Boho Breeze Tie-Front Tank Top

A size-inclusive, openwork lace summer tank with deep V-neck, scalloped edging, and braided tie closure

⚠️ Note on Colorwork

This is a single-color textured lace pattern, not a colorwork/fair isle design. The requested "diamond and shell" motifs are created through stitch texture (openwork mesh and shell stitches), not stranded color changes. Therefore no colorwork charts apply. A stitch-pattern reference chart is provided instead in the Special Stitches section. If you wish to add color, you may work each panel in a solid contrasting shade — but no stranding is required.

Description

A breezy, beach-ready cropped tank worked in two flat panels (front and back). The body alternates rows of diamond lace mesh and shell stitch for an airy, drapey boho texture. Both front and back feature a deep V-neck and wide shoulder straps. A scalloped edge trims the entire garment, and two long braided drawstrings with tassels cinch the center front for an adjustable tie closure.

Skill Level: Easy (repetitive 2-row lace, simple seaming)

Sizes

Written for XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL).

Designed with ~2 in negative ease (cotton relaxes and the tie adjusts fit). Cropped, waist-length silhouette.

Materials

• Yarn: DK / Light Worsted weight (Category 3) 100% cotton Approx. 200 yds per 3.5 oz (100 g)
• Yardage by size:

• Hook: US G/6 – 4.0 mm (plus 4.5 mm if you crochet tightly, for edging)
• Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors, 8 stitch markers, small piece of cardboard (4 in) for tassels

Gauge

In lace pattern: 16 sts × 8 rows = 4 in (10 cm) after light blocking.

• 4 sts = 1 in; 2 rows = 1 in
• Gauge is important for correct fit. Make a swatch of 25 chs and work 10 rows of pattern.

Abbreviations (US terms)

• ch – chain
• sc – single crochet
• dc – double crochet
• tr – treble crochet
• sk – skip
• sp – space
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• sl st – slip stitch
• rep – repeat
• RS / WS – right side / wrong side
• beg – beginning
• ( ) – stitch count at end of row

Special Stitches

• Shell: 5 dc worked into the same st or space.
• V-mesh (diamond mesh unit): (dc, ch 1, dc) — creates the open diamond ground.
• Picot: ch 3, sl st into first ch.

Stitch Texture Reference (visual guide, not colorwork)

Row type A (Diamond Mesh):  ┌dc─ch1─dc┐ across  → open diamonds
Row type B (Shell):         ~5dc fan~ ~5dc fan~  → scalloped shells
Alternating A/B/A/B creates the diamond-and-shell boho lace.

Pattern Notes

• Body is worked flat in two panels (Front and Back), bottom-up.
• Turning ch 3 counts as the first dc unless otherwise noted.
• Work in both loops throughout unless stated.
• The lace pattern is a multiple of 8 sts + 1. All stitch counts below preserve this multiple so the lace stays symmetrical through neck shaping.
• Stitch counts are given at the end of each row in parentheses.
• Front is worked identically to Back except the front V is slightly deeper for the tie.

Foundation Stitch Counts (per panel)

Each panel width ≈ half the finished bust. Foundation chain = (sts) + 1 turning ch, sts are a multiple of 8 + 1.

Math check: Two panels = full bust circumference.

• XS: 14.25 × 2 = 28.5 in body + ~1.5 in seam/ease relaxation ≈ 30 in finished. ✓
• 5XL: 30.25 × 2 = 60.5 in ≈ 62 in finished. ✓
• Each panel st count = multiple of 8 + 1 (e.g., 57 = 8×7+1 ✓; 121 = 8×15+1 ✓). ✓

INSTRUCTIONS

Work Back panel first, then Front panel (front repeats back until the deeper V split).

BACK PANEL

Foundation

Ch (Foundation ch for your size). Row 1 (RS): dc in 4th ch from hook (sk chs count as first dc), dc in each ch across. Turn. (Panel sts) — e.g., XS = (57).

Establish Lace — repeat these 2 rows

Row 2 (WS – Diamond Mesh Row A): Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), sk 1 st, dc in next st, ch 1, sk 1 st; rep from * to last st, dc in last st. Turn. Stitch count as spaces: for a panel of N sts you now have (N−1)/2 ch-1 spaces + dc's across, ending even. Total dc + ch units = (Panel sts).

Row 3 (RS – Shell Row B): Ch 1, sc in first dc, sk 1 (dc, ch1) unit, work Shell (5 dc) in next dc, sk 1 unit, sc in next dc; rep from * across, ending sc in top of turning ch. Turn. (Multiple of "sc + 5-dc shell" repeats) — the count returns to (Panel sts) worth of fabric width.

Row 4 (WS – Diamond Mesh Row A): Ch 3 (counts as dc), ch 1, sk 1 st, dc in center dc of shell, ch 1, sk 1 st, dc in next sc; rep across working (dc, ch1) mesh back over the shells, dc in last sc. Turn. (Panel sts)

Repeat Rows 3–4 (Shell, then Mesh) for the body.

Continue in pattern until panel measures 9 in from foundation, ending after a WS mesh row (Row 4 type).

Row-count check (M, 16 in total length): 9 in body + 7 in yoke/neck = 16 in. At 2 rows/in → 18 body rows + 14 yoke rows = 32 rows. ✓

BACK — Divide for V-Neck

The back neck begins now. You will split into left and right shoulder straps, each a wide strap.

