Harborline Striped Tank Top

A Beginner-Friendly Sleeveless Tank with Ladder-Detail Straps

A clean, modern tank worked in classic navy blue and cream horizontal stripes. The fitted straight body is worked in easy double crochet, the square neckline is simple to shape, and the wide shoulder straps feature an airy "ladder" open-stitch detail. Crisp single crochet edging frames the neckline, armholes, and hem. Worked flat in two panels and seamed — no fancy shaping required.

SKILL LEVEL

Easy — if you can chain, single crochet, and double crochet, you can make this.

SIZES

Designed with ~2" positive ease for a fitted straight silhouette. Sample shown in size M. Instructions are written for XS, with larger sizes in parentheses: XS (S, M, L, XL, XXL).

Finished measurements:

• Body length (hem to shoulder): 22" all sizes
• Panel width (flat): 16 (17, 19, 21, 23, 25)"

MATERIALS

• Yarn: Worsted weight (#4 medium), smooth wool or wool-blend recommended.
  • Color A (Navy Blue): approx. 350 (375, 425, 475, 525, 575) yds
  • Color B (Cream): approx. 300 (325, 375, 425, 475, 525) yds
  • Sample uses a worsted weight at ~200 yds/100g skein.
• Hook: US H-8 / 5.0 mm (main body) and US G-6 / 4.0 mm (edging)
• Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch markers (4+), scissors

GAUGE

14 dc × 8 rows = 4" (10 cm) with larger hook in dc. This equals 3.5 dc per inch and 2 rows per inch.

Check your gauge! Work a 5" × 5" swatch in dc. Gauge determines fit — take the time to match it.

ABBREVIATIONS (US Terms)

• ch — chain
• st(s) — stitch(es)
• sc — single crochet
• dc — double crochet
• sl st — slip stitch
• sp — space
• RS / WS — right side / wrong side
• rep — repeat
• beg — beginning
• A — Navy Blue
• B — Cream

PATTERN NOTES

• The tank is worked in two flat panels (Front and Back), bottom-up in rows, then seamed.
• Turning chain: The beginning ch-2 at the start of each dc row does NOT count as a stitch. Work your first dc into the first stitch. (This keeps edges clean and even for beginners.)
• Stripe sequence: 2 rows A, 2 rows B, repeated throughout the body.
• Seamless color changes: Change color in the final yarn-over of the last stitch of the row before the new color begins. Do not fasten off; carry the unused color loosely up the side edge.
• Stitch counts appear in parentheses at the end of each row: (56 sts).
• Both loops are worked unless stated otherwise.
• The Front and Back are identical including the square neckline, so both can be made from the same instructions.

Stitch counts per panel by size

Check: strap + neck + strap = panel. XS: 16+24+16 = 56 ✓ · S: 18+24+18 = 60 ✓ · M: 20+26+20 = 66 ✓ · L: 22+30+22 = 74 ✓ · XL: 24+32+24 = 80 ✓ · XXL: 26+36+26 = 88 ✓

SPECIAL STITCH — LADDER OPEN STITCH (used on straps)

Ladder row (RS or WS): Ch 2 (does not count), dc in first st, ch 1, skip 1 st, dc in next st; rep from * across. On the following row, work 1 dc in each dc and 1 dc in each ch-1 sp to restore the solid stitch count. This creates the open "ladder" bars in the straps.

INSTRUCTIONS

FRONT PANEL

Foundation: With larger hook and Color A, ch 58 (62, 68, 76, 82, 90). (This is panel sts + 2 for turning; the ch-2 turn does not count as a st.)

Row 1 (RS): With A, dc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (56 (60, 66, 74, 80, 88) sts)

Row 2 (RS→WS): Ch 2, dc in each st across, turn. (56 (60, 66, 74, 80, 88) sts) At the end of Row 2, change to Color B on the final yarn-over.

Row 3–4: With B, ch 2, dc in each st across, turn. Change to A at end of Row 4. (56 (60, 66, 74, 80, 88) sts)

Continue in stripe pattern (2 rows A, 2 rows B) working plain dc rows until you have completed 36 rows total (18" from foundation). (56 (60, 66, 74, 80, 88) sts)

Row 36 should end with a completed 2-row block; maintain your stripe sequence.

SHAPE SQUARE NECKLINE

The neckline splits the panel into two straps with the center stitches left open. Both straps are worked separately.

