Let the breeze do the talking! The Backlight Top features a stunning lace panel down the center back, partially concealed by overlapping side panels that flutter open with movement, offering delicate glimpses of texture and detail. The body is knit in a simple ridge stitch for a subtle, tactile feel that complements the clean silhouette. With set-in short sleeves shaped using short rows and a modular, seamed construction, this top is the perfect blend of structure and softness — ideal for strolls through sunlit streets or lounging in the shade.
Skill Level: Advanced
Size: Finished Bust Size 31.25 (35.25, 39.25, 43.25, 47.25) (51.25, 55.25, 59.25, 63.25)” to fit bust 28 (32, 36, 40, 44) (48, 52, 56, 60)”
3.25” of positive ease recommended.
Shown in size 36”
Gauge: 18 sts and 24 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Ridge st patt after damp blocking
Materials
Yarn: Knit Picks Samia (80% Cupro, 20% Mulberry Silk;188 yards 50 grams): #29670 Bird of Paradise 5 (6, 7, 7, 8) (9, 10, 10, 11) balls, or 940 (1128, 1316, 1316, 1504) (1692, 1880, 1880, 2068) yds.
Needles: US size 3 (3.25 mm) circular needle
Notions: Markers, stitch holders, waste yarn, tapestry needle, blocking wires (optional but recommended for blocking the sideways panels)
Abbreviations
WY – waste yarn
Special Stitches
Ridge Stitch pattern (any number of stitches)
Rows 1, 3 (RS): K.
Rows 2, 4 (WS): P
Row 5 (RS): K
Row 6 (WS): K.
Rep row 1-6 for pattern.
Sewn Bind Off method
Cut the working yarn to about 3 times as long as your finished piece of knitting and thread yarn onto tapestry needle. * Pass the threaded needle through the first 2 sts from right to left. Pass the threaded needle through the first st on the knitting needle from left to right and drop this st off the knitting needle. Rep from * until 1 st remains. Sew through this last st from right to left.
Pattern
Front
CO 114 (126, 138, 150, 162) (174, 186, 198, 210) sts.
Set Up Row: K to end.
Rep this row two more times.
Beg next Row (RS) work 8 rows in Ridge stitch.
Place m’s after 26 (31, 35, 40, 45) (50, 55, 60, 64) sts from either edge.
Shape Body
Dec Row (RS): Work in patt to first m, sm, ssk, cont in patt to 2 sts before the last m, k2tog, sm, cont. in patt to end – 2 sts dec’d.
Rep Dec Row every 16th row one more time, then every 14th row 8 times, ending with WS row.
(94 (106, 118, 130, 142) (154, 166, 178, 190) sts).
Work in patt without shaping 12 foll rows.
Shape Armhole
Cont. in patt, place onto WY 4 (6, 6, 7, 7) (8, 8, 9, 9) last sts of 2 foll rows. (86 (94, 106, 116, 128) (138, 150, 160, 172) sts).
Place onto WY last 3 sts of 2 (2, 2, 2, 2) (4, 4, 6, 6) foll rows. (80 (88, 100, 110, 122) (126, 138, 142, 154) sts).
Place onto WY last 2 sts of 2 (2, 2, 2, 2) (2, 6, 6, 8) foll rows. (76 (84, 96, 106, 118) (122, 126, 130, 138) sts).
Sizes – (S, M, L, XL) (2X, X, 4X, 5X) ONLY:
Dec Row (RS): Sl 1, ssk, work in patt to last 3 sts, k2tog, p1 – 2 sts dec’d.
Rep Dec Row every RS row x (2, 6, 10, 15) (15, 16, 16, 17) more times, ending with WS row.
(76 (78, 82, 84, 86) (90, 92, 96, 102) sts).
Work in patt without shaping 26 (22, 20, 16, 12) (10, 8, 8, 6) foll rows.
Shape neckline
Place m’s on either side of 14 (14, 16, 16, 18) (18, 18, 20, 20) center sts.
Place 31 (32, 33, 34, 34) (36, 37, 38, 41) Left Front sts and Center sts on separate WY threads. Cont. on Right Front.
Right Front
Row 1 (RS): Work in patt to end.
Row 2 and all WS rows, unless other-wise directed: Work in patt to end.
Row 3: Work in patt to last 3 (3, 4, 4, 4) (5, 6, 6, 6) sts, place these sts onto WY.
Row 5: Work in patt to last 3 (3, 3, 4, 4) (4, 4, 4, 5) sts, place these sts onto WY.
Row 7: Work in patt to last 2 (3, 3, 3, 3) (3, 3, 3, 4) sts, place these sts onto WY.
Row 9: Work in patt to last 2 sts, place these sts onto WY.
Dec Row (RS): Sl 1, patt to last 3 sts, k2tog, p1.
Rep Dec Row every RS row 2 more times. (18 (18, 18, 18, 18) (19, 19, 20, 21) sts).
BO all rem Right shoulder sts.
Left Front
Row 1 and all RS rows, unless other-wise directed: Work in patt to end.
Row 2 (WS): Work in patt to last 3 (3, 4, 4, 4) (5, 6, 6, 6) sts, place these sts onto WY.
Row 4: Work in patt to last 3 (3, 4, 4, 4) (5, 6, 6, 6) sts, place these sts onto WY.
Row 6: Work in patt to last 3 (3, 3, 4, 4) (4, 4, 4, 5) sts, place these sts onto WY.
Row 8: Work in patt to last 2 (3, 3, 3, 3) (3, 3, 3, 4) sts, place these sts onto WY.
Row 10: Work in patt to last 2 sts, place these sts onto WY.
Dec Row (RS): Sl 1, ssk, patt to last st, p1.
