Options Tank By Chery lkemp

Transcription

1 Options Tank By Chery lkemp What makes a great summer tank? It s breathable, it s fitted so as to be flattering but not too tight, it s comfortable, bares the extremities and it can be worn in a variety of ways to avoid tan lines! This pattern offers those options and more. It is a great pattern to practice shaping using simple increases and decreases. It allows for several options including edging, back of tank height and three different ways to wear the straps, all allowing for the maximum level of customization (and minimum tan lines). The pattern is adjustable to fit almost any chest size, providing the knitter tries on the garment throughout the project (methods explained below). Photo credit [Cheryl Kemp, model and photographer and Meredith Leighs] SIZE (shown in size small) X Small, Small, Medium, Large, XLarge X Small: waist up to 25, bust up to 34 Small: waist up to 27, bust up to 36 Medium: waist up to 29, bust up to 38 Large: waist up to 32, bust up to 42 X Large: waist up to 34, bust up to 44 FINISHED MEASUREMENTS Chest: 32[34, 36, 38, 40] inches Length (back): 5 [6, 8, 9, 10] inches

2 MATERIALS [MC] Berroco Pronto [50% cotton, 50% acrylic; 55yd per 50g skein]; color: Coral, 4442; 6 [7, 8, 9, 10] skeins (This yarn has been discontinued. Appropriate substitutions include: Solista or Contrasto by Skacel, Reynolds Cabana, Rowan Cotton Tape, or any other cotton/cotton blend yarn with a similar gauge) 24 -inch US #10.5/Xmm circular needle Spare needled, 10.5 or smaller for 3 needle bind off Notions required: Two stitch markers, different colors. Stitch holders or waste yarn or both. Tape measure Safety pins GAUGE 14 sts/20 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch PATTERN NOTES Interchangeable needles are of great help with this pattern. Using extenders and end caps, one can try on the garment as it is being knitted to help customize shaping. Waste yarn may also be used for this purpose. Please measure around the fullest part of your bustline and the smallest part of your waist. For a more snug fit, choose pattern bust size up to 2 SMALLER than your measurement. For a looser fit, choose pattern bust size up to 2 larger than your measurement. If you opt for a looser fit in the bust, you can still do waist shaping for a smaller size after you see how the increases and decreases work. Abbreviations: ssk: slip one stitch knitwise, one stitch purlwise, insert left needle through both loops (left needle will be on top) knit the two stitches together from that position. Make one Left Slanting or Make one Front M1L Make one Right Slanting or Make one Back M1R PATTERN: CO 84 [90, 96, 102, 108] using the long tail cast on method. Place marker, join and begin knitting in the round. Place a second marker of a different color to indicate the middle after the stitch 42[45, 48, 51, 54].

3 Option 1: Tank length and border: knit all rows until length reaches 3 [3 ½- 4, 4-5, 5-6, 6-7] inches for crop length or to add edging later. For longer length with a rolled edge, knit all rows until length reaches 5[6, 8, 9, 10]. Begin waist shaping: Knit until two stitches before first marker. SSK (tighten slightly on ssk to match the k2t decreases better and avoid holes in fabric), k2t, knit until 2 stitches before middle marker, ssk, k2t, knit to first marker. Knit 1 row even. Knit next row to within two stitches of the first marker. SSK, k2t, knit to within two stitches of the second marker, ssk, k2t, knit to first marker. Knit 3 rows even (or continue to decrease in this fashion to achieve smaller waist shaping). Begin increases: Knit next row to within one stitch of first marker, m1r, k1, m1l. Knit to within one stitch of second marker, m1r, k1, m1l. Knit to first marker. Knit 2 rows even. Knit to within one stitch of the first marker, m1r, k1, m1l. Knit to within one stitch of second marker, m1r, k1, m1l, knit to first marker. Knit 4 rows even. Knit to within one stitch of the first marker, m1r, k1, m1l. Knit to within one stitch of second marker, m1r, k1, m1l, knit to first marker. (This is a good time to try the top on the ensure the ribcage shaping is the appropriate circumference for the most customized fit.) Knit 1 row even. Knit to within two stitches of the first marker, m1r, k1, m1r, k2, m1l, k1, m1l. Knit to within two stitches of second marker, m1r, k1, m1r, k2, m1l, k1, m1l, knit to first marker. K Knit one row even. Knit to within two stitches of the first marker, m1r, k1, m1r, k2, m1l, k1, m1l. Knit to within two stitches of the second marker, m1r, k1, m1r, k2, m1l, k1, m1l, knit to first marker. Knit one row even 104 [110, 116, 122, 128] stitches. Knit to within one stitch of first marker, m1r, k2, m1l. Knit to within one stitch of the second marker, m1r, k2, m1l, knit to first marker. Knit 1 row even 108[114, 120, 126, 132] stitches.

