Butterfly Ballerina Wrap Top

A light, drapey crossover wrap top in all-over butterfly lace, worked in laceweight mohair held double. Ballet-inspired fronts overlap and tie at the waist. ¾ sleeves, garter hems, and a garter wrap band keep the lace edges neat. Designed for an adventurous beginner: if you can knit, purl, yarn over, and decrease, you can make this.

Sizes

S (M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL)

To fit bust: 32–34 (36–38, 40–42, 44–46, 48–50, 52–54)" [81–86 (91–97, 102–107, 112–117, 122–127, 132–137) cm]

Finished back width: 18½ (20½, 22½, 24½, 26½, 28½)" [47 (52, 57, 62, 67, 72) cm]

Finished bust (wrapped, approx. 11–15" / 28–38 cm overlap, adjustable): 36 (40, 44, 48, 52, 56)" [91 (102, 112, 122, 132, 142) cm]

Finished back length: 19½ (20½, 21¾, 22¾, 23¾, 24½)" [49.5 (52, 55, 58, 60.5, 62) cm]

Front hem width (each): 14½ (16½, 18½, 20½, 22½, 24½)" [37 (42, 47, 52, 57, 62) cm]

Upper arm: 12½ (14½, 16½, 18½, 20½, 22½)" [32 (37, 42, 47, 52, 57) cm]

Sleeve length to underarm: 11 (11½, 12, 12, 12½, 12½)" [28 (29, 30.5, 30.5, 32, 32) cm]

Choose a size by back width (about half your bust plus 1–2" / 2.5–5 cm). The wrap is adjustable.

Shown schematic (inches):

Back width     18½ (20½, 22½, 24½, 26½, 28½)
Back length    19½ (20½, 21¾, 22¾, 23¾, 24½)
Hem to armhole 12 (12½, 13, 13½, 14, 14½)
Armhole depth   7½ (8, 8½, 9, 9½, 10)
Shoulder width   4½ (5, 5½, 5¾, 6¼, 6½)

Materials

Yarn: Laceweight mohair or mohair-silk, held double throughout.

• 1400 (1600, 1850, 2100, 2400, 2700) yards [1280 (1460, 1690, 1920, 2195, 2470) m] total laceweight yarn
• About 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 7) skeins of a typical 50 g / 420–460 yd kid mohair-silk

Yardage is the total length of laceweight yarn you must buy. You knit with two strands as if they were one. Use two balls, or wind one skein into two cakes.

Needles

• US 7 / 4.5 mm, 32" (80 cm) circular, for the body and sleeves (worked flat)
• US 6 / 4 mm, 32" (80 cm) circular, for the garter band and ties
• Straight needles in the same sizes are fine if you prefer

Notions

• Stitch markers (10–16, one per lace repeat plus 2 edge markers)
• Removable markers
• Tapestry needle
• Waste yarn or stitch holders
• Blocking wires and T-pins (strongly recommended)

Gauge

20 stitches and 28 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Butterfly Lace on US 7 / 4.5 mm, yarn held double, after wet blocking.

5 sts = 1"; 7 rows = 1".

Swatch at least 30 sts × 32 rows (3 lace repeats wide × 4 repeats high), including edge stitches. Bind off, wet block, and measure the center. Change needle size to match this gauge. Mohair fabric must look open and drapey after blocking; if the swatch is stiff, go up a needle size.

Abbreviations (US)

Pattern Notes

• Yarn is held double for the entire project. Treat the two strands as one stitch.
• Pieces are worked flat, bottom up, then seamed.
• Garter edge stitches: the first and last stitch of every row are knitted on both RS and WS. They are not part of the lace repeat and are not shown on the chart.
• Lace on WS rows: purl all stitches between the 2 garter edge stitches.
• Place a marker after the first edge st, then every 10 sts, then before the last edge st. Count after every RS row until the lace is automatic.
• Shaping and incomplete repeats: when a decrease leaves fewer than 10 sts between the edge and the next marker, remove that marker and work those leftover sts in stockinette (knit RS, purl WS) until a full 10-st repeat fits again. Never work a yo without its matching k2tog or ssk in the same row — if a decrease would eat a yo pairing, knit those sts instead.
• Lifelines: thread a smooth cotton yarn through a completed Row 8 every 2–3 repeats. If you make a mistake, rip back to the lifeline.
• Lengths are measured flat, unstretched, from the cast-on edge, before blocking. Mohair grows in the wash; do not knit extra length.
• Wrap fronts are mirrors. Read Right Front and Left Front separately.
• Choose numbers in this order throughout: S (M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL).