Rep Dec Row every RS row 2 more times. (18 (18, 18, 18, 18) (19, 19, 20, 21) sts).
BO all rem Left shoulder sts.
Back
CO 113 (125, 137, 149, 161) (173, 185, 197, 209) sts.
Set Up Row: K to end.
Rep this row 2 more times.
Place m’s after 26 (31, 35, 40, 45) (50, 55, 60, 64) sts from either edge.
Beg with next row (RS) work 8 rows as foll:
Work in Ridge patt to m, sm, k11 (12, 14, 15, 11) (12, 13, 14, 16), place m (chart m), work 39 (39, 39, 39, 49) (49, 49, 49, 49) sts from Lace Chart, place m (chart m), k11 (12, 14, 15, 11) (12, 13, 14, 16), sm, work in Ridge patt to end.
Shape Body
Dec Row (RS): Work in patt to first m, sm, ssk, cont. in patt to 2 sts before the last m, k2tog, sm, cont in patt to end – 2 sts dec’d.
Rep Dec Row every 16th row one more time, then every 14th row 8 times, ending with WS row.
(93 (105, 117, 129, 141) (153, 165, 177, 189) sts).
Work in patt without shaping 12 foll rows.
Shape Armhole
Cont. in patt, place onto WY 4 (6, 6, 7, 7) (8, 8, 9, 9) last sts of 2 foll rows. (85 (93, 105, 115, 127) (137, 149, 159, 171) sts).
Place onto WY last 3 sts of 2 (2, 2, 2, 2) (4, 4, 6, 6) foll rows. (79 (87, 99, 109, 121) (125, 137, 141, 153) sts).
Place onto WY last 2 sts of 2 (2, 2, 2, 2) (2, 6, 6, 8) foll rows. (75 (83, 95, 105, 117) (121, 125, 129, 137) sts).
Sizes – (S, M, L, XL) (2X, 3X, 4X, 5X) ONLY:
Dec Row (RS): Sl 1, ssk, work in patt to last 3 sts, k2tog, p1 – 2 sts dec’d.
Rep Dec Row every RS row x (2, 6, 10, 15) (15, 16, 16, 17) more times, ending with WS row.
(75 (77, 81, 83, 85) (89, 91, 95, 101) sts).
Work in patt without shaping 48 (44, 42, 38, 34) (32, 30, 30, 28) foll rows.
Next 2 Rows: Sl 1, k to last st, p1.
BO 18 (18, 18, 18, 18) (19, 19, 20, 21) right shoulder sts, k to last 18 (18, 18, 18, 18) (19, 19, 20, 21) sts, BO left shoulder sts.
Place 39 (41, 45, 47, 49) (51, 53, 55, 59) neck sts onto WY.
Block Back and Front panels to measurements.
Sideways Panels (picked up from Back)
Right Side
Facing RS and working from top down, PU and k 153 (155, 159, 162, 166) (166, 169, 171, 172) sts along the Ridge Border.
Next Row (WS): K to end.
Beg next RS row work in Ridge patt for 26 (26, 32, 32, 32) (32, 38, 38, 38) rows.
Work in Garter patt 3 rows.
BO all sts.
Left Side
Facing RS and working from bottom up, PU and k 153 (155, 159, 162, 166) (166, 169, 171, 172) sts along the Ridge Border.
Proceed as for Right Side.
Sleeves: work both the same
Facing RS and beg at armhole, k 9 (11, 11, 12, 12) (16, 20, 24, 26) live underarm sts;
PU and k 24 (25, 28, 34, 40) (39, 38, 40, 41) up to shoulder seam, PU and k1 into shoulder seam; PU and k24 (25, 28, 34, 40) (39, 38, 40, 41) down to rem live underarm sts; k 9 (11, 11, 12, 12) (16, 20, 24, 26) live underarm sts. (67 (73, 79, 93, 105) (111, 117, 129, 135) sleeve sts).
Next row (WS): K to end.
Shape Sleeve Cap
Pm’s on either side of 23 (25, 27, 31, 35) (37, 39, 43, 45) center sts.
Working in Ridge patt proceed as foll:
Short Row 1 (RS): Work in patt to the second m, remove m, w&t.
Short Row 2 (WS): Work in patt to m, remove m, w&t.
Short Row 3: Work in patt to wrapped st, work it tog with wrap, w&t.
Short Row 4: Work in patt to wrapped st, work it tog with wrap, w&t.
Maintaining Ridge patt, work short Rows 3-4 until there are 11 (11, 11, 12, 12) (16, 16, 20, 20) unworked sts left at each side of row, ending with WS short row.
Next 2 rows: Work in patt to end of row, working rem wrapped sts tog with wraps.
Cont. without shaping in Ridge patt until next 6 rows of Ridge patt is completed.
Work 5 foll rows in Garter st.
Using Sewn Bind Off method, BO all sleeve sts.
Finishing
Neckline Trim
With RS facing and beg at left shoulder seam PU and k 10 sts from left front neck slope, k 10 (11, 12, 13, 13) (14, 15, 15, 17) live left front sts, k 14 (14, 16, 16, 18) (18, 18, 20, 20) live center front sts, k 10 (11, 12, 13, 13) (14, 15, 15, 17) live right front sts, PU and k 10 sts from right front neck slope,
k 39 (41, 45, 47, 49) (51, 53, 55, 59) back neck live sts. 93 (97, 105, 109, 113) (117, 121, 125, 133) sts.
Place BOR and proceed in the round as foll:
Rnd 1: P.
Rnd 2: K.
Rep rnd 1 one more time.
BO neckline sts using Sewn Bind Off method.
Tack sideway top edges close to the neckline trim.
Work sleeve and side seams.
Block one more time, thoroughly working on sideway panels and the sleeves.