Basic Fingering Tank

A simple, beginner-friendly sleeveless tank knit in fingering-weight yarn. Worked flat in two pieces from the bottom up in stockinette with 1×1 rib edges, gentle armhole shaping, and a classic scoop neck. Perfect first garment.

Materials

• Yarn: Fingering weight (approx. 400 yd / 100 g). Approx. 700 (800, 900, 1000, 1100) yd / 640 (730, 820, 915, 1005) m.
• Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm) straight or circular needles for body, or size needed to obtain gauge. US 1 (2.25 mm) for ribbing (or one size smaller than body needles).
• Notions: Stitch markers, stitch holders or waste yarn, tapestry needle, scissors.

Gauge

28 stitches and 36 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on larger needles, blocked. Please swatch and block. Fit depends on matching gauge.

Sizes

XS (S, M, L, XL) Finished bust circumference: 32 (36, 40, 44, 48)" / 81.5 (91.5, 101.5, 112, 122) cm intended with 2–4" positive ease. Finished length: 21 (21.5, 22.5, 23, 24)" / 53.5 (54.5, 57, 58.5, 61) cm from shoulder to hem. Shown in size S. Choose size based on desired bust ease.

Abbreviations (US)

• BO: bind off
• CO: cast on
• k: knit
• k2tog: knit 2 together (right-leaning decrease)
• p: purl
• pm: place marker
• RS: right side
• ssk: slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
• st(s): stitch(es)
• WS: wrong side
• wyib: with yarn in back
• wyif: with yarn in front

Pattern Notes

• Tank is worked flat in two identical-width pieces (Back and Front) then seamed.
• Armhole and neck shaping use simple BO and paired decreases.
• When instructions give a single number it applies to all sizes; sequences of numbers are size-specific.
• Slip the first stitch of every row purlwise wyif on WS / wyib on RS for a neat edge (optional but recommended for seaming).
• Block pieces before seaming for best results.

Back

With smaller needles, CO 112 (126, 140, 154, 168) sts.

Ribbing: Row 1 (RS): *K1, p1; rep from * to end. Row 2 (WS): *K1, p1; rep from * to end. Repeat Rows 1–2 until ribbing measures 1.5" (4 cm), ending after a WS row.

Change to larger needles. Work in stockinette (knit RS rows, purl WS rows) until piece measures 14 (14, 14.5, 14.5, 15)" / 35.5 (35.5, 37, 37, 38) cm from CO edge, ending after a WS row.

Shape armholes: BO 5 (6, 7, 8, 9) sts at beg of next 2 rows. 102 (114, 126, 138, 150) sts. BO 2 (3, 3, 4, 4) sts at beg of next 2 rows. 98 (108, 120, 130, 142) sts.

Decrease row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 2 sts decreased. Next row (WS): Purl. Repeat the last 2 rows 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) more times. 88 (96, 106, 114, 124) sts.

Work even in stockinette until armhole measures 7 (7.5, 8, 8.5, 9)" / 18 (19, 20.5, 21.5, 23) cm, ending after a WS row.

Shape right shoulder and back neck (short-row free method for beginners): Next row (RS): BO 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) sts, knit until 22 (24, 26, 28, 30) sts are on right needle (including the st already used for BO count), place remaining 58 (63, 70, 75, 82) sts on holder for neck and left shoulder. Turn. 22 (24, 26, 28, 30) sts for right shoulder. Next row (WS): Purl. Next row (RS): BO 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) sts, knit to end. 14 (15, 16, 17, 18) sts. Next row (WS): Purl. BO remaining 14 (15, 16, 17, 18) sts.

Shape left shoulder: With RS facing, rejoin yarn to held sts. BO center 36 (39, 44, 47, 52) sts for back neck, knit to end. 22 (24, 26, 28, 30) sts. Next row (WS): BO 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) sts, purl to end. 14 (15, 16, 17, 18) sts. Next row (RS): Knit. Next row (WS): BO remaining 14 (15, 16, 17, 18) sts.

Front

Work exactly as for Back until armhole measures 4.5 (5, 5.5, 5.5, 6)" / 11.5 (12.5, 14, 14, 15) cm, ending after a WS row. 88 (96, 106, 114, 124) sts.

Shape left front neck: Next row (RS): K32 (35, 39, 42, 46), place remaining 56 (61, 67, 72, 78) sts on holder. Turn. Working on left neck sts only: Next row (WS): Purl. Decrease row (RS): Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 1 st decreased. Repeat the last 2 rows 9 (10, 12, 13, 15) more times. 22 (24, 26, 28, 30) sts. Work even until armhole matches Back length to shoulder, ending after a WS row.

Shape left shoulder: BO 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) sts at beg of next RS row, knit to end. 14 (15, 16, 17, 18) sts. Next row (WS): Purl. BO remaining 14 (15, 16, 17, 18) sts.

Shape right front neck: With RS facing, rejoin yarn to held sts. BO center 24 (26, 28, 30, 32) sts, knit to end. 32 (35, 39, 42, 46) sts. Next row (WS): Purl. Decrease row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to end. 1 st decreased. Repeat the last 2 rows 9 (10, 12, 13, 15) more times. 22 (24, 26, 28, 30) sts. Work even until armhole matches Back, ending after a RS row.

Shape right shoulder: Next row (WS): BO 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) sts, purl to end. 14 (15, 16, 17, 18) sts. Next row (RS): Knit. BO remaining 14 (15, 16, 17, 18) sts.

Finishing

Block pieces to measurements:

• Width: 16 (18, 20, 22, 24)" / 40.5 (45.5, 51, 56, 61) cm
• Total length: 21 (21.5, 22.5, 23, 24)" / 53.5 (54.5, 57, 58.5, 61) cm
• Armhole depth: 7 (7.5, 8, 8.5, 9)" / 18 (19, 20.5, 21.5, 23) cm

Sew shoulder seams with mattress stitch.

Neckband: With smaller needles and RS facing, beginning at right shoulder seam, pick up and knit 3 sts for every 4 rows down right front neck, pick up and knit the bound-off center front sts, pick up and knit 3 sts for every 4 rows up left front neck, pick up and knit the bound-off back neck sts. Count sts and adjust on next round if needed so total is even. Join to work in the round. Work 1×1 rib (*k1, p1; rep from *) for 0.75" (2 cm). BO loosely in rib.

Armhole edging (make 2): With smaller needles and RS facing, beginning at underarm, pick up and knit 3 sts for every 4 rows around armhole. Join to work in the round. Work 1×1 rib for 0.5" (1.5 cm). BO loosely in rib.

Sew side seams from hem to underarm using mattress stitch, matching ribbing carefully. Weave in all ends. Block again lightly if desired.

Inline Math Validation (key checkpoints)

• CO 112 (126, 140, 154, 168) → at 7 sts/in = 16 (18, 20, 22, 24)" width per piece ✓
• Armhole BO 5+2 (6+3, 7+3, 8+4, 9+4) each side + 5 (6, 7, 8, 9) decrease pairs = 14 (18, 20, 24, 26) sts removed each side → 88 (96, 106, 114, 124) sts remain ✓
• Front neck: 32 (35, 39, 42, 46) each side – 10 (11, 13, 14, 16) decs = 22 (24, 26, 28, 30) shoulder sts ✓
• Shoulder BO 8+14 (9+15, 10+16, 11+17, 12+18) = 22 (24, 26, 28, 30) ✓
• Back neck BO 36 (39, 44, 47, 52) + two shoulders 22+22 (24+24, etc.) = 88 (96, 106, 114, 124) ✓

Enjoy your tank!