Stitch Guide

Garter stitch (flat): Knit every row.

Butterfly Lace (multiple of 10 sts, plus 2 garter edge sts)

Worked between the 2 edge stitches.

Row 1 (RS): *K2, k2tog, yo, k2, yo, ssk, k2; rep from *. Row 2 (WS): Purl. Row 3: *K1, k2tog, yo, k4, yo, ssk, k1; rep from *. Row 4: Purl. Row 5: *K2tog, yo, k6, yo, ssk; rep from *. Row 6: Purl. Row 7: *K2, yo, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo, k2; rep from *. Row 8: Purl.

Repeat Rows 1–8 for pattern.

Each 10-st repeat stays 10 sts on every row (2 yarn overs offset 2 decreases).

Chart A: Butterfly Lace (10 sts × 8 rows)

Read RS rows (odd) from right to left. Read WS rows (even) from left to right. WS rows are purled across the lace. Chart shows one 10-st repeat. Repeat the 10-st panel across the row between the 2 garter edge stitches. Row 1 is at the bottom.

        10  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1
 8 WS    •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •
 7 RS    k  k  o  /  k  k  \  o  k  k
 6 WS    •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •
 5 RS    \  o  k  k  k  k  k  k  o  /
 4 WS    •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •
 3 RS    k  \  o  k  k  k  k  o  /  k
 2 WS    •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •
 1 RS    k  k  \  o  k  k  o  /  k  k

Key

Worked from the right on Row 1: k2, k2tog, yo, k2, yo, ssk, k2 (10 sts ✓).

BACK

With larger needle and yarn held double, CO 92 (102, 112, 122, 132, 142) sts.

Garter hem Knit 6 rows. Piece measures about ¾".

Set lace Next row (RS): K1 (edge), pm, work Row 1 of Butterfly Lace (Chart A) to last st, working 9 (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) repeats, pm, k1 (edge). [9 × 10 = 90; 90 + 2 edges = 92 ✓] [14 × 10 = 140; 140 + 2 edges = 142 ✓]

Next row (WS): K1, sm, purl to last M, sm, k1.

Continue in Butterfly Lace with garter edges until piece measures 12 (12½, 13, 13½, 14, 14½)" [30.5 (32, 33, 34.5, 35.5, 37) cm] from CO, ending with a WS row (preferably Row 8).

Armhole shaping

BO 4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. 84 (92, 100, 108, 116, 124) sts. [92 − 4 − 4 = 84 ✓] [142 − 9 − 9 = 124 ✓]

Dec row (RS): K1, ssk, work in pattern to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (2 sts dec) Next row (WS): K1, purl to last st, k1.

Rep the last 2 rows 2 (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) more times. 78 (84, 90, 96, 102, 108) sts. [84 − 2×3 = 78 ✓] [124 − 2×8 = 108 ✓]

Work even in pattern until armhole measures 5½ (6, 6½, 7, 7½, 8)" [14 (15, 16.5, 18, 19, 20.5) cm], ending with a WS row.

Neck and shoulders

Next row (RS): Work 26 (28, 30, 32, 34, 36) sts, attach a second ball (or place rem sts on waste yarn and return), BO center 26 (28, 30, 32, 34, 36) sts, work rem 26 (28, 30, 32, 34, 36) sts. [26 + 26 + 26 = 78 ✓] [36 + 36 + 36 = 108 ✓]

Work both sides at the same time with separate balls.

Next row (WS): Work even.

Neck dec row (RS): On the right shoulder (first side), work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. On the left shoulder (second side), k1, ssk, work to end. (1 st dec at each neck edge)

Rep the last 2 rows 2 more times (3 neck decs each side). 23 (25, 27, 29, 31, 33) sts each shoulder. [26 − 3 = 23 ✓] [36 − 3 = 33 ✓]

Work even until armhole measures 7½ (8, 8½, 9, 9½, 10)" [19 (20.5, 21.5, 23, 24, 25.5) cm], ending with a WS row. BO each shoulder.

RIGHT FRONT

(As worn: this piece sits on the right side of the body and wraps across to the left. On RS rows the wrap/diagonal edge is at the beginning of the row; the side seam is at the end.)

With larger needle and yarn held double, CO 72 (82, 92, 102, 112, 122) sts.

Garter hem Knit 6 rows.

Set lace Next row (RS): K1, pm, work Row 1 of Butterfly Lace over 70 (80, 90, 100, 110, 120) sts — 7 (8, 9, 10, 11, 12) repeats — pm, k1. [7 × 10 + 2 = 72 ✓] [12 × 10 + 2 = 122 ✓]

Next row (WS): K1, sm, purl to last M, sm, k1.

