purlJam

<pattern>

# FITTED V-NECK CROP TOP WITH CAP SLEEVES

**A top-down raglan crop top in fingering weight yarn**

This fitted crop top features a flattering V-neck, cap sleeves with I-cord edging, and raglan construction. The V-neck is worked flat to your desired depth, then joined for seamless in-the-round knitting. Perfect for layering or wearing on its own.

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## MATERIALS

**Yarn**: Fingering weight yarn
- Approximately 800-900 yards
- Sample shown in [your yarn choice]

**Needles**: 
- US 2 (2.75mm) circular needle, 24" length for yoke and body
- US 2 (2.75mm) circular needle, 16" length OR double-pointed needles for sleeves
- US 1 (2.25mm) circular needle, 24" length for ribbing (optional, for tighter ribbing)

**Notions**:
- 4 stitch markers (1 unique for beginning of round)
- 2 stitch holders or waste yarn for sleeves
- Tapestry needle
- Scrap yarn for provisional cast-on (optional method)

**Gauge**: 
7.5 stitches and 10.5 rows = 1 inch in stockinette stitch on US 2 needles, blocked

**GAUGE IS CRITICAL**: This is a fitted garment. Please swatch and block your swatch to ensure accurate fit.

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## SIZE

**Finished Bust Circumference**: 34.5" (with 0.5" positive ease for 34" bust)
**Finished Length**: 14.5" from center back neck to hem (adjustable to 14-16")
**Cap Sleeve Length**: 5" from center back neck along raglan line

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## PATTERN NOTES

**Construction**: This crop top is worked from the top down. The V-neck section is worked flat with simultaneous raglan increases and V-neck decreases. Once the V-neck reaches the desired depth (approximately 6" below shoulder), the work is joined in the round. The yoke continues with raglan increases until the armhole depth is reached. Sleeve stitches are placed on holders, underarm stitches are cast on, and the body is worked in the round to the desired length. Sleeves are worked last with an I-cord bind-off for a clean, rolled edge.

**Fit Notes**: This top is designed to be fitted with minimal ease. The crop length hits at approximately 14.5" from center back, which typically falls 4-5" above the natural waist.

**Adjustability**:
- **V-neck depth**: Work flat section until V measures desired depth (recommended 5.5-6.5")
- **Body length**: After separating sleeves, work body to desired length before ribbing
- Try on as you work to customize fit

**Raglan Increases**: Increases are worked on RS rows at 4 raglan lines (8 stitches increased per RS row). M1L (make 1 left-leaning) is worked before each marker, M1R (make 1 right-leaning) is worked after each marker.

**I-cord Bind-Off**: Creates a rounded, decorative edge on cap sleeves that won't curl.

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## ABBREVIATIONS

- CO: cast on
- k: knit
- p: purl
- RS: right side
- WS: wrong side
- st(s): stitch(es)
- pm: place marker
- sm: slip marker
- M1L: make 1 left-leaning (insert left needle from front to back under strand between stitches, knit through back loop)
- M1R: make 1 right-leaning (insert left needle from back to front under strand between stitches, knit through front loop)
- ssk: slip, slip, knit (slip 2 sts knitwise, insert left needle into front of slipped sts, knit together)
- k2tog: knit 2 together
- BO: bind off
- BOR: beginning of round

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## PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

### NECKLINE CAST-ON

Using US 2 (2.75mm) 24" circular needle and long-tail method, CO 90 sts.

**Setup Row (WS)**: P2 (right front edge), pm (raglan marker), p13 (right sleeve), pm (raglan marker), p58 (back), pm (raglan marker), p13 (left sleeve), pm (raglan marker), p2 (left front edge).

*Stitch count: 90 sts total (2 + 13 + 58 + 13 + 2 = 90)*
*Note: 2 sts are front edge stitches, 13 each sleeve, 58 back*

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### V-NECK SHAPING (WORKED FLAT)

The V-neck is shaped while simultaneously working raglan increases. The center front V is created by working increases at raglan lines and no stitches added at center front.

**Row 1 (RS - Increase Row)**: 
K2 (right front edge), sm, M1R, k to marker, M1L, sm (right raglan), k2 (back), sm, M1R, k to marker, M1L, sm (back), k to marker, sm, M1R, k to marker, M1L, sm (left raglan), k to marker, sm, M1R, k to 2 sts before end, M1L, k2 (left front edge).

*8 sts increased (2 at each of 4 raglan lines)*

**Row 2 (WS)**: Purl all sts.

**Row 3 (RS - Increase & V-Neck Shaping Row)**: 
Ssk (V-neck decrease), k to marker, M1L, sm, M1R, k to marker, M1L, sm, k to marker, sm, M1R, k to marker, M1L, sm, k to marker, sm, M1R, k to 2 sts before end, k2tog (V-neck decrease).

