Knitting Preview: August 7, 2021 Issue


vintage lace top

We have gone for the classic look of a vintage lace top this week.

Add a touch of retro to your wardrobe with a rib and lace top worked in variegated blue shades.

A diamond pattern features front and back on this top, which comes in six sizes ranging from 76/81 cm (30/32 ins) to 127/132 cm (50/52 ins). Actual size is approximately 8/5 cm (3/1 ins) larger as it is designed to be close fitting.

The yarn we have used is the lovely King Cole Island Beaches DK in the shade Lagoon (4528). It features variegated shades of blue. You can find out more about the yarn, view alternative shades and find stockists at www.kingcole.com.

This knit is great value. The first two sizes cost around £12 to make, meaning your 100-gram balls go a long way!

vintage lace top

Photograph by Ally Stuart.

The pattern panel is worked over 18 rows and is also on the back. The short sleeves are in stocking-stitch (knit one row, purl one row) with a twist stitch feature.

A tie on the neckband completes the look.

We have graded this as an intermediate design. There are no difficult stitches but you do need to keep track of the rows to work the diamond pattern.

We think this is the perfect summer top and hope you think so, too.


If you’re keen to tackle this vintage lace top, pick up this week’s issue of “The People’s Friend” from Wednesday.

Or you can subscribe to “The People’s Friend” here, to make sure you’ll never miss another one of our great patterns and projects!

And don’t forget our website’s craft pages!

Liz O’Rourke

Liz is part of our Features Team and her hobbies include knitting and crafts, reading and foreign travel which are also her main responsibilities on the “Friend”. If you walk into the office you will soon spot her desk, it’s the one piled high with knitwear and balls of yarn!