Fingering Mini Tank Dress

A simple, breezy sleeveless mini dress worked in fingering-weight yarn. The dress is knit mostly in the round from the hem up in easy stockinette with a gentle A-line shape, then split for front and back. Straight straps finish the neckline. Perfect first garment project.

Materials

• Yarn: Fingering weight (approx 400 yd / 100 g). Approx 900 (1050, 1200, 1400, 1600) yd / 825 (960, 1100, 1280, 1460) m.
• Needles: US 2 / 2.75 mm circular needles, 24" / 60 cm and 16" / 40 cm (or size needed to obtain gauge). DPNs or magic-loop compatible needle for straps if preferred.
• Notions: Stitch markers, stitch holders or waste yarn, tapestry needle, scissors.

Gauge

28 stitches and 36 rows = 4" / 10 cm in stockinette stitch worked in the round, blocked. Please swatch and block. Fit depends on accurate gauge.

Sizes

XS (S, M, L, XL) Finished bust circumference: 32 (36, 40, 44, 48)" / 81.5 (91.5, 101.5, 112, 122) cm with approx 2–4" / 5–10 cm positive ease. Finished length (shoulder to hem): 31 (31.5, 32, 32.5, 33)" / 79 (80, 81.5, 82.5, 84) cm. Shown in size S. Choose size based on bust measurement + desired ease.

Abbreviations

• BO: bind off
• CO: cast on
• dec: decrease
• k: knit
• k2tog: knit 2 together (right-leaning decrease)
• p: purl
• pm: place marker
• rep: repeat
• rnd(s): round(s)
• RS: right side
• ssk: slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
• st(s): stitch(es)
• St st: stockinette stitch
• WS: wrong side

Pattern Notes

• Dress is worked bottom-up in the round to the underarms, then front and back are worked flat separately.
• A-line shaping uses evenly spaced k2tog decreases.
• Straps are worked flat and seamed to the back. For a no-seam option, pick up and knit straps from the back after binding off the front.
• When working flat after the split, slip the first stitch of every row purlwise with yarn in front for a tidy edge (optional but recommended).
• All measurements are given after blocking. Block the finished dress flat to measurements.

Instructions

Hem

With longer circular needle, CO 248 (280, 312, 344, 376) sts. Place marker for beginning of rnd and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.

Work k1, p1 ribbing for 1½" / 4 cm.

Body (A-line shaping)

Knit 8 rnds even.

Decrease rnd: *K29 (33, 37, 41, 45), k2tog; rep from * to end of rnd. 8 sts decreased. 240 (272, 304, 336, 368) sts.

Knit 9 rnds even.

Decrease rnd: *K28 (32, 36, 40, 44), k2tog; rep from * to end of rnd. 8 sts decreased. 232 (264, 296, 328, 360) sts.

Knit 9 rnds even.

Decrease rnd: *K27 (31, 35, 39, 43), k2tog; rep from * to end of rnd. 8 sts decreased. 224 (256, 288, 320, 352) sts.

Knit 9 rnds even.

Decrease rnd: *K26 (30, 34, 38, 42), k2tog; rep from * to end of rnd. 8 sts decreased. 216 (248, 280, 312, 344) sts.

Continue in St st (knit every rnd) until piece measures 20" / 51 cm from CO edge, or desired length to underarm.
(Note: Final bust stitch counts after last decrease are 216 (248, 280, 312, 344). These will be split evenly.)

On the last rnd, place a second marker after 108 (124, 140, 156, 172) sts to mark the side. You now have Front and Back sections of 108 (124, 140, 156, 172) sts each.

Divide for Front and Back

Next rnd: Knit to first side marker, remove marker, BO 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) sts for underarm, knit to beginning-of-rnd marker, remove marker, BO 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) sts for second underarm.
Place the remaining 102 (117, 132, 147, 162) Front sts on a holder or waste yarn.
102 (117, 132, 147, 162) Back sts remain on the needle. Turn to work Back flat.

Back

Row 1 (WS): Purl. Row 2 (RS): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 2 sts decreased. Row 3: Purl. Rep Rows 2–3 another 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) times. 94 (107, 120, 133, 146) sts remain.
(4 (5, 6, 7, 8) total decrease rows → 8 (10, 12, 14, 16) sts decreased from 102 (117, 132, 147, 162) ✓)

Work even in St st (knit RS rows, purl WS rows) until armhole measures 6 (6.5, 7, 7.5, 8)" / 15 (16.5, 18, 19, 20.5) cm from underarm bind-off, ending after a WS row.

Shape back neck Next row (RS): K28 (32, 36, 40, 44), BO center 38 (43, 48, 53, 58) sts, knit to end.
Working each side separately:

Right back strap (as worn):

• Next row (WS): Purl.
• Next row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to end. 1 st decreased.
• Rep last 2 rows once more. 26 (30, 34, 38, 42) sts.
• Work even until strap measures 2" / 5 cm from neck bind-off, ending after a WS row. Place sts on holder.

Left back strap: With WS facing, join yarn at neck edge.

• Next row (WS): Purl.
• Next row (RS): Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 1 st decreased.
• Rep last 2 rows once more. 26 (30, 34, 38, 42) sts.
• Work even until strap measures 2" / 5 cm from neck bind-off, ending after a WS row. Place sts on holder.

Front

Return held Front 102 (117, 132, 147, 162) sts to needle. With RS facing, join yarn at left underarm (as worn).

Work armhole decreases exactly as for Back: Row 1 (WS): Purl. Row 2 (RS): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 2 sts decreased. Row 3: Purl. Rep Rows 2–3 another 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) times. 94 (107, 120, 133, 146) sts. ✓

Work even until armhole measures 4 (4.5, 5, 5.5, 6)" / 10 (11.5, 12.5, 14, 15) cm from underarm bind-off, ending after a WS row. (Front neck begins lower than back.)

Shape front neck Next row (RS): K32 (36, 40, 44, 48), BO center 30 (35, 40, 45, 50) sts, knit to end.
Working each side separately:

Left front strap (as worn):

• Next row (WS): Purl.
• Next row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to end. 1 st decreased.
• Rep last 2 rows 5 more times. 26 (30, 34, 38, 42) sts. (6 decrease rows total ✓)
• Work even until strap measures same length as Back straps from underarm (i.e., total armhole depth matches Back), ending after a WS row. Place sts on holder.

Right front strap: With WS facing, join yarn at neck edge.

• Next row (WS): Purl.
• Next row (RS): Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 1 st decreased.
• Rep last 2 rows 5 more times. 26 (30, 34, 38, 42) sts. ✓
• Work even to match Left front strap length. Place sts on holder.

Join Straps

Return Back right strap sts and Front right strap sts to needles (or use three-needle bind-off directly). With RS together, join using three-needle bind-off or graft/Kitchener stitch.
Repeat for left straps.
(Alternative for true beginners: BO all strap sts, then sew the front strap ends to the corresponding back strap ends with mattress stitch.)

Finishing

Weave in all ends securely on WS. Block dress flat to finished measurements:

• Bust: 32 (36, 40, 44, 48)" / 81.5 (91.5, 101.5, 112, 122) cm
• Length: 31 (31.5, 32, 32.5, 33)" / 79 (80, 81.5, 82.5, 84) cm
• Armhole depth: 8 (8.5, 9, 9.5, 10)" / 20.5 (21.5, 23, 24, 25.5) cm (including strap)

Steam or wet-block gently; fingering stockinette blooms beautifully with blocking. Allow to dry completely. Optional: Add a simple crochet or i-cord edging around armholes and neckline if desired for a polished look, but not required.

Wear and enjoy your handmade mini dress!