The Awakener top has just been released! You can find it on my website, Etsy, and Ravelry, and it is 25% off until the end of this week, Sept 13.

The discount on my website, as usual, will stay longer, until I release or update something else.

♡ 3 days of actual crocheting, with a size E-4 (3.5 mm) hook.
♡ Two skeins of Malabrigo Silkpaca (lace, 420 yd/384 m per 50 g skein).
♡ And the finished top in size 4, with a circumference of 51″/130 cm.

Oh, I wish all the ideas, designs, and projects worked up that quickly and easily!

Construction

The top is worked - super smoothly - top down, in one continuous spiral round, with four increase points for the raglan yoke construction.

Just imagine: you start at the neckline and keep going, repeating the same stitch all the way down to the bottom of the garment. No joining, no turning. Just one continuous spiral, growing into a top. ◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍

Ease

I am slowly teaching myself to get used to lots of positive ease.

Working on something that is 19.5"/50 cm larger in circumference than my body feels very frightening, and I freeze multiple times, doubting whether it will fit me well and whether I am doing everything right.

I often want to frog my projects and start over, closer to my body measurements. But the final result is always, always beyond my expectations.

The pattern is written for 9 sizes, and I hope one of them gives you the amount of ease you like!

Yarn

The top is worked in one strand of Silkpaca, with the foundation stitches (and underarm chains) worked with two strands held together, making these chains thicker and larger, so the following stitches are easier to work into them.

If you missed me making this stitch in lace-weight yarn, check out this reel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DcbOYMzsDfB/

The photo below shows all my projects worked in this stitch: three Awakener cowls, this top, the Daydream shawl, and a swatch from the book New Ways with Crochet, all worked in different yarn weights.

The stitch worked in the thin, sleek Silkpaca is equal to or even larger than the same stitch worked in worsted merino wool. The loops are easier to make longer, which makes the stitch longer itself. At the same time, since the strands are thinner, the stitch becomes airy and less puffy.

My future plans for this stitch

1. I want to make another Awakener top, this time in two colors for a gentle striped look, by simply working two continuous spiral rounds at the same time, each in a different color. One day, this idea will be my project to rest with!

2. And the warmer garment is coming soon, with a cozy collar and long sleeves. These are my chosen colors for it:

This sweater will still be worked in lace-weight Silkpaca, though I plan to surprise you a bit by making it double-layered. That’s why I put two different colors in the cart. :)

So, if you would rather have this top with long sleeves, I’d suggest waiting a bit! Though my sweater will be a round yoke one, which changes the feel and fit a bit. But you definitely won’t regret making the short-sleeved version too!

Wishing you a happy crocheting!
~ Lena