by Julie Turjoman

The combination of taupe and lavender, to my eye, suggests spring breezes and shady lanes blooming with lilacs and hydrangeas. It’s a subtle cool that feels refreshing and soft after a long winter. Linen yarn, with its crisp hand and drape that softens with wear, has body-skimming and moisture-wicking properties that provide a certain element of cool all its own.

Worked in a sport weight yarn, this tunic is as comfortable and fetching as they come. Wear it alone or layered over a tee shirt for different looks. With its overlapping construction and contrast color leaf lace borders, this breezy tank offers a welcome mix of stylish design elements, a body-skimming fit, and straightforward knitting for almost instant gratification.

SIZE
XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]
shown in Size Small
To be worn with 1–2 inches positive ease

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 32[36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56] inches
Hip: 39.5[41.5, 45.5, 49.5, 55.5, 59.5, 63.5]
Length from shoulder to hem: 25[25, 26, 27, 27, 28, 28] inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
Claudia Hand Painted Yarns Drama [100% Linen; 270 yds/247 m per 100 g skein];
[MC] Sand in Your Shoes; 3 [4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6] skeins
[CC] Whisper; 1 skein for all sizes

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below — every knitter's gauge is unique]
One 29-to-32-inch US #5/4.0 mm circ needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
One extra US #5 / 3.75 mm needle (for 3 needle BO at shoulders)
One set US #5 / 3.75 mm needles for edging
Size E/5 Crochet hook

Notions
stitch markers
yarn needle

GAUGE

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

The tank is worked flat in two main pieces (Left Side and Right Side) from the bottom up. Edges overlap approximately three quarters of the way across the front and the back and can be left open for more drape, or stitched partway down from the neck for more modesty. Waist shaping and slip stitch faux side seams add definition. Leaf lace borders are worked separately in a contrast color yarn for the outer layer only, and are then seamed to the side and bottom edges of the tank. The inner layer is 2 inches longer than the outer layer to accentuate the tank’s drape and body-skimming fit. Short shoulder and neck edge seams are all that’s required. The Leaf Lace panel pattern is provided in both charted and written format.

Leaf Lace Panel
Row 1 (RS): P3, (k1, yo) twice, k1, p3.
Row 2: K3, p5, k3.
Row 3: P3, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, p3.
Row 4: K3, p7, k3.
Row 5: P3, ssk, k1, (yo, k1) twice, k2tog, p3.
Row 6: Rep Row 4.
Row 7: P3, ssk, k3, k2tog, p3.
Row 8: Rep Row 2.
Row 9: P3, ssk, k1, k2tog, p3.
Row 10: K3, p3, k3.
Row 11: P3, yo, cdd, yo, p3.
Row 12: Rep Row 10.
Rep Rows 1–12 for pattern.

DIRECTIONS
Right Side (Outer Layer)
With circ needles and MC, CO 165[173, 191, 207, 231, 247, 265] sts.

Row 1 (RS): K82[86, 95, 103, 115, 123, 132], pm, sl 1, pm, knit to end.

Row 2 (WS): Purl.

Work even in Stockinette st, slipping st between markers on every RS row and purling the same st on every WS row, until piece meas 5[5, 5.5, 5.5, 5.5, 6, 6] inches from cast on edge.

Waist Shaping:
Row 1 (RS): K78[82, 91, 99, 111, 119, 128], ssk, k2, sl m, sl 1, sl m, k2, k2tog, knit to end. 2 sts dec’d.

Row 2: Purl.

Work Rows 3-6 in St st.

Rep Rows 1-6 0[1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4] more times.

Rep Rows 1-4 10[9, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8] more times – 22[22, 20, 20, 22, 24, 26] sts dec’d. 143[151, 171, 187, 209, 223, 239] sts rem.

Bust Shaping
Row 1 (RS): Knit to 1 st before marker, M1, k1, sl m, sl 1, sl m, k1, M1, knit to end. 2 sts inc’d.

Row 2: Purl.

Work next 4 rows in St st.

Then work Row 1 every 4th row 1[1, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1] more times – 4[4, 6, 6, 4, 4, 4] sts inc’d. 147[155, 177, 193, 213, 227, 243] sts rem.

Work even in St st until piece meas approx. 17.5[17.5, 18, 18, 18, 18.5, 18.5] inches from cast on edge.

