Aero Lace Tank

A light, airy scoop-neck tank in fingering-weight yarn. An easy 6-stitch eyelet column is worked throughout both pieces for a fabric that is cool, drapey, and dressy enough to wear on its own. The body is knit flat, seamed, then finished with neat 1x1 rib at the hem, neck, and armholes.

Skill Level: Intermediate (lace with shaping, seaming, picking up stitches)

Sizes

XS (S, M, L, XL)

To fit bust: 30–32 (34–36, 38–40, 42–44, 46–48)" / 76–81 (86–91, 97–102, 107–112, 117–122) cm

Shown in size S. Choose a size with 2–5" / 5–12.5 cm of positive ease.

Finished Measurements

Bust: 34.75 (38.75, 42.75, 46.75, 50.75)" / 88.5 (98.5, 108.5, 118.5, 129) cm

Length (shoulder to hem): 20.5 (21.5, 22.5, 23.5, 24.5)" / 52 (54.5, 57, 59.5, 62) cm

Length to underarm: 13 (13.5, 14, 14.5, 15)" / 33 (34.5, 35.5, 37, 38) cm

Armhole depth: 7.5 (8, 8.5, 9, 9.5)" / 19 (20.5, 21.5, 23, 24) cm

Cross back: 14.25 (15.75, 17, 18.25, 19.75)" / 36 (40, 43, 46.5, 50) cm

Shoulder width (each): 3.25 (3.75, 4, 4.25, 4.75)" / 8.5 (9.5, 10, 11, 12) cm

Straight body (no waist shaping). Hem width equals bust.

Yarn

Fingering weight (CYC 1), about 400 yds / 366 m per 100 g.

Yardage: 650 (750, 875, 1025, 1200) yds / 595 (685, 800, 935, 1100) m

Skeins (100 g): 2 (2, 3, 3, 4)

Plant-fiber blends (cotton, linen, hemp) give the coolest summer drape. Merino/silk or merino/cotton also work and have a bit more bounce. Avoid 100% inelastic cotton if you prefer the rib bands to hug.

Needles

• US 4 / 3.5 mm, straight or circular, for ribbing
• US 5 / 3.75 mm, straight or circular, for lace body

Or sizes needed to obtain blocked gauge. Circular needles may be used to knit flat.

Notions

• Yarn needle
• Stitch holders or waste yarn
• Stitch markers (optional, to mark lace repeats and neck split)
• Spare needle or circular for picking up bands

Gauge

24 sts and 32 rows = 4" / 10 cm in Eyelet Column Lace on US 5 / 3.75 mm, after wet blocking.

Row gauge: 8 rows = 1" / 2.5 cm.

Swatch at least 6" / 15 cm square, wet-block, and pin to dry before measuring. Lace opens significantly; unblocked gauge will not match the garment.

Notes

• Worked flat in two pieces, bottom up, then seamed.
• The first and last stitch of every row are selvage stitches. Knit them on RS rows and purl them on WS rows (stockinette selvage) unless a decrease is worked next to the edge.
• When shaping, only work a yarn over if you can also work its matching decrease (ssk or k2tog). If a full 6-st repeat does not fit, work those stitches in stockinette.
• Stitch counts are given after the RS row unless noted.
• Instructions are written for XS with S, M, L, XL in parentheses. When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes.

Abbreviations (US)

BO — bind off CO — cast on dec — decrease k — knit k2tog — knit 2 together (right-leaning dec) p — purl pm — place marker rem — remain(ing) rep — repeat RS — right side ssk — slip 1 knitwise, slip 1 knitwise, knit those 2 sts together through the back loops (left-leaning dec) st(s) — stitch(es) St st — stockinette stitch (knit RS, purl WS) WS — wrong side yo — yarn over 1x1 rib — *k1, p1; rep from *

Stitch Pattern

1x1 Rib (flat, even number of sts)

Every row: *K1, p1; rep from * to end.

Eyelet Column Lace (multiple of 6 sts + 2)

Row 1 (RS): K1, *k1, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from * to last st, k1.

Row 2 (WS): Purl.

Rep Rows 1–2 for pattern.

Each repeat uses 6 sts and is stitch-count neutral (2 yo + ssk + k2tog → 6 sts in, 6 sts out ✓). Optional: place markers every 6 sts after the first selvage until the pattern is easy to read.

