Honeycomb Short Sleeve Top

Honeycomb Short Sleeve Top by Natalie Smart

What is Being Made

The Honeycomb Short Sleeve Top is a knitted garment designed by Natalie Smart featuring a classic short sleeve construction. This intermediate-level knitting project produces a fitted top available in three sizes to fit chest measurements of 81-86cm (32-34in), 91-97cm (36-38in), and 101-107cm (40-42in). The finished garment has an actual chest width of approximately 88cm (34¾in), 94cm (37in), or 106cm (41¾in) depending on size selection, with a length to shoulder of 54.5cm (21½in), 55.5cm (21¾in), or 56.5cm (22¼in).

Knitting Techniques Used

This project employs several intermediate knitting techniques to create its distinctive honeycomb texture and structure. The pattern utilizes cable knitting as a primary technique, with cable crosses forming the foundation of the honeycomb stitch pattern. The design incorporates both flat knitting for the main body pieces and circular knitting for the neckband finishing. Shaping is achieved through strategic decreasing to create a fitted silhouette. The top is constructed using the seaming method, with an embroidery needle used to stitch the various pieces together after individual components are completed.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The Honeycomb Short Sleeve Top features a specialized stitch pattern built on fundamental knitting stitches combined with cable work. Key stitches include:

• Knit stitch (K) – the basic foundation stitch used throughout the pattern
• Purl stitch (P) – used in combination with knit stitches to create texture and definition
• Cable stitches – specifically C4F (cable 4 front) and C4B (cable 4 back) crosses that create the honeycomb texture. C4F involves slipping 2 stitches to a cable needle and holding at the front of work, knitting 2 stitches from the left hand needle, then knitting the 2 stitches from the cable needle. C4B follows the same process but with the cable needle held at the back of work
• Decreasing – used strategically for shaping the garment
• Alternating rows – the pattern uses alternating rows to build the honeycomb texture over multiple rows

The honeycomb pattern itself is created through the repetition of these cable crosses worked over a base of knit and purl stitches, producing a dimensional, textured fabric that is both visually interesting and structurally sound.

Materials and Tools

The Honeycomb Short Sleeve Top is knitted using Rooster Almerino Aran yarn in Shade 307, with yardage requirements of 10 balls (500g) for the smallest size, 12 balls (600g) for the medium size, and 14 balls (700g) for the largest size. Each ball weighs 50g. The yarn weight is Aran, suitable for the 5mm needle size specified.

Essential tools required for this project include:

• 5mm straight needles – one pair used for working the main flat knitted pieces
• 5mm circular needle – used for the neckband finishing, allowing for seamless circular knitting around the neck opening
• Cable needle – essential for executing the C4F and C4B cable crosses that form the honeycomb pattern
• Stitch holder – used to hold stitches temporarily during construction
• Stitch marker – placed on the circular needle to mark the beginning of rounds when working the neckband
• Embroidery needle – used for seaming the completed pieces together

Tension and Gauge

Achieving the correct tension is essential for this project. Using 5mm needles over the Honeycomb pattern, the required gauge is 26 stitches and 28 rows over a 10cm square. Knitters should swatch this pattern before beginning the full project to ensure their personal gauge matches these specifications, as variations in tension will affect the finished measurements of the garment.