Wrap decreases

The wrap edge is decreased at the beginning of RS rows as ssk (inside the edge st).

Wrap dec row (RS): K1, ssk, work in pattern to last st, k1. (1 st dec) WS rows: K1, purl to last st, k1 (work even).

Work wrap decreases in this order, keeping the lace as established (incomplete repeats in St st):

1. Work a Wrap dec row every 4th row 21 (22, 18, 16, 14, 12) times.
2. Then work a Wrap dec row every RS row 21 (26, 36, 44, 52, 60) times.

[21 + 21 = 42 wrap decs for S ✓] [12 + 60 = 72 wrap decs for 3XL ✓]

AT THE SAME TIME, when the piece measures 12 (12½, 13, 13½, 14, 14½)" [30.5 (32, 33, 34.5, 35.5, 37) cm] from CO, ending with a RS row (so the side edge is ready to BO on WS), shape the armhole on the side edge as follows, while continuing the wrap-edge schedule above.

Armhole (side edge) — AT THE SAME TIME

Next row (WS): BO 4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) sts, work to end.

Armhole dec row (RS): Work in pattern with wrap shaping as scheduled at the beginning of the row; at the end of the row, work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (If this RS row is also a wrap-dec row, you will decrease 1 st at each end.)

Next row (WS): Work even.

Rep the Armhole dec row every RS row 2 (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) more times (3 (4, 5, 6, 7, 8) armhole decs total), then stop decreasing at the armhole and work the side edge even.

Continue until all wrap decreases are complete — 23 (25, 27, 29, 31, 33) sts remain — then work even if needed until the armhole measures 7½ (8, 8½, 9, 9½, 10)" [19 (20.5, 21.5, 23, 24, 25.5) cm], matching the Back, ending with a WS row.

Checkpoint after all shaping: 23 (25, 27, 29, 31, 33) sts, matching the Back shoulder. [S: 72 − 42 wrap − 4 BO − 3 armhole = 23 ✓] [3XL: 122 − 72 wrap − 9 BO − 8 armhole = 33 ✓]

BO rem sts.

Place a removable marker on the wrap edge 7½ (8, 8½, 9, 9½, 10)" [19 (20.5, 21.5, 23, 24, 25.5) cm] up from the CO — this is the outer-tie position.

LEFT FRONT

Mirror of the Right Front. Wrap edge is at the end of RS rows; side seam/armhole is at the beginning of RS rows.

CO 72 (82, 92, 102, 112, 122) sts. Work 6-row garter hem. Set Butterfly Lace with 2 garter edges as for Right Front.

Wrap dec row (RS): K1, work in pattern to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (1 st dec)

Work the same wrap-decrease schedule as the Right Front: every 4th row 21 (22, 18, 16, 14, 12) times, then every RS row 21 (26, 36, 44, 52, 60) times.

AT THE SAME TIME, when the piece measures 12 (12½, 13, 13½, 14, 14½)" from CO, ending with a WS row, shape the armhole:

Next row (RS): BO 4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) sts, work to end (including wrap dec if scheduled).

Next row (WS): Work even.

Armhole dec row (RS): K1, ssk, work in pattern to end (include wrap dec at the end of the row if scheduled).

Rep the Armhole dec row every RS row 2 (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) more times, then work the armhole edge even.

Continue until 23 (25, 27, 29, 31, 33) sts rem, then work even until armhole matches Back. BO.

Mark the wrap edge at the same height as the Right Front tie mark.

SLEEVES (make 2)

With larger needle and yarn held double, CO 42 (52, 52, 62, 72, 72) sts.

Garter cuff Knit 6 rows.

Set lace Next row (RS): K1, pm, work Row 1 of Butterfly Lace over 40 (50, 50, 60, 70, 70) sts — 4 (5, 5, 6, 7, 7) repeats — pm, k1. [4 × 10 + 2 = 42 ✓] [7 × 10 + 2 = 72 ✓]

Next row (WS): K1, purl to last st, k1.

Inc row (RS): K1, m1L (or kfb), work in pattern to last st, m1R (or kfb), k1. (2 sts inc)

Work new stitches in St st until you have 10 new sts inside the edge; then place a marker and work them as an extra Butterfly Lace repeat.

