Faux Cable Knit Tank Top
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Meet your new favorite year-round staple! Wear this faux cable knit tank top all by itself during the summer or layered in the winter months.
This knitted tank top would look perfect paired with your favorite jean jacket or flannel shirt during the cooler months.
Get the free knitting pattern below or purchase the ad-free, downloadable & printable PDF on Etsy, Ravelry or Brome Fields.
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About the Pattern
This downloadable PDF pattern is available in 23 (Children’s 2/3 – Adult 64″ Bust) sizes, which you can get on Etsy, Ravelry or Brome Fields. Scroll down to get the size SMALL for free!
Pattern Format: Written Pattern, No Chart
Pattern Language: English
Skill Level: Advanced Beginner
Pattern Name: Summer Solstice
The sample is shown in size small (34”/86cm bust) with 11”/28cm of negative ease, meaning the top is 22″/56cm in circumference, but fits a 34″/86cm bust.
Techniques
Here are some of the knitting skills you need to know before getting started:
Knit Flat
Knit in the Round
Knit & Purl Stitches
Faux Cable Stitch
Decrease Stitches
Yarn & Substitutions
Yarn Weight: Worsted
Yardage: 199 – 637 yards (218 – 696 meters)
Suggested Yarn: Yarnalia, Wooly, Color Buttermilk
Wool is a good choice because it’s wicks the moisture away from your body during the summer and insulates you during the winter. (I found this to be fascinating, you can read more about the science behind wool here. )
Needles & Notions
Needle Size: US 8 (5mm) Circular Needles with a 24″ (60cm) Cable
Needle Size: US 9 (5.5mm) Circular Needles with a 24″ (60cm) Cable
Extras: Stitch Markers
Gauge
24 STS & 23 rounds per 4” (10cm) square, knit in the round in the faux cable stitch pattern
Get the free knitting pattern below or purchase the ad-free, downloadable & printable PDF on Etsy, Ravelry or Brome Fields..
Photo Details
Model Measurements:
Height: 5’9″ (175cm)
Weight: 130lbs (59kg)
Bust: 35″ (88cm)
Waist: 25″ (63cm)
Size of top the model is wearing: size small, 34″ (85cm) bust
# of CO stitches: 132
Tank top total weight: 6.5oz (185g)
Finished tank top measurements, after steaming:
Top width: 6″ (15cm)
Bottom width: 11″ (28cm)
Circumference: 22″ (56cm)
Top to bottom length: 21″ (53cm)
Armhole length: 7″ (18cm)
Bottom up to the armhole: 14″ (36cm)
Bottom ribbing: 1 1/2″ (4cm)
Top ribbing: 1 1/2″ (4cm)
Sizes
23 (Children’s 2/3 – Adult 64″ Bust) sizes are available in the PDF, which you can get on Etsy, Ravelry or Brome Fields. Scroll down to get the size SMALL for free!
Notes
Not reversible.
Knit bottom up.
Knit using a faux cable stitch.
Partially knit in the round with a circular needle.
When knitting in the round you’re always knitting the right side of your work.
The front and back are knit flat, separately, and seamed at the top to create the neck.
The Summer Solstice Tank Top is knit from the bottom up. Start by knitting in the round and then split in half to knit the front and back flat separately.
This top is knit in one piece. It has 2 tiny seams to create the neck.
The sample is shown in size small (34”/86cm bust) with 11”/28cm of negative ease, meaning the top is 22″/56cm in circumference, but fits a 34″/86cm bust.
Knitting Abbreviations
*– * – repeat between * to end of round
BO – bind-off in pattern
CO – cast-on (long-tail cast-on method)
K2TOG – knit 2 stitches together
K – knit stitches (K1 means to knit 1 stitch)
P2TOG – purl 2 stitches together
P – purl stitches (P2 means to purl 2 stitches)
PM – place marker
RS – right side
RT – Right Twist – knit 2 STS together, without dropping STS from the left needle, knit into the first stitch, slip both stitches to the right needle together
SKP – slip 1 stitch knit-wise, knit 1 stitch, pass the slipped stitch over the knitted stitch
STS – stitches
WS – wrong side
WYIF – with yarn in front
Save it for Later
- Buy the ad-free, printer-friendly pattern on Etsy, Ravelry or Brome Fields.