Note the strap width: each strap = 16 (18, 20, 22, 26) — see table above. Center neck sts = 24 (24, 26, 30, 32, 36) are skipped.

Continue in the established stripe sequence throughout the neckline and straps.

Right Strap

Row 37: Ch 2, dc in first 16 (18, 20, 22, 24, 26) sts. Turn, leaving remaining sts unworked. (16 (18, 20, 22, 24, 26) sts)

Row 38 (Ladder row): Ch 2, dc in first st, ch 1, skip 1 st, dc in next st; rep from * across. For an even strap count this yields alternating dc/ch-1 ending in dc. (strap sts maintained: 16 (18, 20, 22, 24, 26) positions)

Row 39: Ch 2, dc in each dc and each ch-1 sp across. (16 (18, 20, 22, 24, 26) sts)

Rows 40–43: Rep Rows 38–39 twice more (two more ladder repeats), keeping stripe sequence. (16 (18, 20, 22, 24, 26) sts)

Row 44: Ch 2, dc in each st across. Fasten off. (16 (18, 20, 22, 24, 26) sts) Panel is now 44 rows / 22" total.

Left Strap

With RS facing, skip the center 24 (24, 26, 30, 32, 36) sts, rejoin the correct stripe color to the next st.

Row 37: Ch 2, dc in this st and each remaining st across. Turn. (16 (18, 20, 22, 24, 26) sts)

Rows 38–44: Work exactly as for the Right Strap (Rows 38–44). Fasten off. (16 (18, 20, 22, 24, 26) sts)

BACK PANEL

Work exactly as the Front Panel, including the square neckline and both ladder straps. Fasten off.

ASSEMBLY

1. Block both panels to finished measurements: 16 (17, 19, 21, 23, 25)" wide × 22" tall. Pin and steam or wet-block; this evens out the stripes and stitches.

2. Shoulder seams: With RS together, whipstitch or sl-st the top of each Front strap to the corresponding Back strap (Row 44 edges). You will have two shoulder seams. Weave in ends.

3. Side seams: Lay panels RS together. Seam each side from the hem upward, leaving the top 8" open on each side for the armholes. Measure carefully so both armholes match. Weave in ends.

Armhole depth check: 8" opening ≈ 16 rows from shoulder, comfortably clearing the neckline shaping which begins at Row 37.

EDGING

Use the smaller hook and match colors to the adjacent stripe (or work all edging in Color A for a clean framed look — recommended for beginners).

Neckline Edging (square neck — worked on Front and Back separately, or joined at shoulders)

With RS facing, join yarn at a shoulder seam. Round 1: Ch 1, sc evenly around the square neck opening, working 1 sc in each st along the horizontal edges and 2 sc per row-end along the vertical strap edges, placing 1 sc, ch 1, 1 sc in each inner corner to keep the square shape crisp. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Corner tip: The ch-1 at each of the four inner corners lets the square lie flat. Don't over-crowd corners.

Armhole Edging (both armholes)

With RS facing, join yarn at an underarm side seam. Round 1: Ch 1, sc evenly around the armhole opening — 2 sc per row-end along the vertical edges. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off. Repeat for the second armhole.

Hem Edging

With RS facing, join yarn at a side seam. Round 1: Ch 1, sc in each st across the hem edge of both panels (1 sc per foundation st), working 1 sc, ch 1, 1 sc at each bottom corner. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Hem sc count per panel: 56 (60, 66, 74, 80, 88) sc, matching the foundation. ✓

FINISHING

1. Weave in all remaining ends securely on the WS.
2. Give the finished tank a final light block to set the edging and relax the fabric.
3. Wear with the stripes running clean and horizontal — the ladder straps sit at the shoulders.

HELPFUL TIPS

• Carrying colors: Since stripes change every 2 rows, carry the unused color loosely up the edge to avoid cutting yarn each stripe. It hides inside the seam.
• Even edges: Because the ch-2 does not count as a stitch, always place your first dc in the very first stitch and your last dc in the actual last stitch — count at the end of each row.
• Straps too loose? Go down one hook size for the ladder rows only, or work ch-1 more snugly.
• Longer/shorter body: Add or remove rows in pairs before Row 36 to keep the stripe sequence intact (2 rows = ~1").

Enjoy your Harborline Tank!