I whipped up this knit top a few months ago, but held on releasing the pattern until I could get some other eyes to look it over. It’s pretty simple. If you’ve made a garment before then this will be a breeze. And since there’s no sleeves it goes by quickly, which I love. I dread making sleeves. By that point I feel like I should be done!
Scroll down for the free pattern or download the free PDF version HERE
Materials
- Suggested Yarn: Lion Brand, Mako Cotton [94% mako cotton / 6% nylon; 126 yards; 50 grams, CYC #4] – 3 (4, 4, 5, 5, 6) skeins Red
- Needles: US size 7 / 4.5mm 32” circular needle
- Gauge: 17 sts & 24 rnds = 4” in stockinette stitch
- Notions: Yarn needle for weaving ends; scrap yarn
- Finished Sizes: 34 (36, 40, 44, 47.5, 51)” Bust
The Pattern
Pattern is written for smallest size with changes for larger sizes in parenthesis.
Body
Cast on 136 (144, 160, 176, 192, 208) sts,
place marker and join for working in the rnd.
Rnd 1: k1, *p2, k2; rep from * to last 3 sts, p2, k1
Work this rnd for ribbing.
Continue until piece measures 2” from cast on edge.
Set Up: *k1, [p2, k2] twice, p2, k46 (50, 58, 66, 74, 82), p2, [k2, p2] twice, k1, PM; rep from * once more
Next Rnd: *k1, [p2, k2] twice, p2, k46 (50, 58, 66, 74, 82), p2, [k2, p2] twice, k1, SM; rep from * once more
68 (72, 80, 88, 96, 104) sts each for the front and back
Decrease Section
Dec Rnd k1, [p2, k2] twice, p2, k46 (50, 58, 66, 74, 82), p2, [k2, p2] twice, k1, SM, k1, [p2, k2] twice, p2, ssk, knit to 2 sts before next purl st, k2tog, p2, k2, p2] twice, k1, SM
Next 4 (4, 4, 5, 5, 5) Rnds: Work even in established pattern (knit the knits and purl the purl sts)
Work Decrease Section another 3 times – 8 sts decreased – 128 (136, 152, 168, 184, 200 sts]
- 68 (72, 80, 88, 96, 104) sts each for the front
- 60 (64, 72, 80, 88, 96) sts each for the back
Increase Section
Next 7 (7, 7, 8, 8, 8) Rnds: Work even in established pattern (knit the knits and purl the purl sts)
Inc Rnd: * k1, [p2, k2] twice, p2, k1, m1, knit to 2 sts before next purl st, m1, k1, p2, k2, p2] twice, k1, SM; rep from * once more – 4 sts increased
Work Increase Section another 3 times – 16 sts increased – 144 (152, 168, 184, 200, 216) sts]
Next Rnd: k1, [p2, k2] twice, p2, k1, m1, knit to 2 sts before next purl st, m1, k1, p2, [k2, p2] twice, k1, SM, k1, [p2, k2] twice, p2, knit to next purl st, p2, k2, p2] twice, k1 – 2 sts increased [146 (154, 170, 186, 202, 218) sts]
Next Rnd: Work 1 rnd even
- 78 (82, 90, 98, 106, 114) sts each for the front
- 68 (72, 80, 88, 96, 104) sts each for the back
Separate for Front and Back
Knit to marker, remove marker, place the sts just worked on a holder or scrap yarn for later. These are the front stitches.
Back
Begin with 68 (72, 80, 88, 96,104) sts for back.
Keep the knit and purl sts in pattern.
Shape Armholes
Bind off 5 (5, 5, 6, 6, 6) at the beginning of the next 2 rows – 58 (62, 70, 76, 84, 92) sts
Row 1 (RS): k1, p1 (1, 1, 0, 0, 0), k2, p2, PM, ssk, knit to 2 sts before next purl st, k2tog, PM, p2, k2, p1 (1, 1, 0, 0, 0), k1 – 2 sts decreased – 56 (60, 68, 74, 82, 90) sts
Row 2 (WS): work even
Row 3: work to marker, SM, ssk, knit to 2 sts before next marker, k2tog, SM, work to end – 2 sts decreased
Row 4: work even
Work Rows 3 &4 another 5 (6, 6, 7, 7, 8) times – 44 (46, 54, 58, 66, 72) sts
Work even in pattern until armhole measures 5.5 (6.5, 6, 6, 6, 6)”
Shape Neck
Row 1 (RS): k19 (20, 24, 26, 30, 33), k2tog, k1, turn leaving the remaining 22 (23, 27, 29, 33, 36) for second side of neck – 1 st decreased
Last 11 (11, 15, 15, 19, 19) rows: working in pattern decrease 1 st at neck edge for the next 11 rows – 11 sts decreased
Bind off 10 (11, 11, 12, 12, 13) sts
With RS facing, join yarn to sts on opposite side of neck: k1, ssk, work in pattern to end of row – 1 st decreased
Last 11 (11, 15, 15, 19, 19) rows: working in pattern decrease 1 st at neck edge – 11 sts decreased
Bind off 10 (11, 11, 12, 12, 13) sts
Front
Place the 78 (82, 90, 98, 106, 114) held sts on your needle.
Keep the knit and purl sts in pattern.
Shape Armholes
Bind off 5 (5, 5, 6, 6, 6) at the beginning of the next 2 rows – 68 (72, 80, 86, 94,102) sts
Row 1 (RS): k1, p1 (1, 1, 0, 0, 0), k2, p2, PM, ssk, knit to 2 sts before next purl st, k2tog, PM, p2, k2, p1 (1, 1, 0, 0, 0), k1 – 2 sts decreased – 66 (70, 78, 84, 92,100) sts
Row 2 (WS): work even
Row 3: work to marker, SM, ssk, knit to 2 sts before next marker, k2tog, SM, work to end – 2 sts decreased
Row 4: work even
Work rows 3 & 4 another 5 (6, 6, 7, 7, 8) times – 54 (56, 64, 68, 76, 82) sts
Work even in pattern until armhole measures 6.5 (7.5, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 8.5)” or 1” (6 rows) less than desired armhole depth to match back of piece.
Shape Neck
Row 1 (RS): k15 (16, 16, 17, 17, 18), bind off the next 24 (24, 32, 34, 42, 46) sts, work in pattern to end of row.
Last 5 rows: working in pattern decrease 1 st at neck edge – 5 sts decreased
Bind off 10 (11, 11, 12, 12, 13) sts
With RS facing, join yarn to sts on opposite side of neck.
Last 5 rows: working in pattern decrease 1 st at neck edge – 5 sts decreased
Bind off 10 (11, 11, 12, 12, 13) sts
Finishing
- With WS facing out, seam shoulders.
- Block as desired.
- Wear proudly!
Abbreviations
- k = Knit
- k2tog = Knit 2 together
- p = Purl
- PM = Place marker
- Rep = Repeat
- RS = Right side
- SM = Slip marker
- SSK = Slip, slip, knit
- sts = Stitches
- WS = Wrong side
Stitch Guide
- K2tog = Knit 2 stitches together as 1 stitch
- SSK = Slip 1 as if to knit, slip 1 as if to purl, work both sts together through the back loop.
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The Avalon Tank Top
Design Copyright Erica Jackofsky • Fiddle Knits Designs
All Rights Reserved • May 2019
For more information contact: FiddleKnitsDesigns@gmail.com
