As You Like It - Free pattern to knit a totally Versatile 1940s tee style top

Modelling my own version of this simple totally wearable top. I made this one in the vintage yarn specified in the pattern and often throw it on over a modern skirt or jeans. A little touch of vintage for my every day.

A vintage pattern from the 1940's publication of Knitcraft, an Australian knitting magazine. It features a deep U-shaped neckline and some clever but simple waist shaping, and is perfect for dressing up in true vintage style or just throwing on over a pair of jeans.

Knitcraft Series 47 cover art. The pattern images in this publication are beautifully hand coloured.

The pattern calls for a now out of production yarn. I was fortunate enough to inherit a box of lovely Lincoln Mills Daphne Crochet Wool a few years ago and doing a comparison with some of our modern yarns, it can be substituted with any of the modern heavier 4 ply/Fingering weight wools. It does require something with a little structure though, so maybe steer clear of your super soft baby merino or hazy angora blends.

Just some of the lovely vintage Lincoln Mills yarn still in my stash.

While I do offer a service to knit up your own made to measure version of the As You Like It , I know a lot of you would like to try and knit up your own version of this totally versatile top.

In response I've typed this one up as written in the original with some updated measurements etc. It's fairly straight forward with standard Australian knitting abbreviations. So let's get knitting.....

The Pattern

The blurb for the garment inserted into the original publication centrefold by the Australian Wool Board reads:

"An evening sweater that’s glamour plus. The plus is the wool from which you will knit it and by which you’ll be cosy as a kitten while your sisters sit and shiver. The wool evening sweater is the smartest idea the world’s fashion-setters have had in a long time. And this one is something special. Designed to make the most of your figure, it has its full quota of new features – U-shaped neckline, cap sleeves, and slinky, sophisticated lines (thanks to wool). Better still, this sweater has many roles. You can wear it over or under a long skirt or a short skirt. It can scintillate with sequins or paillettes.

It can be richly embroidered, appliquéd with gold or silver kid, studded, or starred with rhinestones. And a sweater like this is a wonderful setting for diamante dress clips. We give you some ideas how to decorate it, there are lots more you can think of. That’s why it’s a sweater “as you like it.” No need to tell you, others will. But remember, make it in wool because, as Madame Schiaparelli said : “Nothing can take the place of real wool.” - Knitcraft Series 47, p.41

The pattern itself is a mere half page long and sits beside an advert for toothpaste on page 65. I've added some notes in brackets

Materials Required

Lincoln Mills Daphne Crochet Wool — 6 ozs ( approximately 170grams 4ply/Fingering).

1 pair No. 10 needles (3.25mm/US 3)

1 pair No. 12 needles (2.75mm/US 2)

1 crochet hook (not specified in the pattern but I have successfully used a US 2/size C/UK 12 hook).

Measurements

Length from shoulder 23 inches (58.5 cm)

Width around bust – 34 (86 cm)

*Note that although this garment does have some stretch to it. It is designed to be figure hugging and knit to pattern in the vintage yarn it fits me perfectly and I have considerably more front acreage than 34 inches. If you take the needle size up a size or two and add the required inches to the length, it will easily fit up to a 42 inch bust without any other alterations to the pattern.

Tension

7.5 sts to 1 inch and 10 rows to 1 inch

*this works out to be 22 stitches and 10 rows to 10 cm

Back

Cast on 127 sts. with No.10 (3.25mm/US3) needles, knit into the back of the 1st row, then work (stockinette pattern) as follows:

Row 1: Knit.

Row 2: K. 1, purl to last st., K. 1.

Work even in pattern for 1 inch (2.5cm), ending with Row 2.

Next Row: Decrease at each end as follows: K. 1, K. 2 tog., K. to last 3 sts., K. 2 tog., K. 1.

Decrease in this manner at each end of every 4th row, 11 more times ( until you have 103 sts. on needle).

Change to No. 12 (2.75mm/US 2) needles and work even in pattern until back measures 7 inches from start, ending with Row 2.

Change to No. 10 (3.25mm/US 3)needles and increase at each end of next row as follows: K. 1, K. twice into next st., K. to last 2 sts., K. twice into next st., K. 1.

Increase in this manner every 4th row until there are 137 sts. on needle.

Work even (in stockinette pattern ) until back measures 14 inches from start, ending with Row 2.

Increase (one stitch) at each end of next row (139 stitches).

Work 7 rows even.

Increase in next row as follows: K. 8, K. twice into next st., K. to last 9 sts. K. twice into next st., K. 8 (143 stitches).

Increase in this manner on every 8th row until there are 151 sts. on needle.

Work even (in stockinette pattern) until back measures 22 inches ( 55.5cm) from start, ending with Row 2.

Shape shoulders by casting off 12 sts. at beginning of next 4 rows (103 stitches).

Next row: K. 33, cast off 37, K. 33.

Cast off 11 sts. at armhole end of alternate rows, twice.

Cast off remaining 11 sts.

*here it should tell you to break your yarn and join to remaining stitches to finish the other shoulder/sleeve shaping

Work other side of neck in same manner.

Front

Cast on same number of sts (127 stitches as for the back) and work in same manner as back until front measures 14 inches (35.5cm) from start, ending with Row 2.

Increase at each end of next row. Work (a further) 7 rows even (in stockinette pattern).

Then continue as follows:

Row 1: K. 8, K. twice into next st., K. 45, turn.

Row 2: K. 1, purl to last st., K. 1.

Row 3: K. to last 3 sts., K. 2 tog., K. 1.

Row 4: K. 1, purl to last st., K. 1.

Repeat 3rd and 4th rows, twice (52 sts. on needle).

Work 7 rows even in pattern.

Next Row: K. 8, K. twice into next st., K. 43, turn.

*you are now working on one side only

Increase in this manner on every 8th row until 57 sts. on needle.

Work even in pattern until front measures 22 inches (55.5 cm) from start.

Cast of 12 sts. at armhole end of alternate rows, twice.

Cast off 11 sts. at armhole end of alternate rows, 3 times.

Join wool at centre, cast off 31 sts. and work other side of neck in same manner.

Finishing

Press carefully to measurements.

*I like to wet block at this stage. as it's stockinette you'll get a lot of curl.

Join shoulder seams.

Join underarm seams, leaving 8 inches open at top for sleeve opening.

Work 2 rows of d.c (double crochet UK terms/single crochet US terms) around neck, sleeve openings and lower edge (there's no instructions for this bit, so you'll have to wing it).

Sew in large triangular shoulder pads.

*I don't do this. I have narrow shoulders, ample front acreage and I'm quite short, so I just look like a kid playing dress ups in Grandpa's old jacket if I pad the shoulders. If you'd like to add them to your version of the garment, can still buy these from most sewing/haberdashery stores or use those ridiculous inserts they put in ladies crop tops that always shift about in the wash. I do have an original 1940s pattern to knit your own somewhere. Let me know in the comments if you'd like me to share and I'll go stash diving to see if I can fish it out.

At time of writing I had a lovely red version on my vintage faux tortoiseshell needles.