by Jen Owens

After witnessing so much devastation along the Jersey shore caused by Superstorm Sandy this past year I was inspired to create a summer top that would remind me of how much the shore means to me. A lovely shade of blue to go with the sky, this tank top is "shore" to please.

I am a big fan of lace. It is so versatile and pretty. What is worn underneath can set the tone for a great outfit. For example, pair this tank top with a white tee and jeans for a casual look or wear a camisole underneath for a more elegant effect. This long and lean tank can even be worn over a bathing suit - it is just the right length.

The deep neckline with i-cord closure at the chest adds a bit of sexiness to the style. It is knit in two pieces with an interesting slip stitch hem and flattering a-line shape. The well-positioned decreases create figure flattering lines along the sides and neckline. Nothing too challenging but lace and shaping will keep it interesting - a fun knit.

SIZE
XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]
shown in size S with 2 inches of negative ease

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Finished Bust: 28.75[32, 35.25, 38.5, 41.5, 44.75, 48] inches
Length: 23.5[24, 24.5, 25, 25.5, 26, 26.5] inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
Cascade Sierra [80% pima cotton, 20% wool; 191 yds/175m per 100g skein]; color #22 Denim; 3[3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5] skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 pair of US #7/4.5mm needles, circular or straight
1 pair of US #5/3.75mm needles, circular or straight
1 set of US #5/3.75mm double-point needles (or preferred needles for working small circumferences in the round)

Notions
yarn needle
stitch holder

GAUGE

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

Work decreases into Lace Rib pattern, making sure to keep stitch counts correct.

Slip Stitch Hem pattern (mult of 2 sts + 1)
Row 1 [RS]: (P1, sl1 wyif) to last st, p1.
Row 2 [WS]: K2, (sl1 wyib, k1) to last st, k1.
Repeat Rows 1-2 for patt.

Lace Rib (mult of 8 sts + 9)
Row 1 [RS]: K1, *p1, k1, k2tog, yo, k2, p1, k1tbl; rep from * to last 8 sts, p1, k1, k2tog, yo, k2, p1, k1.
Rows 2, 4 & 6 [WS]: P1, *k1, p5, k1, p1tbl; rep from * to last 8 sts, k1, p5, k1, p1.
Row 3: K1, *p1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, p1, k1tbl; rep from * to last 8 sts, p1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, p1, k1.
Row 5: K1, *p1, k5, p1, k1tbl; rep from * to last 8 sts, p1, k5, p1, k1.
Rep Rows 1-6 for patt.

I-cord
With DPNs, cast on 3 sts. *Knit 1 row. Slide sts to opposite end of dpn, bringing yarn behind work (do not turn). Repeat from * until i-cord reaches required length. Bind off.

DIRECTIONS
BACK
With smaller needles, cast on 99[107, 115, 123, 133, 143, 151] sts.

Beginning with a RS row, work slip stitch hem pattern for 7 rows, ending after a RS row.

Change to larger needles.

Next row [WS]: Knit, dec 10[10, 10, 10, 12, 14, 14] sts evenly across row. 89[97, 105, 113, 121, 129, 137] sts.

Begin Lace Rib:
Begin working in Lace Rib pattern, dec 1 st at each end of 9th row and every foll 10th row 7 times more, working decrease rows as foll:

Decrease row [RS]: K1, p1, ssk, patt to last 4 sts, k2tog, p1, k1.

73[81, 89, 97, 105, 113, 121] sts rem after all decreases have been worked.

Continue even in patt until back measures 16 inches from cast on or desired length to armhole, ending after a WS row.

Shape armholes:
BO 5 sts at beg of next 2 rows, then BO 0[2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3] sts at beg of foll 2 rows.

Decrease row [RS]: K2, ssk, patt to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2. 2 sts dec'd.

Repeat Decrease row every RS row 2[2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8] times more. 57[61, 67, 71, 77, 81, 87] sts remain.

Continue even in patt until armhole measures 6[6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9] inches, ending after a WS row.

Shape Neck and Shoulders:
Next row [RS]: Patt 23[25, 25, 27, 27, 27, 29] sts, attach second ball of yarn and BO next 11[11, 17, 17, 23, 26, 29] sts, patt to end.

Note: Both sides of neck are worked separately and at the same time. Instructions for each side are separated by a semi-colon (;).

Next row [WS]: Patt to end of left side; BO 3, patt to end.
Next row [RS]: Patt to end of right side; BO 3, patt to end.
Rep last 2 rows twice more. 14[16, 16, 18, 18, 18, 20] sts rem for each side.

Next row [WS]: BO 3[4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6] sts, patt to end of left side; BO 3, patt to end.
Next row [RS]: BO 3[4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6] sts, patt to end of right side; BO 3, patt to end. 8[9, 9, 10, 10, 10, 11] sts rem for each side.

Next row [WS]: BO 3[4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6] sts, patt to end of left side; patt to end.
Next row [RS]: BO 3[4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6] sts, patt to end of right side; patt to end.
Next row [WS]: BO rem 5 sts; patt to end.
Next row [RS]: BO rem 5 sts.

