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Saturday, March 8, 2008

Pattern for "Oh So Easy" Beginner's Tank


I was looking for an easy beginner's knit tank top but I couldn't find one easy enough to do. After some trial and error. I came up with this. It's very easy. Best of all it's done in a worsted yarn and a size 9 needle so it's a pretty fast knit!

Pattern is for a size small/medium only. Small will be a little loose while medium will be form fitting!

Oh So Easy, Beginner’s Tank


Questions or problems, contact me at Ravelry or Crochetville under Jasmom! Good Luck.


Size 9 circular needle (I recommend, easier to use) but you could use a size 9 straight, 6-7 oz. of worsted weight yarn (I used 1 skein of Red Heart Super Saver), needle

Stitches used
: Knit, Purl, Binding Off, and Decreases in Knit (Put 2 stitches on needle and knit as 1).
Gauge: 16 stitches and 22 rows = 4 inches (done in stockinette: K 1 row, P 1 row)
( CORRECTION ON GAUGE DONE ON 3/20/08)

Directions:

Front and Back are identical. Make 2 then sew together.

1. Cast on 60 stitches on circular needle (do not join) or straight needle. Knit the first row and Purl the second row (Stockinette Stitch). Continue until piece measures 14 inches, ending with a purl row.

*Ends will curl. You can block with a cool iron later to smooth the ends. You may rib the first 4 rows to prevent the ends from curling. (To rib, K1 stitch then P1 stitch to end for each row, start next row also with a k stitch and then p the next stitch for a total of 4 rows). For this particular tank I made, I did not rib.

2. Start of arm shaping: On the next Knit row, bind off first 2 stitches on each end. For the next purl row, also bind off 2 stitches at each end.

3 Knit the next row, and purl the next row.

4. On the next Knit row, decrease 1 stitch at each end.

5. Continue with stockinette pattern until piece measures 2 inches from start of arm shaping ending with a purl row.

6. On the knit row, make sure you have a total of 10 stitches done in knit then start your bind off (#11 stitch is the one that is actually start the bind off), bind off until you end with the last 9 stitches on your right needle. You will have 1 stitch on your left needle from the bind off - now knit those last 9, giving you a total of 10 stitches total on each end of the needle.
7. Purl the first 10 stitches and attached a separate piece of yarn here for the next 10 stitches and purl the last 10 stitches.

8. Continue with stockinette pattern until piece measures 6 inches from the beginning of bind off (straps).
{Again, you may want to lightly block with a cool iron because ends will curl AND you can make the strap shorter if you prefer, 5 or 5 1/2"}.

Now do the same for the back piece!

9. Sew shoulders and side seams. Weave in all ends. (Optional: doing a single row of single crochet to make the neck and arm area). I did not for this tank.
Measurements:
Straps: 6 inches (you could make it shorter if your prefer)
Arm Shaping: 2 inches
Length of Tank: 14 inches from below arm to bottom of tank
Width of Tank: 16 inches across

11 comments:

dragonfly said...

Great tank! I'm a beginning knitter and it's a perfect project. Question though - #2 of the directions says to bind off 2 stitches on each end. How do you bind off at the end of a row??

Lisa Marie said...

Nice! I've been knitting for years, but have always wanted to make a tank!

@Dragonfly: If you know a basic bind off, it's easy! BO2, knit to the last two stitches, BO2. If anything, go to YouTube/Google and search "Bind Off Methods and Tips".

Betsy Dynako said...

I am lost!! I am at 14 inches and ready to start with the arm holes. But I only know how to cast off/bind off where there is a tail left. Do I have to start the yarn all over again?

I don't know how to do this and I really want to finish the sweater.

heathersknitbits said...

I would like to make this in a larger size. What changes should I make?

Jasmine's Mommy said...

Hi, this tank is for a small/med tank, approximately size 34". To make a 36", you could add 8 additional stitches. 4 additional stitches =1 inch. Make sure to check your gauge and be sure your getting 16 stitches = 4 inches. You may need to decrease additional stitches for the arm shaping!

Good luck!

Jasmine's Mommy said...

I don't often check my messages here. Please pm me on ravelry under jasmom if you have questions!

Unknown said...
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Unknown said...

Hey :), when starting the arm holes i can bind off 2 stitches at the beg but i dont know how to bind off the 2 stitches at the end of the same row can anyone help me?

Unknown said...

I am new to this....I have some yarn that I would like to use for this pattern....it is Good Earth Cotton 1.75oz.....would I be able to use this and would I still be able to use the same size needles or would I need to change? Thank you for your help.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

I am stuck after binding off and having 9 stitches left for the strap. What do I do with that 10 stitch of binding off and how do I restart the strap if there isn't yarn attached