Mantaray

or purchase through Ravelry or LoveCrafts.


Mantaray is a slightly cropped, reversible, Summer or Fall top worked flat in two pieces featuring a wrap-around layer that is tied with I-cords. The winged shape of the Front is reminiscent of the solitary and serene sea creature, the manta ray.


SIZES

Bust Circumference: 81.5 (91.5, 102, 112, 122) cm/ 32 (36, 40, 44, 48) inches

Length of Body: 27 (28.5, 29, 32, 34.5) cm/ 10½ (11¼, 11½, 12½, 13½) inches


MANTARAY is intended to be worn with 0-4 inches of ease.
Model in green is wearing size 1, and has a bust of approx 81.5 cm/32 inches.
Model in pink is wearing size 2, and has a bust of approx 81.5 cm/32 inches.

MATERIALS

Recommended Yarn

Quince & Co. Kestrel (Aran; 100% linen, 69 m/ 76yds - 50g) 

7 (8, 9, 11, 12) skeins, see note re: colour

Needles

6 mm/ US 10, 60 cm/ 24 inch circular needle AND 5 mm/ US 8, dpns (set of two ~ for I-cords)

Substitute Yarn Ideas ($-$$$)

(Cellulose fibres and blends suggested, but not limited to)

  • Drops Bomull-Lin

  • Knit Picks Simply Cotton Organic Worsted Yarn

  • Lang Yarns Lino

  • Juniper Moon Farm Zooey Aran

  • Purl Soho Lantern

  • Wool and The Gang Tina Tape

  • Fibra Natura Good Earth

  • Noro Tokonatsu

Notions

Sewing needle and small amount of thread in matching colour

GAUGE

16 sts x 24 rows = 10 cm/4 inches in Stockinette st with larger needle, blocked.

NOTES

Note about the yarn colour: I found through my own experimentation that Quince & Co’s Kestrel takes natural dyes very nicely. The green colour was achieved with red onion skin, while the pale pink was obtained with cochineal. Kestrel in colour “Senza” is a great neutral base colour to dye with, if you want to try natural/ plant dye extracts to create your own unique colour! There are plenty of online resources to help you, I recommend Botanical Colors :)

woman wearing the mantaray Top, holding the side ties out stretched to show the shaping of front piece.
Detail of two different coloured mantaray tops, shown from a side and back view.
side view of the mantaray top showing the opening and wraparound detail.
back view woman wearing the mantaray top.