Zodiac Check Mate Top V.1 PDF

KNITTING PATTERN
Zodiac Check
Mate Top
(beginner version)
www.qingfibre.com
@qingfibre
KNITTING PATTERN
Yarn & Materials Qing Fibre Veranita - 79% cashmere, 21% silk, 25g - 300m /
328yrd.
In our sample we have Total 357, 376, 383, (411, 411, 439) 437, 472, 503 m / 390, 411,
used Wensleyhaze 419, (449, 449, 480) 478, 516, 550 yds. All sizes equal to 2
to work the hems and skeins.
collar. Yardage
Qing Fibre Wensleyhaze - 80%
specifics are given in Wensleydale, 20% Super Kid Mohair. 50g - 300m / 218yrd.
case of replacing
these sections with a Total 587, 622, 645, (685, 708, 748) 767, 815, 859 m / 641,
different base. 680, 705, (749, 774, 818) 839, 891, 939 yds. Equal to 3, 4, 4 (4,
4, 4) 4, 5, 5 skeins.
Body and sleeves excluding hems and collar 417, 440, 447,
(480, 480, 513) 511, 551, 588 m / 456, 481, 489, (525, 525,
561) 559, 603, 643 yds.
Hems (sleeves and body) 80, 82, 88, (91, 98, 101) 106, 109, 112
m / 87, 90, 96, (99, 107, 110) 116, 119, 122 yds.
Collar 90, 100, 110, (114, 130, 134) 150, 155, 159 m / 98, 109,
120, (125, 142, 147) 164, 169, 174 yds.
Needles Main body: 6.0mm / 10US

Ribbing: 5.0mm / 8US
Circular needle if working the hem in the round. See HEM
INFORMATION below. DPN or circular cable to work the
collar.
Gauge 13 sts x 24.5 rows for 10 x 10cm / 4 x 4” Swatch in stockinette

stitch with 6.0mm / 10US needle.
Sizes 1, 2, 3 (4, 5, 6) 7, 8, 9.
To fit bust 71-76, 81-86, 91-96 (101-106, 111-117, 122-127) 132-137, 142-147,
measurement 152-158 cm.
28-30, 32-34, 36-38 (40-42, 44-46, 48-50) 52-54, 56-58, 60-

