ALBA Knitted Top – Pattern & Tutorial

Also available in: Español

As you can tell by now, I can’t deny my love for ruffles. You have seen them on my blog actively and passively. We have knitted them on a ruffled jersey, in a knitted dress combined with fabric, in a knitted vest.  We have made shirts with ruffles on the sleeves, muslin dresses with ruffles and diaper covers of various shapes… The only garment left to make is a Summer Knitted Top with a grand ruffle that gives it that romantic touch that I love!

The size shown on this tutorial is 12-24 months, but if you need another size Don’t worry! The Alba Knitted Top is also available, along with matching diaper cover, in the sizes 1-3 months, 3-6 months and 6-12 months. To get the complete pattern that gives you row by row instructions along with the chart, click on the image below or on the following links:

You also have the option to buy all sizes together with a good discount on this other link.

Materials to make the Alba Knitted Top

On this occasion, the materials we will need to make a  12-24 months size are:

• 3 balls of 50 grams of cotton yarn for 3 mm needles. The yarn that you see on this tutorial is Katia Concept Cotton-Cashmere color 66- Salmon Range.
• 3 mm needles
• A tapestry needle

Stitches & Techniques:

• Cast on
• Stockinnete stitch
• Seed Stitch
• Make increases: lift bar between stitches from front to back and knit.
• Knit Front & Back: Knit in the Front and Back of a Stitch
• Pick up stitches
• Bind off  

How to make the Alba Knitted Top

1. Knit the bib area of the Alba Summer Top

We will start the knitted baby top by casting on 34 stitches and knitting in seed stitch the first 10 rows.

Then we will start to work the increases to give shape to the bib area of the knitted cotton top.

We will knit one increase on each side (lift bar between stitches from front to back and knit) to 4 stitches of the edge of the work on the right side (when you have a knit stitch facing you). That is, knit 4 stitches using the seed stitch, make an increase, knit in stockinette stitch until there are 4 stitches, make an increase and knit the remaining 4 stitches in seed stitch.

Continue in this manner until you have 46 stitches on your needle.

Once you have 46 stitches, we will continue to increase in the same way as before but this time on both sides of the work to get 74 stitches.

Knit these 74 stitches for 6 more rows by knitting the first 4 and last 4 stitches in seed stitch.

2. Knit the front of the knitted Alba Summer Top

We continue knitting our Alba Summer Top by making an increase (knitting the front and back of a stitch) every 11 rows. Since we knitted 6 rows after getting the 74 stitches, we will only knit 4 more rows in stockinette stitch and on the 5^throw make the increase, knit the entire row until there is a stitch left, then make another increase. This will leave 76 stitches on your needle.

Continue making an increase on each side every 11 rows until you knit 60 rows or have 84 stitches.

To finish the front of our Alba knitted Top, knit the last 10 rows in seed stitch.

3. Knit the back of the knitted Alba Summer Top.

Knit the back piece following the same instructions of the front and seam the pieces together on one side.

4. Knit the ruffle

It is time to make the ruffle of our Alba knitted Top. To do this, pick up the stitches that are just below the seed stitch. Pick up as many stitches as the fabric will allow you to do.

When you have all the picked-up stitches on your working needle, knit the first row by knitting the front and back of every stitch, in this way, you have managed to double the number of stitches to give the ruffle its curl.

Knit 12 rows in stockinette stitch and 5 rows in seed stitch.

5. Knit the straps of the Alba Knitted Top

To make the ruffles of the Alba Summer Top, you must pick up 8 stitches of each of the corners of the bib area and knit them until they have reached the desired length to tie them to the shoulder.

If you want to tie them with a bow, you should make them a little longer. In my case as I decided that they will be knotted with a simple knot, I have decided on the length of 18 cm.

As I said earlier, if you need a downloadable and printable PDF to not rely on your cell phone or the computer to knit the Alba Summer Top (of course easier) tat includes row by row instructions and diagrams of the pattern,  you can get it by following this link:

Alba Summer Set- Size 12-24 months 

If you what you need, is to knit this beautiful romper in another size and you want to get started right away without having to calculate the number of stitches for your measurements, this time I’ve also made it very easy for you!

Alba Summer Set- Size 1-3 months 

Alba Summer Set- Size 3-6 months 

Alba Summer Set- Size 6-12 months 

Alba Summer Set- All the 4 sizes

As you can see, it is very simple to make, although the results seem more elaborate. Using some basic stitches, you will be able to make your own knitted ruffled Alba Summer Top in a very short time and that will turn heads!

And remember, if you like this tutorial and it has been useful to you, comment below and share it,  it is a free! And of course, once you have your finished Alba Summer Top, don’t forget to showcase your work on social media using the hashtag #topalba #creativaatelier

Kisses!