This sassy and flirty tank was inspired by the colors of late summer fruit and berries. A simple tank is made interesting by rows and rows of embellished ruffles and the result is completely worth the time.
Skill Level: Advanced
Size: Finished Bust Size 35.75 (40, 44.5, 49, 53.25, 57.75, 62)” to fit bust 34 (38, 42, 46, 50, 54, 58)”
1.75-4” positive ease recommended.
Shown in size 35.75”
Gauge: 22 sts and 27.5 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Diagonal Purls stitch after damp blocking.
Materials
Yarn: Ancient Arts Fibre Crafts Socknado (80% Superwach Fine Merino, 20% Nylon; 385 yards [350 meters]/100 grams): Raspberry Gelato (MC, 3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5) skeins), French Bordeaux (CC, 1 skein) all sizes.
Needles: US size 4 (3.5 mm) 24” or longer circular; US size 2 (2.75 mm) 24” or longer circular (for picking up sts for ruffles).
Notions: Markers, removable markers, stitch holders or waste yarn, tapestry needle
Special Stitches
Diagonal Purls Stitch
Row 1 (RS): K4, *k11, p1; rep from * to last 4 sts, k4.
Row 2 (WS): K1, p3, *p1, k1, p10; rep from * to last 4 sts, p3, k1.
Row 3: K4, *k9, p1, k2; rep from * to last 4 sts, k4.
Row 4: K1, p3, *p3, k1, p8; rep from * to last 4 sts, p3, k1.
Row 5: K4, *k7, p1, k4; rep from * to last 4 sts, k4.
Row 6: K1, p3, *p5, k1, p6; rep from * to last 4 sts, p3, k1.
Row 7: K4, *k5, p1, k6; rep from * to last 4 sts, k4.
Row 8: K1, p3, *p7, k1, p4; rep from * to last 4 sts, p3, k1.
Row 9: K4, *k3, p1, k8; rep from * to last 4 sts, k4.
Row 10: K1, p3, *p9, k1, p2; rep from * to last 4 sts, p3, k1.
Row 11: K4, *k1, p1, k10; rep from * to last 4 sts, k4.
Row 12: K1, p3, *p11, k1; rep from * to last 4 sts, p3, k1.
Rep Rows 1-12 for patt.
St st
K on RS and P on WS.
W&T (Wrap and Turn)
Sl next st with yarn in front (wyif) for RS rows or with yarn in back (wyib) for WS rows. Return yarn to back (front), PM (W&T marker) on left needle and return the slipped st to left needle, turn.
Pattern Notes
This pattern is worked flat in two pieces from the bottom up.
Neckline at Front is shaped with short-rows.
Ruffles are worked on RS of Front panel. When picking up the stitches for ruffle, keep Front panel with top towards you. The very first ruffle sts are picked up from the diagonal that begins from below right armhole. The exact amount of the stitches are not essential. Make sure to take care of picking up stitches from each row purl stitch along the purl diagonal and not picking new stitches between purl stitches.
After first ruffle is worked, work four more ruffles from every other purled diagonal.
Pattern
Back
With MC and larger needles, CO 104 (116, 128, 140, 152, 164, 176) sts.
Set up Rows 1-5: K all sts
Beg working Diagonal Purls Stitch patt for 26 rows.
Dec Row (RS): K1, k2tog, cont in patt to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. (2 sts dec’d)
Rep Dec Row every 38th row 0 (1, 0, 1, 2, 1, 2) more times, and then every 36th row 2 (1, 2, 1, 0, 1, 0) more times, ending with WS row. (98 (110, 122, 134, 146, 158, 170) sts)
Work even in est patt for 12 more rows.
Armhole Shaping
Place first and last 6 (7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9) sts on scrap yarn. (86 (96, 108, 118, 130, 140, 152) sts)
Place first and last 3 sts on scrap yarn 1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 3) times, and then place first and last 2 sts on scrap yarn 1 (1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 4) times. (76 (86, 98, 104, 112, 116, 118) sts)
Dec Row: K1, k2tog, cont in patt to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. (2 sts dec’d)
Rep Dec Row every RS row 1 (3, 8, 9, 12, 13, 12) more times, ending with WS row. 72 (78, 80, 84, 86, 88, 92) sts)*
Cont in est patt for 42 (42, 36, 34, 28, 28, 26) rows or until Armhole measures 7.5 (8, 8.75, 9, 9.25, 9.75, 9.75)”, ending with WS row.
