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© Knitty 2002-2006. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. This means you.

 



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About a year ago I designed a tank top for myself in All Season's Cotton using a really beautiful, yet simple stitch pattern along the bottom edge. The stitch pattern and the yarn spoke to me -- they clearly wanted to be re-made into a different piece -- something very Zen and organic in feel.

Over time, the design took shape in my mind as a yoga top that is both streamlined and detailed. The front is very basic -- all the magic takes place in the back where the tabs let a bit of skin peek through. Except for the sexy back openings, the top has good coverage. It falls down over the hips for a fit that doesn't ride up with movement.

The knitting for Asana is incredibly simple -- knit, purl and a bit of increasing and decreasing. The most difficult aspect of this top is that it involves a little basic sewing -- you'll need to pull out the old Singer to secure the straps and the Velcro, or if you're brave, do a little hand stitching.

model: Julia Trice photos: MBWD

SIZE
To fit bust size 32[34,36,38,40,42,44] inches (shown in 32" size)
 
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Note: Measurements "including tab" are taken when the top is laid out flat and open, and allow for approximately a 5-inch overlap. (The amount of overlap is adjustable and will be customized by you in the finishing stages.) The waist measurement "without tab" is taken across the bodice of the top before the waist tabs are added.

Chest (including tab): 37[39,41,43,45,47,49] inches
Waist (including tab):34[36,38,40,42,44,46] inches
Waist (without tab): 18[20,22,24,26,28,30] inches
Hips (including tab):38[40,42,44,46,48,50] inches
Length: 15.5[16,16.5,17,17.5,18,18.5] inches

 

MATERIALS

Rowan All Season's Cotton [60% cotton, 40% acrylic; 98 yd/90m per 50g skein]; color: Organic(178); 4[5,5,5,6,6,6] skeins

1 set 24 inch US #6/4.25mm circular needles
1 set US #7/4.50mm straight needles
2 yds 0.5 inch-wide grosgrain ribbon
18 inches of Velcro stripping
sewing thread in a color to match yarn
2 stitch markers
10 safety pins
straight pins
tapestry needle
sewing needle

GAUGE

15 sts/34 rows = 4 inches in garter rib pattern on US #6/4.25mm needles
15 sts/26 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch on US #7/4.50mm needles

Take time to check both gauges. (Note: Although my needles were 1 US size apart, there was a difference of only 0.25 mm in their thickness).

 
PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations can be found here]

Garter Rib (worked over a multiple of 4 sts):
Row 1 [WS]: [P2, k2] to end.
Row 2 [RS]: [K2, p2] to end.

 

DIRECTIONS

Lower Band
Using US #6/4.25mm needles, CO 144[152, 160, 168, 176, 184, 192] sts.

Work 23[23, 25, 25, 25, 27, 27] rows in garter rib.

Next Row [RS]: BO 30 sts kwise, p84[92, 100, 108, 116, 124, 132], work rem 30 sts in Garter Rib as set.

Next Row [WS]: BO 30 sts pwise, k to end. (A 2-row purl ridge has been formed.) 84[92, 100, 108, 116, 124, 132] sts rem.

Bodice
Work 6 rows in stockinette st, using US #7/4.50mm needles, beginning with a RS (knit) row and slipping first st of each row kwise.

Work waist shaping
Next Row [RS]: Sl1 kwise, k12, k3tog, k52[60, 68, 76, 84, 92, 100], k3tog tbl, k13.

Work 5 rows in stockinette st, slipping first st of each row kwise.

Next Row [RS]: Sl1 kwise, k11, k3tog, k50[58, 66, 74, 82, 90, 98], k3tog tbl, k12.

Work 5 rows in stockinette st, slipping first st of each row kwise.

Next Row [RS]: Sl1 kwise, k10, k3tog, k48[56, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96], k3tog tbl, k11.
Work 5 rows in stockinette st, slipping first st of each row kwise.
Next Row [RS]: Sl1 kwise, k9, k3tog, k46[54, 62, 70, 78, 86, 94], k3tog tbl, k10.
68[76, 84, 92, 100, 108, 116] sts rem.
Work 11[11, 13, 13, 13, 15, 15] rows in stockinette st, slipping first st of each row kwise.
Next Row [RS]: Sl1 kwise, k9, m1, k1, m1, k46[54, 62, 70, 78, 86, 94], m1, k1, m1, k10.
Work 5 rows in stockinette st, slipping first st of each row kwise.
Next Row [RS]: Sl1 kwise, k10, m1, k1, m1, k48[56, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96], m1, k1, m1, k11.
Work 5 rows in stockinette st, slipping first st of each row kwise.
Next Row [RS]: Sl1 kwise, k11, m1, k1, m1, k50[58, 66, 74, 82, 90, 98], m1, k1, m1, k12.
80[88, 96, 104, 112, 120, 128] sts.
Work 5[5, 7, 7, 7, 9, 9] rows in stockinette st, slipping first st of each row kwise.

Upper Band
Next Row [WS]: Using US #6/4.25mm circular or straight needles, CO 30 sts, p across bodice sts, CO 30 sts. 140[148, 154, 162, 170, 178, 186, 194] sts.
Work in Garter Rib for 35[37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47] rows (ending with a RS row).
BO all sts pwise.

Waist Tabs (Make 2)
Using US #6/4.25mm needles, CO 32 sts.
Work in Garter Rib for 23[23,25,25,25, 27, 27] rows. BO all sts pwise.

 
FINISHING

Try on the top to determine placement of waist tabs, and sew tabs in place at sides of bodice, exactly at your waist.

Try on the top again, using safety pins to fasten the wraps to determine where the Velcro should be placed. Be sure that you have a nice, tight fit, such that the top would stay up without the addition of the grosgrain shoulder straps.

Sew in the Velcro, and try on the top yet again to determine the length and placement of the grosgrain ribbon shoulder straps. Sew straps in place, folding over ends before sewing to prevent fraying.

Weave in ends, making sure to neaten up the area where you CO for the upper back wrap. Toss on some cute tights and get yourself some downward dog!

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Julia lives steps away from her LYS where she teaches knitting and spends her free time either using her needles or thinking about it on her blog, Mind of Winter.

She hopes to be a recovering attorney someday, but for the moment the law still manages to get in the way of her knitting career on a daily basis.

She is eternally grateful for the company of her often-patient and always wonderful husband and their animal menagerie (one canine, two feline) in her nation's capitol.

Julia