Shapely Tank Top
by Joan McGowan-Michael

The Shapely Tank is now one of the most popular free patterns to be found on the internet. It teaches the use of short row shaping for an excellent fit and in creating design detail. It is suggested that you make this top with 2-3" of negative ease. 

 Enjoy it with my compliments.

Update, June 21st, 2011: The Shapely Tank pattern is now available in Italian!  Translated for us by Maria Rosa Spighetti.

Materials

-6 ( 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10, 10 ) balls of  Cascade Pima Tencel, 89 yards per 50 gm ball.
-1pr ea size 6 and size 5 needles
-Tapestry needle

Gauge: 5 sts and 7 rows per 1 inch using size 6 needles.

Sizes: 36 (38, 41, 44, 46, 48, 50, 54, 58)" finished bust.

Length from shoulder to hem: 20 (21, 211⁄2, 23, 231⁄2, 231⁄2, 24, 241⁄2, 241⁄2)".

Note: If a straighter top is preferred, omit shaping at side seams.

Front

With larger needle, cast on 90 (96, 103, 110, 115, 120, 125, 135, 145) sts. Work 6 rows in garter st (k every row).
Switch to stockinette and begin short rows to create rounded bottom edge.

Work across to within 3 sts of of end of row. Wrap the next stitch (with yarn in back, slip next stitch from left hand to right hand needle, bring yarn to front of work, slip back to left hand needle), turn work around and work back to other end to within 3 sts of end of row.

Wrap next st,turn, work back to other end to within 4 sts of end. Repeat, wrap, turn, work to within 4 sts of end. Wrap and turn, work to within 5 sts of end,wrap and turn to within 5 sts, wrap and turn. Repeat until six stitches on each side of front have been wrapped.

Next row, work all the way to end of row, picking up wrapped sts along with regular sts and knitting as one st.

Work back, picking up wrapped sts as before.

Work evenly for 11⁄2 ( 11⁄2, 11⁄2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3 , 3) “, then begin side decreases.

Dec 1 st each end of needle every 4th row 5 times-80 (86, 93, 100, 105, 110, 115, 125, 135) sts.
Work 14 rows evenly.
Increase 1 st each end of every 6th row 5 times. -90 (96, 103, 110, 115, 120, 125, 135, 145) sts.

Work evenly until back is 11 (12, 12, 12 ½, 12 ½, 12 ½, 13, 13, 13)" from end of lower short rows.
(Note: If you wear a C-cup bra or larger, here is the place to put more short rows as worked at the bottom edge. Repeat those instructions once for a C-cup, twice for D, etc. After all short rows have been completed, work one final row across all sts, picking up wraps.) Work to desired length to underarm.

Armholes and Neckline

Bind off 5 (5, 7, 7, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13) sts at beginning of next 2 rows and then 3 (4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13) sts at beginning of following 2 rows.
Dec 1 st at each side every other row 1 (3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4) times. -72 (72, 73, 80, 83, 82, 83, 85, 85) sts.
Work evenly for 1" then bind off center 28 (28, 29, 32, 32, 34, 34, 33, 33) sts.
Attach 2nd ball of yarn and working both shoulders simultaneously, dec 1 st at each neck edge every other row 10 times. 12 (12, 12, 14, 15, 14, 15, 16, 16) sts are left at each shoulder. Work evenly until armholes measure 8 (8, 81/2, 81/2, 9, 9, 9, 91/2, 91/2)" from first underarm bind off. Bind off shoulders.

Back
Repeat as for front, omitting short rows at bust line and working until back measures same as front at sides. Bind off armholes as for front and work for 3” from first underarm bind off. Work neck as for front.

Finishing

Sew right shoulder together. With smaller needle, pick up 3 sts for every 4 around neck edge. Working in garter st, K 2 rows, next row decrease 6 stitches evenly around neckline, K 2 more rows, bind off.
Sew left shoulder, pick up sts as for neckline at armhole edges and work 6 rows garter st. Bind off and repeat at other armhole edge. Sew side seams. Steam lightly with cool iron.

© 2006 White Lies Designs -All rights reserved worldwide. For personal use only. May not be reproduced or distributed without permission from author. Please see more of our styles at http://www.whiteliesdesigns.com

Top

Back to Shapely Tank Top