This sweet little tank features knitted-in bows at the shoulders, a scoop neck, and a yoke with a softly gathered “skirt” below. The skirt is edged with a touch of feminine lace that creates a scalloped edge and feature little eyelets along the lower third of the a-line skirt for a fresh delicate look.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X for bust measurement 34 (36, 40, 43, 49, 52, 55)” [88 (91, 102, 110, 124, 133, 139) cm]
Gauge: 19 sts and 26 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after blocking
Materials
Yarn: Tahki Yarns Cotton Classic (100% cotton; 108 yards [100 meters]/50 grams): #3812 Light Blue (MC, 6 (6, 6, 7, 7, 7) skeins), #3003 Linen White (CC1, 1 skein)
Needles: US size 6 (4.0 mm) straight or circular needles, US size 5 (3.75mm) DPNs, 16” circular or 2 circs for edgings
Notions: Stitch markers, tapestry needle, stitch holders or waste yarn
Abbreviations
RLI (Right Lifted Increase): Insert right needle into right loop of stitch just below next stitch; place it onto left needle and knit it; then knit the stitch on needle.
Special Stitches
Lace Pattern (multiple of 10 sts)
Rnd 1: [K1, yo, k3, s2kp, k3, yo] to end.
Rnd 2 and all even rounds: Knit.
Rnd 3: [K2, yo, k2, s2kp, k2, yo, k1] to end.
Rnd 5: [K3, yo, k1, s2kp, k1, yo, k2] to end.
Rnd 7: [K4, yo, s2kp, yo, k3] to end.
Pattern Notes
This pattern is knitted in the round, bottom up. The piece is separated at the armholes and then the back and front are worked flat. An edging of reverse stockinette stitch is applied to armholes and neckline for a neat finish. Top designed to be worn with 2-3” [5-7 cm] of positive ease.
Pattern
Body
CO 180 (190, 210, 230. 260, 280, 300) sts. Join to knit in the round, being careful not to twist stitches. Place marker at beg of rnd.
Rnd 1: Purl.
Rnds 2-8: Work Lace Pattern, repeat to end.
Rnds 10-13: Knit.
Rnd 14: Work Eyelet Row: *k2tog, yo, k13*, rep from * to *.
Rnds 15-18: Knit.
Rnd 19: Work Eyelet Row: K8, *k2tog, yo, k13*, rep from * to *, k2tog, yo, k to end.
Rnds 20-23: Knit.
Rnd 24: Repeat Rnd 14.
Place marker at halfway point of rnd. The 2 markers will mark the side “seams”.
Begin Shaping
Decrease rnd: [K until 2 sts before marker, ssk, sm, k2, k2tog] twice, k to end. (176 (186, 206, 226. 256, 276, 296) sts)
Every 8th rnd, work a decrease rnd, 3 (4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9) more times, for a total of 4 (5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10) times. (164 (170, 190, 206, 232, 248, 260) sts)
Continue even in St st until garment measures 17 (17, 17, 17.5, 17.5, 17.5, 17.5)” [43 (43, 43, 44, 44, 44, 44) cm], or desired length for your body. (Piece will grow slightly after blocking.)
Note: If you have a longer torso, or like a longer top, this is the place to add length.
Divide for armholes. [Knit to 6 (6, 6, 8, 9, 12, 14) sts before marker, BO12 (12, 12, 16, 18, 24, 28) sts, remove marker] twice, k to end.
Place back sts on holder or waste piece of yarn, and leave front sts on needle. 70 (73, 83, 87, 98, 100, 102) for back, same for front.
Note: Underarm and Neck Shaping and Yoke Gathers are all worked at the same time; please read ahead!
Front
BO 1 st at beg of next 4 (6, 8, 10, 14, 16, 16) rows. (66 (67, 75, 77, 84, 84, 86) sts)
After about 1” [2.5 cm] work gathers as follows:
PM at mid-point of row. (If there is an odd number of sts, PM to right of center st, on RS.)
(RS): Work to 15 (16, 18, 19, 19, 20, 20) sts before marker, k2tog 4 (4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5) times, k14 (16, 16, 18, 18, 20, 20), k2tog 4 (4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5) times, work to end. (8 (8, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10) sts dec’d)
Work next 3 rows in garter st, continuing with armhole shaping.
(WS): Knit.
(RS): Knit.
(WS): Knit.
Return to stockinette stitch.
After about 1” [2.5 cm] work neckline as follows (work neck shaping at same time as armhole shaping):
(RS): Work to 7 (7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9) sts before center marker, BO 14(15, 17, 17, 18, 18, 18) sts at center of Front, work to end.
