Miriam is a knitter who crochets. Amy is a crocheter who knits. We both came to crochet first, as children, and we both learned to knit about fourteen years ago. We share an appreciation for the inherent beauty of both knitting and crochet. Miriam loves lace and designs intricate patterns that enthrall knitters with their form and flow. She's designed over two dozen shawls including two published here on Knitty. Amy designs crochet garments that combine fit and wearability with captivating constructions. She has a particular fondness for hats. Amy naturally picks up a hook when she's thinking of designing something new, and Miriam reaches for her needles, but we each enjoy the challenges of both knitting and crochet.

by Miriam L. Felton



Miriam was teaching in Florida when she was struck by the beauty of the sandhill cranes. Those cranes inspired the name of this tank which she designed in the round in crochet for the bodice, then divided and knit for the front and back of the arm and neck shaping. Amy was thrilled with the name because those same sandhill cranes make a visit to Alaska each fall and spring signaling the change in seasons.

Crane Hill is a wonderful dip of your toe into the warm waters of crocheting a garment. You'll practice your increasing and decreasing skills without worrying about sizing and shaping in the crochet part of the garment. The small bit of positive ease in the tank means the crochet fabric falls gently and can be a great summer shell or a layering piece in cooler months.

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

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Bust circumference: 26.75[32, 37.25, 42.75, 48, 53.25, 58.75] inches
Length from underarm: 14.5[15, 15.75, 16.25, 17, 17.5, 18.25] inches
Total length from hem to shoulder: 21.75[23, 24.5, 25.25, 26.75, 28.25, 30] inches

Note: Choose a size with up to 2 inches of positive ease. There is some flexibility in blocking, so you can block it a little larger than the measurements if you need.

MATERIALS
Yarn
Quince & Co Kestrel [100% Organic Linen, 76 yds per 50g skein]; color: Ebb Tide; 7[8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 15] skeins.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #8/5mm circular needle, 32-40 inch

Notions
US #I-9/5.5mm crochet hook
removable stitch marker
stitch marker of any style
yarn needle

GAUGE

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

Ripple Stitch: Working only into the back loop of the previous round, ch3, dc in same st as ch3, 3dc, dc2tog twice, 3dc, 2dc in same st, (2dc in same st, 3dc, dc2tog twice, 3dc, 2dc in same st) to end, sl to join round.

Instructions for grafting with Kitchener stitch can be found here:

DIRECTIONS
Lower Body
With crochet hook, using the Foundation Double Crochet (fdc) (see article), work 120[144, 168, 192, 216, 240, 264] dc, then sl to join in the round, being careful not to twist the edge.

Work 23[24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29] rounds of Ripple Stitch. Do not fasten off.

Upper Body
Transfer final loop to the knitting needle and pick up one stitch through the back loop of every crochet stitch from the last round. 120[144, 168, 192, 216, 240, 264] sts. Place marker for beginning of round.

Rnd 1: Knit.

Rnd 2: (K1, m1, k3, k2tog, ssk, k3, m1, k1) to end.

Rnd 3: K to last 1[2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7] sts; stop here.

Split front & back
Rnd 4: *BO 2[4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14] sts (removing BOR marker as you do so), k until you have 29[34, 39, 44, 49, 54, 59] sts on the needle, pm for neck split, k29[34, 39, 44, 49, 54, 59]; rep from * once more. 58[68, 78, 88, 98, 108, 118] sts each on front and back.

Front/Back are worked flat and worked the same. You can place the first half of the round on a holder while you work the back half first. Turn your work ready to start a WS row.

Row 1 [WS]: Sl2 wyif, p to end.
Row 2 [RS]: Sl2 wyib, ssk, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2. 2 sts decreased.
Row 3 [WS]: Sl2 wyif, p to end.

Repeat Rows 2-3 1[3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4] more times. 54[60, 68, 78, 88, 98, 108] sts

XS, S sizes only:
Work 4 rows as follows:
RS Rows: Sl2 wyib, k to end.

WS Rows: Sl2 wyif, p to end.

All sizes: Proceed to Neck Shaping.

Neck Shaping
XS, S, M sizes only:
Row 1 [RS]: Sl2 wyib, k to 4 sts before marker, k2tog, k4, ssk, k to end. 52[58, 66, -, -, -, -] sts

Row 2 [WS]: Sl2 wyif, p to marker, remove marker. Attach a second ball of yarn at this point, to divide for neck. Continuing with new ball of yarn, sl2, wyif p to end.

Note: From this point your fronts will be worked separately with two balls of yarn. You can work on them at the same time on the same needle. 26[29, 33, -, -, -, -] sts for each side.

L, 1X, 2X, 3X sizes only:
Row 1 [RS]: Sl2 wyib, ssk, k to 4 sts before marker, k2tog, k4, ssk, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2. -[-, -, 74, 84, 94, 104] sts.

Row 2 [WS]: Sl2 wyif, p to marker, remove marker Attach a second ball of yarn at this point, to divide for neck. Continuing with new ball of yarn, sl2, wyif p to end.

Note: From this point your fronts will be worked separately with two balls of yarn. You can work on them at the same time on the same needle. -[-, -, 37, 42, 47, 52] sts for each side.

FINISHING
With WS together, join shoulders with Kitchener stitch. Weave in ends (don't forget to join the chainless foundation) and block. Don't be afraid to beat up the linen yarn a bit in the wash. It will help to soften it and relax the stitches.