62 inches.
page 2 of 14 Copyright@2023 Qing Studio ltd. UK. All rights reserved. Zodiac Check Mate Top
Positive Ease 26cm / 10.5” positive ease around the bust
SCHEMATIC CM INCH
A - Length from back 45, 47, 47.5 (50, 49, 52) 17.5, 18.5, 18.5 (19.5,
neckline to hem (includ- 47.5, 50, 53 19.25, 20.5) 18.75, 19.5,
ing 20.75
widest part of shoulder
panel at neckline)
B - Length from under- 48, 48, 43.5, (43.5, 37.5, 19, 19, 17.5, (17.5, 15, 15)
arm to 37.5,) 37.5, 37.5, 37.5 15, 15, 15
sleeve hem cm
C - circumference 100, 108, 123 (131, 146, 39.5, 42.5, 48.5 (51.5,
around 154) 170, 177, 185 57.5, 60.5) 67, 69.75,
bust / hem 72.75
D - circumference 58, 58, 58 (58, 65, 65) 23, 23, 23, (23, 25.75,
around 65, 65, 65 25.75) 25.75, 25.75,
sleeve hem 25.75
E - shoulder width from 20, 22.5, 24.5, (27, 30, 8, 9, 9.75, (10.75, 12, 13)
neckline to sleeve 32.5) 34.5, 37.5, 40 13.75, 15, 16
B
C
D
HEM INFORMATION
IMPORTANT: You should first decide how you would like to work the ribbed edging around
the body and sleeves. There are two options, either do it as you go or pick up stitches and
knit in the round once you have completed the rest of the garment. Working them as you
go would be the easiest option if you want to keep the chequered pattern along the ribbed
edges but do not want to use the Intarsia method. If you decide to work the edging in the
round this can be done with one colour, stripes, or continuing the chequered pattern using
the Intarsia method. Follow HEM AS YOU GO instructions for the first option, otherwise
ignore those instructions. When working the edging we either used two strands of Veranita
or one strand of Wensleyhaze.
GERMAN SHORT ROWS
The German Short Row (gsr) method is a way of turning the work mid-row so you can build
up more rows in one area. When working the gsr section you will first be instructed to turn
the work. Work the gsr stitch by bringing the working yarn to the front of the work, slip one
stitch purlwise (inserting the needle as if you’re about to work a purl stitch) from the left
needle to the right needle, then pull the working yarn over the top of the right needle to the
back of the work and pull so the stitch on the right needle opens up to show two strands on
the needle. Continue to work row as instructed.
CONSTRUCTION METHOD
The Chequered Zodiac Top is constructed by knitting individual vertical columns and then
sewing them together using mattress stitch. The German Short Row method is used to
make
the shoulder panels which are inserted between the front and back body pieces to help
shape the garment. To keep on track with all the pieces we recommend sewing them
together as you go.
Each size has 5 different colour squares across the main body, and the squares become
larger in accordance with each size. Note, the sleeve squares are slightly different sizes to
the body squares. The length can be made adjustable depending on your taste, however
any adjustments will affect the stated yardage. The ribbed edging can be worked as you go
or at the end along with the collar, see below for details.
Column 1
C2
C1 C1
C2 Back C2
C1 C2
C2
C1 C1
e Decrease
n edg
Cast o (Right)
stitches Shoulder panel
Cast o (Left)
A1 ﬀ ed g
e A1
A2 A3
C2
C2
C1 A4 C1
C2
C1 C1
C2 C2
C1
Front
Pattern Begins
You may want to block each column first to make sewing them together easier.
BACK PANEL
If you follow our instructions each size will have 3.5, 3.5, 3 (3, 2.5, 2.5) 2, 2, 2 squares
down the body, plus a shoulder panel which adds approx half a square to the neckline. If
you want to change the length of the garment then just continue working alternate colour
squares, using the row count used for the first square (as seen below), until it measures
your desired total length (remember you will add a further 3cm / 1.25” for the edging).
Make sure to apply the same length modifications to each body column.
COLUMN 1: With C1, and 6.0mm / 10US needle, CO 15, 16, 18 (19, 21, 22) 24, 25, 26 sts
and work 25, 26, 30 (32, 36, 38) 41, 43, 45 rows in stockinette stitch. Switch to C2 and
work 25, 26, 30 (32, 36, 38) 41, 43, 45 rows in stockinette stitch.
Sizes 7, 8 and 9 jump to HEM AS YOU GO or cast off using Jenny’s surprisingly stretchy
cast off and jump to SHOULDER PANELS.
Sizes 1, 2, 3 (4, 5, 6): With C1, work 25, 26, 30 (32, 18, 19) rows in stockinette stitch.
Sizes 3, 4, 5 and 6 jump to HEM AS YOU GO or cast off using Jenny’s surprisingly
stretchy cast off and jump to SHOULDER PANELS.
Sizes 1, 2: With C1 work 13, 13 rows in stockinette stitch. Work HEM AS YOU GO or cast
off using Jenny’s surprisingly stretchy cast off and jump to SHOULDER PANELS.
HEM AS YOU GO: Switch to smaller needles and alternate colour yarn. Work 3cm / 1.25”
in 1x1 rib stitch. TIP: Be careful to work the ribbing so the stitches will continue in pattern
with its adjacent column. For example if you finish with a purl stitch on one column, make
sure the column lining up next to it will start with a knit stitch.
Repeat COLUMN 1 a total of 5 times, however for 2 of the columns switch the order of C1
and C2. Sew the columns together using mattress stitch, making sure to have the ones
beginning with C1 as the centre and edge columns.
SHOULDER PANELS
RIGHT SHOULDER PANEL
CO 26, 29, 32 (35, 39, 42) 45, 49, 52 sts in either C1 or C2 (whichever colour you want the
shoulder panel to be).
Row 1 (RS): K to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.

