purlJam

# Striped Backless Tank Top with Contrast Edges

A breezy, beginner-friendly summer top featuring cheerful two-row stripes across the front, a narrow halter-style back panel for a flattering backless silhouette, and crisp contrast-colour ribbing at every edge. Worked flat in two simple pieces and seamed at the sides — no neckline shaping required!

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## Sizes

| Size | XS | S | M | L | XL |
|------|----|----|----|----|----|
| To fit bust | 76–81 cm (30–32") | 86–91 cm (34–36") | 96–101 cm (38–40") | 106–111 cm (42–44") | 116–121 cm (46–48") |
| Finished bust (front + back panel) | 66 cm | 71 cm | 77 cm | 82 cm | 87 cm |

**Sample shown in size M.** Instructions are written for size M with other sizes in parentheses: **XS (S, M, L, XL)**.

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## Materials

- **Main Colour (MC):** Worsted weight (Aran) cotton or cotton-blend yarn — approx. 200 (220, 250, 280, 310) m
- **Contrast Colour (CC):** Same yarn in contrasting colour — approx. 100 (110, 120, 130, 140) m
- **Needles:** 4.5 mm (UK 7, US 7) straight or circular needles
- **Smaller needles for ribbing:** 4 mm (UK 8, US 6)
- 2 stitch holders or waste yarn
- Yarn needle for seaming
- Tape measure
- Scissors

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## Tension (Gauge)

**18 sts × 24 rows = 10 cm (4")** measured over stocking stitch on 4.5 mm needles, after blocking.
*Always work a tension swatch — it really matters for fit!*

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## Abbreviations (UK)

- **k** – knit
- **p** – purl
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)
- **st st** – stocking stitch (k on RS, p on WS)
- **RS / WS** – right side / wrong side
- **k2tog** – knit two 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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## Stripe Pattern

Worked throughout the body of both pieces (not on ribbing):
- **Rows 1–2:** MC
- **Rows 3–4:** CC
- Repeat these 4 rows.

*Carry the unused colour loosely up the side of the work — no need to cut.*

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## FRONT

### Lower ribbing (in CC)
With smaller 4 mm needles and **CC**, cast on **80 (86, 88, 94, 100) sts**.

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

### Body
Change to larger 4.5 mm needles and begin Stripe Pattern in st st:
**Row 1 (RS, MC):** k all sts.
**Row 2 (WS, MC):** p all sts.
**Row 3 (RS, CC):** k all sts.
**Row 4 (WS, CC):** p all sts.

Continue in st st stripes until front measures **30 cm (11¾")** from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

*Check: 30 cm × 24 rows/10 cm = 72 rows from start of st st ✓*

### Armhole shaping
**Row 1 (RS):** Cast off 4 sts, k to end. → 76 (82, 84, 90, 96) sts
**Row 2 (WS):** Cast off 4 sts, p to end. → 72 (78, 80, 86, 92) sts
**Row 3 (RS):** k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. → 70 (76, 78, 84, 90) sts
**Row 4 (WS):** p all sts.
Repeat Rows 3–4 **three more times** → **64 (70, 72, 78, 84) sts** remain.

*Check size M: 88 – 8 (cast-off) – 8 (decreases) = 72 sts ✓*

### Work even
Continuing in stripe pattern, work straight until armhole measures **20 cm (8")** from beginning of armhole shaping, ending with a WS row.

### Square neckline & shoulders
**Next row (RS):** k **14 (16, 17, 19, 21)** sts (shoulder), cast off centre **36 (38, 38, 40, 42)** sts loosely, k to end. → two sets of **14 (16, 17, 19, 21)** sts.

Place first shoulder's stitches on a holder. Working only on the second shoulder, p 1 row. **Cast off all sts loosely.**
Rejoin yarn (in current stripe colour) to held shoulder sts, p 1 row, then cast off all sts loosely.

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## BACK (Halter Panel)

This is a narrow halter-style back panel — the rest of the back is open (backless).

