purlJam

<pattern>

# FANTAISIE LACE BORDER TANK TOP

A classic summer tank top featuring a delicate eyelet lace border at the hem. The simple lace detail adds feminine charm while the stockinette body keeps this pattern beginner-friendly. Worked flat in pieces with a flattering V-neckline.

## SKILL LEVEL
Beginner (requires basic increasing, decreasing, and seaming)

## SIZES
XS (S, M, L, XL)

**Finished Bust Circumference:** 32 (35.5, 39, 44.5, 48)" / 81 (90, 99, 113, 122) cm
**Finished Length:** 22 (22.5, 23, 23.5, 24)" / 56 (57, 58.5, 59.5, 61) cm

*Sample shown in size S with 2-3" positive ease.*

## MATERIALS

**Yarn:** 600 (700, 800, 900, 1000) yards / 550 (640, 730, 820, 915) m worsted weight yarn
- *Suggested: Cotton or cotton-blend for drape and breathability*
- Sample uses approximately 4 (5, 5, 6, 6) skeins of 140-yard/100g worsted cotton

**Needles:** 
- US 7 (4.5 mm) needles for main body (straight or circular for flat knitting)
- US 5 (3.75 mm) needles for ribbed edges
- Or sizes needed to obtain gauge

**Notions:**
- Stitch holders or waste yarn
- Tapestry needle for seaming
- Stitch markers (optional, helpful for lace repeat)
- Blocking wires or pins (recommended)

## GAUGE
18 sts × 24 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on larger needles, blocked

**TAKE TIME TO CHECK GAUGE.** Gauge is critical for proper fit.

## ABBREVIATIONS
- k: knit
- p: purl
- st(s): stitch(es)
- RS: right side
- WS: wrong side
- yo: yarn over
- k2tog: knit 2 stitches together (right-leaning decrease)
- ssk: slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
- BO: bind off
- CO: cast on
- dec: decrease
- inc: increase

## NOTES
- Tank top is worked flat in two pieces (back and front), then seamed at shoulders and sides.
- Lace border is worked at cast-on edge for first 8 rows, then body continues in stockinette stitch.
- Lace pattern uses an 8-stitch repeat. All sizes have stitch counts compatible with this repeat.
- Front features V-neck shaping; back has straight neckline.
- Steam blocking or wet blocking is recommended to open up the lace border.

---

## LACE BORDER PATTERN

**Fantaisie Eyelet Border** (multiple of 8 sts)

### Written Instructions:
**Row 1 (RS):** Knit all sts.
**Row 2 (WS):** Purl all sts.
**Row 3 (RS):** *K2, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k2; repeat from * to end.
**Row 4 (WS):** Purl all sts.
**Row 5 (RS):** Knit all sts.
**Row 6 (WS):** Purl all sts.
**Row 7 (RS):** *Yo, ssk, k4, k2tog, yo; repeat from * to end.
**Row 8 (WS):** Purl all sts.

### Chart:
```
8 │ · · · · · · · · │ 8 (WS)
7 │ o \ □ □ □ □ / o │ 7 (RS)
6 │ · · · · · · · · │ 6 (WS)
5 │ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ │ 5 (RS)
4 │ · · · · · · · · │ 4 (WS)
3 │ □ □ o \ / o □ □ │ 3 (RS)
2 │ · · · · · · · · │ 2 (WS)
1 │ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ │ 1 (RS)
  └─────────────────┘
   8-stitch repeat

Chart Key:
□ = knit on RS, purl on WS
· = purl on RS, knit on WS
o = yarn over (yo)
\ = ssk
/ = k2tog
```
*Read RS rows right to left, WS rows left to right.*

---

## INSTRUCTIONS

### BACK

**Cast On & Lace Border:**
With smaller needles, CO 144 (160, 176, 200, 216) sts.

*Stitch count check: 144÷8=18 reps; 160÷8=20 reps; 176÷8=22 reps; 200÷8=25 reps; 216÷8=27 reps ✓*

Work in K1, P1 ribbing for 1" (2.5 cm), ending with a WS row.

Change to larger needles.

Work Rows 1-8 of Fantaisie Eyelet Border pattern once.