Separate for Left Front and Right Front:
Next Row [RS]: Patt 33[37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57], join a second ball of yarn and BO next 7 sts, patt to end.

Note: Each side of Front will now be worked separately at the same time. Instructions for each side are separated by a semi-colon (;).

Next Row [WS]: Patt to last 5 sts of Right Front, k1, p1tbl, k1, p2; p2, k1, p1tbl, k1, patt to end.

Next Row [RS]: Patt to last 5 sts of Left Front, p1, k1tbl, p1, k2; k2, p1, k1tbl, p1, patt to end.

Rep these 2 rows until FRONT measures same as back to armhole, ending after a WS row. Place sts for Right Front on holder.

Left Front
Shape left armhole and neck:
Cont in Lace Rib and neck edge sts as est, BO 5 sts at beg of next RS row, then 0[2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3] sts at beg of next RS row. Work 1 WS row even in patt.

Armhole decrease row [RS]: K2, ssk, patt to end. 1 st dec'd

Rep Armhole decrease row every RS row 1[1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0] time(s) more, then work 1 WS row even. 26[28, 32, 37, 41, 44, 48] sts.

Next row [RS]: K2, ssk, patt to last 7 sts, k2tog, patt to end. 2 sts dec'd
Work 1 WS row.
Rep last 2 rows 0[0, 1, 4, 5, 6, 7] times more. Armhole decreases are now complete and 24[26, 28, 27, 29, 30, 32] sts remain.

Neck decrease row [RS]: Patt to last 7 sts, k2tog, patt to end. 1 st dec'd
Rep Neck decrease row every RS row 10[10, 12, 9, 9, 10, 10] times more, then every foll 4th row 2[2, 2, 2, 4, 4, 4] times more. 11[13, 13, 15, 15, 15, 17] sts remain.

Work even until armhole measures same as Back to shoulder, ending after a WS row.

Shape left shoulder:
BO 3[4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6] sts at beg of next 2 RS rows, then rem 5 sts at beg of foll RS row.

Cont in Lace Rib and neck edge sts as est, BO 5 sts at beg of next WS row, then 0[2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3] sts at beg of next WS row.

Armhole decrease row [RS]: Patt to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2. 1 st dec'd
Rep Armhole decrease row every RS row 1[1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0] time(s) more, then work 1 WS row. 26[28, 32, 37, 41, 44, 48] sts

Next row [RS]: Patt 5, ssk, patt to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2. 2 sts dec'd
Work 1 WS row.
Rep last 2 rows 0[0, 1, 4, 5, 6, 7] times more. Armhole decreases are now complete and 24[26, 28, 27, 29, 30, 32] sts remain.

Neck decrease row [RS]: Patt 5, ssk, patt to end. 1 st dec'd
Rep Neck decrease row every RS row 10[10, 12, 9, 9, 10, 10] times more, then every foll 4th row 2[2, 2, 2, 4, 4, 4] times more. 11[13, 13, 15, 15, 15, 17] sts rem.

Work even until armhole measures same as BACK to shoulder, ending after a RS row.

Shape left shoulder:
BO 3[4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6] sts at beg of next 2 WS rows, then rem 5 sts at beg of foll WS row.

FINISHING
Armhole trim:
Join shoulders. With RS facing and smaller needles, pick up and knit 70[78, 86, 92, 96, 104, 110] sts around armhole.
Knit 1 row, purl 1 row, then BO all sts knit-wise.

Eyelet placket:
With RS facing and smaller needles, beginning at the splitting of the Left and Right Fronts beginning at the base of the Right Front, pick up and knit 15 sts to the beg of the neck decreases.
Knit 3 rows.
Eyelet row: K2, [yo, k2tog, k3] twice, yo, k2tog, k1.
Knit 2 rows more and bind off.
Repeat for Left Front, picking up sts from the beg of the neck decreases to the base of the splitting. Sew the edge of the trim to the 7 cast off sts at the base.

Neck trim:
With RS facing, smaller circular needle, and starting at beg of neck decreases on the Right Front, pick up and knit 43[45, 48, 53, 56, 59, 62] sts to shoulder, pick up and knit 42[42, 48, 48, 54, 58, 60] sts across the Back Neck, then pick up and knit 43[45, 48, 53, 56, 59, 62] sts to beg of neck decreases on Left Front.
Knit 1 row, purl 1 row, then BO all sts knit-wise.

Sew side seams. Block to measurements and weave in ends. Work i-cord 23 inches long and thread through eyelets on neck placket. Knot i-cord at each end.

Jen Owens lives in New Jersey with her husband, three kids, one dog and one cat. She is very passionate about knitting and it is very rare to see her without knitting needles in hand (unless she is out running -- her other favorite pastime). While mostly doing test knits for her favorite designers, occasionally she will find the time to knit up one of her own creations.

She can be found as Jennits on Ravelry.