This vintage knitting pattern for the “Mimi” short sleeved top was first published in the early 1940’s. It features lace panels running up the sides and centre front, plus delicate detailing at the neckline.
This pattern uses old UK knitting needle sizes and is knit with fingering weight wool.
Materials
“Knitty” Cotton – 9 1-oz. reels.
1 pair No. 10 needles.
1 pair No. 12 needles.
Measurements
Length: 22″
Width around bust: 34″
Tension
Pattern – 22 sts to 2 1/2 inches.
Stocking st – 7 1/2 sts. to 1 inch. 9 rows to 1 inch.
Pattern
Back
Cast on 130 sts. on No. 10 needles and knit first row into back of sts. Work in following pattern:
Row 1 — K.1, (K.1, P.1, K.1, P.1, K.1 in next stitch), P.2, K.2, P.2, K.2, P.2, K.42, P.2, K.2, P.2, K.2, P.2, (K.1, P.1, K.1, P.1, K.1 in next stitch), repeat once, P.2, K.2, P.2, K.2, P.2, K.42, P.2, K.2, P.2, K.2, P.2, (K.1, P.1, K.1, P.1, K.1 in next stitch), K.1.
Row 2 — P.1, K.7, P.2, K.2, P.2, K.2 tog., P.42, K.2 tog., P.2, K.2, P.2, K.14, P.2, K.2, P.2, K.2 tog., P.42, K.2 tog., P.2, K.2, P.2, K.7, P.1.
Row 3 — K.1, P.7, K.2, P.2, K.2, P.1, K.42, P.1, K.2, P.2, K.2, P.14, K.2, P.2, K.2, P.1, K.42, P.1, K.2, P.2, K.2, P.7, K.1.
Row 4 — K.1, P.5, K.2, P.2, K.2, P.2 tog., K.1, P.42, K.1, P.2 tog., K.2, P.2, K.2, P.10, K.2, P.2, K.2, P.2 tog., K.1, P.42, K.1, P.2 tog., K.2, P.2, K.2, P.5, K.1.
Row 5 — P.1, K.5, P.2, K.2, P.1, K.2 tog., P.1, K.42, P.1, K.2 tog., P.1, K.2, P.2, K.10, P.2, K.2, P.1, K.2 tog., P.1, K.42, P.1, K.2 tog., P.1, K.2, P.2, K.5, P.1.
Row 6 — K.1, P.5, K.2, P.2, K.2 tog., K.1, P.1, P.2 tog., P.36, P.2 tog., P.1, K.1, K.2 tog., P.2, K.2, P.10, K.2, P.2, K.2 tog., K.1, P.1, P.2 tog., P.36, P.2 tog., P.1, K.1, K.2 tog., P.2, K.2, P.5, K.1.
Repeat from Row 1, decreasing on every 6th row as given in Row 6 (with 2 sts. less between decreases in stocking st. panels in every succeeding decrease row) until 106 sts. remain on needle, counting sts. on Row 6 of pattern. (There will now be 30 sts. instead of 42 sts. in stocking st. between the pattern panels.)
Work, without decreasing until 7 patterns have been completed.
Change to No.12 needles and work 3 more patterns without decreasing in Row 6.
Change back to No.10 needles and work 11 rows without decreasing.
Increase on next Row 6 as follows: Work first 13 sts. as Row 6 of pattern, * P.1, P. twice into next st., P.26, P. twice into next stitch, P.1, work next 24 sts. in pattern, repeat from * to last 13 sts., work these as given in Row 6 of pattern.
Continue working in pattern, increasing in every Row 6 of pattern as given above (with 2 sts. more between increases on every succeeding increase row), until there are 126 sts. on needle, counting sts. at Row 6.
Work even without increasing until 18 complete patterns have been worked from start.
Work Rows 1 to 5.
On next row, cast on 10 sts. at beginning of row and knit into back of these sts., continuing across row with Row 6 of pattern, without increasing or decreasing, there are now 40 sts. in the stocking st. panels between pattern panels.
Cast on 10 sts. at beginning of next row and work as follows:
Row 1 — * P.2, K.2, P.2, K.2, P.2, inc. 5 sts. in each of next 2 sts., P.2, K.2, P.2, K.2, P.2, K.40, repeat from * across row.
