purlJam

# Summer V-Neck Tank Top

A relaxed, breezy V-neck tank worked in worsted-weight yarn using treble crochet for lovely drape. Constructed as two flat panels (a V-necked front and a straight-necked back), seamed at the sides and shoulders, then finished with neat edgings around the armholes and neckline. Sized for a chest of 93cm and waist of 94cm with a comfortable ~6cm of positive ease.

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## Materials

- **Yarn:** Worsted-weight (Aran/10-ply) cotton or cotton blend, approximately **650–750 metres** (about 4–5 × 100g balls). A cotton fibre is recommended for breathability.
- **Hook:** 5.0mm (metric) crochet hook, plus a 4.0mm hook for edgings.
- **Notions:** Tapestry/yarn needle, 6–8 stitch markers, scissors.

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## Tension (Gauge)

**14 tr × 8 rows = 10cm (4in)** square, worked in treble crochet with the 5.0mm hook.

*Tip: Always work and measure a tension swatch. If your swatch is larger, drop a hook size; if smaller, go up a size. Correct tension is essential for fit.*

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## Sizes

This pattern is written for **one size**, drafted to fit:
- **Chest:** 93cm (finished garment ≈ 100cm — approx. 6cm positive ease)
- **Waist:** 94cm (finished garment ≈ 100cm — relaxed straight fit)
- **Finished body length:** ≈ 56cm from shoulder
- **Armhole depth:** ≈ 22cm

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## Abbreviations (UK terminology)

- **ch** — chain
- **dc** — double crochet (US: sc)
- **tr** — treble crochet (US: dc)
- **tr2tog** — treble two stitches together (1 decrease)
- **sl st** — slip stitch
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **RS / WS** — right side / wrong side
- **sp** — space
- **rep** — repeat

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## Pattern Notes

- The garment is worked in **two flat panels** (front and back) from the bottom hem upwards, then seamed.
- The **turning chain of 3 (ch-3) counts as the first tr** throughout, unless otherwise stated.
- Work into **both loops** of each stitch unless told otherwise.
- Stitch counts are given in parentheses **( )** at the end of each row.
- When the count says "70 sts", this includes the turning-chain-as-stitch.
- The V-neck is created by splitting the front panel at the centre and shaping each shoulder separately.

### Special Stitch
- **tr2tog:** [Yarn over, insert hook in next st, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops] twice (3 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through all 3 loops. (1 st decreased.)

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## Instructions

### BACK PANEL

**Foundation:** With 5.0mm hook, ch 73.

**Row 1 (RS):** Tr in 4th ch from hook (skipped 3 ch count as 1 tr), tr in each ch to end, turn. **(71 sts)**

*Correction note: ch 73 → 70 trs + ch-3 = 71 sts. To achieve our 70-st panel, work as follows instead.*

**Foundation (use this):** Ch 72.

**Row 1 (RS):** Tr in 4th ch from hook, tr in each ch across, turn. **(70 sts)**
*Check: 72 ch − 3 skipped = 69 ch worked + 1 (ch-3 as first tr) = 70 sts. ✓*

**Rows 2–36:** Ch 3 (counts as first tr), tr in each st across to end, turn. **(70 sts each row)**

*This brings the panel to ≈ row 36 = 45cm (36 ÷ 8 × 10 = 45cm) — the underarm point.*

#### Shape Armholes (Back)

**Row 37 (RS):** Sl st across first 5 sts, ch 3 (counts as first tr), tr in each st until 4 sts remain, turn — leave last 4 sts unworked. **(62 sts)**
*Check: 70 − 5 (start) − 4 (end) = 61 worked + ch-3 as 1 = 62 sts. ✓*

**Row 38:** Ch 3, tr2tog over next 2 sts, tr in each st until 3 sts remain, tr2tog, tr in last st, turn. **(60 sts)**

**Row 39:** Ch 3, tr2tog, tr in each st until 3 sts remain, tr2tog, tr in last st, turn. **(58 sts)**

**Rows 40–54:** Ch 3, tr in each st across, turn. **(58 sts each row)**

*Armhole depth: rows 37–54 = 18 rows = 22.5cm. ✓*

**Fasten off**, leaving the 58 sts for shoulder/neck seaming.

*Back neck: the centre 22 sts form the back neckline; each shoulder = 18 sts. Check: 18 + 22 + 18 = 58. ✓*

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### FRONT PANEL

Work the Foundation through **Row 39** exactly as for the Back, including armhole shaping.
At the end of Row 39 you have **(58 sts)**.

