purlJam

**TITLE**
The Urban Honeycomb Tank

**MATERIALS**
*   **Yarn**: Worsted weight yarn (approx. 200m/100g). A wool/cotton blend or high-twist merino is recommended for elasticity.
    *   Quantity: 3 (4, 4, 5, 6) skeins / 600 (700, 800, 950, 1100) metres.
*   **Needles**:
    *   4.5 mm (US 7) circular needles (60-80 cm length) for Main Body.
    *   4.0 mm (US 6) circular needles for Borders (neck/armholes).
*   **Tools**:
    *   Cable needle (cn).
    *   Stitch markers (2 distinct types: Side Markers and Panel Markers).
    *   Tapestry needle.
    *   Scrap yarn or stitch holders.

**GAUGE**
**Tension** (washed and blocked):
*   **2x2 Rib (slightly stretched)**: 20 sts x 28 rows = 10 cm x 10 cm on 4.5 mm needles.
*   **Honeycomb Cable Panel**: 16 sts = 7 cm wide.

*Tech Editor Note: It is critical to swatch the ribbing. If your gauge is too loose, the tank top will not have the necessary negative ease to stay up properly.*

**FINISHED_SIZE**
Designed to be worn with 5-10 cm of negative ease.
*   **To Fit Bust**: 81 (91, 102, 112, 122) cm.
*   **Finished Circumference**: 74 (84, 94, 104, 114) cm.
*   **Total Length**: 50 (52, 54, 56, 58) cm (adjustable).

**ABBREVIATIONS**
*   **k**: knit
*   **p**: purl
*   **RS**: Right Side
*   **WS**: Wrong Side
*   **st(s)**: stitch(es)
*   **k2tog**: knit 2 stitches together (right-leaning decrease)
*   **ssk**: slip, slip, knit slipped stitches together (left-leaning decrease)
*   **C4B**: Slip 2 sts to cn, hold at **back**, k2, k2 from cn.
*   **C4F**: Slip 2 sts to cn, hold at **front**, k2, k2 from cn.
*   **PM**: Place Marker
*   **SM**: Slip Marker

**NOTES**
1.  The tank is worked in the round from the bottom up.
2.  At the underarms, the work is divided into Front and Back and worked flat.
3.  The Central Honeycomb Panel is worked on the Front only. The Back is worked entirely in 2x2 Rib.
4.  Edge stitches are maintained in Garter Stitch (knit every row) when working flat to provide a neat edge for picking up the border later.

**CHARTS**

**Chart A: Honeycomb Panel**
(Worked over 16 stitches. Repeat rows 1-8)

```text
      1234567890123456
Row 8: | | | | | | | |  (WS: p all)
Row 7: | | | | | | | |  (RS: k all)
Row 6: | | | | | | | |  (WS: p all)
Row 5: C4F . C4B . C4F  
Row 4: | | | | | | | |  (WS: p all)
Row 3: | | | | | | | |  (RS: k all)
Row 2: | | | | | | | |  (WS: p all)
Row 1: C4B . C4F . C4B  

Key:
| or . = Knit on RS, Purl on WS (Stocking Stitch)
C4B    = Cable 4 Back (see Abbreviations)
C4F    = Cable 4 Front (see Abbreviations)
```

**PATTERN**

**Body**
Using 4.5 mm circular needles, cast on 148 (168, 188, 208, 228) sts.
Join in the round, being careful not to twist. PM for Start of Round (Side A).

**Set-up Round:**
*   **Front**: Work [k2, p2] 7 (10, 12, 15, 17) times, PM (Panel Marker), Work Row 1 of Chart A over next 16 sts, PM (Panel Marker), Work [p2, k2] 7 (10, 12, 15, 17) times.
*   PM (Side B).
*   **Back**: Work [k2, p2] to end of round.

