Brisa Tank Top

Difficulty: Intermediate
Terminology: US crochet terms
Construction: Route B — ribbed band worked sideways and seamed into a loop; body worked in joined, turned rounds to the underarm; Front and Back split and worked flat; shoulders seamed; neckline and armholes finished with single crochet.

A close, breathable sleeveless tank in solid half double crochet with a stretchy ribbed hem and a moderate scoop neck. Worsted cotton makes a fully opaque fabric — no lining needed. If you can work hdc, decrease, pick up stitches, and sew a mattress-stitch seam, you can make this top.

Sizes

XS (S, M, L, XL, XXL)

Instructions are written for XS with changes for larger sizes in parentheses. Circle your size throughout before you begin.

To fit bust: 30–32 (34–36, 38–40, 42–44, 46–48, 50–52) in / 76–81 (86–91, 97–102, 107–112, 117–122, 127–132) cm

Finished bust: 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52) in / 81.5 (91.5, 101.5, 112, 122, 132) cm
Intended ease: 0–2 in (0–5 cm) positive ease (standard fit). Solid hdc has little stretch — choose the size closest to your bust, or the next size up if you are between sizes.

Finished length (shoulder to hem): 18 (18½, 19¾, 20½, 21¼, 22¾) in / 45.5 (47, 50, 52, 54, 58) cm — high hip / standard tank length.

Armhole depth: 7 (7¼, 7¾, 8, 8¼, 9) in / 18 (18.5, 19.5, 20.5, 21, 23) cm
Strap width: 2¼ (2¾, 3½, 4, 4, 4½) in / 5.5 (7, 9, 10, 10, 11.5) cm
Band height: 2 in / 5 cm
Front neck depth: about 4–4¾ in / 10–12 cm

To lengthen the body, work extra even rounds before the split. To shorten (cropped), work 6–8 fewer rounds and try on as you go.

Materials

Yarn: Worsted weight (category 4), cotton or cotton blend, about 186 yd / 170 m per 100 g skein.
Yardage: 450 (520, 600, 680, 780, 880) yd / 411 (475, 549, 622, 713, 805) m — 3 (3, 4, 4, 5, 5) skeins.

Hook: US H/8 (5 mm), or size needed to obtain gauge.
Optional: US G/6 (4 mm) for the ribbed band and edging if you crochet loosely.

Notions: 4 stitch markers (2 locking/removable), tapestry needle, scissors.

Gauge

Worked flat, measured after blocking.

Main fabric (hdc): 14 sts and 11 rows = 4 in / 10 cm.

Ribbing (sc BLO, unstretched): 16 sts and 18 rows = 4 in / 10 cm.

Make a 6 × 6 in (15 × 15 cm) hdc swatch. Wet-block, dry, then measure the center 4 in / 10 cm. Change hook size until you match stitch gauge — fit depends on it. Row gauge affects length, which is easy to adjust.

Stitch Guide (US)

ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
hdc — half double crochet
BLO — back loop only
sc BLO — single crochet in the back loop only
hdc2tog — half double crochet 2 together (decrease): yarn over, insert hook in next st, yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook); yarn over, insert hook in following st, yarn over, pull up a loop (5 loops on hook); yarn over, pull through all 5 loops.
st(s) — stitch(es)
rnd(s) — round(s)
RS / WS — right side / wrong side
PM — place marker
rep — repeat

Turning chain: Ch 1 at the start of every hdc row/round does not count as a stitch. Work the first hdc in the first stitch (the same stitch as the join, when working in the round).

Notes

• Body rounds are joined and turned so the fabric matches the flat Front and Back.
• The ribbed band is worked to about 4 in (10 cm) of negative ease and will stretch to the body circumference.
• Solid worsted hdc is opaque. No lining is required.
• When a single number is given, it applies to all sizes.
• Try on before seaming the shoulders. You can add or remove even rows on the straps to tweak armhole depth.

Pattern

Ribbed Band

Worked sideways. The foundation chain is the height of the band; the number of rows is the circumference.

Ch 9.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. 8 sc.

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc BLO in each st across. 8 sc.

Rep Row 2 until you have 126 (144, 162, 180, 198, 216) rows total.

Do not fasten off. Fold the strip so the short ends meet, RS together. Sl st the short ends together working through the BLO of the last row and the remaining loops of the foundation chain. 1 loop, 2 in / 5 cm tall.

Turn the band so the seam is on the inside. The join of the next round will sit at the left side.

Body

With RS facing, working along one long edge of the band (this becomes the top of the band):

Setup rnd: Ch 1, pick up and sc 112 (126, 140, 154, 168, 182) sts evenly around the long edge (about 7 sc for every 8 row-ends). Join with sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn.
112 (126, 140, 154, 168, 182) sc.

