Racer Back Tank Top

Racer Back Tank Top by Blu Daisy Creations

What is Being Made

The Racer Back Tank Top is a knitted sleeveless garment designed in five sizes: XS, SM/MED, LG/XL, 1X/2X, and 2X. This versatile tank top features a racer back design and offers adjustable length options, making it suitable for various body types and style preferences. The pattern includes two neckline variations—a deep neckline option and a lighter neckline option—allowing crafters to customize the finished look.

Craft and Techniques

This is a knitting project rated at intermediate difficulty level. The tank top is constructed using fundamental knitting techniques that build upon basic skills. The garment is worked primarily in stockinette stitch with decorative lace elements, creating a fabric with nice stretch and drape. The pattern is designed with flexibility in mind—it can be adapted to different yarn weights by adjusting the number of cast-on stitches in multiples of 4 plus 1, making it an excellent project for experimenting with various yarn types.

Stitches Used

The Racer Back Tank Top employs several essential knitting stitches:

• Long Tail Cast On (or crafter's preferred cast-on method) to establish the foundation stitches
• Knit (K) stitch as the primary stitch throughout the garment
• Yarn Over (YO) to create decorative lace holes in the pattern
• Knit 2 Together (K2TOG) for decreasing and shaping, particularly used in the lace pattern repeat and neckline shaping
• Slip 1 Knitwise (SLP1K) for edge definition and pattern consistency
• Knit Front and Back (KFB) for increasing stitches when needed
• Cast Off to bind off and finish the edges

Materials and Tools

The pattern calls for specific materials and equipment to achieve the intended finished product:

• Yarn: The designer used Loops and Threads Wool-like Chunky #5 yarn in Blue as the primary yarn, combined with 2 strands of Bernat Homemaker Cotton in Light Blue for versatility and texture variation
• Needles: Size 12 mm knitting needles to work with the chunky yarn weight
• Additional Tools: Stitch markers to track pattern repeats and shaping points, and scissors for finishing

Pattern Structure and Sizing

The tank top construction begins with a Long Tail Cast On of 29, 33, 37, 41, or 45 stitches depending on the desired size, cast on loosely to maintain elasticity. The body is worked in rows, with Row 1 establishing a knit base. Rows 2 through 41 (or 49 for longer length) feature a repeating lace pattern created by the combination of Yarn Over and Knit 2 Together stitches, which produces the characteristic openwork design. The pattern offers two length options: waist length ending at Row 41, or extended length continuing to Row 49. The neckline shaping occurs at Row 42 or 50, where crafters choose between the Blue Deep Neckline (worked in stockinette) or the Light Blue Neckline (which incorporates Knit 2 Together decreases: 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11 times depending on size, followed by one final knit stitch). This thoughtful construction allows the finished tank top to have a flattering fit with adjustable styling options.