Today we’ll learn how to knit a very special top ultra-feminine, with a bold and joyful twist. This tank top is designed to leave most of your back exposed, and that’s exactly why we love it. It gives you the chance to feel both elegant and a little daring at the same time. The silhouette is simple, but what makes this piece truly stand out is the yarn: Ariel, a textured ribbon yarn with a core of recycled cotton.
Now all that’s left to do is choose your favorite Ariel shade and start the pattern!
MATERIALS
Ariel yarn col. Wine 368 g / 13 oz for size M
Knitting needles n° 5.5 EU / US 9
Crochet hook n° 5 EU / US H-8
Stitch Holder
Tapestry Needle
GAUGE – IN SEED STITCH
10 cm x 10 cm / 4" x 4"
13 stitches and 21 rows
KNITTING STITCHES USED
Knit Stitch
Purl Stitch
Selvage Stitch:
on the right side, slip the first stitch knitwise without working it.
On the wrong side, purl the first stitch.
2x2 Rib:
alternate 2 knit stitches and 2 purl stitches on both right and wrong sides.
Seed Stitch:
(worked over an even number of stitches)
row 1: Repeat (1 knit, 1 purl) until the end of the row
row 2: Repeat (1 purl, 1 knit) until the end of the row.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2.
Double stitch over:
pass 1 stitch onto the right needle without working it, knit together the following 2 stitches on the left needle and with the tip of the left needle overlap the passed, or unworked, stitch.
CROCHET STITCHES USED
Chain Stitch
Single Crochet
SIZES
Instructions are given for size S (M, L).
DIMENSIONS OF THE FINISHED PIECE SIZE S (M,L)
Bust circumference: 84 (90, 100) cm / 33" (35.4", 39.4")
Total height: 41 (43, 45) cm / 16.1" (17", 17.7")
Height from underarm: 22 (23, 24) cm / 8.7" (9", 9.4")
Neck opening width: 19 (20, 21) cm / 7.5" (8", 8.3")
DIFFICULTY
Intermediate
METHOD
The backless tank top is worked flat in three pieces: the two back halves and the front. The edges of the back openings, neckline, and armholes are finished after sewing the seams.
With knitting needles n° 5.5 EU / US 9, cast on 26 (30, 34) stitches.
Row 1: repeat (2 knit, 2 purl) until the last 2 stitches, knit the last 2 stitches
row 2: purl the first 2 stitches, then repeat (2 knit, 2 purl) until the end of the row.
These rows establish the 2x2 rib for the bottom hem. Repeat them 2 more times, working until Row 6 (3 cm / 1.2").
Continue in seed stitch for 40 (42, 44) rows, reaching Row 46 (48, 50) (22 (23, 24) cm / 8.7" (9", 9.4")).
Row 47 (49, 51): bind off 2 (3, 4) stitches for the armhole, continue in seed stitch until the end of the row
row 48 (50, 52): work in seed stitch
row 49 (51, 53): decrease 1 stitch for the armhole by working an SSK decrease over the first 2 stitches. Continue in seed stitch until the last 2 stitches, then knit 2 together for another armhole decrease
row 50 (52, 54): work in seed stitch.
Rows 49 and 50 (51 and 52, 53 and 54) set the armhole shaping. Repeat them 2 (2, 3) more times, then continue in seed stitch for 12 (14, 14) more rows, reaching Row 66 (70, 74) (31 (33, 35) cm / 12.2" (13", 13.8")).
Row 67 (71, 75): work in seed stitch
row 68 (72, 76): bind off 6 (8, 9) stitches for the neckline, continue in seed stitch until the end of the row
row 69 (73, 77): work in seed stitch until the last 2 stitches, then knit 2 together for a neckline decrease
row 70 (74, 78): work in seed stitch
rows 71 and 72 (75 and 76, 79 and 80): repeat Rows 69 and 70 (73 and 74, 77 and 78)
rows 73 and 74 (77 and 78, 81 and 82): work in seed stitch.