Work WS, joining another ball of yarn at inner neck edge to work both sides at once.
Dec at neck edges as follows: on RS, for right front, work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k. For left front, k1, ssk, work to end.
Dec 1 st at each neck edge every RS row a total of 3 (3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4) times.
Then dec 1 st at each neck edge every 4th row, 2 times. 17 (17, 19, 20, 22, 22, 23) sts rem on each side.
Work Bows
Work until front measures 4.5 (4.5, 4.5, 5, 5, 5.5, 6)” [11, 11, 11, 13, 13, 14, 15] cm from start of armholes.
Next Row (WS): P6 (6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9), p next 5 sts and slip these sts onto a holder for bow, p to end. Repeat for left shoulder.
Do not cut yarn. Leave main or body sts on needle.
Work each bow as follows: Using a separate ball of yarn in CC1 (or MC if preferred), slip 5 bow sts onto needles and join yarn with RS facing.
Row 1 (RS): K5.
Row 2 [WS): (P1, M1) 4 times, p1. (9 sts)
Row 3: Inc in first st using RLI, k to last 2 sts, inc in next st (RLI), k1. (11 sts)
Rows 4-16: Work in st st.
Row 17: K to last 2 sts, k2tog. (10 sts)
Row 18: (P2tog) 5 times. (5 sts)
Break yarn and leave these 5 sts on holder.
Work 2nd bow in same way.
Return to main sts left on ndl and continue as follows:
Next Row (RS): K to beg of bow, pick up and knit 5 sts from behind bow strip, k to end. Repeat for right shoulder.
Work 15 rows in st st. (Continue any neck shaping that may remain.)
Join Bow Strips
Next Row (RS): K to beg of bow; holding WS of bow strip against RS of sts on ndl, k together first st of bow with next st on left ndl. K to end. Repeat for right shoulder.
Work even until front measures 8 (8, 8, 8.5, 8.5, 9, 9.5)” [20 (20, 20, 22, 22, 23, 24) cm] from start of armholes.
BO 6 (6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8) sts at armhole edge of next 4 rows for each shoulder.
Next 2 rows: BO rem sts on each shoulder.
Back
Place sts for Back on needles. Note: Please read ahead; yoke gathers take place at same time as armhole shaping.
Armhole Shaping
BO 1 st at beg of next 4 (6, 8, 10, 14, 16, 16) rows. (66 (67, 75, 77, 84, 84, 86) sts)
After about 3” [7.5 cm] work gathers as follows:
PM at mid-point of row.
(RS): Work to 8 (8, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10) sts before marker, k2tog 8 (8, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10) times, work to end. 58 (59, 65, 67, 74, 74, 76) sts. (Note, this is final st count after all armhole decreases are worked)
Work next 3 rows in garter st, continuing with armhole shaping.
(WS): Knit.
(RS): Knit.
(WS): Knit.
Return to stockinette stitch.
Continue evenly in St st. Work until Back is 2.5” [6 cm] less than front, measured at neck edge.
Neck Shaping
On RS, k19 (19, 21, 22, 24, 24, 25), BO 20 (21, 23, 23, 26, 26, 26) sts, k to end. Join another ball of yarn to work both sides at once.
Work WS.
Decrease at neck edges as follows: on RS, for right back, work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k. For left back, k1, ssk, work to end. Dec 1 st at each neck edge every RS row a total of 2 times. 17 (17, 19, 20, 22, 22, 23) sts rem on each side.
BO 6 (6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8) sts at armhole edge of next 4 rows for each shoulder.
Next 2 rows: BO rem sts on each shoulder.
Finishing
Wrap yarn around center of bow strips and secure to body of sweater.
Sew front and back together at shoulders.
Using MC and smaller size 16”/40 cm circular needle, DPNs, or 2 circulars, with WS facing and beginning at center of underarm, pick up and knit 86 (86, 94, 102, 110, 118, 122) sts around armhole. PM at beg of round, and join to work in the round.
Next round: [k9, k2tog] to end. Work 2 more rnds in rev stockinette stitch.
BO all sts.
Repeat for second armhole.
At neck edge, using MC and 16”/40 cm circular needle, DPNs, or 2 circulars, with WS facing and beginning at back of neck, pick up and knit 130 (130, 140, 150, 160, 168, 178) sts around neck. PM at beg of rnd, and join to work in the round.
Next round: Attach CC1 for edging. [k9, k2tog] to end. Work 2 more rnds in rev stockinette stitch.
BO all sts.
Weave in all loose yarn ends.
Block to measurements. 