Men’s Open Mesh Tank

Worsted-weight V-neck tank for a small adult man

An intermediate summer tank worked flat in two pieces (front and back), then seamed. The body is an open yarn-over mesh with 2×2 rib at the hem, neck, and armholes. The fabric is intentionally airy and may be semi-sheer—wear over an undershirt, or as a layer.

Skill level: Intermediate (armhole and V-neck shaping at the same time, seaming, picking up stitches)

Size

Men’s Small — to fit chest 34–36" (86.5–91.5 cm)

One size is written. Finished measurements include 3–5" (7.5–12.5 cm) of ease; mesh should not be skin-tight.

Finished measurements (blocked)

• Chest: 39" (99 cm)
• Length: 26" (66 cm)
• Length to underarm: 17" (43 cm)
• Armhole depth: 9" (23 cm)
• Cross-back: 15½" (39.5 cm)
• Each shoulder: 4½" (11.5 cm)
• Back neck width: 6¾" (17 cm)

Materials

• Yarn: 600 yd / 550 m of worsted weight (CYC 4). Cotton or cotton/linen blend is recommended for summer; wool or wool-blend for a layering tank.
• Needles:
  • US 8 / 5 mm straight or circular needles for the body
  • US 6 / 4 mm needles for ribbing (straight or 24" / 60 cm circular for the hem; 16" / 40 cm circular and/or DPNs for neck and armhole bands)
  • Or sizes needed to obtain gauge
• Stitch holders or waste yarn
• Stitch markers
• Yarn needle
• Row counter (optional)

Gauge

18 stitches and 24 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Mesh Pattern on US 8 / 5 mm needles, after blocking.

4.5 sts = 1" (2.5 cm); 6 rows = 1" (2.5 cm).

Swatch at least 6" (15 cm) square, wet-block, and measure the blocked fabric. Mesh opens and grows; cotton grows more than wool. Change needle size if needed to match blocked gauge.

Abbreviations (US)

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

Pattern notes

• Worked flat in two pieces, then seamed.
• The first and last stitch of every body row are edge stitches: knit on RS, purl on WS. Seam through these stitches.
• When shaping, work decreases inside the edge stitch. If a yarn over would fall next to a decrease or you do not have two stitches for yo, k2tog, work those stitches in stockinette instead. Do not work a yo as the last stitch before a decrease.
• Stitch counts are given at the end of key rows. Counts include edge stitches.
• Lengths are measured from the cast-on edge unless noted as “armhole measures.”
• Block both pieces before seaming so the mesh opens to gauge.

Stitch patterns

2×2 Rib (multiple of 4 sts), worked flat

Every row: *K2, p2; rep from * to end.

(With an even multiple of 4, this aligns on both sides.)

2×2 Rib, worked in the round (multiple of 4 sts)

Every round: *K2, p2; rep from * to end.

1×1 Rib, worked in the round (even number of sts)

Every round: *K1, p1; rep from * to end.

Mesh Pattern (multiple of 2 sts + 2 edge sts)

Row 1 (RS): K1 (edge), *yo, k2tog; rep from * to last st, k1 (edge). Row 2 (WS): Purl.

Rep Rows 1–2 for Mesh Pattern.

On 88 sts: 1 edge + 43 repeats of yo, k2tog (86 sts) + 1 edge = 88 ✓.

BACK

With US 6 / 4 mm needles, CO 88 sts.

Work 2×2 Rib until piece measures 2" (5 cm) from CO, ending with a WS row.

Change to US 8 / 5 mm needles.

Work Mesh Pattern until piece measures 17" (43 cm) from CO, ending with a WS row (Row 2 of Mesh).

Shape armholes

Next row (RS): BO 5 sts, work Mesh Pattern as established to end. 83 sts.

Next row (WS): BO 5 sts, purl to end. 78 sts. (88 − 5 − 5 = 78 ✓)

Dec row (RS): K1, ssk, work Mesh Pattern to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 76 sts.