Rows 69 to 74 (73 to 78, 77 to 82) set the neckline shaping. Repeat them 2 more times, reaching Row 86 (90, 94) (41 (43, 45) cm / 16.1" (17", 17.7")) with 9 (10, 11) stitches remaining.
Bind off all stitches.
Knit the left back panel the same way as the right back panel, but in a mirrored fashion.
With knitting needles n° 5.5 EU / US 9, cast on 54 (58, 66) stitches.
Row 1: purl the first 2 stitches, repeat (2 knit, 2 purl) until the end of the row
row 2: knit the first 2 stitches, repeat (2 purl, 2 knit) until the end of the row.
These rows establish the 2x2 rib for the bottom hem. Repeat them 2 more times, working until Row 6 (3 cm / 1.2"). Continue in seed stitch for 40 (42, 44) rows, reaching Row 46 (48, 50) (22 (23, 24) cm / 8.7" (9", 9.4")).
Rows 47 and 48 (49 and 50, 51 and 52): bind off 2 (3, 4) stitches for the armhole, continue in seed stitch until the end of the row
row 49 (51, 53): decrease 1 stitch for the armhole by working an SSK decrease over the first 2 stitches. Continue in seed stitch until the last 2 stitches, then knit 2 together for another armhole decrease
row 50 (52, 54): work in seed stitch.
Rows 49 and 50 (51 and 52, 53 and 54) set the armhole shaping. Repeat them 2 (2, 3) more times, then continue in seed stitch for 12 (14, 14) more rows, reaching Row 66 (70, 74) (31 (33, 35) cm / 12.2" (13", 13.8")) with 44 (46, 50) stitches remaining.
Row 67 (71, 75): work the first 15 (16, 17) stitches in seed stitch, bind off the next 14 (14, 16) stitches for the neckline, continue in seed stitch over the remaining 15 (16, 17) stitches
row 68 (72, 76): work in seed stitch over the 15 (16, 17) stitches of the second side. Now continue working only on this second side, leaving the stitches of the first side on a stitch holder
row 69 (73, 77): decrease 1 stitch for the neckline by working an SSK decrease over the first 2 stitches, continue in seed stitch until the end of the row
row 70 (74, 78): work in seed stitch
rows 71 and 72 (75 and 76, 79 and 80): repeat Rows 69 and 70 (73 and 74, 77 and 78)
rows 73 and 74 (77 and 78, 81 and 82): work in seed stitch.
Rows 69 to 74 (73 to 78, 77 to 82) set the neckline shaping. Repeat them 2 more times, reaching Row 86 (90, 94) (41 (43, 45) cm / 16.1" (17", 17.7")) with 9 (10, 11) stitches remaining. Bind off all stitches.
Resume working on the stitches of the first side and knit it symmetrically to the second side.
For the right back opening border, with knitting needles n° 5.5 EU / US 9, starting at the bottom edge and ending at the neckline, pick up stitches in multiples of 4 and knit 4 rows in 2x2 rib. Bind off. Work the left back opening border in the same way. Sew the shoulder seams.
For the neckline border, with knitting needles n° 5.5 EU / US 9, starting from the left back opening edge and ending at the right back opening edge, pick up stitches in multiples of 4.
Row 1: work 1 selvage stitch, repeat (2 knit, 2 purl) until the last 3 stitches, knit 2 stitches, then work 1 selvage stitch
row 2: work 1 selvage stitch, 2 purl stitches, repeat (2 knit, 2 purl) until the last stitch, work 1 selvage stitch.
These rows establish the 2x2 rib with selvage stitches at the edges. Repeat 1 more time, then bind off.
For the right armhole border, pick up stitches around the armhole in multiples of 4 and knit 4 rows in 2x2 rib. Bind off. Work the left armhole border in the same way.
Sew the armhole borders and the side seams.
For the first tie closure, with crochet hook n° 5 EU / US H-8, join the yarn at the top of the right back opening and chain 25 cm / 9.8". In the last chain, work 4 single crochet stitches. Cut and secure the yarn. Work the second tie closure in the same way at the top of the left back opening.
Your backless tank top is now complete!
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