Row 2 (WS): P5, turn.
Row 3 (RS): GSR, k1, k2tog, k1.
Row 5 (RS): GSR, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Row 7 (RS): K to end.
Total sts: 23, 26, 29 (32, 36, 39) 42, 46, 49
Continue to work gsr’s 3 sts past the previous turn (do not make any more decreases),
followed by a KNIT row, until you have less than 4 sts left after the last short row turn.
There should be two sts between each gsr stitch.
You should have worked a total of 15, 17, 19 (21, 23, 25) 27, 31, 33 rows.
Cast off loosely.
Sew the cast-on edge of the shoulder panel to the cast-on edge of the right-side back
piece, lining it up with the two outer squares.
Decrease stitches
German short Work GSR turn

row stitch every 3rd stitch
after the last one
LEFT SHOULDER PANEL
CO 26, 29, 32 (35, 39, 42) 45, 49, 52 sts in either C1 or C2 (whichever colour you want the
shoulder panel to be).
Row 1 (RS): K1, ssk, k3, turn.

Row 2 (WS): GSR, p to end.
Total sts: 23, 26, 29 (32, 36, 39) 42, 46, 49.
Continue to work short rows 3 sts past the previous turn (do not make any more decreas-
es), followed by a purl row, until you have less than 4 sts left after the last short row turn.
There should be two sts between each gsr stitch.
You should have worked a total of 14, 16, 18 (20, 22, 24) 26, 30, 32 rows.
Cast off loosely.
Sew the cast-on edge to the cast-on edge of the left-side back piece, lining it up with the
two outer squares, as seen in the diagram on p5.
FRONT PANEL
OUTER COLUMNS - A1 (diagram)
Work x2 more columns, as you did in the back, beginning with C2. These will be the outer
edge columns for the front piece.
RIGHT SIDE INNER SQUARE COLUMN - A2
With C1 CO 10, 12, 13 (15, 17, 19) 20, 23, 25 sts.
Row 1 (RS): K to the last st, m1r, k1.

Row 2 (WS): P to end.
Continue to increase every RS row followed by a purl row until you have made a total of 5,
4, 5 (4, 4, 3) 4, 2, 1 increases.
Work in stockinette stitch until you have worked a total of 25, 26, 30 (32, 36, 38) 41, 43, 45
rows from CO edge. Continue to work the rest of the column as you did at the back.
in
1x1 rib stitch.
LEFT SIDE INNER SQUARE COLUMN - A3
With C1 CO 10, 12, 13 (15, 17, 19) 20, 23, 25 sts.

Row 2 (RS): K1, m1l, k to end.
Continue to increase every RS row followed by a purl row until you have made a total of 5,
4, 5 (4, 4, 3) 4, 2, 1 increases.
in 1x1 rib stitch.
CENTRAL COLUMN - A4
With C2 CO 2.

Row 2 (RS): K1, m1l, k to end.
Continue working increases every RS row in the same way until you have a total of 4, 5, 4,
(5, 5, 6) 7, 7, 8 sts. Break yarn and leave sts to rest on a holder.
With C2 CO 2.