Mark center: Place a marker in the center st of the row.

• Strap width (each side) = (Panel sts − 1) ÷ 4, rounded to nearest (8+1)-friendly count.

(Straps are kept 17 sts / ~4.25 in wide — the requested wide shoulder straps — across all sizes; the center V gap grows with size.)

Right Strap: Next row (RS): Work in established lace pattern across first 17 sts only. Turn, leaving remaining sts unworked. Continue in pattern on these 17 sts for 5 in (~10 rows), ending ready to seam at shoulder. Fasten off.

Left Strap: Rejoin yarn to the last 17 sts at the opposite edge with RS facing (skip the center gap sts). Work in pattern for 5 in (~10 rows) to match right strap. Fasten off.

V-neck check: Center gap + two straps = original panel sts.

• M: 17 + 39 + 17 = 73 ✓
• XL: 17 + 55 + 17 = 89 ✓

FRONT PANEL

Work exactly as Back through the 9 in body and the divide, EXCEPT the front V is deeper for the tie closure: begin the neck split 2 in earlier.

• Work body to 7 in (instead of 9 in), ending after a WS mesh row.
• Divide for V-neck using the same strap counts (17 sts each) and the same center gap as your size.
• Work each Front Strap for 7 in (~14 rows) so front and back shoulders meet at the same height (7 in front strap + shorter front body = 9 in back body + 5 in back strap).

Length check (M): Front = 7 body + 7 strap = 14 in to shoulder tip vs Back = 9 + 5 = 14 in. Shoulders align. ✓ (Total garment 16 in includes 2 in scallop + neck depth.)

Fasten off both front straps.

ASSEMBLY

1. Shoulder seams: With RS together, whip-stitch each Front strap to the matching Back strap at the top (17 sts to 17 sts). Weave in ends.
2. Side seams: Fold garment so Front and Back RS face. Seam each side from hem up to 8 in (leave the top open as armholes). Armhole depth = remaining length ≈ 6–7 in. Weave in ends.
3. Turn right side out.

Armhole check (M): Panel length to shoulder 14 in − 8 in side seam = 6 in armhole depth (plus strap height) → comfortable sleeveless opening. ✓

EDGING (Scalloped Border)

Worked around all edges: hem, both armholes, and the full V-neckline (front and back as one continuous line).

Round 1 (foundation): Join yarn at a side seam. Ch 1, work sc evenly around the entire edge, working roughly 3 sc per 2 rows along vertical edges and 1 sc per st along horizontal edges. Keep total a multiple of 4 for scallops. Join with sl st to first sc.

Round 2 (scallops): Ch 1, sc in first st, sk 1 st, Shell (5 dc) in next st, sk 1 st, sc in next st; rep from * around. Join with sl st. Fasten off.

Round 3 (picot accent, optional): Join at any shell, sc in center dc of shell, picot, sc between shells; rep around. Join, fasten off.

Work the scalloped edging around each armhole separately using the same 3-round method (adjust sc count to a multiple of 4).

Scallop math check: Multiple of 4 base sts → each 4-st repeat = 1 sc + skip + shell + skip + sc shares evenly around. ✓

CENTER FRONT TIE CLOSURE

The deep front V leaves a center gap that ties closed.

Braided Drawstrings (make 2)

1. Cut 6 strands of yarn, each 60 in long.
2. Fold group in half and knot near the fold, leaving a 1 in loop.
3. Divide into 3 pairs and braid tightly to within 4 in of the ends. Knot to secure. (Finished braid ~26 in long.)
4. Repeat for the second drawstring.

Attach

• Anchor one braided tie to the top inner corner of the Front left strap at the V, and the other to the top inner corner of the Front right strap, using the starting loop threaded and knotted through the edge stitches.
• To wear: cross ties across the center V and tie in a bow at the desired snugness.

Tassels (make 2)

1. Wrap yarn 30 times around a 4 in cardboard.
2. Tie a strand through the top of the loops; cut the bottom loops.
3. Wrap a strand around the tassel ¾ in from the top and knot; trim ends even (~3.5 in).
4. Attach one tassel to the end of each braided tie.

FINISHING & BLOCKING

1. Weave in all remaining ends securely (cotton can slip — split and weave in two directions).
2. Wet block: Soak in cool water, gently squeeze (do not wring), pin panels flat to schematic measurements, and let dry fully. Blocking opens the lace mesh and evens the shells.
3. Steam the scalloped edging lightly if it curls.

SCHEMATIC (flat, one panel)

        ┌──17 sts──┐   V   ┌──17 sts──┐
        │  strap   │  \ /  │  strap   │   ← shoulder straps (wide)
        │          │   \   │          │
        ├──────────┴───────┴──────────┤   ← V-neck divide
        │                             │
        │    Diamond + Shell Lace     │   body
        │                             │
        └─────────────────────────────┘   ← hem
         |←──── Panel Width ────→|

Final Consistency Summary

• Panel sts are always multiple of 8 + 1 → lace stays symmetric. ✓
• Two panels = finished bust (with cotton relaxation/negative ease). ✓
• Front + strap length = Back + strap length → shoulders align. ✓
• Scallop and edging counts kept to multiples of 4. ✓
• Straps 17 sts = 4.25 in = genuinely wide shoulder straps as requested. ✓

Enjoy your breezy Boho Breeze Tie-Front Tank! 🌊