purlJam

# Moonlit Lake Tank Top
*A beginner knit tank top featuring a crescent moon setting over a still lake*

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## Overview
This relaxed-fit tank top is worked flat in two pieces (front and back) in stockinette stitch with 1x1 ribbed edges. The front panel features a serene crescent moon motif worked in simple intarsia colourwork — your separate attached stitch chart provides the visual grid. Perfect for confident beginners ready to try basic shaping and colourwork.

**Skill level:** Beginner (with introduction to intarsia)

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## Sizes
Written for size **M (38–40" / 96–101 cm bust)** with approximately 5 cm (2") of positive ease.
Finished bust circumference: **102 cm (40")**
Finished length: **55 cm (21½")**

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## Materials

### Yarn
Worsted weight (Aran, CYC 4) — smooth cotton or cotton-blend recommended for drape and stitch definition.
- **MC (Lake):** Deep slate blue-grey — approx. 350 g (≈ 640 m / 700 yds)
- **CC1 (Moon):** Soft cream / pale ivory — approx. 25 g (≈ 45 m / 50 yds)
- **CC2 (Moonlight on water):** Pale silver-grey — approx. 15 g (≈ 27 m / 30 yds)

### Needles
- 5 mm (UK 6 / US 8) straight or circular needles — for main fabric
- 4 mm (UK 8 / US 6) needles — for ribbed edges and picked-up bands

### Notions
- Stitch holders or waste yarn (2)
- Yarn needle for seaming and weaving in ends
- Stitch markers (2)
- Small bobbins or yarn butterflies (3–4) for intarsia colour blocks
- Tape measure

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## Tension (Gauge)
**18 sts × 24 rows = 10 cm (4")** in stockinette stitch on 5 mm needles, after blocking.
*Please take time to check your tension — accurate tension ensures correct fit.*

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## Abbreviations (UK terminology)
- **k** — knit
- **p** — purl
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **RS** — right side
- **WS** — wrong side
- **k2tog** — knit 2 stitches together (right-leaning decrease)
- **ssk** — slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
- **cast off** — bind off
- **MC / CC** — main colour / contrast colour
- **rep** — repeat

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## Attached Stitch Chart

A separate **Crescent Moon Chart** is attached to this pattern as its own panel. **Do not look for an inline chart grid in the instructions below** — please refer to the attached chart for the visual symbol grid.

**Where it is placed in the pattern:** The chart is worked on the **FRONT piece only**, beginning after the ribbed hem and approximately 8 cm above the cast-on. It is centred horizontally on the front and worked over **30 sts and 35 rows**, ending before armhole shaping begins.

**How to read the chart (knitting):**
- Read **RS (odd-numbered) rows from RIGHT to LEFT**.
- Read **WS (even-numbered) rows from LEFT to RIGHT**.
- Each square = 1 st × 1 row.
- The chart key on the attached panel shows: MC (background lake), CC1 (crescent moon), CC2 (subtle moonlight reflection on water).

**Colour management (intarsia notes):**
- Use a separate small bobbin or yarn butterfly for each colour block. Do **not** carry yarn across the back — this is intarsia, not stranded colourwork.
- **Always twist the old and new yarns around each other on the WS** at every colour change to lock the colours together and prevent holes.
- Keep tension even and gentle at colour joins.

**Stitch-count integration:**
The chart occupies 30 sts in the centre of the 92-st front. Work **31 sts in MC**, then **30 chart sts**, then **31 sts in MC** on each chart row. (31 + 30 + 31 = 92 ✓)

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## Pattern Instructions

### BACK

With 4 mm needles and MC, cast on **92 sts**.

**Ribbing:**
Row 1 (RS): *k1, p1; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS): *p1, k1; rep from * to end.
Rep Rows 1–2 until ribbing measures **4 cm (1½")**, ending after a WS row.

Change to 5 mm needles.

**Body:**
Beginning with a RS knit row, work in stockinette stitch (k on RS, p on WS) until back measures **35 cm (13¾")** from cast-on, ending after a WS row.

**Shape armholes:**
- Cast off 4 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. (84 sts)
- Decrease row (RS): k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (2 sts decreased)
- Purl 1 row.
- Rep these 2 rows **5 more times**. (72 sts)
*Math check: 84 − (2 × 6) = 72 ✓*

Continue in stockinette without further shaping until armhole measures **20 cm (8")**, ending after a WS row.

**Shape shoulders:**
- Cast off 9 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. (54 sts)
- Cast off 9 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. (36 sts)
- Cast off remaining **36 sts** for back neck.