Row 2 (RS): K to last st, m1r, k1.
Continue working increases every RS row in the same way until you have a total of 4, 5, 4,
(5, 5, 6) 7, 7, 8 sts. On the last row cable CO 7, 6, 10, (9, 11, 10) 14, 11, 10 sts, then join
with the stitches resting on the holder (making sure the RS is facing you) and knit to the
end.
in 1x1 rib stitch.
Sew up all the front piece columns using mattress stitch. Then sew the cast-off edge of the
shoulder panel to the two outer-edge front piece columns as seen in the diagram. You
should now have a completed neck opening.
SLEEVES
SIZES 1 - 4 ONLY: Work 5 columns as instructed below. Start 3 columns with one colour
and 2 with the other. Switch order on the second sleeve for even yardage distribution.
CO 14 sts, work 22 rows in stockinette stitch.
* Switch colour and work 10 rows in stockinette stitch.
Row 11 (RS): K7, pm, m1l, k to end.
Work 11 rows in stockinette stitch.

Repeat from * twice more, slipping the marker when you reach it. Work 11 rows in stocki-
nette stitch.
Repeat from * twice more, slipping the marker when you reach it.
Switch colour, work 22, 22, 11 (11) rows in stockinette stitch.
You should have increased a total of 3 sts total in each column. Total increases for the
whole sleeve - 15 sts.
Work HEM AS YOU GO or cast off using Jenny’s surprisingly stretchy cast off.
in 1x1 rib stitch.
Sew all the columns together and if you are working the hem in the round then follow
instructions below.
HEM IN THE ROUND: With 5.0mm / 8US circular needle and either 1 thread of
Wensleyhaze or 2 threads of Veranita, pick up one stitch for every stitch around the
sleeves. Make sure you have an even number of stitches, pm, join to work 1x1 rib in the
round for 3cm / 1.25”, then cast off.
SIZES 5 - 9 ONLY: Work 3 columns as instructed below. Start 1 column with one colour
and 2 with the other. Switch order on the second sleeve for even yardage distribution.
CO 24 sts, work 24 rows in stockinette stitch.
Row 25 (RS): K12, pm, m1l, k12.
From there after work (5, 5) 5, 3, 3 rows in stockinette and then work 1 increase row (as
seen below) until you have worked a total of 6 increase rows. Then work in stockinette
stitch for the remainder of the sleeve, changing colour yarn after 42 rows and working a
total of 2 squares in each column, unless you want to personalise the length of the sleeve.
Increase row (RS): k to marker, sm, m1l, k to end.
6 increases in each column, 18 increases total for the whole sleeve.
Work HEM AS YOU GO or cast off using Jenny’s surprisingly stretchy cast off.
in 1x1 rib stitch.
Sew all the columns together and if you are working the hem in the round then follow
instructions below.
Wensleyhaze or 2 threads of Veranita, pick up one stitch for every cast-off stitch around
the sleeves. Make sure you have an even number of stitches, pm, join to work 1x1 rib in
the round for 3cm / 1.25”, then cast off.
FINISHING
You can now sew the body together, leaving holes big enough for the sleeves to then be
sewn in place. If working Hem in the round follow instructions below, otherwise jump to
collar instructions.
Wensleyhaze or 2 threads of Veranita, pick up one stitch for every cast-off stitch around
the body. Make sure you have an even number of stitches, pm, join to work 1x1 rib in the
round for 3cm / 1.25”, then cast off.
COLLAR
With 5.0mm / 8US circular needle and two threads of either yarn pick up 57, 57, 57 (63, 66,
69) 72, 75, 78 sts from the neck opening - pick up approx.1 st each for every stitch in the
front and back of the neckline and approx. 1 st for every 2 rows worked along the sides of
the neckline. Note: if you end up picking up more or less than the recommended sts for the
neck, make sure you have an amount that can be divided by 3.
Work 2 x 1 rib by repeating (knit 2, purl 1), to the end of the round. To work stripes as seen
in the sample, work 8 rounds, switch colour, work 2 rounds, switch colour, work 3 rounds,
switch colour, work 1 round, switch colour and continue to 12cm / 4.75”. Once you have
worked a few rows try the jumper on to check it fits around the head/neck.
Now fold the collar wrong