BO 14 (15, 15, 16, 16, 17, 17) at beg of the next 2 rows. (44 (48, 50, 52, 54, 54, 58) sts)
Transfer rem Neck sts to waste yarn or stitch holder.
Front
With MC and larger needles, CO 104 (116, 128, 140, 152, 164, 176) sts.
Work as for Back through Armhole shaping*. 72 (78, 80, 84, 86, 88, 92) sts)
Cont in est patt for 18 (18, 12, 10, 4, 4, 2) rows.
Neckline Shaping
Work in St st.
Place markers on either side of the 14 (16, 16, 16, 18, 18, 18) center neck sts.
Short Rows 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 17 (RS): Work in patt to closest m, remove m, W&T.
Short Row 2 (WS): Work in patt 4 (4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5) sts, pm, cont in patt to end of row.
Short Row 4: Work in patt 3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4) sts, pm, cont in patt to end of row.
Short Row 6: Work in patt 2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3) sts, pm, cont in patt to end of row.
Short Row 8: Work in patt 2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3) sts, pm, cont in patt to end of row.
Short Row 10: Work in patt 1 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2) sts, pm, cont in patt to end of row.
Short Rows 12, 14 and 16: Work in patt 1 st, pm, cont in patt to end of row.
Short Row 18: Work in patt to end of row.
Short Row 19: Work in patt to end of row, working wrapped sts tog with wraps.
Short Rows 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, and 36 (WS): Work in patt to m, remove m, W&T.
Short Row 21 (RS): Work in patt 4 (4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5) sts, pm, cont in patt to end of row.
Short Row 23: Work in patt 3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4) sts, pm, cont in patt to end of row.
Short Row 25: Work in patt 2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3) sts, pm, cont in patt to end of row.
Short Row 27: Work in patt 2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3) sts, pm, cont in patt to end of row.
Short Row 29: Work in patt 1 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2) sts, pm, cont in patt to end of row.
Note: The total sts to shape on each side of the center sts is supposed to be 15 (16, 17, 18, 18, 18, 20).
Short Rows 31, 33 and 35: Work in patt 1 st, pm, cont in patt to end of row.
Short Row 37 (RS): Work in patt to end of row.
Short Row 38 (WS): Work in patt to end of row, working wrapped sts tog with wraps.
BO 14 (15, 15, 16, 16, 17, 17) at beg of the next 2 rows. (44 (48, 50, 52, 54, 54, 58) sts)
Transfer rem Neck sts to waste yarn or stitch holder.
Block Back and Front panels to measurements.
Ruffles
With smaller needles and RS facing, pick up but do not knit sts for the ruffle as instructed in Pattern Notes section. Turn.
Switch to larger needles.
Next Row (WS): K all sts.
Inc Row (RS): K1, *k1, yo; rep from * to last st, k1.
Next Row: K1, p to last st, k1.
Rows 1-2: K all sts.
Row 3: K1, *yo, ssk; rep from * to last sts, k1.
Rows 4-5: K all sts.
Row 6: K1, p to last st, k1.
Switch to CC.
Row 7: K1, *k2tog, yo; rep from * to last st, k1.
Row 8: K all sts.
Loosely BO all ruffle sts.
Finishing
Join Shoulder seams.
Neckline Trim
Beg at Back center with MC and larger needles, PU and k88 (96, 100, 104, 108, 108, 116) Neck sts, Pm, and join for working in the rnd.
Next Rnd: P all sts.
Next Rnd: K all sts.
Loosely BO all Neck sts.
Armhole Trims
With MC and larger needles, K11 (12, 12, 15, 17, 21, 26) underarm live sts, PU and k35 (38, 41, 41, 41, 42, 39) sts up to the shoulder seam, PU and k35 (38, 41, 41, 41, 42, 39) down from the shoulder seam, k11 (12, 12, 15, 17, 21, 26) underarm live sts. (92 (100, 106, 112, 116, 126, 130) sts)
Next 2 Rows: K all sts.
Loosely BO all sts.
Work side seams.
Tack ends of Ruffles to the Front panel if desired. Hint: Use yarn ends for tacking the Ruffles onto Front panel.
Weave in all yarn ends.
Block one more time if desired.