Sunflower Shell Tank
Make your own lightweight and shimmery summer tank with this free pattern excerpted from the Martingale book "Beyond Wool." Other than sewing up the side seams and grafting the straps, there's no finishing work to worry about. The smoothness of the yarn gives the center panel incredible relief, which contrasts nicely with the flatness of the stockinette-stitch sides. This is definitely one of those knit top patterns that's a must-have for hotter weather.
Knitting Needle Size2 or 2.75 mm, 3 or 3.25 mm
Yarn Weight(3) Light/DK (21-24 stitches to 4 inches)
Materials
- 6 (6, 7, 7, 8) skeins Pure Cotton from Jaeger (100% mercerized cotton; 50 grams, 122 yards per skein), color Corn #528, or other DK-weight yarn
- Size 2 (3 mm) needles
- Size 3 (3.25 mm) needles or size needed to obtain gauge
- Stitch marker
- Stitch holder
Gauge
23 sts and 29 rows = 4” in stockinette stitch on size 3 needles
Finished Measurements
Bust: 38 (40, 42, 44, 46)”
Center Back Length: 14½ (14½, 15½, 15½, 16½)”
Pattern Stitch
Stockinette Stitch
Row 1 (RS): Knit.
Row 2 (WS): Purl.
Center Panel (22 sts)
Cast on 22 sts
Note: Sl all sts pw wyib.
Row 1 and all WS rows: P10, K2, P10.
Row 2 (RS): K6, SSK, return resulting st to LH needle, and with point of RH needle pass next st over it and off needle; then sl st back to RH needle (this is the “SSK and pass” below); YO, K1, YO, P2, YO, K1, YO, sl 1, K2tog, psso, K6.
Row 4: K4, SSK and pass, K1, (YO, K1) twice, P2, K1, (YO, K1) twice, sl 1, K2tog, psso, K4.
Row 6: K2, SSK and pass, K2, YO, K1, YO, K2, P2, K2, YO, K1, YO, K2, sl 1, K2tog, psso, K2.
Row 8: SSK and pass, K3, YO, K1, YO, K3, P2, K3, YO, K1, YO, K3, sl 1, K2tog, psso.
Front
With size 2 needles and using cable-edge cast on, CO 110 (116, 122, 128, 134) sts.
Purl 5 (5, 5, 7, 7) rows. Change to size 3 needles.
Establish patt on WS as foll: P42 (45, 48, 51, 54), K2, work row 1 of center panel, K2, P42 (45, 48, 51, 54).
Next row: K42 (45, 48, 51, 54), P2, work row 2 of center panel, P2, K42 (45, 48, 51, 54).
Cont in above manner, until 11 (11, 12, 12, 13) rep of center panel have been worked—88 (88, 96, 96, 104) rows. Work row 1 of center panel.
Shape armhole: BO 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) sts at beg of next 2 rows—90 (94, 98, 102, 106) sts.
Work foll 2 rows a total of 14 times, then work row 1 again—60 (64, 68, 72, 76) sts:
Row 1 (RS): K3, sl 1, K1, psso, work in patt to last 5 sts, K2tog, K3.
Row 2 (WS): Work in established patt.
Next row (WS): Working in established patt, work 20 (22, 24, 26, 28) sts, work middle 20 sts and place on holder, work rem 20 (22, 24, 26, 28) sts. Work each side separately.
Right armhole and neck: Cont armhole dec as above, work to last 5 sts, K2tog, K3 (neck dec).
Turn work and work WS row. Cont to dec at both armhole edge and neck edge every RS row 5 (6, 7, 8, 9) more times—8 sts. Work only armhole dec 4 more times—4 sts. Place sts on st marker.
Left armhole and neck: With RS facing, attach yarn at neck edge and work other side to correspond, working neck dec as foll: K3, sl 1 kw, K1, psso.
Straps: Work 4 rem sts of strap in St st for 2”.
Place sts on st marker. Rep for other strap.
Back
Work another piece exactly the same as front.
Finishing
Sew side seams. Center sts of neck will want to turn under at the curved line of the pattt. Carefully sew down live sts to make a hem. Graft front and back straps at shoulders. Steam genftly, but do not pull down gentle curve of center patt at lower edge. Do not press open St-st straps and armhole shaping, but let them gently roll to form a finished edge.