Next row (WS): Purl.

Rep the last 2 rows 3 more times. 4 armhole decrease rows; 8 sts decreased after the bind-offs → 78 − 8 = 70 sts ✓

70 sts rem.

Work even in Mesh Pattern (edge sts as established) until armhole measures 8" (20.5 cm) from the first armhole bind-off row, ending with a WS row.

Shape shoulders

Row 1 (RS): BO 7 sts, work to end. 63 sts.

Row 2 (WS): BO 7 sts, purl to end. 56 sts. (20 − 7 = 13 sts each shoulder + 30 neck = 56 ✓)

Row 3 (RS): BO 7 sts, work to end. 49 sts.

Row 4 (WS): BO 7 sts, purl to end. 42 sts. (6 + 30 + 6 = 42 ✓)

Row 5 (RS): BO 6 sts, work to end. 36 sts.

Row 6 (WS): BO 6 sts, purl to end, then BO rem 30 back-neck sts.

Shoulders: 7 + 7 + 6 = 20 sts each side ✓. Back neck: 30 sts ✓.

Fasten off.

FRONT

Work as for Back until the two armhole bind-off rows are complete. 78 sts, WS just completed.

Armholes and V-neck are shaped at the same time from here.

Divide for V-neck

Next row (RS): Work 39 sts as for a Dec row at the armhole only (k1, ssk, work Mesh Pattern to the 39th st, working that st as k1 if it is the new neck-edge st). Place rem 39 sts on a holder for the Left Front.

You will now work the Right Front (garment-right, first 39 sts) only.

Right Front

39 sts.

Neck edge is at the end of RS rows; armhole edge is at the beginning of RS rows.

Row 1 (WS): Purl.

Double-dec row (RS): K1, ssk (armhole), work Mesh Pattern to last 3 sts, k2tog (neck), k1.

Next row (WS): Purl.

Rep the last 2 rows 3 more times.

Armhole and neck each decreased 4 times on this side: 39 − 4 − 4 = 31 sts ✓

31 sts. Armhole shaping is now complete on this side.

Neck-dec row (RS): Work Mesh Pattern as established to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.

Next row (WS): Purl.

Rep the last 2 rows 10 more times. (11 neck-only decrease rows → 31 − 11 = 20 sts ✓)

20 sts rem.

Work even in Mesh Pattern on 20 sts until armhole measures 8" (20.5 cm) from the first armhole bind-off row, ending with a WS row.

Right Front shoulder

Shoulder bind-offs start at the armhole edge (beginning of RS rows).

Row 1 (RS): BO 7 sts, work to end. 13 sts.

Row 2 (WS): Purl.

Row 3 (RS): BO 7 sts, work to end. 6 sts.

Row 4 (WS): Purl.

Row 5 (RS): BO 6 sts. (7 + 7 + 6 = 20 ✓)

Fasten off.

Left Front

With RS facing, rejoin yarn at the neck edge of the 39 held sts.

39 sts.

Neck edge is at the beginning of RS rows; armhole edge is at the end of RS rows.

Set-up row (RS): K1, ssk (neck), work Mesh Pattern to last 3 sts, k2tog (armhole), k1. 37 sts.

Next row (WS): Purl.

Double-dec row (RS): K1, ssk (neck), work Mesh Pattern to last 3 sts, k2tog (armhole), k1.

Next row (WS): Purl.

Rep the last 2 rows 2 more times, then work the Double-dec row once more.

From the original 39: 1 set-up + 3 further double-dec rows = 4 neck decs and 4 armhole decs → 39 − 8 = 31 sts ✓

31 sts. Armhole shaping is now complete on this side.

Neck-dec row (RS): K1, ssk, work Mesh Pattern to end.

Next row (WS): Purl.

Rep the last 2 rows 10 more times. (11 neck-only decrease rows → 31 − 11 = 20 sts ✓)

20 sts rem.

