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Halter Top Knitting Pattern

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Summer is coming for most parts of the world, so as the knitting pattern of this summer cooling bareback halter top for a little girl!!!!

halter top knitting pattern

My daughter loves it so much, she wishes to wear it every day but if only I made a few for her to interchange lol…. 6 months (read here for the blogpost) and it is still her foremost favorite top, this is ridiculous!!! She never likes anything for that long, you know kids….!!! I am planning to make another halter top for her…. a different one, so, she gets to wear it all year round in such weather in Malaysia 🙂 Sometimes it gets too hot and humid, makes me wish that I live in somewhere cold.

summer knit top pattern

I finally finished writing the knitting pattern for this halter top after 6 months, oh man!!! It took me so long to get every detail documented. The hard work and time spent are to assure one thing, CORRECTNESS!!!! I want to make sure that all the instructions are right and understandable… I hope you give it a try, knit one for your daughter, nieces, friends’ daughters, or neighbors as a gift. I am sure they will appreciate and like this top for the summer. I believe this summer will be warmer than before, so get ready with all your summer clothing and enjoy the sunbeam after a few months of freezing cold winter.

bareback knit top pattern

This halter top pattern is meant for 4-6 years old girls or with a chest measurement of 22 1/2″, but you can make it slightly bigger or smaller by using different tension.

What’s Next

  • Start sewing and share your completed handmade on Facebook and/or Instagram. Remember to tag us, @craftpassion, so that we are able to see them.
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  • Share with your knitting groups for a knit-along event.
  • Browse more free knitting patterns to make.
free knit top pattern

HALTER TOP KNITTING PATTERN

Yield: 22 1/2″ (CHEST) HALTER TOP
Active Time: 7 days
Total Time: 7 days
Difficulty: Avid Beginner/Intermediate
Estimated Cost: $15 - $20

This halter top pattern is meant for 4 to 6-year-old girls or with chest measurements of 22 1/2 inches, but you can make it slightly bigger or smaller by using different tension.

Enjoy knitting them!

Materials

  • Yarn – Adriafil Floris Classic Cotton (Color Code 74), qty=50g x 3
  • Sewing elastic thread
  • Dummy yarn

Tools

  • Knitting Needle – 4mm, 3mm and 3mm circular
  • Crochet hook – 3/0 for casting stitches on knitting needle

Instructions

MORE DETAILS ON HOW TO KNIT BAREBACK HALTER TOP

Finishing Size

At Underarm 33cm
Length 30cm
Halter strips 70cm
To fit chest 57cm (22 ½ in)
Suits age 4-6 girl


Tension

22 sts and 31 rows to 10cm on 4mm needles.


Abbreviations

· K – Knit
· P – Purl
· st(s) = stitch(es)
· tog – together
· dec – decrease by working 2 sts together
· beg – beginning
· rep – repeat
· cont – continue



BACK
With 3/0 crochet hook, cast on 80 sts with dummy yarn on 4mm knitting needle. Bind of.

Remark: the dummy yarn will be removed for ribbing sts.

Change to main yarn. Starting with a K row, work in stocking/stockinette st for 58 row, ending withRS for the next row.

Remark: Stocking/stockinette st means K on RS, P on WS.



BACK TOP RIB
Change to 3mm knitting needle for rib stitch.
Next Row – (RS) K4, K2tog ,* K5, K2tog* repeat 10 times, K4. (69 sts)
Work in rib stitch begin with P1, K1 at the WS for the next 4 rows.
Bind-off Rib stitch.

Remark: Rib st means K1,P1,K1,P1 and so on…. when turn to WS, P on the RS K st, and K on the RS P st. So it will have a vertical column of K and a vertical column of P repeatedly through out the ribbing area, just like the rib of the polo-shirt hem.



FRONT
With 3/0 crochet hook, cast on 80 sts with dummy yarn on 4mm knitting needle. Bind of.

Remark: the dummy yarn will be removed for ribbing sts.

Change to main yarn. Starting with a K row, work in stocking/stockinette st for 58 row, ending with RS for the next row.



SHAPE ARMHOLE

Cast off 4 sts at the beg of next 2 rows. (72 sts)
Cast off 3 sts at the beg of next 2 rows. (66 sts)
Cast off 2 sts at the beg of next 2 rows. (62 sts)
Dec 1 st at the beg of next and foll 2 alt rows (altogether 6 rows, dec 6 sts). (56 sts)
Work 14 rows (56 sts), ending with RS for the next row.



SHAPE NECK
Work 9 sts for next 2 rows. (leave 47 sts on the left needle)
Work 5 sts for next 2 rows. (leave another 4 sts on the left needle)
Work 3 sts for next 2 rows (leave another 2 sts on the left needle)
Dec 1 st at the beg of next row and foll 1 alt row. (1 st)



BIND-OFF
Work to match the other side of neck, reversing shapings.
Leave the 4mm knitting needle with the balance 50 sts on it for the collar rib stitch.



