Summer tank: free knitting pattern

Sizes 33 3/4 (36 3/4, 40, 43 1/4, 46 1/2, 52 3/4)" bust circumference (buttoned); shown in size 33 3/4", modeled with 3/4" of negative ease

Yarn Juniper Moon Farm Zooey

(60% cotton, 40% linen; 284 yd [260 m]/ 100 g):

• #02 toasted coconut, 3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 5) skeins

Yarn distributed by Knitting Fever 

Gauge 20 sts and 32 rows = 4" in Lace patt on larger needle 

Tools 

• Size 6 (4 mm): 32" or longer circular (cir) needle

• Size 5 (3.75 mm): 32" or longer cir needle

• Spare size 5 (3.75 mm) or smaller cir needle for hem

• Size E/4 (3.5 mm) crochet hook

• Markers (m)

• Stitch holders

• 3/4" elastic

• Matching thread

• Sewing needle

• Seven 5/8" buttons

• Tapestry needle

Notes

The body of this tank is worked back and forth in one piece from the lower edge to the underarm, then the upper fronts and back are worked separately.

Slip stitches purlwise with yarn in back on right-side rows and with yarn in front on wrong-side rows.

During armhole and neck shaping, if there are not enough stitches to pair a yarnover with its accompanying decrease, work these stitches in stockinette stitch instead.

A circular needle is used to accommodate the large number of stitches.

Body

Hem casing: With smaller needle and using a provisional method, CO 163 (179, 195, 211, 227, 259) sts. Do not join.

Next row (RS) Sl 1 (see Notes), knit to end.

Next row (WS) Sl 1, purl to end. Rep last 2 rows 10 more times. Remove waste yarn from provisional CO and place 163 (179, 195, 211, 227, 259) CO sts onto spare needle. With WS tog, hold needles parallel, with working needle in front. Change to larger needle.

Next row (RS) *Knit 1 st from front needle tog with 1 st from back needle; rep from * to end. Purl 1 WS row. Work Lace chart until piece measures 11 1/2 (11, 11 1/2, 11 3/4, 11 3/4, 12 1/4)" from lower edge of hem casing, ending with a WS row.

Divide for fronts and back:

Next row (RS) Work 36 (39, 42, 45, 49, 56) sts in patt and place these sts on holder for right front, BO 10 (12, 14, 16, 16, 18) sts, work until there are 71 (77, 83, 89, 97, 111) sts for back and place these sts on holder, BO 10 (12, 14, 16, 16, 18) sts, work to end—36 (39, 42, 45, 49, 56) sts rem for left front.

Left front

Next row (WS) Purl.

Shape armhole: Dec row (RS) Sl 1, k1, p1, ssk, work in patt to end—1 st dec'd. Rep Dec row every RS row 5 (6, 7, 7, 9, 11) more times—30 (32, 34, 37, 39, 44) sts rem. Work even until armhole measures 3 1/2 (3 3/4, 4 1/4, 4 1/2, 4 3/4, 5)", ending I with a RS row.

Shape neck: At beg of WS , rows, BO 7 (8, 8, 9, 9, 11) sts 2 (4, 2, 3, 1, 4) time(s), then BO 8 (0, 9, 10, 10, 0) sts 2 (0, 2, 1, 3, 0) time(s)—no sts rem. Back Return 71 (77, 83, 89, 97, 111) back sts to needle and, with WS facing, rejoin yarn.

Next row (WS) Sl 1, purl to end.

Shape armholes: Dec row (RS) Sl 1, kl, pi, ssk, work in patt to last 5 sts, k2tog, p1, k2—2 sts dec'd. Rep Dec row every RS row 5 (6, 7, 7, 9, 11) more times—59 (63, 67, 73, 77, 87) sts rem. Work even until armhole measures 5 1/4 (5 1/2, 6, 6 1/4, 6 1/2, 6 3/4)". BO all sts. Return 36 (39, 42, 45, 49, 56) right front sts to needle and with WS facing, rejoin yarn.

