Mini Tank Top in Loopy Mango Big Cotton - Downloadable PDF

Mini Tank Top in Loopy Mango Big Cotton – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Mini Tank Top is a charming children's knitted tank top designed by Loopy Mango and worked in their signature Big Cotton yarn. This downloadable PDF pattern produces a lightweight, warm-weather garment sized for children aged 2–4 years, 5–7 years, and 8–10 years. It is rated Intermediate in difficulty and is estimated to take just 3 to 6 hours to complete, making it an approachable weekend project for knitters who have moved beyond the beginner stage.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a mini tank top — a sleeveless, pullover-style top intended for children. The three sizes yield the following approximate finished measurements:

• 2–4 Years: 11.5" (29 cm) wide × 10" (25 cm) long
• 5–7 Years: 13" (33 cm) wide × 12.5" (32 cm) long
• 8–10 Years: 14.5" (37 cm) wide × 15" (38 cm) long

The top is constructed in flat panels — a front and a back — which are then seamed together. The front panel features shaped armhole straps worked separately on the left and right sides, giving the top its classic tank silhouette.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Loopy Mango Big Cotton — a 100% cotton chunky-weight yarn, sold in 3.5 oz (100 g) balls containing approximately 48 yards (43 m) each. You will need 3 balls for sizes 2–4 years and 5–7 years, and 4 balls for size 8–10 years.
• Needles: Size US 17 (12 mm) circular needles, 20" (50 cm) in length. Despite being circular needles, the pattern is worked flat, back and forth in rows.

Loopy Mango Big Cotton is a chunky, 100% cotton yarn known for its soft drape and breathability — qualities that make it especially well-suited to a summer or warm-weather children's garment like this tank top. Its generous weight means stitches knit up quickly and the fabric has a lovely, relaxed texture.

Gauge

The pattern calls for a gauge of 4 stitches and 5 rows over 2" (5 cm) in stockinette stitch. Achieving the correct gauge is important for ensuring the finished top matches the intended measurements for each size. Knitters are encouraged to swatch before beginning.

Stitches Used

• Garter Stitch: The lower border of the tank top is worked in garter stitch — knitting every stitch on every row — which creates a flat, textured edge that resists curling. This is used for the first several rows of both the front and back panels.
• Stockinette Stitch: The main body of the top is worked in classic stockinette stitch, alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side. This produces the smooth, V-shaped stitch appearance characteristic of most knitted garments.
• Knit (K): The foundational knitting stitch, used throughout.
• Purl (P): Used on wrong-side rows to create the stockinette fabric.

Techniques Used

• Cast On: The pattern begins with a standard cast on of 23 (25, 27) stitches for the front panel, and a corresponding number for the back.
• K2TOG (Knit Two Together): This is the primary shaping technique used in the pattern. K2TOG is a simple right-leaning single decrease made by inserting the needle through two stitches simultaneously and knitting them as one. It is used at both ends of select rows to shape the armhole openings and taper the shoulder straps of the tank top.