The Top You'll Reach for All Summer Long
Posted on March 31 2026
Pattern: SABAI Top
Designer: Susanne Müller
Recommended Yarn: Louisa Harding - Provence
Some projects start with the yarn.
You pick up a skein, feel the weight of it in your hands, and suddenly you're already imagining what it could become.
Louisa Harding Provence is that kind of yarn. Made in Italy from a blend of cotton, viscose, and linen, it has a lightness and drape that feels exactly right for summer. The gentle gradient colourways are subtle and beautiful, shifting tones that make every stitch look a little more interesting than you expected. Breathable, easy to wear, and wonderfully easy to knit with.
For a simple, clean top like the SABAI, that drape does a lot of the work for you.
The SABAI Top by Susanne Müller is a light, airy top with a boat neckline and clean lines that make it look more complicated than it is. This is a beginner-friendly pattern that knits up seamlessly from the top down, which means you can try it on as you go and adjust the length to suit you perfectly. No guessing. No finishing it and hoping for the best.
The techniques are straightforward: simple increases for the shoulder shaping, a short section of back-and-forth for the armholes, then back to working in the round to the hem. If you've been wanting to try your first garment, this is a genuinely good place to start.
Construction Overview
Worked seamlessly top down. The neckline is worked in the round in 1x1 rib, increases shape the shoulders, front and back are worked separately for the armholes, then joined and worked in the round to a ribbed hem with a rolled edge. Six sizes from XS to XXL.
Materials
Yarn Louisa Harding Provence 55% Cotton, 25% Viscose, 20% Linen 273 yds / 250m per 100g
Approximate yarn required:
- XS/S: 200-250g (2-3 skeins)
- M/L: 250-300g (3 skeins)
- XL/XXL: 350-400g (4 skeins)
Needles 4.0mm circular needles, 50-60cm and 80-100cm
Notions Tapestry needle, stitch markers
Gauge 20 sts x 28 rows = 10cm / 4" in stockinette on 4.0mm needles
Ready to Cast On?
If you've been looking for a summer project that feels achievable and looks beautiful, this one is worth a closer look.
→ Shop Louisa Harding Provence
Sometimes the right yarn makes all the difference. Come find yours.
Until next time, may your tea stay warm and your stitches even.
– Cindy Captain of The Black Purl ⚓