Armhole and Neck Shaping:
Left side of Armhole
Row 1 (RS): K73[77, 88, 96, 106, 113, 121]. Transfer these sts to waste yarn or a spare needle. Attach second ball of yarn and BO next 4[4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5] sts, knit to end.
Row 2 (WS): P70[74, 85, 93, 103, 109, 117] sts.

BO 2[2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3] sts at the beginning of the next five RS rows. 60[64, 75, 83, 88, 94, 102] sts.

Work even until piece meas 3[3, 3, 3.5, 3.5, 4, 4] inches from beg of armhole, ending with a RS row.

Shape Shoulder
Next WS Row: P12[14, 14, 16, 18, 18, 19], w&t.

Row 2: Knit.

Row 3: P7[9, 9, 10, 12, 12, 13], w&t.

Row 4: Knit.

Row 5: Purl, picking up wraps and working each with its corresponding st. Place these sts on spare needle.

Right side of Armhole
Transfer 73 (77, 88, 96, 106, 113, 121] held sts back onto working needle and work the right side of the armhole using the original ball of yarn.

Row 1 (WS): BO 3[3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4] sts, purl to end.

Row 2 (RS): Knit.

BO 2[2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3] sts at the beginning of the next five WS rows. 60[64, 75, 83, 87, 94, 102] sts rem.

Work even in St st until piece meas 3[3, 3, 3.5, 3.5 4, 4] inches from beg of armhole, ending with a WS row.

Begin neck shaping:
Row 1 (RS): BO 26[28, 30, 34, 38, 42, 44) sts, knit to end. 34[36, 45, 49, 49, 53, 58] sts.
Row 2 (WS): Purl.
BO 4[4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7] sts at the beg of the next three RS rows. 22[24, 30, 34, 31, 34, 37) sts rem.

Work next 5[5, 6, 6, 9, 9, 10] RS rows as foll:
K1, ssk, knit to end. 17[19, 24, 28, 22, 25, 27) sts rem.
Work even in St st until piece meas 6[6.5, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5] inches from beg of armhole.

With RS together, use 3-needle BO method and spare needle to BO both sets of shoulder sts.

Left Side (Under Layer)
Work as for Right Side until piece meas 7[7, 7.5, 7.5, 7.5, 8, 8] inches.

Work rest of Left Side as for Right Side, picking up instructions from Waist Shaping and beginning the Armhole and Neck Shaping when the piece meas 19.5[19.5, 20, 20, 20, 20.5, 20.5] inches from the cast on edge. When finished, the left side should meas 2 inches longer than the right side.

Leaf Lace Borders (Make 3)
With small needles, CO 9 sts.

Begin Row 1 of Leaf Lace Border, following either written or charted directions.

Work side borders in patt until each meas approx. 24[24, 25, 25, 26, 27, 27] inches, ending with Row 12.

BO in patt.

Work hem border in patt until it meas approx. 30[31.5, 34.5, 37.5, 42, 45, 48] inches, ending with Row 12. BO in patt.

FINISHING
Stitch one Leaf Lace Border to each vertical side of Tank Left Side (the shorter piece). Stitch third Leaf Lace Border to bottom edge of Tank Left Side. Wet-block tank pieces to schematic measurements.
Place blocked Right side on a flat surface. Wrap Left Side around Right Side to overlap on both front and back, and check bust measurement. Pin into place, and join the two tank pieces by seaming overlapping top edges of tank front and back. If additional modesty is desired, lightly stitch front and back of tank to under-layer (at seam joining Leaf Lace Border to Left Side) from neck edge to waist.

Single Crochet Neck and Armhole Edging
With crochet hook and MC, work 1 row of Single Crochet into edge sts around armholes and neck, working approx. 3 SC for every 4 sts to smooth and tighten the edge.

Julie Turjoman is the author of three knitting books (Brave New Knits; Rodale, Inc. 2010, Knits That Breathe: 12 Breezy Projects To Keep You Cool; Passiflora Press, 2014, and A Head For Trouble: 20 Hats and Adornments Inspired By Lady Detectives of the Roaring Twenties; Passiflora Press, 2014). In addition, her original designs have been featured in Interweave Knits, Knitty, Vogue Knitting, Knitter’s, Twist Collective, and Jane Austen Knits.

She lives in Chicago, IL, with her husband and an elderly but spry tabby cat named Shadow. She's also on Ravelry.