How to Knit a Cami
A cami, or camisole, is the perfect summer top. A cami is lightweight and sleeveless. Choose a light, breathable summer yarn, such as cotton, hemp or linen. Making a camisole fit requires a little bit of math, but in the end you will have the perfect sized top. Pair it with shorts or jeans or dress it up and wear with a skirt. Knit a gauge swatch first to determine you stitches per inch and get ready to cast on.
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Things You'll Need
- Double knit yarn weight or lighter
- Circular knitting needles
- Stitch markers
- Scissors
- Yarn needle
Instructions
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1
Measure your hips at the point you want the cami to end, your waist and your bust. Measure the distance between the hips and the waist and the distance between the waist and the bust.
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2
Multiply your stitch gauge by the hip measurement to determine the number of stitches to cast on. Cast on the stitches onto the circular needle. Place a marker and begin working in the round.
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3
Choose an edging stitch. A hem, a rib or a seed stitch pattern work well and keep the ends from rolling up when worn. Work the chosen edge stitch for 1.5 inches.
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4
Choose a main stitch. A simple choice is stockinette stitch, which is worked in the round by knitting every stitch on every row, or continue the edge stitch for the entirety of the cami.
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5
Decrease for the waist. Multiply the stitch gauge by the inches to decrease for the waist to determine how many stitches you need to decrease. Multiply the row gauge by the number of inches from the hips to waist to determine how many rows you need to decrease all stitches. Four stitches are decreased on each row. Divide the number of stitches to decrease by four. Divide the answer by the number of rows. The answer gives you the number of rows to work between each decrease.
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6
Place a marker at the halfway point. Work the decreases by knitting two stitches together before and after each stitch marker.
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7
Increase for the bust. Multiply the row gauge by the number of inches from the waist to the bust to determine how many rows you need to increase all stitches. Four stitches are increased on each row. Divide the number of stitches to increase by four. Divide the answer by the number of rows. The answer gives you the number of rows to work between each increase.
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8
Increase by knitting into the front and back of the stitch right before and right after the stitch marker.
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9
Continue in your chosen stitch pattern until the piece measures the length from the hips to the under arm.
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10
Make the straps. Work to the side front and begin working the first strap over 2 inches of stitches, or width desired. Work the straps in the edge pattern to keep the straps from curling. Work the strap until it measures from the cami top to the middle of the shoulder. Work around the side and back stitches to the point directly opposite the first strap and work this strap in the same manner. Repeat for the other two straps.
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11
Bind off all body stitches. Use the 3 needle bind off to join the straps together. Hold a strap from the front and the strap from the back together with right sides together. Use a third knitting needle and knit into the first stitch on each needle. Knit the two stitches together. Repeat for the next stitch. Pass the first stitch over the second stitch. Knit into the next two stitches on the needle and knit the stitches together. Pass the first stitch over the second stitch. Repeat until there is one stitch left on the right hand needle. Cut the yarn and pull through the last stitch. Repeat for the other strap.
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12
Weave in all ends on the wrong side of the camisole.
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