#### Shape V-Neck

The neck is split at the centre. With 58 sts, the centre is between st 29 and st 30.

**Row 40 — First Shoulder (RS):** Ch 3, tr in next 27 sts, tr2tog over the next 2 sts (sts 29 & 30 of the row), turn — leaving the remaining 28 sts unworked for the second shoulder. **(29 sts)**
*Check: ch-3 (1) + 27 + tr2tog (1) = 29 sts. ✓*

Work the first shoulder alone:

**Row 41:** Ch 3, tr2tog, tr in each st to end, turn. **(28 sts)**
**Row 42:** Ch 3, tr in each st until 3 sts remain, tr2tog, tr in last st, turn. **(27 sts)**
**Row 43:** Ch 3, tr2tog, tr in each st to end, turn. **(26 sts)**

Continue decreasing **1 st at the neck edge every row** until **18 sts** remain:

**Rows 44–51:** Decrease 1 st at neck edge each row as established. **(18 sts after Row 51)**
*Check: 26 sts at Row 43 − 8 decreases = 18 sts. ✓ Total neck rows 40–51 = 12 rows; back armhole had 18 rows, so work plain rows if needed to reach Row 54.*

**Rows 52–54:** Ch 3, tr in each st across, turn. **(18 sts)**

**Fasten off.**

#### Second Shoulder

With RS facing, rejoin yarn to the unworked 28 sts at the centre of Row 39's last row (the 28 sts left from Row 40).

**Row 40 (RS):** Ch 3 (counts as first tr), tr2tog over the first 2 sts at the neck edge, tr in each remaining st to end, turn. **(29 sts)**
*Check: ch-3 (1) + tr2tog (1) + 27 = 29 sts. ✓*

**Row 41:** Ch 3, tr in each st until 3 sts remain, tr2tog, tr in last st, turn. **(28 sts)**
**Row 42:** Ch 3, tr2tog, tr in each st to end, turn. **(27 sts)**
**Row 43:** Ch 3, tr in each st until 3 sts remain, tr2tog, tr in last st, turn. **(26 sts)**

Continue decreasing **1 st at the neck edge every row** until **18 sts** remain:

**Rows 44–51:** Decrease 1 st at neck edge each row. **(18 sts after Row 51)**

**Rows 52–54:** Ch 3, tr in each st across, turn. **(18 sts)**

**Fasten off.**

*Symmetry check: each front shoulder = 18 sts, matching each back shoulder (18 sts). ✓*

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## Finishing

### Seaming
1. **Shoulder seams:** With RS together, seam each front shoulder (18 sts) to the corresponding back shoulder (18 sts) using mattress stitch or a whip stitch.
2. **Side seams:** With RS together, align the side edges from hem to underarm and seam, matching rows.

### Armhole Edging
With RS facing and 4.0mm hook, join yarn at an underarm seam.
- **Round 1:** Ch 1, work dc evenly around the armhole opening (work approximately 2 dc per row-end along the straight edges, 1 dc per st along bound edges), sl st to first dc. Aim for an even, non-puckered edge (≈ 56–60 dc).
- **Round 2:** Ch 1, dc in each dc around, sl st to first dc. Fasten off.

Repeat for the second armhole.

### Neckline Edging (V-Neck)
With RS facing and 4.0mm hook, join yarn at the back-right shoulder seam.
- **Round 1:** Ch 1, dc evenly around the entire neckline. Along the back neck, work 1 dc per st (≈ 22 dc); along each diagonal V edge, work ≈ 2 dc per row-end. At the **centre-front point of the V**, work **dc3tog** (or skip 1 st) to create a crisp mitred point. Sl st to first dc.
- **Round 2:** Ch 1, dc in each dc around, again working dc3tog at the centre V point to keep it sharp. Sl st to first dc. Fasten off.

*Tip: Keeping a decrease exactly at the V point on every round prevents the neckline from gaping or flaring.*

### Hem (optional)
If you wish to firm up the lower edge, with the 4.0mm hook and RS facing, join yarn at a side seam and work 1 round of dc evenly around the bottom hem, sl st to join, fasten off.

### Blocking
Weave in all ends with the tapestry needle. **Wet- or steam-block** the finished tank to even out the stitches, open up the drape of the trebles, and set the V-neck point flat. Lay flat to dry to the finished measurements (≈ 100cm chest, 56cm length).

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**Congratulations — your V-neck tank top is complete!** Enjoy your breezy, made-to-measure summer top.