Open-Front V-Neck Tie Tank (Chunky)

A relaxed, beginner-friendly sleeveless t-shirt knit in smooth stockinette. Designed with generous positive ease, narrow straps, a deep V-neck, and two simple ties that fasten at center front. Worked flat in three pieces and seamed.

Materials

• Chunky weight yarn (approx. 100–120 yd / 90–110 m per 100 g); 550 (600, 675, 750, 825) yd / 500 (550, 615, 685, 755) m
• US 10 / 6 mm straight or circular needles (or size needed to obtain gauge)
• US 9 / 5.5 mm needles for ties (optional, for firmer ties)
• Stitch markers
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors

Gauge

14 sts and 20 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch with larger needles, blocked. Take time to check gauge. Change needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.

Sizes

XS/S (M, L, XL, XXL) To fit bust 30–34 (36–38, 40–42, 44–46, 48–50)" Finished bust circumference (fronts meeting): 44 (48, 52, 56, 60)" Finished length: 21 (21.5, 22, 22.5, 23)" Positive ease: approximately 6–10".

Shown in size M. Instructions are written for smallest size with larger sizes in parentheses.

Abbreviations (US)

• BO = bind off
• CO = cast on
• k = knit
• k2tog = knit 2 together (right-leaning decrease)
• p = purl
• pm = place marker
• RS = right side
• ssk = slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• WS = wrong side
• wyib = with yarn in back
• wyif = with yarn in front

Pattern Notes

• The entire garment is worked in stockinette (knit RS rows, purl WS rows) with garter-stitch selvedges (knit the first and last stitch of every row) for neat seaming.
• Narrow straps are left as simple stockinette strips; they are stable when seamed firmly at the shoulders.
• Ties are worked separately and sewn on; this keeps the fronts easy for beginners.
• When shaping, always keep the garter selvedge stitch intact unless a bind-off removes it.
• Block pieces before seaming for best drape and accurate measurements.
• Inline stitch-count checks appear as (→ XX sts ✓).

Back

With larger needles, CO 70 (77, 84, 91, 98) sts.

Row 1 (RS): Knit. Row 2 (WS): Knit first st, purl to last st, knit last st. These 2 rows establish stockinette with garter selvedges. Work even until piece measures 13" from CO edge, ending after a WS row.

Shape Armholes

BO 4 (5, 5, 6, 6) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. (→ 62 (67, 74, 79, 86) sts ✓) BO 2 (2, 3, 3, 4) sts at the beginning of the following 2 rows. (→ 58 (63, 68, 73, 78) sts ✓) Decrease row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (→ 2 sts decreased) Next row (WS): K1, purl to last st, k1. Repeat the last 2 rows 2 (3, 3, 4, 4) more times. (→ 52 (55, 60, 63, 68) sts ✓)

Work even in established stockinette until armhole measures 8 (8.5, 9, 9.5, 10)", ending after a WS row.

Shape Right Strap

Next row (RS): K1, ssk, k5, BO center 36 (39, 44, 47, 52) sts, k5, k2tog, k1. (You now have 7 sts for each strap. Cont on left strap sts only; place right strap sts on holder if desired.)

Left Strap Next row (WS): K1, purl to last st, k1. Next row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (→ 5 sts ✓)
(Note: for narrowest stable strap we stop decreasing here and work the remaining 5–7 sts even; final width after seam will read as ~2". Restore to 7 sts by working even on the original 7 if preferred—pattern uses 7 sts throughout straps for consistency.) Work even on 7 sts until strap measures 2" from start of strap shaping, ending after a WS row. BO all sts.

Right Strap With WS facing, rejoin yarn to remaining 7 sts. Work same as Left Strap for 2". BO all sts.

Left Front

With larger needles, CO 42 (46, 49, 53, 56) sts.

Work in stockinette with garter selvedges exactly as for Back until piece measures 13" from CO edge, ending after a WS row. (At the same time, place a marker on the center-front edge after 4" of length to indicate approximate start of V-neck later.)

Shape Armhole (side edge) and Begin V-Neck

Note: Armhole is shaped at the beginning of RS rows; V-neck decreases are worked at the end of RS rows (front edge).

Row 1 (RS) – Armhole BO: BO 4 (5, 5, 6, 6) sts, knit to end. (→ 38 (41, 44, 47, 50) sts ✓) Row 2 (WS): K1, purl to last st, k1. Row 3 (RS): BO 2 (2, 3, 3, 4) sts, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (→ 35 (38, 40, 43, 45) sts ✓) Row 4: K1, purl to last st, k1.

Armhole + Neck Decrease Row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (→ 2 sts dec) Next row (WS): K1, purl to last st, k1. Repeat the last 2 rows 2 (3, 3, 4, 4) more times. (→ 29 (30, 32, 33, 35) sts ✓)

Now continue V-neck decreases only: Neck Decrease Row (RS): Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (→ 1 st dec) Next row (WS): K1, purl to last st, k1. Repeat the last 2 rows until 7 sts remain. (→ 7 sts ✓) (Number of additional neck decrease rows needed: 22 (23, 25, 26, 28). Total rows from underarm will still match Back armhole depth when straps begin.)

When armhole depth matches Back (8 (8.5, 9, 9.5, 10)"), work even on 7 sts for the 2" strap. BO all sts.

Right Front

With larger needles, CO 42 (46, 49, 53, 56) sts.

Work same as Left Front to underarm, ending after a WS row.

Shape Armhole and V-Neck (mirror)

Row 1 (RS): Knit to end. Row 2 (WS): BO 4 (5, 5, 6, 6) sts, purl to last st, k1. (→ 38 (41, 44, 47, 50) sts ✓) Row 3 (RS): K1, ssk, knit to end. (→ 37 (40, 43, 46, 49) sts ✓) Row 4 (WS): BO 2 (2, 3, 3, 4) sts, purl to last st, k1. (→ 35 (38, 40, 43, 45) sts ✓)

Armhole + Neck Decrease Row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. Next row (WS): K1, purl to last st, k1. Repeat last 2 rows 2 (3, 3, 4, 4) more times. (→ 29 (30, 32, 33, 35) sts ✓)

Continue neck decreases only: Neck Decrease Row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to end. Next row (WS): K1, purl to last st, k1. Repeat until 7 sts remain. (→ 7 sts ✓)

Work even on 7 sts for 2" strap to match Left Front and Back. BO all sts.

Ties (make 2)

With smaller needles (or larger if preferred), CO 5 sts. Work in garter stitch (knit every row) until tie measures 18 (18, 20, 20, 22)". BO. (Alternatively work I-cord: CO 4 sts, *k4, slide sts to other end of needle; rep from * for length.)

Finishing

1. Block all pieces to measurements.
2. Seam shoulders: join each front strap BO edge to corresponding back strap BO edge with mattress stitch or whipstitch.
3. Sew side seams from hem to underarm bind-off, matching row counts.
4. Attach ties: sew one short end of each tie securely to the front edge of Left and Right Fronts at approximately 1" below the start of V-neck shaping (or at bust level as desired). Ties should face inward so they can be tied in a bow or knot at center front.
5. Weave in all ends.
6. Optional: steam lightly again after seaming.

Wear with the fronts meeting or slightly open; fasten with the two ties in a bow or simple knot. Enjoy your easy, breezy chunky tank!