Venilia was the ancient Roman goddess of the winds and the sea. She was the one who brought waves to the shore.

The Venilia top is knitted seamlessly from the top down with a beautiful lace pattern on the front and back. The front and back are knitted separately down to the armholes. The pieces are then joined, and the body is knitted in the round. The top edges of the front and back are finished with an i-cord edging that continues seamlessly into the straps.

The Venilia top pattern was originally published in my book “Summer knits” as a DK weight version. This version is reworked for fingering weight yarn and has a longer chart that reaches past the armholes into the body. You can either work the whole body in the lace pattern or change to working with Stockinette stitch for the lower body.

Sizes
1 (2, 3, 4) (5, 6, 7) (8, 9, 10)
Finished bust circumference: 70 (80, 90, 100) (110, 120, 130) (140, 150, 160) cm / 27.75 (31.5, 35.5, 39.25) (43.25, 47.25, 51.25) (55, 59, 63) inches, intended to be worn with zero ease (pick the size that is closest to your actual bust circumference)
Body length from hem to underarm (adjustable): 28 (28, 28, 28) (28, 31, 31) ( 31, 31, 33) cm / 11 (11, 11, 11) (11, 12.25, 12.25) (12.25, 12.25, 13) inches

Yarn
360 (400, 440, 480) (530, 590, 640) (710, 780, 860) m / 400 (440, 480, 530) (580, 640, 710) (780, 850, 940) yards of fingering weight yarn.

Off white sample (lace body version): 2 (2, 2, 3) (3, 3, 3) (4, 4, 4) skeins of Sandnes Garn Tynn Line (53% cotton, 33 % viscose, 14 % linen; 220 meters / 241 yards per 50 g) shown in the colorway 1015 Kitt.

Sage green sample (stockinette body version): 2 (2, 3, 3) (3, 3, 4) (4, 4, 4) skeins of De Rerum Natura Albertine (90% merino, 10 % silk; 200 meters / 219 yards per 50 g) shown in the colorway Sauge.

Needles
For the lace, straps and hem:
3 mm / US 2.5 circular needles with a cable of 40 cm / 16 inches for the lace and the straps
3 mm / US 2.5 circular needles with a cable of 80 cm / 32 inches for sizes 1-5 or 100 cm / 40 inches for sizes 6-9 for the hem

For the main part:
3.25 mm / US 3 circular needles with a cable of 80 cm / 32 inches for sizes 1-5 or 100 cm / 40 inches for sizes 6-9 for the body

Gauge
24 sts and 30 rounds = 10 cm / 4 inches of Stockinette stitch or the lace pattern on the larger needles in the round, blocked. Always use the needle size that gets you the right gauge!

Notions
stitch markers
8 removable (locking) markers, coilless safety pins, or waste yarn
tapestry needle
waste yarn