Worked in a luxurious silk blend, this tank is perfect to wear all summer long. The front begins with a narrow strip from which stitches are picked up and worked to create an asymmetrical ruched look while the back is worked from the bottom up. Grosgrain ribbon straps keep the top securely in place.
Skill Level: Easy
Size: Finished Bust Size = 31 (33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49)” to fit bust 30 (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48)”; 0 – 1″ positive ease recommended; Shown in size 34”
Gauge: 28 sts and 40 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st on smaller needles, after blocking
Materials
Yarn: Phydeaux Designs Soie (50% superwash merino, 50% silk; 435 yards [398 meters]/100 grams): Beach Glass (8 (8, 9, 9, 10) balls)
Needles: US size 3 (3.25 mm) straight and US size 4 (3.5 mm) straight needles
Notions: Tapestry needle, two 16″ lengths of grosgrain ribbon (1 ½” wide)
Pattern Notes
Back is worked from the bottom up. Front is worked by knitting a narrow strip, then picking up stitches on each side and knitting outward.
Pattern
Back
Using smaller needles, CO 100 (106, 114, 120, 128, 134, 142, 148, 156, 162) sts.
Knit 2 rows.
Beginning with a RS (knit) row: Work in St st for 16 (16, 10, 10, 4, 10, 4, 10, 4, 4) rows.
Decrease Row (RS): K2, ssk, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog, k2.
Continue in St st, working Decrease Row as above on every following 6th row until 84 (90, 96, 102, 108, 116, 122, 130, 136) sts remain.
Work 23 (23, 17, 17, 11, 17, 11, 17, 11, 11) rows even.
Increase Row: K2, m1R, knit to last 2 sts, m1L, k2.
Continue in St st, working Increase Row as above on every following 6th row until you have a total of 106 (112, 120, 126, 134, 140, 148, 154, 162, 168) sts.
Next row (WS): Knit.
Next row (RS): Knit.
BO all sts knitwise on WS.
Front
Using smaller needles, CO 14 sts.
Beginning with a knit row: Work in St st for 126 rows.
BO all sts, but do not break yarn. With RS facing, rotate work 90 degrees clockwise, pick up and knit 126 sts along side of strip.
Purl 1 row.
Next row (RS): K2, (kfb, k6) three times, (kfb, k5) thirteen times, (kfb, k6) three times, kfb, k2. (146 sts)
Switch to larger needles.
Continue in St st until work measures 3 ½ (3 ¾, 4, 4 ¼, 4 ½, 4 ½, 4 ¾, 5, 5 ¼, 5 ½)” from picked up sts, ending with a WS row.
BO all sts.
With RS facing, pick up and knit 126 sts along other side edge of knitted strip.
Purl 1 row.
Next row (RS): K2, (kfb, k6) three times, (kfb, k5) thirteen times, (kfb, k6) three times, kfb, k2. (146 sts)
Switch to larger needles.
Continue in St st until entire front width measures 16 (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)”, ending with a WS row.
BO all sts.
Finishing
Sew side seams.
Cut two 15″ (or desired length) lengths of ribbon. Sew one end of one ribbon to front and other end to back. Repeat on other side, using photograph as a guide. 