4 Knit to within one stitch of first marker, m1r, k2, m1l. Knit to within one stitch of second marker, m1r, k2, m1l, knit to first marker. Knit 3 rows even 112[118, 124, 130, 136] stitches. Knit to within two stitches of first marker, ssk, k2t. Knit to within two stitches of second marker, ssk, k2t, knit to first marker. Knit one row even 108[114, 120, 126, 132] stitches. Begin chest: Place the stitches between the first and second marker 54[57, 60, 63, 66] stitches on waste yarn (these stitches are for the back). There are54[57, 60, 63, 66] stitches left on the circular needles for the front of the tank. Take half of the stitches for the front left chest 27[29, 30, 31, 33] and place them on waste yarn. (Do not worry about the stitches being an odd number on one breast for most sizes; this is accounted for in the pattern) Right chest: (you may switch to straight needles for this portion if you prefer). Turn work and purl across 27[29, 30, 31, 33] stitches. *Turn work, knit to within 3 of end k2t, k1, turn work. Purl to last 2 stitches, p2t, turn work.* Repeat instructions between the * once more. *Knit to last 3 stitches, k2t, k1, turn work. Purl across, turn work. Repeat instructions between the * once more. Knit to the last 3 stitches, k2t,k1, turn work. Purl to last 2 stitches, p2t, turn work. Knit to the last 3 stitches, k2t,k1, turn work. Purl across, turn work. Knit across. Purl to last 2 stitches, p2t, turn work. Work even for six rows. On the sixth row, stop at last 2 stitches on the purl side, p2t, turn work. Knit to last 3 stitches, k2t, k1, turn work. *Purl to last two stitches, p2t, turn work. Knit to last 3 stitches, k2t, k1, turn work.* Repeat instructions between the * until 6 stitches remain on needle. Place safety pin at this row. Continue knitting and purling across the remaining 6 stitches until strap reaches about 16 from the pin. (NOTE: if you choose to make a higher back top, you can reduce the length of the straps by the same number of inches you increase the back. See below.) Place safety pin, waste yarn, or stitch holder at the end of strap to hold the 6 stitches. This is a good time to try on the tank top to assess whether the back needs to be tightened and how long the straps should be. Left chest: Place stitches on needle, begin from center of v neck. *P2T, purl to end, turn work. K1, ssk, knit to end, turn work.* Repeat instructions between * once more. *Purl across, turn. K1, ssk, knit to end, turn.* Repeat instructions between * once more.

5 P2T, purl to end, turn. K1, ssk, knit to end turn. Purl across, turn. Knit across, turn. P2Tog, turn. Work even for six rows. On the sixth row, stop at last 2 stitches on the purl side, p2t, turn work. K1, ssk, knit to end. *P2T, purl to end. Knit 1, k2t, knit to end.* Repeat instructions between the * until 6 stitches remain on needle. Place safety pin at this row. Continue knitting and purling across the remaining 6 stitches until strap reaches from the pin. Place safety pin, waste yarn, or stitch holder at the end of strap to hold the 6 stitches. Read through both options 2 and 3 before continuing. The choices made for back height and strap length/style determine how the garment will be finished. Place the straps on your back as if to wear a standard tank top. They should be at least reach the back of the top or longer. Take this into account for option 2 if you intend to make the back higher than it currently is. If you are going to finish the top to be worn only one way, place a safety pin at the row on the strap that will give the correct length to attach straps at their finished length. Option 2: Back height. To this point, the back is relatively low. Try on the top again. Depending on how you would like to be able to wear the top, you may want to increase the height of the back at this point. Decide how many inches more the back of the top should be. Also make note of the strap length. Place a safety pin at the point where the strap will meet the back. You will need to know how much to add/subtract from the strap for option 3. If the back is a little tight or loose, you can use these rows to increase or decrease stitches as necessary, following previous stitch pattern. A decrease/increase of four stitches should be approximately one inch given the gauge. Place the stitches for the back on the needles. Work in stockinette stitch until desired height is reached (there will be a small seam to sew if you raise the height). Leave work on the needles until you decide how to finish the straps. Option 3: Strap finishing. This top is designed to be worn three ways: halter back, cross back and tank style. It can be worn all 3 ways, or finished to be worn only one way. To wear it all 3 ways: Once the straps meet with the back of the top, knit and purl back and forth until the strap is 1 longer. *At the beginning of the next row on the knit side, k1, ssk, yo loosely, k2t, k1, turn. P2, then using the yo from the previous row, twist the yarn to form 2 stitches and replace on left needle. Purl across the last four stitches. Knit and purl back and forth until the strap is ¾-1 longer*. Repeat instructions between the * twice more. There will be three small button holes in the strap. After the third hole, purl across 5 stitches (do not make the extra stitch), then on the knit side, ssk, k1, k2t. Purl across, turn. BO last three stitches. Complete the other strap in this manner. To wear as halter only: Once the straps meet with the back of the top, knit and purl back and forth until the strap is 3 longer or as long as desired to tie halter. To finish, ssk, k2, k2t. Purl across, turn. SSK, k2t, BO. Complete the other strap in this manner.

6 To wear as tank or crossed back tank only: Place safety pin or stitch holder through the stitches on the row of the strap that you will attach to the back. You may need to unravel a few rows until stopped by the place marker. Match the straps with their finished position on the back of the top (in whatever way you decide best) evenly spacing them over the width of the back (there should be a pin where the length of the strap was determined in the previous step). With all back stitches on the needle, place markers where the straps will attach to the back. Begin binding off the back of the tank. When you reach the first stitch marker place the strap stitches on a 3 rd needle and begin 3 needle bind off for 6 stitches until strap is attached. Continue 2 needle bind off until the next strap is reached. Attach the second strap in the same manner. Optional edging: Choose any knit or crochet edging for the bottom of the tank and/or the neckline. Most basic knitting or crochet books have edging ideas. FINISHING If you allowed for an edging at the bottom in the beginning, now is the time to add it. Simply pick up approximately the same number of stitches that were cast on and begin the edging of your choice. You may choose a knit or crochet edge. If the neckline is too revealing, a matching border can be added there as well. A good source for edge patterns is Knitting on the Edge by Nicky Epstein. Most basic knitting books show edge patterns as well. Weave in all ends. Many thanks to Meredith Shaner and Ekgheiy for test knitting this pattern.