Camden Camisole

Materials & Fit

Notions: You will need 3.5 mm [US 4] (60- and/or 80-cm [24- and/or 32-in] cord) and 4 mm [US 6] (40-, 60-, and/or a 80-/100-cm [16-, 24-, and/or a 32-/40-in cord] circular needles. You will need 1 slip-able stitch marker, but you might find some clip-on markers helpful for mapping out increases, along with a darning needle, and either scrap yarn, spare circular needles, or stitch holders for the resting strap stitches. You will also need some scrap yarn and a crochet hook for the provisional cast-on. 

Tension: 23 stitches x 28 rows/rounds in wide rib stitch on 4 mm [US 6] = 10 x 10 cm [4 x 4 in]. Row gauge shouldn’t be too important for this project. Wash and block your swatch. 

Please note that the wide rib stitch is different for all sizes; please refer to page 16 to see what you will be knitting for your size.

Yarn: For both of my samples, I have used Gepard CottonWool 3 (50 g = 230 m [251.5 yds]; 50% extra fine merino wool; 50% extra fine organic cotton) held with Isager Trio 1 (50 g = 350 m [383 yds]; 50% linen, 30% cotton, and 30% lyocell). 

I estimate that you will need approximately 400 (420) 440 (460), 480 (520) 540 (565), 645 (700) 790 (850) m [440 (460) 485 (505), 525 (570) 590 (615), 705 (765) 865 (925) yds] of both yarns. 

I have tried to be generous here, and these estimates are based on the quantity of yarn used to make the sample garment. To help with clarity, I have also rounded the quantities to the nearest 10 m and converted these figures into yards, which I have then rounded to the nearest 10 yards to ensure you will have enough yarn.

For sample 1, I used Gepard CottonWool 3 in the shade 149 and Isager Trio in the shade Chestnut. For sample 2, I used Gepard CottonWool 3 in the shade 321 and Isager Trio in the shade Powder. There are photos of these samples at the end of the pattern.

This works out to be 2 (2) 2 (3), 3 (3) 3 (3), 3 (4) 4 (4) balls of Gepard CottonWool 3, and 2 (2) 2 (3), 2 (2) 2 (2), 2 (3) 3 (3) balls of Isager Trio 1. 

Yarn alternatives: Any sport-weight yarn, or combination of yarns that make up a sport-weight, will work nicely here. I would recommend sticking with wool-cotton blend where possible to maintain the slight elasticity in the rib fabric. 

Sizing and ease: The Camden Camisole has a recommended neutral ease around the full bust, ranging between 3.5 cm [1.25 in] negative ease and 2.5 cm [1 in] positive ease for Sizes A-H, and between 3.5-7 cm [1.25-2.75 in] for Sizes I-L. However, you can also choose a size based on your upper bust measurement. The Camden Camisole has between 2-7.5 cm [0.75-3 in] positive ease at the upper bust for Sizes A-H, and 7-12 cm [2.75-4.74 in] positive ease for Sizes I-L. 

However, you should feel free to choose a different size to get your preferred fit, and there are guidelines for a bust adjustment if required.

Sizes: A (B) C (D), E (F) G (H), I (J) K (L)

To fit at upper bust (cm): 70-75 (75-80) 80-85 (85-90), 90-95 (95-100) 100-105 (105-110), 110-120 (120-130) 130-140 (140-150)

To fit at upper bust (in): 27.5-29.5 (29.5-31.5) 31.5-33.5 (33.5-35.5), 35.25-37.25 (37.25-39.25) 39.25-41.25 (41.25-43.25), 43.25-47.25 (47.25-51.25) 51.25-55 (55-59)

To fit at full bust (cm): 75-80 (80-85) 85-90 (90-95), 95-100 (100-105) 105-110 (110-115), 115-125 (125-135) 135-145 (145-155)

To fit at full bust (in): 29.5-31.5 (31.5-33.5) 33.5-35.5 (35.5-37.5), 37.5-39.25 (39.25-41.25) 41.25-43.25 (43.25-45.25), 45.25-49.25 (49.25-53.25) 53.25-57 (57-61)

Actual size of the camisole around the chest (cm): 77.5 (82) 87 (92), 97.5 (102) 107 (112), 122 (132) 142 (152)

Actual size of the camisole around the chest (in): 30.5 (32.25) 34.25 (36.25), 38.25 (40) 42 (44.25), 48 (52) 55.75 (60) 

Recommended length from underarm to hem (cm): 30 (30) 32 (32), 34 (34) 36,(36), 38 (38) 40 (40) 

Recommended length from underarm to hem (in): 11.75 (11.75) 12.5 (12.5), 13.25 (13.25) 14.25 (14.25), 15 (15) 15.75 (15.75) 

Note: This pattern has been graded on the assumption that you will have a 5 cm [2 in] difference between your upper and full bust measurements. If, like me, the difference between these two measurements for you is greater than 5 cm [2 in], you have three different options. These are:

• Make the pattern with some additional positive ease around your upper bust by picking the size that corresponds to your full bust measurement.

• Make the pattern with some negative ease around your full bust by picking the size that corresponds to your upper bust measurement.

• Pick the size that best corresponds to your upper bust measurement and work a bust adjustment. There are suggestions in the pattern for bust adjustments in 2.5 cm [1 in] increments.

To see how option 1 looks on me, please refer to Sample 1 (Size E), and to see how option 3 looks on me, please refer to Sample 2 (Size C with a 2.5-cm [1-in] bust adjustment). 

For reference, at the time of making Sample 1, my upper bust measurement was 82.5 cm [32.5 in] and my full bust measurement is 92 cm [36.25 in]. At the time of making Sample 2, my upper bust measurement was the same but my full bust measurement was 89 cm [35 in]. In both cases, I opted for slightly more positive ease around my full bust as that’s my personal preference. Please feel free to contact me by email only if you want to talk this through at all.

These measurements have been rounded to the nearest 0.5 cm and 0.25 in. 

Techniques include a crochet provisional cast-on, leaning increases on the right and wrong side, maintaining a stitch pattern, working flat and in the round, applied i-cord, and an i-cord cast-off.