Right front

Next row (WS) SI 1, purl to end.

Shape armhole: Dec row (RS) Work in patt to last 5 sts, k2tog, p1, k2—1 st dec'd. Rep Dec row every RS row 5 (6, 7, 7, 9, 11) more times—30 (32, 34, 37, 39, 44) sts rem. Work even until armhole measures 3 1/2 (3 3/4, 4 1/4, 4 1/2, 4 3/4, 5)", ending with a WS row.

Shape neck: At beg of RS rows, BO 7 (8, 8, 9, 9, 11) sts 2 (4, 2, 3, 1, 4) time(s), then BO 8 (0, 9, 10, 10, 0) sts 2 (0, 2, 1, 3, 0) time(s)— no sts rem.

Ruffle Shoulder Strap

Casing: With smaller needle and RS facing, beg at right front neck and picking up sts in back loops of BO sts only, pick up and knit 30 (32, 34, 37, 39, 44) sts along right front neck edge, then using the cable method, CO 25 (27, 30, 33, 36, 40) sts for strap, pick up and knit 59 (63, 67, 73, 77, 87) sts along back neck, CO 25 (27, 30, 33, 36, 40) sts, pick up and knit 30 (32, 34, 37, 39, 44) sts along left front neck edge—169 (181, 195, 213, 227, 255) sts. [Knit 1 row, purl 1 row] 6 times. Turn work.

Join casing: Fold casing in half with purl sides tog.

Next row (WS) [With right needle, pick up corresponding front loop left over from left front BO on RS of work, place it on left needle and knit it tog with next st on needle] 30 (32, 34, 37, 39, 44) times, [with right needle, pick up corresponding bottom loop from CO edge of left shoulder strap, place it on left needle and knit it tog with next st on needle] 25 (27, 30, 33, 36, 40) times, then work across back, right shoulder strap and right front in same way.

Ruffle: (Note: WS of ruffle faces RS of work.)

Next row (WS) Purl.

Inc row (RS) *K1, k1f&b; rep from * to last st, k1—253 (271, 292, 319, 340, 382) sts. Purl 1 row. Knit 1 row. Purl 1 row.

Next row (RS) *K1, k1f&b; rep from * to last 1 (1, 0, 1, 0, 0) st, k1 (1, 0, 1, 0, 0)—379 (406, 438, 478, 510, 573) sts. Purl 1 row. Knit 1 row. Purl 1 row. Knit 4 rows. BO all sts.

Finishing

Measure elastic to fit snugly around your shoulders. Thread elastic through shoulder casing. Sew down each end of elastic to inside edge of casing, leaving 1 row of selvedge sts for picking up buttonbands.

Buttonband: With smaller needle and RS facing, beg at top of left front casing, pick up and knit 5 sts along casing, working through both layers, 12 sts along ruffle, working through both layers, 74 (78, 84, 88, 90, 92) sts along rest of left front edge, ending above lower hem casing—91 (95, 101, 105, 107, 109) sts. Knit 8 rows. BO all sts kwise on WS. Mark placement of 7 buttons along band, with the first and last m 1/2" from upper and lower ends of band, and 5 others evenly spaced between.

Buttonhole band: With smaller needle and RS facing, beg just above lower hem casing, pick up and knit 74 (78, 84, 88, 90, 92) sts along right front edge, ending at ruffle, 12 sts along ruffle, working through both layers, 5 sts along casing, working through both layers—91 (95, 101, 105,107, 109) sts. Knit 4 rows.

Next row (WS) Knit, working a buttonhole [yo, k2tog] to correspond to each m on buttonband. Knit 3 rows. BO all sts kwise on WS. Weave in ends. Sew on buttons. Block piece to measurements.

Drawstring: With crochet hook, make a 47 (49, 52, 55, 58, 65)" chain. Insert chain into lower hem casing, leaving ends free to tie.