Back

With smaller needles, CO 104 (116, 128, 140, 152) sts.

Work 1x1 rib until piece measures 1½" / 4 cm from CO, ending with a WS row.

Change to larger needles.

Next row (RS): Work Row 1 of Eyelet Column Lace.

Continue in lace until piece measures 13 (13.5, 14, 14.5, 15)" / 33 (34.5, 35.5, 37, 38) cm from CO, ending with a WS row.

Shape Armholes

Next 2 rows: BO 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) sts at beg of each row — 96 (106, 116, 126, 136) sts rem. (104 − 4 − 4 = 96 ✓; 116 − 5 − 5 = 106 ✓; 128 − 6 − 6 = 116 ✓; 140 − 7 − 7 = 126 ✓; 152 − 8 − 8 = 136 ✓)

Dec row (RS): K1, ssk, work in lace as established to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (2 sts dec)

Next row (WS): Purl.

Rep the last 2 rows 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) more times — 5 (6, 7, 8, 9) dec rows total, 86 (94, 102, 110, 118) sts rem.

(96 − 10 = 86 ✓; 106 − 12 = 94 ✓; 116 − 14 = 102 ✓; 126 − 16 = 110 ✓; 136 − 18 = 118 ✓)

Work even in lace until armhole measures 7.5 (8, 8.5, 9, 9.5)" / 19 (20.5, 21.5, 23, 24) cm, ending with a WS row.

Shape Shoulders and Back Neck

Next 2 rows: BO 7 (8, 8, 9, 10) sts at beg of each row — 72 (78, 86, 92, 98) sts rem.

(86 − 7 − 7 = 72 ✓; 94 − 8 − 8 = 78 ✓; 102 − 8 − 8 = 86 ✓; 110 − 9 − 9 = 92 ✓; 118 − 10 − 10 = 98 ✓)

Next 2 rows: BO 7 (7, 8, 9, 9) sts at beg of each row — 58 (64, 70, 74, 80) sts rem.

(72 − 7 − 7 = 58 ✓; 78 − 7 − 7 = 64 ✓; 86 − 8 − 8 = 70 ✓; 92 − 9 − 9 = 74 ✓; 98 − 9 − 9 = 80 ✓)

Next row (RS): BO 6 (7, 8, 8, 9) sts, BO next 46 (50, 54, 58, 62) sts (back neck), knit rem 6 (7, 8, 8, 9) sts.

Next row (WS): BO rem 6 (7, 8, 8, 9) sts.

Shoulder totals: 7+7+6 = 20 (XS) ✓; 8+7+7 = 22 (S) ✓; 8+8+8 = 24 (M) ✓; 9+9+8 = 26 (L) ✓; 10+9+9 = 28 (XL) ✓. Neck 46 (50, 54, 58, 62) matches front.

Front

Work as for Back until armholes are shaped and 86 (94, 102, 110, 118) sts rem, then work even until armhole measures 3 (3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4)" / 7.5 (8.5, 9, 9.5, 10) cm, ending with a WS row.

Shape Scoop Neck

Dividing row (RS): Work 35 (38, 41, 44, 47) sts in pattern, join a second ball of yarn, BO center 16 (18, 20, 22, 24) sts, work in pattern to end.

(35 + 16 + 35 = 86 ✓; 38 + 18 + 38 = 94 ✓; 41 + 20 + 41 = 102 ✓; 44 + 22 + 44 = 110 ✓; 47 + 24 + 47 = 118 ✓)

Work both sides at the same time with separate balls.

Neck dec row (RS):

• Right front (as worn; first set of sts): Work in pattern to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
• Left front (as worn; second set of sts): K1, ssk, work in pattern to end.

Next row (WS): Purl each side.

Rep the last 2 rows 14 (15, 16, 17, 18) more times — 15 (16, 17, 18, 19) neck decs each side, 20 (22, 24, 26, 28) sts rem each side.

(35 − 15 = 20 ✓; 38 − 16 = 22 ✓; 41 − 17 = 24 ✓; 44 − 18 = 26 ✓; 47 − 19 = 28 ✓)

Work even on 20 (22, 24, 26, 28) sts each side until armhole measures 7.5 (8, 8.5, 9, 9.5)" / 19 (20.5, 21.5, 23, 24) cm, matching Back to the start of shoulder shaping, ending with a WS row.

