Blue Sky Fibers Fitted Tank

Blue Sky Fibers Fitted Tank – Knitting Pattern by Alison Williams

The Blue Sky Fibers Fitted Tank is a classic, form-fitting sleeveless top designed by Alison Williams and published by Blue Sky Fibers (formerly Blue Sky Alpacas). Worked in Blue Sky Worsted Cotton, this tank is an excellent project for knitters who are ready to move beyond the basics and explore garment construction with shaping, seaming, and professional finishing techniques. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and covers five women's sizes from Extra Small through Extra Large, with finished bust measurements ranging from 31 to 43½ inches and a finished length of 19½ to 21 inches.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a fitted, sleeveless tank top designed to sit close to the body with a flattering silhouette. The garment features a ribbed hem, subtle waist shaping through strategic increases, armhole shaping, and a shaped neckline. The front and back panels are worked separately and then joined using a three-needle bind-off at the shoulders, giving the finished seams a clean, polished look. The sample shown in the pattern is knitted in Poppy #601, a vibrant red colorway of Blue Sky Worsted Cotton.

Construction and Techniques

The Fitted Tank is constructed using a bottom-up, worked flat, seamed method. Each panel begins at the lower hem and is worked upward in flat rows, meaning knitters work back and forth on straight or circular needles rather than in the round. The two panels are then seamed together at the sides and finished at the shoulders with a three-needle bind-off. This traditional construction approach gives knitters full control over fit and allows for easy adjustments during the knitting process.

• Bottom-up construction: Both the front and back panels begin at the cast-on edge and are worked upward toward the shoulders, allowing the knitter to try on the piece as it grows.
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted back and forth in rows, making this an accessible technique for knitters who prefer working flat rather than in the round.
• Seamed finishing: The side seams and shoulder joins are sewn or worked together after the individual pieces are complete, a hallmark of classic garment construction that adds structure and durability.
• Three-needle bind-off: Shoulder stitches are placed on holders and later joined using a three-needle bind-off, which creates a neat, seamless-looking shoulder join without the need for sewing.
• Waist shaping: Increases using the Make 1 (M1) method are worked at each end of the fabric at regular intervals to shape the torso and create a fitted silhouette.
• Armhole shaping: Stitches are bound off at the beginning of rows and then decreased at each end every other row to create smooth, curved armhole openings.
• Neck shaping: A center section of stitches is bound off and both sides of the neckline are worked simultaneously, with graduated bind-offs creating a gently scooped neckline.

Stitches Used

The pattern relies on a small, well-chosen set of stitches and techniques that are ideal for an Advanced Beginner skill level:

• Stockinette stitch (St st): The main body fabric is worked in stockinette, alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side. This creates the smooth, classic knitted fabric surface that gives the tank its clean, modern look.
• Rib Pattern: The lower hem is worked in a ribbing stitch pattern for 6 inches, providing natural elasticity and a snug, comfortable fit at the hem edge. Ribbing typically alternates knit and purl stitches within each row.
• Make 1 (M1): A lifted increase stitch used to add stitches at the sides of the body for waist shaping, worked by inserting the left needle from front to back under the bar between stitches and knitting into it.
• Knit 2 Together (K2tog): A right-leaning decrease used during armhole and neckline shaping to reduce stitch counts cleanly and neatly.
• Decrease 1 (Dec 1): A general decrease referenced in the pattern notes, used during armhole