as you go.

Tails and Block

Weave in ends and block garment as desired.
Bamboo Shell | Purl Soho