Work even in Mesh Pattern on 20 sts until armhole measures 8" (20.5 cm) from the first armhole bind-off row, ending with a RS row (so the next row is WS, ready to bind off at the armhole/shoulder edge).

Left Front shoulder

Shoulder bind-offs start at the armhole edge (beginning of WS rows).

Row 1 (WS): BO 7 sts, purl to end. 13 sts.

Row 2 (RS): Work Mesh Pattern.

Row 3 (WS): BO 7 sts, purl to end. 6 sts.

Row 4 (RS): Work Mesh Pattern.

Row 5 (WS): BO 6 sts. (7 + 7 + 6 = 20 ✓)

Fasten off.

FINISHING

Weave in ends loosely; they will be secured after blocking.

Block front and back to the finished measurements:

• Each piece 19½" (49.5 cm) wide at the hem
• 26" (66 cm) long
• Armhole depth 9" (23 cm) including shoulder steps
• Upper width 15½" (39.5 cm)

Wet-block mesh: soak, press out water in a towel, pin to measurements, and dry fully. Do not skip this step—the stitch pattern will not open to gauge until blocked.

Shoulders

With RS together (or RS facing if you prefer mattress stitch from the outside), join each shoulder using mattress stitch or an invisible bound-off seam. 20 sts meet 20 sts each side.

Neckband

With US 6 / 4 mm 16" (40 cm) circular needle, RS facing, and beginning at the left shoulder seam:

• Pick up and knit 29 sts evenly across the back neck,
• Pick up and knit 35 sts evenly down the left front neck edge,
• Pick up and knit 1 st at the base of the V and pm on this stitch (center st),
• Pick up and knit 35 sts evenly up the right front neck edge.

100 sts. (29 + 35 + 1 + 35 = 100 ✓)

Join to work in the round. Pm for beginning of round (left shoulder).

Round 1: Work 1×1 Rib to 1 st before center st, slip 2 sts knitwise one at a time, k1, pass both slipped sts over (centered double decrease; the center st remains the knit column of the V), work 1×1 Rib to end. 98 sts.

Round 2: Work 1×1 Rib as presented (knit the knits, purl the purls), knitting the center st.

Rep Rounds 1–2 until neckband measures 1" (2.5 cm) from the pickup round, ending after a Round 2.

BO loosely in rib, working a centered double decrease as you bind off across the V so the point stays flat.

Side seams

With RS facing, mattress-stitch the side seams from the hem to the armhole bind-off, matching rib to rib and mesh to mesh. Use the edge stitches.

Armhole bands

With US 6 / 4 mm 16" (40 cm) circular needle or DPNs, RS facing, beginning at the underarm seam:

Pick up and knit 90 sts evenly around the armhole (about 3 sts for every 4 rows along the vertical edges, plus 1 st in each bound-off underarm stitch). 90 is even for 1×1 rib ✓.

Join to work in the round. Work 1×1 Rib for 1" (2.5 cm).

BO loosely in rib.

Rep for the second armhole.

Final

Weave in remaining ends. Lightly steam or re-block the bands so they lie flat. Do not stretch the ribbing.

Fit and wear notes

• Ease: Finished chest is 39" (99 cm) for a 34–36" (86.5–91.5 cm) chest — standard to slightly relaxed, which suits open mesh.
• Length: 26" (66 cm) hits at the hip on most small adult men. For a cropped tank, stop the body 2–4" (5–10 cm) sooner, before armhole shaping, and keep armhole depth the same. For a tunic, add length before the armholes.
• Coverage: This mesh is open. If you want less sheerness, use a slightly smaller needle for a denser fabric (re-check gauge and recast stitch counts) or wear a tank or tee underneath.
• Yarn choice: Cotton/linen breathes and drapes; it also grows. Wool holds shape better for layering. Always block the swatch the same way you will block the garment.