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### FRONT

With 4 mm needles and MC, cast on **92 sts**. Work ribbing as for Back, then change to 5 mm needles.

**Body (with chart):**
Work 4 rows in stockinette in MC.

**Begin Crescent Moon Chart (attached):**
Next row (RS): k31 in MC, work **Row 1** of the attached chart over the next 30 sts (joining CC1 and CC2 with separate bobbins as indicated on the chart), k31 in MC.
Next row (WS): p31 in MC, work **Row 2** of the attached chart over the next 30 sts, p31 in MC.

Continue in this manner, following the attached chart for all **35 rows**, while keeping the 31 sts at each side in MC stockinette.

After completing Row 35 of the chart, **break CC1 and CC2**, leaving 10 cm tails to weave in later. Continue in MC stockinette.

Work even in MC until front measures **35 cm (13¾")** from cast-on (same as back to armhole), ending after a WS row.

**Shape armholes** (as for Back):
- Cast off 4 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. (84 sts)
- Dec row (RS): k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
- Purl 1 row.
- Rep these 2 rows **5 more times**. (72 sts)

Work 4 rows even (this brief pause makes the simultaneous shaping easier for beginners — neck shaping begins next).

**Shape neck (round neckline):**
Next row (RS): k27, cast off centre **18 sts**, k to end. (27 sts each side)

Place the first 27 sts on a stitch holder. You will work the **left front (as worn)** first.

**Left front shoulder:**
Working on the 27 sts just knit:
- Row 1 (WS): purl.
- Row 2 (RS, decrease at neck edge): k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (1 st dec)
- Row 3 (WS): purl.
- Rep Rows 2–3 until **18 sts** remain. (9 decrease rows total)

Work even until armhole measures **20 cm (8")** matching the back, ending after a WS row.

**Shape shoulder:**
- Cast off 9 sts at the beginning of the next RS row. (9 sts)
- Purl 1 row.
- Cast off remaining **9 sts**.

**Right front shoulder:**
Return held 27 sts to needle, ready to work a RS row. Rejoin MC at neck edge.
- Row 1 (RS, decrease at neck edge): k1, ssk, k to end. (1 st dec)
- Row 2 (WS): purl.
- Rep Rows 1–2 until **18 sts** remain.

Work even until armhole measures **20 cm (8")**, ending after a RS row.

**Shape shoulder:**
- Cast off 9 sts at the beginning of the next WS row. (9 sts)
- Knit 1 row.
- Cast off remaining **9 sts**.

*Math check: shoulder 9 + 9 = 18 sts per side; 18 + 18 + 36 back neck = 72 sts total ✓*

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## FINISHING

### Blocking
Weave in all ends loosely on the WS, especially around intarsia colour joins. Wet-block both pieces to the schematic measurements: front and back each 51 cm wide, 55 cm long. Pin and allow to dry fully flat.

### Seaming
1. With MC and yarn needle, **mattress-stitch the shoulder seams**.
2. **Mattress-stitch the side seams** from hem to underarm.

### Neckband
With 4 mm needles, MC, and RS facing, beginning at right shoulder seam, pick up and knit approximately **88 sts** evenly around the neckline (around 36 sts across back neck, 26 sts down each front neck slope including the cast-off centre).
- Join to work in the round; place marker for beginning of round.
- Round 1: *k1, p1; rep from * to end.
- Rep Round 1 until neckband measures **2 cm (¾")**.
- Cast off loosely in pattern (rib).

### Armhole bands (work both the same)
With 4 mm needles, MC, and RS facing, beginning at the underarm seam, pick up and knit approximately **80 sts** evenly around the armhole opening.
- Join to work in the round; place marker.
- Round 1: *k1, p1; rep from * to end.
- Rep Round 1 until band measures **2 cm (¾")**.
- Cast off loosely in pattern.

### Final touches
Weave in any remaining ends. Give the finished tank a light steam or gentle re-block to settle the bands.

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## Schematic (measurements)
- Bust (each piece flat): **51 cm** (20") → Finished circumference 102 cm (40")
- Total length: **55 cm** (21½")
- Armhole depth: **20 cm** (8")
- Back neck width: **20 cm** (8")
- Shoulder width (each): **10 cm** (4")

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## Designer's notes
The crescent moon should sit just above your natural bustline when worn, giving the impression of a moon setting low on the horizon of a calm lake. For an even more atmospheric effect, choose a slightly heathered MC with subtle tonal variation — it will read as the rippled surface of water at dusk. Enjoy your moonlit knit!