Shape Shoulders

Work each side separately.

Right front (as worn) — armhole at beg of RS rows:

• Next row (RS): BO 7 (8, 8, 9, 10) sts, work to end.
• WS: Purl.
• RS: BO 7 (7, 8, 9, 9) sts, work to end.
• WS: Purl.
• RS: BO rem 6 (7, 8, 8, 9) sts.

Left front (as worn) — armhole at beg of WS rows: Rejoin yarn at armhole edge with WS facing.

• Next row (WS): BO 7 (8, 8, 9, 10) sts, purl to end.
• RS: Work even.
• WS: BO 7 (7, 8, 9, 9) sts, purl to end.
• RS: Work even.
• WS: BO rem 6 (7, 8, 8, 9) sts.

Shoulder totals match Back: 20 (22, 24, 26, 28) sts each. Front neck width = 16 (18, 20, 22, 24) BO + 15 (16, 17, 18, 19) decs each side = 46 (50, 54, 58, 62) sts ✓.

Finishing

Block both pieces to the finished measurements before seaming. Wet-block: soak in lukewarm water, press out water in a towel (do not wring), and pin to size on a blocking mat. Pin the lace open so eyelets are even. Allow to dry completely.

Shoulders: With RS together (or mattress stitch with RS facing), sew Front to Back at each shoulder.

Neckband: With smaller needles and RS facing, beginning at the left shoulder seam, pick up and knit around the neckline:

• 46 (50, 54, 58, 62) sts along back neck
• 27 (29, 31, 33, 35) sts down left front slope
• 16 (18, 20, 22, 24) sts along center front bind-off
• 27 (29, 31, 33, 35) sts up right front slope

116 (126, 136, 146, 156) sts. (46+27+16+27 = 116 ✓; 50+29+18+29 = 126 ✓; 54+31+20+31 = 136 ✓; 58+33+22+33 = 146 ✓; 62+35+24+35 = 156 ✓)

If your pickup is off by 1 st, inc or dec on the first rib round so the count is even.

Join to work in the round. Pm for beginning of round.

Work 1x1 rib (*k1, p1; rep from *) for ¾" / 2 cm (about 6–8 rounds).

BO loosely in rib. (If the bind-off pulls, go up a needle size for the BO only.)

Side seams: Mattress-stitch the sides from hem to underarm bind-off, matching rib to rib and lace rows to lace rows.

Armhole bands: With smaller needles and RS facing, beginning at the underarm seam, pick up and knit 92 (100, 108, 116, 124) sts evenly around the armhole (about 3 sts for every 4 rows along the vertical edges, plus 1 st per bound-off st at the underarm). Adjust by 1 st if needed so the count is even.

Join to work in the round. Work 1x1 rib for ¾" / 2 cm. BO loosely in rib. Rep for the second armhole.

Weave in remaining ends. Lightly steam the seams and bands if the fiber allows (test on the swatch first; do not flatten the lace).

Schematic (measurements)

                    shoulder 3.25 (3.75, 4, 4.25, 4.75)"
                   |----|   neck ~7.75 (8.25, 9, 9.75, 10.25)"   |----|
              _____|    |_______________________________________|    |_____
             /                                                              \
            /                        armhole 7.5 (8, 8.5, 9, 9.5)"           \
           |                                                                  |
           |                                                                  |
           |                 bust / hem  34.75 (38.75, 42.75, 46.75, 50.75)"  |
           |                                                                  |
           |                 length to underarm  13 (13.5, 14, 14.5, 15)"     |
           |                                                                  |
           |__________________________________________________________________|
                              total length  20.5 (21.5, 22.5, 23.5, 24.5)"

Modifications

• Cropped: Work to underarm 10–11" / 25.5–28 cm instead of 13–15".
• Tunic: Add 3–5" / 7.5–12.5 cm before armhole shaping.
• Closer fit: Go down one size; the lace has little stretch after blocking.
• Picot neck: On the last neckband round, *k2tog, yo; rep from *, then BO knitwise on the next round.

Checklist before you start

1. Block a swatch; confirm 24 sts = 4" in lace.
2. Cast on 104 (116, 128, 140, 152) and confirm 1x1 rib lies flat.
3. After armhole shaping you should have 86 (94, 102, 110, 118) sts.
4. Front and back armholes must match in length before shoulder bind-offs.