Work an Inc row every 6th (6th, 4th, 4th, 4th, 4th) row 10 (10, 15, 15, 15, 20) times. 62 (72, 82, 92, 102, 112) sts. [42 + 2×10 = 62 ✓] [72 + 2×20 = 112 ✓]

Work even until sleeve measures 11 (11½, 12, 12, 12½, 12½)" [28 (29, 30.5, 30.5, 32, 32) cm] from CO, ending with a WS row.

Sleeve cap

BO 4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. 54 (62, 70, 78, 86, 94) sts. [62 − 8 = 54 ✓] [112 − 18 = 94 ✓]

Dec row (RS): K1, ssk, work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (2 sts dec) Work 3 rows even.

Rep the last 4 rows 7 (8, 9, 10, 11, 12) more times — 8 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) cap decs worked every 4th row. 38 (44, 50, 56, 62, 68) sts. [54 − 2×8 = 38 ✓] [94 − 2×13 = 68 ✓]

Then work the Dec row every RS row 3 (4, 5, 6, 7, 8) times. 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52) sts. [38 − 2×3 = 32 ✓] [68 − 2×8 = 52 ✓]

BO 4 sts at the beginning of the next 4 rows. 16 (20, 24, 28, 32, 36) sts. [32 − 16 = 16 ✓] [52 − 16 = 36 ✓]

BO rem sts.

TIES (make 3)

With smaller needle and yarn held double, CO 8 sts. Work in garter stitch (knit every row) until the tie measures 20 (20, 22, 22, 24, 24)" [51 (51, 56, 56, 61, 61) cm]. BO.

Two ties are outer/inner wrap ties; the third is sewn to the left side seam (inside) so the wrap can be fastened closed.

FINISHING

Weave in ends that would be trapped in seams; leave the rest until after blocking.

Wet block (do this before seaming)

Soak pieces in cool water with a little wool wash for 20 minutes. Press out water in a towel — do not wring. Pin to the finished measurements, opening the lace so the butterfly eyelets are visible. Do not stretch mohair aggressively in length; it will grow when worn. Dry completely.

Seams

Use mattress stitch, with yarn held single (one strand of the laceweight) for finer seams.

1. Sew shoulder seams, matching the 23 (25, 27, 29, 31, 33) sts of each Front to the Back shoulders.
2. Set in sleeves: match the sleeve-cap bind-off to the body armhole bind-off, then ease the cap into the armhole. The cap is slightly shorter than the armhole depth so it sits gently, which suits mohair drape.
3. Sew side seams and sleeve seams in one continuous line.

Wrap band

With smaller needle, yarn held double, and RS facing, beginning at the Right Front hem, pick up and knit along the entire Right wrap edge, across the Back neck, and down the Left wrap edge to the Left Front hem.

Pickup rate: 3 sts for every 4 rows along the diagonal wrap edges; 1 st for every bound-off st across the Back neck.

A typical pickup is about 110 (120, 132, 144, 156, 168) sts along each wrap edge and 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42) sts across the Back neck — 252 (274, 300, 326, 352, 378) sts total. Exact count is not critical; the band should lie flat without flaring. If the edge ruffles, you picked up too many; if it pulls, too few.

Knit 5 rows (garter). BO loosely knitwise on the next row. If the BO is tight, use a larger needle to bind off.

Attach ties

• Sew one tie to the Right Front band at the marked waist height (the outer tie).
• Sew one tie to the Left Front band at the same height (optional second outer tie, or skip if you prefer a single wrap).
• Sew the remaining tie to the inside Left side seam at the same height (the inner anchor). Wrap the Right Front across the body, pass the outer tie around the waist, and knot it to the inner tie.

Final

Weave in remaining ends. Steam the seams and band lightly if needed, holding the iron above the mohair — do not crush the halo. Wear with the Right Front wrapping over the Left (traditional ballerina close), or reverse if you prefer.

Beginner tips

• Count “10, 10, 10…” across every RS row until muscle memory takes over. If you end a repeat with leftover stitches that are not 10, you dropped a yo or missed a decrease — fix it on that row.
• A yo is just putting the yarn over the right needle; it makes a hole and adds a stitch. The k2tog or ssk in the same repeat takes that extra stitch back.
• Ssk and k2tog lean toward the center of each butterfly wing. If a decrease leans the wrong way the motif still works; do not rip for a single lean.
• If the wrap band flares, it was picked up too tightly or too densely; pick out the band and pick up fewer stitches. The body lace is already blocked, so the band should be slightly firmer, not stretched.

Quick stitch-count recap

Enjoy your wrap. The lace looks like a flight of small butterflies once it is blocked — that is the moment the mohair earns its keep.