- Save it to your Ravelry Library!
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Pattern Instructions for a 34″/80cm Bust
Knit in the Round:
Using US 9, 24″ cable needles
CO 132 STS, PM, join in the round.
Bottom Ribbing:
Switch to US 8, 24″ cable needles
Rounds 1-10: *K2, P2*
Faux Cable Body:
Switch to US 9, 24″ cable needles
Round 11: *RT, P2*
Rounds 12-14: *K2, P2*
Repeat rounds 11-14, 16 times, until it measures 13″ or desired length.
Repeat round 1: *K2, P2*
Work flat from here on out.
Round 1: *K2, P2* the first half of your STS, leaving the first half of the STS on the working needles, and then put the second half of STS on a scrap piece of yarn, without knitting them. You can break the yarn if you want to, or you can leave it to knit the second side. Remove the stitch marker.
The working side has 2 knit stitches at the beginning and 2 knit stitches at the end.
The 2nd side has 2 purl stitches at the beginning and 2 purl stitches at the end.
Decrease for the Arms:
Row 1 (RS): *K2, P2* last 2 sts: K2
Row 2 (WS): *P2, K2* last 2 sts: P2
Row 3 (RS): SKP, P2 *RT, P2* last 2 sts: K2TOG
Row 4 (WS): SKP, K1 *P2, K2* last 5 sts: P2, K1, P2TOG
Row 5 (RS): *P2, K2* last 2 sts: P2
Row 6 (WS): *K2, P2* last 2 sts: K2
Row 7 (RS): WYIF SKP *RT, P2* last 4 sts: RT, K2TOG
Row 8 (WS): WYIF SKP, P1 *K2, P2* last 5 sts: K2, P1, P2TOG
Repeat rows 1-8, 4 times, which measures about 6″/15cm, or until desired length.
Top Ribbing:
Switch to US 8 knitting needles
Row 1 (RS): *K2, P2* last 2 sts: K2
Row 2 (WS): *P2, K2* last 2 sts: P2
Switch to US 9 knitting needles
Row 7 (WS): BO
Starting on the 2nd side:
If you broke the yarn when you were dividing the stitches start with a new skein of yarn, if not continue with the previous ball of yarn:
Decrease for the Arms:
Row 1 (RS): *P2, K2* last 2 sts: P2
Row 2 (WS): *K2, P2* last 2 sts: K2
Row 3 (RS): WYIF SKP *RT, P2* last 4 sts: RT, K2TOG
Row 4 (WS): WYIF SKP, P1 *K2, P2* last 5 sts: K2, P1, P2TOG
Row 5 (RS): *K2, P2* last 2 sts: K2
Row 6 (WS): *P2, K2* last 2 sts: P2
Row 7 (RS): SKP, P2 *RT, P2* last 2 sts: K2TOG
Row 8 (WS): SKP, K1 *P2, K2* last 5 sts: P2, K1, P2TOG
Repeat rows 1-8 to match the first side.
Top Ribbing:
Switch to US 8, 24″ cable needles
Row 1.3.5 (RS): *P2, K2* last 2 sts: P2
Row 2.4.6 (WS): *K2, P2* last 2 sts: K2
Switch to US 9, 24″ cable needles
Row 7 (WS): BO
Finishing:
Seam 3 STS on either side of the top seam to create the neck.
Reinforce under arms, if desired.
Weave in all the ends.
Steam-block lightly to even out the stitches. Lay flat to dry.
Print this Pattern
I know many of you enjoy working from a paper copy of your knitting pattern that’s why I offer a printer-friendly PDF completely ad-free on Etsy, Ravelry or Brome Fields.
That way you can have lifetime access to it and download it to any device and view it from anywhere, without ads (and the pattern might not be around forever).
The ads on this website make it possible for me to offer the patterns for free, that way you can try it before you buy it. :)
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