ARMHOLE RIB
With RS facing and crochet hook 3/0, cast on 39 sts on 3mm knitting needle.
Work in rib stitch begin with P1, K1 for next 4 rows.
Bind-off Rib stitch.



COLLAR RIB
With RS facing and crochet hook 3/0, cast on 7 sts on 3mm knitting needle, K50, cast on 7 sts.
Next row – (WS) p26, * p3tog repeat 4 times across, p26. (56 sts)
Work in rib stitch begin with K1, P1 for next 4 rows.
Bind-off Rib stitch.



HALTER STRIPS
With RS facing and crochet hook 3/0, cast on 5 sts on 3mm knitting needle.
Starting with a P row, work in stocking/stockinette st for 100 row.
Shaping sides by M1 at beg and end 2nd sts of every foll 16th row to 23 sts.
Bind-off.



MAKE UP
Join side seams.
Remove the bottom dummy yarn while slipping sts on 3mm circular needle. (160sts)
Place marker on the first st.
Work in rib stitch begin with K1, P1 for next 4 rows.
Bind-off Rib stitch.
Sew through 2 rows of elastic thread between ribbing stitches on the Back Top Rib to desire width.

halter Top

Notes

Get the full article at https://www.craftpassion.com/halter-top-knitting-pattern/

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment below or share a photo on Instagram. Don't forget to tag @craftpassion so that we can see it.

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cindy

Wednesday 29th of May 2019

Do you have an adult pattern?

Craft Passion

Thursday 6th of June 2019

I only developed this pattern since I made it for my daughter. If you are able to calculate the tension gauge, you can knit an adult size by simply changing to a chunkier yarn.

Ewa

Sunday 1st of July 2018

From the time I saw this cute top I knew I have to knit one for my daughter.:) I wasn't precisely following your instructions since the size was different (she's 2yo), yarn thinner and I prefer knitting in round, but whole inspiration came totally from you. I've just finished and Im very happy with the effect:) So thanks a lot for sharing this tiny, beautiful project:)

Craft Passion

Monday 2nd of July 2018

Hi Ewa, I am happy to know this, please share a picture with us in the social media if it is possible.

Marianne Colligon

Friday 22nd of May 2015

thank you for your help. I learned how to wrap and turn. I still have 56 sts. on my kneedle. Now I will dec. 1 st. at beg of next row and foll 1 alt row. Now I have 54 sts. It says to BIND OFF. Do I bind off 2 sts. at the beg. of each row?

Craft Passion

Tuesday 26th of May 2015

Hi Marianne, total sts on the needle before decrement and binding off is 56 and it is correct. You need to bind off only 2 sts at each side of the neck. So, 56 minus 2 decrement sts, you will have 54 sts on the needle after decrement. Bind off 2 sts at each side will leave 50 sts on the needle. Leave the 50 sts the needle on and don't bind off, you can continue to knit on them when you are working on the collar rib. Hope this explained :)

Marianne Colligon

Tuesday 19th of May 2015

I am trying to make the bare back halterneck top. I'm having trouble with the shaping of the neck. I followed the directions work 9 sts. for next 2 rows.Leave 47 sts. on left needle. Work 5 sts next two rows leave 4 sts on left needle. work 3 sts for next 2 rows leave 2 sts on left needle. THen dec 1 st. at beg of next row and following 1 at. row. (1st.) If I decrease 2 sts. I'll have 7 st. ea side. that means I'll have 40 sts. in the middle and 7 sts ea side. altogether I'll have 54 sts. It says leave 50 sts. on the needle. What am I doing wrong. Also when I knit 9 sts. and turn to purl the 2nd row, I leave a hole . How can I fix this? Any help you can give me I'll appreciate . Thank you

Craft Passion

Wednesday 20th of May 2015

Hi Marianne, May I know where did you get the 7 sts from? After you have worked on the neck hole, the 50 stitches on the needle is from (looking from the right side of your knitting piece) : 2 sts on row 4 (furthest left) + 4 sts on row 2 (left) + 38 sts on row 0 (center) + 4 sts on row 2 (right) + 2 sts on row 4 (furthest right). The 38 sts on the center is from 56 - 9 (for left) - 9 (for right). As for the hole created on the 2nd row, you may use "short row knit" method or simply pull the stitch tight enough to make the hole less visible. Watch video on how to apply short row knit, here. Hope my explanation helps. Please let me know should you still confused on this :) Happy knitting!!!

Wwl

Thursday 26th of September 2013

Hi Joanne, thank you for sharing such a wonderful pattern. I am a new knitter and looking forward to try this pattern. My daughter is 10, I will need some adjustment, her shoulder to armpit measure is 7" to start decreasing, any tips to do the decrease so the curve will be smooth? Thank you.

Craft Passion

Thursday 26th of September 2013

Is the chest measurement right for her in this pattern? If yes, you probably need to add another few more straight rows to make up the length. This pattern is flexible on the chest to armpit length, if the it a little too short, just don't tie the halter strips too short. Hope this help.

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