The Salted Petals Top is a lightweight, relaxed tank featuring simple garter stitch with a touch of lace for subtle texture. Knit top-down in breathable organic cotton, it offers easy fit adjustments and a clean, modern finish. Worked in soft shades of pink and cream, this piece brings a quiet elegance to summer dressing—perfect for lounging at home or heading to a seaside café. Pair it with the matching maxi skirt or mix it into your everyday wardrobe for a breezy warm-weather staple.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Sizes: 30 (32, 34, 36) (38, 40, 42, 44)” final garment chest circumference, intended with 0-2” of negative ease.
Materials
Yarn: Cascade Yarns Botanica, 100% Organic Cotton, 328 yds (300 m) / 100g (3.5 oz); Color A – 101, 1 (1, 1, 2) (2, 2, 2, 2) balls; Color B – 102, 1 ball.
Needles: US size 3 (3.0mm) 21” or longer circular needle
US size 4 (3.5mm) 21” or longer circular needle, or size to obtain gauge
Gauge: 19 st x 28 rows = 4” (blocked, in garter lace pattern, with larger size needles); 22 sts x 36 rows = 4” (blocked, in 1×1 ribbing, on smaller size needles)
Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors, spare needle
Pattern Notes
The top is worked top-down, starting with the Back straps. When the Back piece is knitted to the underarm, the Front straps are picked up and knitted down. After joining in the underarms, the top worked seamlessly, in the round. 1×1 twisted ribbing is added to finish the edges and to add a split hem.
Garter Lace Stitch Pattern working flat (multiple of 10 sts + 1)
Rows 1-6: knit.
Row 7 (RS): *k3, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k2; Rep from* across to last st, k1.
Row 8 and all WS rows: purl
Row 9 (RS): *k2, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k1; Rep from* across to last st, k1.
Row 11 (RS): *k1, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, ssk; Rep from* across to last st, k1.
Row 13-16: knit
Rep Rows 1-16 for Patt.
Garter Lace Stitch Pattern working in the round (multiple of 10 sts)
Rnd 1: knit.
Rnd 2: purl.
Rnds 3-6: rep Rnds 1-2
Rnd 7: *k3, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k2; Rep from* around.
Rnd 8 and all even Rnds: knit
Rnd 9: *k2, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k1; Rep from* around.
Rnd 11: *k1, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, ssk; Rep from* around.
Rnd 13-16: rep Rnds 1-2.
Rep Rnds 1-16 for Patt.
Pattern Instructions
Right Back Strap
With Color B, CO 11 sts. Begin working Garter Lace Stitch Pattern flat, working through Rows 1-16 two times.
Inc Row (RS): kf&b, k to last st, kf&b. (2 sts Inc’d, 13 sts)
Next Row (WS): knit.
Rep Inc Row once more. (15 sts)
Next Row (WS): knit.
Break yarn. Put sts on hold on a spare needle.
Left Back Strap
Work as for Right Back Strap. Do not break yarn.
Joining Back Piece
Next Row (RS): knit across Left Back Strap sts, using Cable CO method CO 21 (21, 21, 21) (31, 31, 31, 31) sts, knit across Right Back Strap sts. (51 (51, 51, 51) (61, 61, 61, 61) sts)
Next Row (WS): knit.
Back
Continue to work Back piece in Garter Lace Stitch Patter, flat, starting with Row 7. Work even until Back piece measures 7.5 (8, 8, 8.5) (8.5, 9, 9, 9.5)” from the top of the straps, ending with WS.
Inc Row (RS): kf&b, k in Patt to last st, kf&b. (2 sts Inc’d, 53 (53, 53, 53) (63, 63, 63, 63) sts)
Next Row (WS): knit.
Rep Inc Row once more. (55 (55, 55, 55) (65, 65, 65, 65) sts)
Next Row (WS): knit.
Break yarn. Place sts on hold onto a spare needle.
Left Front Strap
With RS facing, using Color B, PU 11 sts along Left Back Strap CO edge. Begin working Garter Lace Stitch Pattern flat, staring with Row 2, working through Rows 1-16 three times.
Inc Row (RS): kf&b, k to last st, kf&b. (2 sts Inc’d, 13 sts)
Next Row (WS): knit.
Rep Inc Row once more. (15 sts)
Next Row (WS): knit.
Break yarn. Put sts on hold on a spare needle.
Right Front Strap
Work as for Left Front Strap. Do not break yarn.
Joining Front Piece
Next Row (RS): knit across Right Front Strap sts, using Cable CO method CO 21 (21, 21, 21) (31, 31, 31, 31) sts, knit across Left Front Strap sts. (51 (51, 51, 51) (61, 61, 61, 61) sts)
Next Row (WS): knit.
Front
Continue to work Front piece in Garter Lace Stitch Patter, flat, starting with Row 7. Work even until Front piece measures 7.5 (8, 8, 8.5) (8.5, 9, 9, 9.5)” from the top of the straps, ending with WS.
Inc Row (RS): kf&b, k in Patt to last st, kf&b. 2 sts Inc’d. (53 (53, 53, 53) (63, 63, 63, 63) sts)
Next Row (WS): knit.
Rep Inc Row once more. (55 (55, 55, 55) (65, 65, 65, 65) sts)
Next Row (WS): knit.
Do not break yarn. Do not turn
Joining Front and Back Pieces
Joining Rnd: work in Patt across Front, CO 15 (20, 25, 30) (25, 30, 35, 40) sts, knit in patt across Back piece, CO 15 (20, 25, 30) (25, 30, 35) 40 sts, join to work in the Rnd. (140 (150, 160, 170) (180, 190, 200) 210 sts)
Place BOR marker in the middle of right underarm sts.
Body
Continue to work body in Garter Lace Stitch Pattern, in the round. After finishing current pattern repeat, begin changing colors as follows:
Color A – 1 repeat
Color B – 1 repeat
Color A – 1 repeat
Color B – 1 repeat
Color A – 1 repeat
Split Hem
Change to smaller size needles and split for bottom hem as follows:
Setup Row: k 70 (75, 80, 85) (90, 95, 100) 110 sts, turn.
Front Hem
Begin working 1×1 Twisted Rib Hem as follows:
Row 1 (WS): Sl 1, *p1, k1; rep from * across.
Row 2 (RS): Sl 1, *ktbl, p1; rep from * across.
Rep Rows 1-2 another 6 times, and Row 1 once more.
BO all sts using a Tubular BO.
Back Hem
With WS facing, join yarn at the beginning of remaining sts. Work 1×1 Twisted Rib Hem as for the Front Hem.
Armhole Ribbing
With RS facing, using Color A, staring in the middle of the underarm, PU 100 (110, 116, 126) (126, 132, 136) 148 sts around armhole. Place BOR and join to work in the Rnd.
Work in 1×1 Twisted ribbing for 7 rnds. BO all sts using Tubular BO.
Repeat for second armhole.
Neck Ribbing
With RS facing, using Color A, starting in the middle of the back neck, PU 132 (132, 132, 132) (152, 152, 152) 152 sts around Neck Edge. Place BOR and join to work in the Rnd.
Work in 1×1 Twisted ribbing for 7 rnds. BO all sts using Tubular BO.
Finishing
Weave in all ends. Steam block flat with hot iron over a wet towel to open up lace.