**Body:**
Continue in stockinette stitch (knit on RS, purl on WS) until piece measures 13 (13, 13.5, 13.5, 14)" / 33 (33, 34, 34, 35.5) cm from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

**Shape Armholes:**
BO 5 (6, 7, 8, 9) sts at beginning of next 2 rows. 134 (148, 162, 184, 198) sts remain.

*Math check: 144-10=134 ✓; 160-12=148 ✓; 176-14=162 ✓; 200-16=184 ✓; 216-18=198 ✓*

**Next Row (RS):** K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (2 sts decreased)
**Next Row (WS):** Purl.

Repeat these 2 rows 4 (5, 6, 8, 9) more times. 124 (136, 148, 166, 178) sts remain.

*Math check: 134-10=124 ✓; 148-12=136 ✓; 162-14=148 ✓; 184-16=166 ✓; 198-20=178 ✓*

Continue even in stockinette stitch until armhole measures 8 (8.5, 8.5, 9, 9)" / 20 (21.5, 21.5, 23, 23) cm, ending with a WS row.

**Shape Shoulders:**
BO 10 (11, 12, 14, 15) sts at beginning of next 2 rows. 104 (114, 124, 138, 148) sts remain.

BO 10 (11, 12, 13, 15) sts at beginning of next 2 rows. 84 (92, 100, 112, 118) sts remain.

BO 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) sts at beginning of next 2 rows. 64 (70, 76, 86, 90) sts remain.

**Back Neck:**
BO remaining 64 (70, 76, 86, 90) sts for back neck.

*Shoulder width check per side: (10+10+10)×4÷18 = 6.7"; (11+11+11)×4÷18 = 7.3"; (12+12+12)×4÷18 = 8"; (14+13+13)×4÷18 = 8.9"; (15+15+14)×4÷18 = 9.8" ✓*

### FRONT

Work same as Back through lace border and body to armhole shaping.

**Shape Armholes:**
Work armhole shaping exactly as for Back. 124 (136, 148, 166, 178) sts remain after all armhole decreases.

Continue even until armhole measures 2 (2.5, 2.5, 3, 3)" / 5 (6, 6, 7.5, 7.5) cm, ending with a WS row.

**Shape V-Neck:**
**Next Row (RS):** K61 (67, 73, 82, 88), k2tog, k1; place remaining 60 (66, 72, 81, 87) sts on holder for left front. Turn and work right front only.

*Math check: 61+2+1+60 = 124 ✓; 67+2+1+66 = 136 ✓; 73+2+1+72 = 148 ✓; 82+2+1+81 = 166 ✓; 88+2+1+87 = 178 ✓*

**Right Front:**
**Row 1 (WS):** Purl to end. 62 (68, 74, 83, 89) sts.
**Row 2 (RS):** Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (1 st decreased)
**Row 3 (WS):** Purl.

Repeat Rows 2-3 a total of 31 (35, 39, 43, 46) more times. 30 (32, 34, 39, 42) sts remain.

*Math check: 62-32=30 ✓; 68-36=32 ✓; 74-40=34 ✓; 83-44=39 ✓; 89-47=42 ✓*

Continue even in stockinette stitch until armhole measures same as Back to shoulder shaping, ending with a WS row.

**Shape Right Shoulder:**
**Row 1 (RS):** BO 10 (11, 12, 14, 15) sts, knit to end. 20 (21, 22, 25, 27) sts remain.
**Row 2 (WS):** Purl.
**Row 3 (RS):** BO 10 (11, 12, 13, 15) sts, knit to end. 10 (10, 10, 12, 12) sts remain.
**Row 4 (WS):** Purl.
**Row 5 (RS):** BO remaining 10 (10, 10, 12, 12) sts.

*Math check: 10+10+10=30 ✓; 11+11+10=32 ✓; 12+12+10=34 ✓; 14+13+12=39 ✓; 15+15+12=42 ✓*

**Left Front:**
With RS facing, place held 60 (66, 72, 81, 87) sts back on needle. Rejoin yarn at neck edge.

**Row 1 (RS):** K1, ssk, knit to end. 59 (65, 71, 80, 86) sts remain.
**Row 2 (WS):** Purl.
**Row 3 (RS):** K1, ssk, knit to end. (1 st decreased)
**Row 4 (WS):** Purl.

Repeat Rows 3-4 a total of 29 (33, 37, 41, 44) more times. 30 (32, 34, 39, 42) sts remain.

*Math check: 59-29=30 ✓; 65-33=32 ✓; 71-37=34