Breeze Tank

Beginner Fingering-Weight Summer Tank Top

A simple, breezy tank top knit flat in two pieces and seamed. Worked in stockinette stitch with 1x1 ribbed hems, armholes, and neckband. Designed for fingering-weight cotton or linen-blend yarn so it drapes softly and keeps you cool. Perfect first garment: only knit, purl, basic decreases, binding off, and seaming.

Difficulty

Beginner

Sizes

XS (S, M, L, XL) To fit bust: 30 (34, 38, 42, 46)" / 76 (86, 96.5, 106.5, 117) cm Finished bust: 34 (38, 42, 46, 50)" / 86.5 (96.5, 106.5, 117, 127) cm (intended ease +4" / 10 cm) Finished length: 21 (21.5, 22, 22.5, 23)" / 53.5 (54.5, 56, 57, 58.5) cm

Shown in size S.

Yarn

Fingering weight (Category 1) cotton, linen, or cotton/linen blend: approximately 650 (750, 850, 950, 1100) yd / 595 (685, 775, 870, 1005) m. Sample uses a smooth cotton-linen fingering for drape and breathability.

Needles

• US 3 / 3.25 mm straight or circular needles (or size needed to obtain gauge)
• US 2 / 2.75 mm straight or circular needles for ribbing (or two sizes smaller than main needles)

Gauge

28 sts and 40 rows = 4" / 10 cm in stockinette stitch on larger needles, blocked. Please swatch and block. Adjust needle size if necessary to match gauge.

Notions

• Stitch holders or waste yarn
• Tapestry needle
• Stitch markers (optional)
• Scissors

Abbreviations (US)

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

Notes

• Tank is worked flat in pieces from the bottom up, then seamed.
• 1x1 rib is worked as *k1, p1; rep from * to end (even stitch counts).
• When shaping, work decreases 1 st in from the edge for neat selvedges: RS rows begin k1, ssk… and end …k2tog, k1.
• Slip the first stitch of every row purlwise wyif for a clean chain edge (optional but recommended for easier seaming).
• Block pieces firmly before seaming; cotton/linen grows and smooths with blocking.
• All lengths are measured from cast-on edge after light blocking.
• Instructions are written for smallest size with larger sizes in parentheses. When only one number appears, it applies to all sizes.

Pattern Instructions

BACK

With smaller needles, CO 120 (134, 148, 162, 176) sts. Work 1x1 rib for 1½" / 4 cm, ending after a WS row.

Change to larger needles. Work in St st until piece measures 13½" / 34.5 cm from CO edge, ending after a WS row.

Shape armholes BO 5 (6, 7, 8, 9) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. 110 (122, 134, 146, 158) sts. Dec row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 2 sts dec. Next row (WS): Purl. Rep last 2 rows 5 (6, 7, 8, 9) more times. 98 (108, 118, 128, 138) sts.

Work even in St st until armhole measures 7 (7½, 8, 8½, 9)" / 18 (19, 20.5, 21.5, 23) cm, ending after a WS row.

Shape shoulders and back neck BO 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. 82 (90, 98, 106, 114) sts. BO 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. 66 (72, 78, 84, 90) sts. Next row (RS): BO 7 (8, 9, 10, 11) sts, knit until you have 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) sts on right needle (including the st left from BO), place remaining center 42 (46, 50, 54, 58) sts on holder for back neck, join a second ball of yarn and knit to end. Working both sides at once with separate balls: Next row (WS): BO 7 (8, 9, 10, 11) sts, purl to neck edge; on other side purl to end. Next row (RS): BO remaining 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) sts; on other side BO remaining 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) sts. Fasten off.

(Shoulder total each side: 8+8+7 (9+9+8, 10+10+9, 11+11+10, 12+12+11) = 23 (26, 29, 32, 35) sts. ✓)

FRONT

Work same as Back until armhole shaping is complete and you have 98 (108, 118, 128, 138) sts, ending after a WS row. Continue even in St st until armhole measures 4 (4½, 5, 5½, 6)" / 10 (11.5, 12.5, 14, 15) cm, ending after a WS row.

Shape front neck Next row (RS): K35 (39, 43, 47, 51), place center 28 (30, 32, 34, 36) sts on holder for front neck, join second ball of yarn and knit remaining 35 (39, 43, 47, 51) sts. Working both sides at once: Next row (WS): Purl both sides. Dec row (RS): On left neck edge knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1; on right neck edge k1, ssk, knit to end. 1 st dec each side. Next row (WS): Purl. Rep last 2 rows 11 (12, 13, 14, 15) more times. 23 (26, 29, 32, 35) sts remain each side.

Work even if needed until armhole matches Back length to shoulder, ending after a WS row.

Shape shoulders BO 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows (one BO each side). BO 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. BO remaining 7 (8, 9, 10, 11) sts each side. Fasten off.

(Shoulder totals match Back: 23 (26, 29, 32, 35) sts each side. ✓)

FINISHING

Block both pieces to finished measurements:

• Width: 17 (19, 21, 23, 25)" / 43 (48.5, 53.5, 58.5, 63.5) cm
• Length to underarm: 13½" / 34.5 cm
• Armhole depth: 7 (7½, 8, 8½, 9)" / 18 (19, 20.5, 21.5, 23) cm
• Total length: 21 (21.5, 22, 22.5, 23)" / 53.5 (54.5, 56, 57, 58.5) cm

Shoulder seams With tapestry needle and mattress stitch, sew front shoulders to back shoulders.

Side seams Sew side seams from hem to underarm BO, matching rib and St st carefully.

Armhole bands With smaller needles and RS facing, beginning at underarm seam, pick up and knit 98 (106, 114, 122, 130) sts evenly around armhole (approximately 3 sts for every 4 rows). Join to work in the round if using circular needle, or work back and forth and seam later. Work 1x1 rib for 4 rounds/rows. BO loosely in rib. Rep for second armhole.

Neckband With smaller needles and RS facing, beginning at left shoulder seam, pick up and knit 18 (20, 22, 24, 26) sts down left front neck, knit 28 (30, 32, 34, 36) held front neck sts, pick up and knit 18 (20, 22, 24, 26) sts up right front neck, pick up and knit 6 sts down right back neck, knit 42 (46, 50, 54, 58) held back neck sts, pick up and knit 6 sts up left back neck. Total 118 (128, 138, 148, 158) sts. Join to work in the round. Work 1x1 rib for 5 rounds. BO loosely in rib.

Weave in all ends. Lightly steam or wet-block finished garment to smooth seams and edges. Wear and enjoy!

Tips for Success

• Count stitches after every shaping section.
• Use stitch markers at neck edges if helpful.
• A loose BO on the neckband and armholes prevents tightness.
• If the hem curls before seaming, that is normal for St st; blocking and side seams control it.