sides together so the live
sts meets the pick up
edge on the inside, *insert
LHN into the correspond-
ing collar pick up st below,
k2tog, repeat from * once
more, bo1* repeat from
* - * until all stitches have
been bound off.
TECHNIQUES & TIPS
ABBREVIATIONS
CO cast on
C1 / C2 Colour 1 / colour 2
GSR German Short Row stitch. see p4
K/P knit / purl
K2TOG knit 2 stitches together (1 stitch decreased)
M1L Make a left-leaning stitch by inserting the needle

from front to back of the strand lying between the
two stitches and knitting into it. (1 stitch increased)
M1R Make one right-leaning stitch by inserting the needle

from back to front of the strand lying between the 2
stitches and knitting into it
1 x1 RIB Knit 1, purl 1 - repeat to working ribbing
PFB purl into the front and back of the same loop. (1 stitch
increased)
RS right side
SSK Slip 2 stitches knitwise individually, then knit into the

back of both stitches together. (1 stitch decreased)
ST(S) stitch(es)
WS wrong side
Thank you so much for downloading the Zodiac check mate top Pattern.
We always love to see your knits, use #Zodiaccheckmatetop and tag us on
instagram
@qing.studio_
Share in our Ravelry group !
If you need any help or have any questions, reach us at contact@qingfibre.

com
See our other pattern or product, Instagram: @qingfibre and @qing.studio_
Or visit wwww.qingfibre.com for inspiration!
Happy knitting!
Layla & the Qing team

Zodiac Check Mate Top V.1 PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Zodiac Check Mate Top V.1 PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

KNITTING PATTERN

Needles Main body: 6.0mm / 10US

Gauge 13 sts x 24.5 rows for 10 x 10cm / 4 x 4” Swatch in stockinette

28-30, 32-34, 36-38 (40-42, 44-46, 48-50) 52-54, 56-58, 60-

GERMAN SHORT ROWS

RIGHT SHOULDER PANEL

Row 1 (RS): K to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.

Total sts: 23, 26, 29 (32, 36, 39) 42, 46, 49

Cast off loosely.

German short Work GSR turn

LEFT SHOULDER PANEL

Row 1 (RS): K1, ssk, k3, turn.

Cast off loosely.

OUTER COLUMNS - A1 (diagram)

RIGHT SIDE INNER SQUARE COLUMN - A2

With C1 CO 10, 12, 13 (15, 17, 19) 20, 23, 25 sts.

Row 1 (RS): K to the last st, m1r, k1.

LEFT SIDE INNER SQUARE COLUMN - A3

With C1 CO 10, 12, 13 (15, 17, 19) 20, 23, 25 sts.

Row 1 (WS): P to end.

Row 1 (WS): P to end.

Row 1 (WS): P to end.

CO 14 sts, work 22 rows in stockinette stitch.

* Switch colour and work 10 rows in stockinette stitch.

Row 11 (RS): K7, pm, m1l, k to end.

Work 11 rows in stockinette stitch.

Switch colour, work 22, 22, 11 (11) rows in stockinette stitch.

CO 24 sts, work 24 rows in stockinette stitch.

Row 25 (RS): K12, pm, m1l, k12.

Increase row (RS): k to marker, sm, m1l, k to end.

6 increases in each column, 18 increases total for the whole sleeve.

Now fold the collar wrong

GSR German Short Row stitch. see p4

K/P knit / purl

K2TOG knit 2 stitches together (1 stitch decreased)

M1L Make a left-leaning stitch by inserting the needle

M1R Make one right-leaning stitch by inserting the needle

1 x1 RIB Knit 1, purl 1 - repeat to working ribbing

SSK Slip 2 stitches knitwise individually, then knit into the

Share in our Ravelry group !

If you need any help or have any questions, reach us at contact@qingfibre.

See our other pattern or product, Instagram: @qingfibre and @qing.studio_

Or visit wwww.qingfibre.com for inspiration!

You might also like