Row 2 — * K.2 tog., P.2, K.2, P.2, K.14, P.2, K.2, P.2, K.2 tog., P.40, repeat from * across row.
Row 3 — * P.1, K.2, P.2, K.2, P.14, K.2, P.2, K.2, P.1, K.40, repeat from * across row.
Row 4 — * K.1, P.2 tog., K.2, P.2, K.2, P.10, K.2, P.2, K.2, P.2 tog., K.1, P.40, repeat from * across row.
Row 5 — * P.1, K.2 tog., P.1, K.2, P.2, K.10, P.2, K.2, P.1, K.2 tog., P.1, K.40, repeat from * across row.
Row 6 — * K.1, K.2 tog., P.2, K.2, P.10, K.2, P.2, K.2 tog., K.1, ** P.1, P. twice into next stitch, P.38, repeat from * to ** once, P.38, P. twice into next st., P.1, repeat from * to ** once.
Continue working in this manner, increasing on every 6th row until there are 166 sts. on needle, counted at Row 6. (There will now be 50 sts. in stocking st. between pattern panels.)
Work Rows 1 to 4.
Commence shoulder shaping:
Row 1 — Cast off 12 sts., work remainder as Row 5 of pattern, keeping continuity of pattern.
Row 2 — Cast off 12 sts., work remainder as Row 6 of pattern, without increasing between panels and keeping continuity of pattern.
Row 3 — Cast off 10 sts., work remainder as Row 1 of pattern.
Row 4 — Cast off 10 sts., work remainder as Row 2 of pattern.
Row 5 — Cast off 8 sts., work Row 3 of pattern on remainder.
Row 6 — Cast off 8 sts., work Row 4 of pattern on remainder.
Continue working in pattern, casting off 5 sts. at beginning of next 14 rows (36 sts. on needle). Cast off.
Front:
Work in same manner as back until 19 patterns, with the exception of 1 row, have been worked. Cast on sts. for cap sleeves and work in same manner as back for 7 patterns.
On next row, commence neck shaping:
1st Row — Work Row 1 of pattern panel on first 22 sts. (as given for back above armhole shaping), K.47, cast off the centre 22 sts., K.47, work last 22 sts. in Row 1 of pattern.
2nd Row — Work Row 2 of pattern panel on first 22 sts., P.47, turn.
3rd Row — K.1, K. twice into next st., K.45, work Row 3 of pattern panel on remaining sts.
4th Row — Work Row 4 of pattern panel on first 22 sts., P.46, P. twice into next st., P.1.
5th Row — K.1, K. twice into next st., K.47, work remaining sts. as Row 5 of pattern panel.
6th Row — Work Row 6 of pattern panel on first 22 sts., P.1, P. twice into next st., P.46, P. twice into next st., K.1.
Continue working in this manner until there are 81 sts. on needle, ending at neck edge.
Cast of 10 sts. at beginning of next row, K.49, work remainder of sts. as Row 1 of pattern panel. Work back to neck edge in Row 2 of pattern panel, P.48, K.1.
Next Row — K.1, K.2 tog., K.46, work remainder of sts. as Row 3 of pattern panel.
Next Row — Work Row 4 of pattern panel, P.47, K.1.
Next Row — K.1, K.2 tog., K.45, work remainder of row as Row 5 of pattern panel.
Next Row — Work Row 6 of pattern panel, keeping continuity of pattern, P.1, P. twice into next st., P.44, K.1.
Work Rows 1 to 5, decreasing 1 st. at neck edge of 1st, 3rd and 5th rows.
Commence shaping shoulder by casting off 12 sts. at beginning of Row 6.
Decrease 1 st. at neck edge of alternate rows, twice, continuing to shape shoulder by casting off 11 sts., then 8, then 5 sts., 7 times, at armhole edge of alternate rows.
Tie on cotton at centre and work other side of neck in same manner.
Finishing
Press carefully, avoiding pattern panels. Gather shoulders on stocking st. until shoulder measures 6 inches across all sts. Join shoulder seams. Join underarm seams. Work picot edging around neck edges.