*6 sts net increase (8 raglan increases - 2 V-neck decreases)*

**Row 4 (WS)**: Purl all sts.

**Repeat Rows 3-4** a total of 31 more times (32 times total).

*After 32 repeats of Rows 3-4:*
*Raglan increases: 32 × 8 = 256 sts added*
*V-neck decreases: 32 × 2 = 64 sts decreased*
*Total stitch count: 90 + 256 - 64 = 282 sts*

*Row count: 1 setup WS row + 1 RS row + 64 rows (32 repeats) = 66 rows total*
*V-neck depth: 66 rows ÷ 10.5 rows/inch ≈ 6.3"*

**After Row 65**: You should have approximately 282 sts distributed as:
- Right front: 18 sts (2 original - 32 decreases + 48 raglan increases from adjacent sleeve)
- Right sleeve: 77 sts (13 + 64 raglan increases)
- Back: 122 sts (58 + 64 raglan increases)  
- Left sleeve: 77 sts (13 + 64 raglan increases)
- Left front: 18 sts (2 original - 32 decreases + 48 raglan increases from adjacent sleeve)

*Verification: 18 + 77 + 122 + 77 + 18 = 312 sts*

**CORRECTION TO MATH**: Let me recalculate the stitch distribution more carefully.

After 1 initial RS row (Row 1) + 32 repeats of V-shaping rows:
- Total RS rows with raglan increases: 33 rows
- Total V-neck decrease rows: 32 rows
- Starting sts: 90
- Raglan increases: 33 × 8 = 264 sts
- V-neck decreases: 32 × 2 = 64 sts
- Total: 90 + 264 - 64 = 290 sts

Distribution after Row 66:
- Each sleeve: 13 + (33 × 2) = 13 + 66 = 79 sts per sleeve
- Back: 58 + (33 × 2) = 58 + 66 = 124 sts
- Each front: 2 + (33 × 2) - 32 = 2 + 66 - 32 = 36 sts per front

*Verification: 36 + 79 + 124 + 79 + 36 = 354 sts*

**RECALCULATING**: Let me trace through stitch-by-stitch:
- Right front starts with 2 sts, loses 1 st every V-decrease row (32 rows), gains 2 sts from adjacent raglan every raglan row (33 rows): 2 - 32 + (33 × 2) = 2 - 32 + 66 = 36 sts
- Right sleeve starts with 13 sts, gains 2 sts every raglan row on each side: 13 + (33 × 2 × 2) = 13 + 132 = 145 sts

**ERROR IDENTIFIED**: In flat V-neck shaping, the sleeve gains increases on BOTH its raglan lines, so gains 4 sts per RS row.

Let me recalculate properly:
- **Right Front**: 2 (start) - 32 (V-decreases) + 33 (M1L before first marker on right front side) = 3 sts
  
Actually, reviewing the increase pattern: On Row 3 pattern, the fronts get raglan increases from their adjacent raglan lines.

Let me restart with clearer tracking:

**Simplified approach**: After 32 V-decrease rows (Rows 3-66):
- Right front: Gets M1L from its raglan line = 33 increases, loses 32 from ssk = net 1 gained = 3 sts
- Right sleeve: Gets M1R and M1L on both raglan lines = 4 increases/RS row × 33 = 132 gained = 145 sts
- Back: Gets M1R and M1L on both raglan lines = 4 increases/RS row × 33 = 132 gained = 190 sts
- Left sleeve: Gets M1R and M1L on both raglan lines = 4 increases/RS row × 33 = 132 gained = 145 sts
- Left front: Gets M1R from its raglan line = 33 increases, loses 32 from k2tog = net 1 gained = 3 sts

*Total: 3 + 145 + 190 + 145 + 3 = 486 sts*

This is too many stitches. Let me reconsider the construction.

**REVISED APPROACH - CORRECT RAGLAN MATH**:

In the Row 3 pattern as written:
- Ssk at beginning (1 st decreased from right front)
- M1L before first marker, M1R after (2 sts added between right front and right sleeve)
- M1L before second marker, M1R after (2 sts added between right sleeve and back)
- M1L before third marker, M1R after (2 sts added between back and left sleeve)
- M1L before fourth marker, M1R after (2 sts added between left sleeve and left front)
- K2tog at end (1 st decreased from left front)

Net change: +8 sts raglan, -2 sts V-neck = +6 sts per RS repeat

These 8 raglan stitches distribute as: +2 to right front, +4 to right sleeve, +4 to back, +