Sophia Tank in Valley Yarns Southwick - 837 - Downloadable PDF

Sophia Tank in Valley Yarns Southwick – Pattern #837 by Julie Turjoman

The Sophia Tank (Pattern #837) is a classic, hip-length knitted tank top designed by Julie Turjoman and worked in Valley Yarns Southwick, a soft, subtly lustrous yarn that makes it an ideal choice for warm-weather knitting. This intermediate-level knitting pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and offers seven sizes with finished bust measurements ranging from 32½" to 56½", making it a versatile wardrobe staple that flatters a wide range of figures. The sample shown in the pattern is knitted in Size 36".

Designed as a true wardrobe basic, the Sophia Tank is equally at home worn directly over a camisole during warmer months or layered as a vest over a crisp white shirt in the fall. Its timeless silhouette and breathable construction make it a go-to piece season after season.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a hip-length tank top featuring an allover eyelet texture that provides superior airflow and a subtle hint of skin. The eyelet pattern adds visual interest without overwhelming the classic, clean lines of the garment. The finished piece is structured enough to wear as outerwear but lightweight and breathable enough for warm weather.

Construction Techniques

• Bottom-up construction: The tank is worked from the lower hem upward, allowing knitters to easily adjust length before beginning armhole and neckline shaping.
• Worked flat: The body pieces are knitted flat, meaning stitches are worked back and forth in rows rather than in the round, producing separate front and back panels.
• Seamed finishing: The flat-worked pieces are joined using seaming techniques, giving the finished garment clean, structured edges and a polished, professional appearance. Seamed construction also adds stability to the fabric, which is particularly beneficial in a drapey cotton-bamboo blend.
• Finishing details: A smaller circular needle is used to pick up and work the neckline and armhole edges, creating neat, tidy trim around the openings.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns Used

• Eyelet stitch: The primary stitch pattern used throughout the body of the tank. An allover eyelet texture creates a lacy, open fabric that promotes airflow — a key feature in a warm-weather garment. Eyelets are formed using yarn-overs paired with decreases, creating small decorative holes distributed evenly across the fabric.
• Knit (K): Standard knit stitches form the structural foundation of the fabric and are used throughout construction.
• Bind off (BO) and Cast on (CO): Standard techniques used to begin and end sections of the garment, including armhole and neckline shaping.
• Decreases: Used to shape the armholes, neckline, and other fitted areas of the tank, ensuring a flattering silhouette across all sizes.

Gauge

The pattern requires a gauge of 21 stitches and 30 rows = 4 inches in Eyelet stitch. Achieving accurate gauge is especially important in this pattern, as the eyelet fabric can behave differently from stockinette and the fit across seven sizes depends on precise stitch and row counts.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: Valley Yarns Southwick, a worsted weight yarn composed of 52% Pima Cotton and 48% Bamboo. Each skein contains 50g and approximately 105 yards. The pattern calls for 6 to 11 skeins depending on size. The sample is shown in Color 15 (Onyx). The bamboo content lends the yarn a subtle sheen and silky softness against the skin, while the Pima cotton provides structure and breathability — a combination particularly well-suited to warm-weather knitting.
• Primary needles: US size 7 (4.5 mm) needles, or the size needed to achieve gauge.
• Finishing needles: US size 5 (3.75 mm) 16-inch circular needle for working the neckline and