Ginkgo Biloba Top – Knitting pattern

There is hardly any plant that has been flourishing on this planet for as long as the ginkgo. The fascinating tree species (Lat.: Ginkgo biloba) with its unique bifurcated leaf shape has inspired this design. A delicate panel in “ginkgo leaf rib” runs along the centre front and the straps of this summery garment.

Starting with a provisional cast-on, a folded hem is worked first. The Ginkgo Biloba Top is knitted bottom-up, for the most part in the round, while the pattern panel and a faux seam on both sides make for an interesting and varied knit. Once you reach the underarm, you continue to work the front and back flat and create a neat I-cord edge. The two halves of each strap are joined almost invisibly with three-needle bind-off.

This pattern invites you to adapt it to your style: choose between a hip-length and a waist-length version and decide if you would like to incorporate waist shaping. (The two samples in the photos both have waist shaping.)

Sizes

14 sizes, finished bust circumference:
73 (80; 87; 93; 100) (107; 113; 120; 127) (133; 140; 147; 153) 160 cm
28.75 (31.5; 34.25; 36.5; 39.5) (42; 44.5; 47.25; 50) (52.25; 55; 57.75; 60.25) 63”

Ease: 2 cm (0.75”) of negative to 5 cm (2”) of positive ease

Recommended yarn:

Fingering-weight yarn, e.g. BC Garn Bio Balance GOTS or Knitting for Olive Pure Silk

Yarn estimates:

• Long version: approx.
  530 (600; 660; 720; 780) (830; 950; 1,100; 1,170) (1,230; 1,290; 1,420; 1,480) 1,530 m
  580 (660; 720; 790; 850) (910; 1,040; 1,200; 1,280) (1,350; 1,410; 1,550; 1,620) 1,680 yds
• Cropped version: approx.
  400 (430; 460; 490; 550) (600; 640; 670; 700) (730; 760; 860; 890) 930 m
  440 (470; 500; 540; 600) (660; 700; 730; 770) (800; 830; 940; 970) 1,020 yds
  

Needles and notions needed:

• needle A: circular needles to meet gauge (suggestion for Bio Balance: 3.25 mm (US 3); for Pure Silk: 3 mm (US 2.5)), length: 60–100 cm (24–40”), depending on garment size
• needle B: circular needles to knit the hem, 0.25 mm smaller than the needle size you get gauge with, length: 60–100 cm (24–40”)
• needle C: circular needles or DPNs to knit straps and for three-needle bind-off, 0.5 mm smaller than the needle size you get gauge with
• stitch markers, leftover yarn, tapestry needle, crochet hook (optional)

Gauge:

Stockinette: 24 stitches x 36 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4” on needle A in the round, blocked

Level of difficulty:

intermediate

Techniques (explanation/tutorial included):

• provisional cast-on
• knitting below
• increases
• decreases
  
• three-needle bind-off