Diana Tank - Top Knitting Pattern for Kids in MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino

Diana Tank with Tie – Kids' Knitting Pattern by MillaMia

The Diana Tank with Tie is a charming children's knitted tank top designed by MillaMia, worked in their signature MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino yarn. This beginner-level knitting pattern produces a lightweight, sleeveless top featuring a distinctive tie band detail, a decorative collar, and an all-over body pattern that combine to give the garment its unique, one-of-a-kind character. It is an ideal project for knitters who are new to garment construction but want a finished piece with real design impact.

What Is Being Made

The Diana Tank with Tie is a fitted sleeveless top for children, sized to fit ages 1–2, 3–4, 5–6, and 7–8 years. Finished chest measurements range from 55 cm to 69 cm (21¾ in to 27½ in), and lengths to shoulder range from 27 cm to 35 cm (10¾ in to 14 in). The design is distinguished by three key finishing details: a collar, a tie band, and a textured body pattern, all of which elevate it beyond a basic tank top into something genuinely special. The pattern notes that it is a design worth making multiple times, across different sizes and colourways.

Techniques Used

• Worked flat: The pieces are knitted back and forth in rows on straight needles, making this an approachable construction method for beginners who are not yet comfortable with working in the round.
• Seamed construction: The front and back panels are joined using seams, a traditional garment-making technique that adds structure and durability to the finished top.
• Finishing details: The collar and tie band are integral design features that require careful finishing work, giving knitters practice in adding polished, decorative elements to a garment.

Stitches Used

The pattern is worked over a defined stitch pattern that forms the body of the tank. A tension swatch of 26 stitches and 40 rows to a 10 cm / 4 in square is required, measured over the pattern stitch using 3.25 mm (US 3) needles. As is standard in beginner knitting patterns, the construction relies on fundamental knitting stitches, with the body pattern providing gentle textural interest without demanding complex stitch knowledge.

Materials Required

• Yarn: MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino, a sport weight yarn sold in 50 g / 1¾ oz balls. The quantity required is 3 (4:4:5) balls depending on size. The main colourway shown uses Soft Snow (124). Alternative colourways include Forget Me Not, Plum (120), Plum (162), Haze Grey (107), and Denim (172), offering a range of soft, wearable tones suitable for children's knitwear.
• Needles: A pair of 3 mm (US 2) knitting needles and a pair of 3.25 mm (US 3) knitting needles are required. The smaller needles are typically used for ribbing or edging, while the larger size is used for the main body of the garment.

About MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino

MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino is a sport weight yarn celebrated for its soft handle and suitability for children's garments. Merino wool is naturally temperature-regulating and breathable, making it an excellent choice for a tank top that can be worn across seasons. Its smooth, even ply makes it well-suited to stitch definition, which helps the body pattern and finishing details of the Diana Tank read clearly in the finished fabric.

Who This Pattern Is For

Rated as a beginner pattern, the Diana Tank with Tie is well suited to knitters who have mastered basic knit and purl stitches and are ready to take on their first or second garment project. The flat, seamed construction removes the complexity of