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Pick Up Sticks

A simple tank top with a touch of tailoring can be a gal's best friend during the wretchedly hot, summer months. Tank Girl fits the B/F/F bill!

It's quick and classic at the bottom with a subtle drop-stitch rebellion, set asymmetrically on both front and back. A change in needle size and brief ribbing nips the garment in to accentuate the feminine curves accentuated by the darted bust, giving it a delicate, camisole feel.

Tank Girl can be worn as shown here with capris & platforms, with a flow-y skirt and strappy sandals or, layered with a contrasting t-shirt and paired with jeans and Chucks.

It's quick to work up, cooling in my organic cotton yarn and extremely versatile. C'mon, get tanked with me!

 

model: Vickie Howell photos: Dave Campbell

SIZE
XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]
 
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Bust: 30[34, 38, 42, 46, 50, 54] inches
Length to underarm: 15[15.5, 16, 16.5, 17, 17.5, 18] inches 

 
MATERIALS

Vickie Howell Collection CRAFT [35% Milk Fiber, 65% Organic Cotton; 137yd/125m per 50gr ball
[MC] #780 Supercrafty; 4[5, 6, 7, 8, 9] balls
[CC] #774 Adina; 1 ball
Note: Only a small amount of CC is needed.

Recommended needle size:
1 set US #5/3.75mm straight needles
1 set US #6/4mm straight needles
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]

2 stitch markers
2 safety pins or split ring markers
Stitch holder
Tapestry needle
4 lingerie strap rings to match CC
Approx. 2[2, 2.5, 2.5, 3, 3, 3] yd narrow lacing or ribbon to match CC

GAUGE

22 sts/28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette st using larger needles

 
PATTERN NOTES

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

Instructions for the Long-Tail Cast On can be found here.

ssp: Slip next 2 sts knitwise, one at a time, to right needle. Slip them both, purlwise, back to left needle. Purl them together through their back loops.

1x1 Rib (Worked over an even number of sts):
Row 1 [RS]: K1, [p1, k1] to last st, k1.
Row 2 [WS]: P2, [k1, p1] to end.
Repeat these 2 rows for 1x1 Rib.

DIRECTIONS

FRONT
With larger needles and MC and using Long-Tail Cast On, CO 83[95, 105, 117, 127, 139, 149] sts. (Note: It is important to use this CO method so that CO edge will not unravel when stitch is dropped later.)

Set-up Row [RS]: K18[21, 24, 27, 29, 32, 35], place marker, k1, place marker, k to end.

P 1 row.
Next Row [RS]: K to 1 st before marker, k1 tbl, slip marker, k1, slip marker, k1 tbl, k to end.
Repeat these 2 rows until work measures 4.5 inches, ending with a WS row.

Next Row [RS]: K to 1 st before marker, k1 tbl, remove marker, drop next st from left needle, remove marker, k1 tbl, k to end. 82[94, 104, 116, 126, 138, 148] sts.
Tug work slightly so that dropped st unravels down to CO edge.

Work in stockinette st until work measures 11[11.5, 12, 12.5, 13, 13.5, 14] inches, ending with a WS row.

Ribbed Band:
Using smaller needles, continue as follows:
Row 1 [RS]: K1, [p1, k1] to last st, k1.
Row 2 [WS]: P2, [k1, p1] to end.
Row 3 [RS]: K1, k2tog, [p1, k1] to last 3 sts, ssp, k1.
Row 4 [WS]: P1, ssp, [k1, p1] to last 3 sts, k2tog, p1.
Rows 5-6: Work as for Rows 3-4. 74[86, 96, 108, 118, 130, 140] sts.
Join CC but do not break MC.
Row 7 [RS]: Using CC, k1, k2tog, k to last 2 sts, ssk, k1.
Row 8 [WS]: P1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, ssk, p1. 70[82, 92, 104, 114, 126, 136] sts.
Break CC.

Shape Bust:
Using larger needles and MC, continue as follows:
Next Row [RS]: K19[22, 24, 28, 30, 32, 36], place marker, k32[38, 44, 48, 54, 62, 64], place marker, k19[22, 24, 28, 30, 32, 36].
P 1 row.

Increase Row [RS]: [K to 1 st before marker, kfb, slip marker, kfb] twice, k to end.
Work 7 rows in pattern.
Repeat these 8 rows once more, then work Increase Row once more. 82[94, 104, 116, 126, 138, 148] sts.
P 1 row, removing markers. Work measures approx. 15[15.5, 16, 16.5, 17, 17.5, 18] inches. Mark each end of last row worked using safety pin or split ring marker.

Decrease Row [RS]: Ssk, k to last 2 sts, k2tog.
P 1 row.
Repeat these 2 rows twice more. 76[88, 98, 110, 120, 132, 142] sts.

Divide for Neckline:
Next Row [RS]: K38[44, 49, 55, 60, 66, 71]; place remaining 38[44, 49, 55, 60, 66, 71] sts on st holder.

Upper Left Front:
Decrease Row 1 [RS]: Ssk, k to last 2 sts, k2tog.
Decrease Row 2 [WS]: P2tog, p to last 2 sts, ssp.
Repeat these 2 rows 7[9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15] times more.

Sizes XS, L, 2X, 3X Only:
Work Decrease Row 1 once more.

All Sizes:
Work 4 rows in stockinette st over remaining 4[4, 5, 5, 4, 4, 5] sts.
BO all sts.

Upper Right Front:
Place held sts on needle and rejoin MC with RS facing. K to end.
Work as for Upper Left Front.

BACK
With larger needles and MC and using Long-Tail Cast On, CO 83[95, 105, 117, 127, 139, 149] sts.

Set-up Row [RS]: K66[75, 83, 92, 100, 110, 118], place marker, k1, place marker, k to end.

P 1 row.
Next Row [RS]: K to 1 st before marker, k1 tbl, slip marker, k1, slip marker, k1 tbl, k to end.
Repeat these 2 rows until work measures 5.5 inches, ending with a WS row.

Next Row [RS]: K to 1 st before marker, k1 tbl, remove marker, drop next st from left needle, remove marker, k1 tbl, k to end. 82[94, 104, 116, 126, 138, 148] sts.
Tug work slightly so that dropped st unravels down to CO edge.

Work in stockinette st until work measures 11[11.5, 12, 12.5, 13, 13.5, 14] inches, ending with a WS row.

Work Rows 1-8 of Ribbed Band as for Front. 70[82, 92, 104, 114, 126, 136] sts.
Work 3 inches in 1x1 Rib as set.
BO all sts.

FINISHING

Weave in ends and block pieces to measurements shown in schematic.
Sew back to front at sides, matching upper edge of back to marked row of front (at point where upper edge decreases begin).

Straps:
Insert one point of upper front through a lingerie ring, fold over and sew in place. Repeat for other upper front point.
Cut ribbon or lacing into two equal lengths. Attach each length to lingerie ring as follows:
Fold one length in half. Insert folded end through ring. Draw cut ends through loop formed by fold, and pull through, forming a knot. Attach remaining length of ribbon to other ring in the same way.

Try on top to determine best placement for lingerie rings on upper back edge. Sew rings in place on inside of piece.

Try on top again to determine desired length of straps. Tie ribbon to back rings and trim ends, hiding ends inside top.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Vickie Howell is a Craft TV host, columnist for Knit.1 and KIWI Magazines, producer/host of the podcast Craft.Rock.Love (CRL), and author of Knit Aid: A Learn it, Fix it, Finish it Guide for Knitters on the Go.  Her eco-friendly line of yarn, the Vickie Howell Collection from SWTC, launched in 2007. 

For more information or to read her blog, visit her website..