PM in the first st (left side) and in the 57th (64th, 71st, 78th, 85th, 92nd) st (right side) to mark the two side “seams.” 56 (63, 70, 77, 84, 91) sts between markers on each half.

Rnd 1 (RS): Hdc in each st around. Join with sl st to first hdc, ch 1, turn.
112 (126, 140, 154, 168, 182) hdc.

Rnd 2 (WS): Hdc in each st around. Join, ch 1, turn.
112 (126, 140, 154, 168, 182) hdc.

Rep Rnd 2 (turning at the end of every rnd and keeping the side markers moving up) until 25 (25, 28, 29, 30, 32) rnds have been worked from the pickup, ending after a RS rnd.
112 (126, 140, 154, 168, 182) hdc every rnd.

Body from top of band to split measures about 9 (9, 10¼, 10½, 11, 11½) in / 23 (23, 26, 26.5, 28, 29) cm.

Fasten off.

Split for Front and Back

Underarm sts left unworked at each side: 6 (6, 8, 8, 10, 10).
Front and Back are each 50 (57, 62, 69, 74, 81) sts.
Check: 6 (6, 8, 8, 10, 10) + 50 (57, 62, 69, 74, 81) + 6 (6, 8, 8, 10, 10) + 50 (57, 62, 69, 74, 81) = 112 (126, 140, 154, 168, 182) ✓.

Front

With RS facing, skip 6 (6, 8, 8, 10, 10) sts centered on the left side marker, join yarn in the next st (first Front st).

Row 1 (RS) — armhole decrease: Ch 1, hdc2tog, hdc in each st to last 2 Front sts, hdc2tog, turn. Leave remaining sts unworked (right underarm + Back + left underarm).
48 (55, 60, 67, 72, 79) hdc.

Row 2 (WS) — armhole decrease: Ch 1, hdc2tog, hdc in each st to last 2 sts, hdc2tog, turn.
46 (53, 58, 65, 70, 77) hdc.

Rep Row 2 (decrease 1 st at each end every row) 2 (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) more times — 4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) decrease rows total.
42 (47, 50, 55, 58, 63) hdc.
(XS: 50 − 8 = 42; S: 57 − 10 = 47; M: 62 − 12 = 50; L: 69 − 14 = 55; XL: 74 − 16 = 58; XXL: 81 − 18 = 63 ✓)

Next row: Ch 1, hdc in each st across, turn. 42 (47, 50, 55, 58, 63) hdc.

Rep the even hdc row 3 (2, 3, 2, 1, 2) more times — 4 (3, 4, 3, 2, 3) even rows total.
42 (47, 50, 55, 58, 63) hdc.

Front now has 8 (8, 10, 10, 10, 12) rows from the split. Begin scoop neck on the next RS row.

Shape front neck and left strap

Neck split row (RS): Ch 1, hdc in first 14 (16, 18, 20, 21, 23) sts, turn, leaving remaining sts unworked.
14 (16, 18, 20, 21, 23) hdc.
(Center skip will be 14 (15, 14, 15, 16, 17) sts; other strap is 14 (16, 18, 20, 21, 23) sts. 14+14+14 = 42; 16+15+16 = 47; 18+14+18 = 50; 20+15+20 = 55; 21+16+21 = 58; 23+17+23 = 63 ✓)

Work on these 14 (16, 18, 20, 21, 23) sts only.

Strap Row 1 (WS): Ch 1, hdc2tog (neck edge), hdc in each st to end, turn.
13 (15, 17, 19, 20, 22) hdc.

Strap Row 2: Ch 1, hdc in each st to last 2 sts, hdc2tog (neck edge), turn.
12 (14, 16, 18, 19, 21) hdc.

Continue decreasing 1 st at the neck edge only every row 4 (4, 4, 4, 5, 5) more times — 6 (6, 6, 6, 7, 7) neck decreases total.
8 (10, 12, 14, 14, 16) hdc.
(14−6=8; 16−6=10; 18−6=12; 20−6=14; 21−7=14; 23−7=16 ✓)

Work even in hdc on these 8 (10, 12, 14, 14, 16) sts until Front measures 19 (20, 21, 22, 23, 25) rows from the split (strap even rows after the neck decreases: 4 (5, 4, 5, 5, 5)). Fasten off.

Right strap

With RS facing, skip the next 14 (15, 14, 15, 16, 17) unworked center Front sts, join yarn in the next st.

Neck split row (RS): Ch 1, hdc in same st and in each remaining Front st to end, turn.
14 (16, 18, 20, 21, 23) hdc.

Strap Row 1 (WS): Ch 1, hdc in each st to last 2 sts, hdc2tog (neck edge), turn.
13 (15, 17, 19, 20, 22) hdc.