### Lower ribbing (in CC)
With smaller 4 mm needles and **CC**, cast on **44 (48, 50, 54, 58) sts**.

Work in k1, p1 rib (as for Front) until ribbing measures **4 cm (1½")**, ending with a WS row.

### Body
Change to larger 4.5 mm needles. **Work in MC only (no stripes on back)** in st st until back measures **15 cm (6")** from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

### Shape sides for halter
**Row 1 (RS):** k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. → 42 (46, 48, 52, 56) sts
**Row 2 (WS):** p all sts.
Repeat Rows 1–2 every 4 rows **5 more times** → **32 (36, 38, 42, 46) sts**.

Work straight until back measures **30 cm (11¾")** from cast-on edge.

### Cast off
Cast off all sts loosely. This top edge will be finished with a ribbed band and ties.

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## FINISHING

### 1. Block both pieces
Pin pieces to measurements on a flat surface, mist with water, and allow to dry completely. This evens out the stripes beautifully.

### 2. Seam shoulders
With yarn needle and MC, mattress-stitch the front shoulders to the top corners of the back panel — match the **14 (16, 17, 19, 21)** front shoulder stitches to the outer **14 (16, 17, 19, 21)** stitches at each end of the back cast-off edge.

This leaves the centre **4 sts** of the back free — this is where the back neck ties will attach.

### 3. Seam sides
With MC, mattress-stitch the side seams from underarm to top of ribbing. Note: because the back panel is narrower than the front, the side seams will angle inward at the back — this is correct and creates the backless effect.

### 4. Armhole edging (in CC)
With smaller 4 mm needles and **CC**, RS facing, beginning at underarm seam, pick up and knit approximately **72 (76, 80, 84, 88) sts** evenly around armhole.
Join in the round.
**Rounds 1–4:** *k1, p1; rep from * to end.
Cast off loosely in pattern.
Repeat for second armhole.

### 5. Neckline edging (in CC)
With smaller 4 mm needles and **CC**, RS facing, beginning at right shoulder seam, pick up and knit:
- 18 sts down right neck edge,
- 36 (38, 38, 40, 42) sts across front cast-off,
- 18 sts up left neck edge.
**Total:** 72 (74, 74, 76, 78) sts. Work back and forth.
**Rows 1–4:** *k1, p1; rep from * to end.
Cast off loosely in pattern.

### 6. Back panel top edging (in CC)
With smaller 4 mm needles and **CC**, RS facing, pick up and knit **32 (36, 38, 42, 46) sts** along the back cast-off edge.
Work 4 rows of k1, p1 rib. Cast off loosely.

### 7. Ties (optional but recommended)
Make **2 simple I-cord ties** in CC:
- With 4 mm double-pointed needles (or two straight needles), cast on 3 sts. *k3, do not turn, slide sts to other end of needle; rep from * until cord measures **30 cm (12")**. Cast off.
- Sew one tie to each top corner of the back panel ribbing. Tie behind the neck.

### 8. Weave in all ends
Use the yarn needle to weave ends into the WS, following the direction of the stripes for invisibility.

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## Finished Measurements (Size M)

| Measurement | cm | inches |
|---|---|---|
| Finished front width | 49 cm | 19¼" |
| Finished back panel width (at top) | 21 cm | 8¼" |
| Total length | 50 cm | 19¾" |
| Armhole depth | 20 cm | 8" |

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## Beginner Tips

- **Stripe colour changes:** Always change colour at the start of a RS row. Twist the new colour around the old at the edge to lock it in.
- **Loose cast off:** A tight cast off at the neckline will pucker. Use a needle one size larger if needed.
- **Picking up stitches:** Insert needle into the centre of an edge stitch — not between stitches — for a neat finish.
- **Backless fit:** The narrow back panel should sit comfortably under the shoulder blades. Adjust tie length to your preference.

Enjoy your handmade striped backless tank — perfect for sunny days! ☀️