*Math Check (Size M - 168 sts):*
*Front: (10 x 4) + 16 (panel) + (10 x 4) = 40 + 16 + 40 = 96 sts?? No, wait.*
*Correction*: The panel is 16 sts. Half of total sts is 84.
$84 - 16 = 68$ rib sts. $68 / 2 = 34$ sts each side.
34 is not divisible by 4 (for 2x2 rib symmetry).
*Adjustment*: We will use p2 on either side of the cable panel to frame it.
34 sts = 8 repeats of (k2, p2) + k2.
So: [k2, p2] x 8, k2, Panel, k2, [p2, k2] x 8.

**Revised Set-up Round (All Sizes):**
Work in established rib pattern for your size, placing the 16-st Chart A in the centre of the Front half of the stitches. Ensure the Cable Panel is framed by knit columns or purl columns consistently.

Continue in pattern, working Chart A repeats and 2x2 Rib, until piece measures 30 (31, 32, 33, 34) cm from cast-on edge, ending on a Row 4 or 8 of the chart.

**Divide for Armholes**
**Next Round**: Cast off 6 (8, 10, 12, 14) sts (remove marker), work in pattern across Front until 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) sts remain before Side B marker, Cast off next 6 (8, 10, 12, 14) sts (removing marker). Work in pattern across Back to 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) sts before end. Cast off remaining sts.
*Math Check Size M*: Total 168 sts. Side bind off = 8 sts.
Front working sts: $84 - 8 = 76$ sts.
Back working sts: $84 - 8 = 76$ sts.

**Upper Front**
Work flat on Front stitches only.
**Row 1 (WS)**: k1 (edge), work in pattern to last st, k1 (edge).
**Row 2 (RS - Dec)**: k1, ssk, work in pattern to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
$[76 - 2 = 74 \text{ sts}]$
**Row 3 (WS)**: Work in pattern.
Repeat Rows 2-3 a further 5 (6, 7, 8, 9) times.
*Math Check Size M*: 74 - (6*2) = 62 sts remaining.

Continue straight in pattern until armhole depth measures 14 (15, 16, 17, 18) cm.

**Neck Shaping (Front)**
1.  Work 18 (20, 22, 24, 26) sts in pattern. Join a second ball of yarn and cast off the centre 26 (22, 18, 14, 10) sts (adjust based on cable position). Work remaining sts.
2.  Working both sides at once, decrease 1 st at neck edge every RS row 4 times.
3.  Work straight until Armhole depth is 20 (21, 22, 23, 24) cm.
4.  Cast off shoulder stitches.

**Upper Back**
Join yarn to Back stitches.
Work decreases as for Front Armholes.
Continue straight in 2x2 Rib until armhole matches Front length.
Cast off all stitches.

**BORDER**

**Neck Edging**
Using 4.0 mm needles and RS facing, pick up and knit stitches around the neckline.
*   Target density: Pick up 3 sts for every 4 rows along vertical edges, and 1 st per st along horizontal cast-off edges.
*   Total stitch count should be a multiple of 4.
*   Work in 2x2 Rib for 2.5 cm.
*   Cast off loosely in rib (or use Italian Tubular Cast Off for a professional finish).

**Armhole Edging**
Using 4.0 mm needles, pick up and knit stitches around the armhole.
*   Target: Approx 80-100 sts depending on size.
*   Work in 2x2 Rib for 2.5 cm.
*   Cast off loosely in rib.

**FINISHING**
1.  **Blocking**: This is essential for the cable panel.
    *   Soak the tank in lukewarm water with wool wash for 15 minutes.
    *   Squeeze out excess water (do not wring). Roll in a towel.
    *   Lay flat to dry. Gently pin the Honeycomb panel to open up the cables to 7cm width.
    *   Pat the ribbing into shape but **do not overstretch** width-wise, or the tank will be too loose.
2.  **Seaming**: Sew shoulder seams using mattress stitch if not joined previously.
3.  Weave in all ends on the WS.