Strap Row 2: Ch 1, hdc2tog (neck edge), hdc in each st to end, turn.
12 (14, 16, 18, 19, 21) hdc.

Continue decreasing 1 st at the neck edge only every row 4 (4, 4, 4, 5, 5) more times — 6 (6, 6, 6, 7, 7) neck decreases total.
8 (10, 12, 14, 14, 16) hdc.

Work even in hdc until this strap has the same number of rows as the left strap. Fasten off.

Back

With RS facing, skip 6 (6, 8, 8, 10, 10) sts of the right underarm (already skipped when Front was joined), join yarn in the next st (first Back st).

Row 1 (RS) — armhole decrease: Ch 1, hdc2tog, hdc in each st to last 2 Back sts, hdc2tog, turn.
48 (55, 60, 67, 72, 79) hdc.

Work armhole decreases exactly as for Front: decrease 1 st at each end every row until 4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) decrease rows are complete.
42 (47, 50, 55, 58, 63) hdc.

Work even in hdc for 10 (10, 10, 9, 9, 10) rows.
42 (47, 50, 55, 58, 63) hdc.

Back now has 14 (15, 16, 16, 17, 19) rows from the split. 5 (5, 5, 6, 6, 6) rows remain. Begin back neck.

Shape back neck and left strap

Back neck split (RS): Ch 1, hdc in first 9 (11, 13, 15, 15, 17) sts, turn, leaving remaining sts unworked.
9 (11, 13, 15, 15, 17) hdc.
(Center skip 24 (25, 24, 25, 28, 29) sts; other strap 9 (11, 13, 15, 15, 17) sts. 9+24+9 = 42; 11+25+11 = 47; 13+24+13 = 50; 15+25+15 = 55; 15+28+15 = 58; 17+29+17 = 63 ✓)

Next row (WS): Ch 1, hdc2tog (neck edge), hdc in each st to end, turn.
8 (10, 12, 14, 14, 16) hdc.

Work even in hdc on these 8 (10, 12, 14, 14, 16) sts until Back has 19 (20, 21, 22, 23, 25) rows from the split (same total as Front). Fasten off.

Right strap

With RS facing, skip the next 24 (25, 24, 25, 28, 29) unworked center Back sts, join yarn in the next st.

Back neck split (RS): Ch 1, hdc in same st and in each remaining Back st to end, turn.
9 (11, 13, 15, 15, 17) hdc.

Next row (WS): Ch 1, hdc in each st to last 2 sts, hdc2tog (neck edge), turn.
8 (10, 12, 14, 14, 16) hdc.

Work even until this strap matches the first Back strap. Fasten off.

Front and Back straps are the same width — 8 (10, 12, 14, 14, 16) sts — and the same length, ready to seam ✓.

Finishing

Block the piece flat, RS up, pinning the ribbed band, bust width, length, and armholes to the finished measurements. For cotton, wet-block: soak, press out water in a towel, pin, and dry completely. Blocking before seaming sets the scoop and evens the hdc fabric.

Shoulder seams: With RS together (or RS facing you if you prefer a mattress-stitch join from the RS), seam each shoulder with mattress stitch, matching the 8 (10, 12, 14, 14, 16) strap sts. Fasten off. Weave those ends along the seam.

Neck edging: With RS facing, join yarn at the right shoulder seam. Ch 1, sc evenly around the entire neckline: 1 sc in each st across skipped neck sts, and about 3 sc for every 2 row-ends along the strap/neck edges. Join with sl st to first sc, ch 1, do not turn.

Rnd 2: Sc in each sc around. Join, fasten off.

Do not pull this edging tight or the scoop will cup. If the neck ripples, you have too many sts — skip an occasional row-end. If it draws in, add a few extra sc.

Armhole edging: With RS facing, join yarn at the base of one underarm (center of the skipped sts). Ch 1, sc evenly around the armhole: 1 sc in each unworked underarm st and about 3 sc for every 2 row-ends along the Front and Back edges. Join, ch 1, do not turn.

Rnd 2: Sc in each sc around. Join, fasten off.

Rep for the second armhole.

Weave in ends. On the ribbed band, run tails along a column of BLO sts, not across the fabric. On the body, weave along a vertical column of hdc.

Steam or lightly re-block the neckline and armholes so the edging lies flat.

Finished Measurements (blocked)

Customizing

• Longer tank: Add even hdc rounds before the split. Every 3 rounds ≈ 1 in / 2.5 cm.
• Cropped: Work 6–8 fewer body rounds (try on before splitting).
• Tighter hem: Use the optional smaller hook on the band only.
• Narrower straps / deeper scoop: On the Front neck split, work 1–2 fewer sts toward each strap and skip 2–4 extra center sts; keep Front and Back strap widths equal so the shoulders still match.