Glamour Tank

Glamour Tank by Nicky Barfoot

What is Being Made

The Glamour Tank is a hand-knitted sleeveless sweater designed by Nicky Barfoot, featuring a decorative intarsia face motif on the front. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a fitted tank top available in four finished bust sizes: 78cm (30¾in), 86.5cm (34in), 98.5cm (38¾in), and 106.5cm (42in), with corresponding lengths ranging from 56cm to 60cm (22in to 23½in).

Knitting Techniques Used

This design employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its finished look. Intarsia colorwork is the primary decorative method, used to create the face motif on the garment front using multiple yarn colors worked into the fabric during knitting. The pattern begins with ribbed edging worked on smaller needles to create a neat, stretchy border. Stocking stitch forms the main fabric body, providing a smooth, classic knit surface. The pattern also incorporates embroidery details worked after knitting is complete, adding fine details to features like eyelashes and hair.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The foundational stitch throughout the Glamour Tank is stocking stitch (knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows), which creates the smooth, flat fabric base. The ribbed edging uses a 2x2 rib pattern (alternating two knit stitches with two purl stitches), worked over 20 rows to create an elastic border that frames the neckline and armholes. Increases are strategically placed to shape the garment, with one stitch increased at the end of the ribbing transition row to achieve the correct stitch count for the main body.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Glamour Tank is designed to be worked in Rowan Felted Tweed DK, a double-knit weight yarn that provides excellent stitch definition for both the colorwork and embroidery details. The main color is Clay (shade 177), requiring 3 to 4 balls of 50g depending on size. Secondary colors include Duck Egg (shade 173) and Treacle (shade 145), each requiring 1 ball. Additional embroidery yarns in small quantities include Rage (150) for lips, Watery (152) for iris detail, Gilt (160) for eyelash embroidery, and Seafarer (170) for hair embroidery work.

The pattern calls for 4mm (US 6) needles for the main fabric, worked to a tension of 20 stitches and 29 rows over 10x10cm (4x4in) in stocking stitch. A 3.25mm (US 3) circular needle measuring 40cm (16in) is used for casting on and working the ribbed edging sections, which helps create neat, even edges on this sleeveless design.