Hearts Tank Top

Hearts Tank Top by Sian Brown

What is Being Made

The Hearts Tank Top is a sleeveless knitted garment designed by Sian Brown, featuring decorative heart motifs worked into the fabric. This intermediate-level knitting project is available as a downloadable PDF pattern and is suitable for knitters with some experience. The tank top is designed to fit sizes 8 through 22, with bust measurements ranging from 34½ inches (88 cm) to 47½ inches (121 cm) and length to shoulder measurements from 20 inches (51 cm) to 23½ inches (60 cm).

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several key knitting techniques to create the finished garment. The primary construction method uses stockinette stitch as the base fabric. Color work is incorporated through the heart motifs, which are worked using the intarsia technique—knitters use separate balls of yarn for each color area and twist the yarns together when changing colors to prevent holes in the fabric. The pattern notes that an alternative approach is available: the heart motif lines can be added after knitting using the Swiss darning (also called duplicate stitch) method, which may be easier for some knitters. The garment begins with a ribbed cuff worked in a knit 2, purl 2 rib pattern to create a fitted edge.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch (st st): The primary stitch used throughout the body of the tank top, created by alternating knit and purl rows to form the smooth, classic knitted fabric
• Ribbing (K2, P2): A knit 2, purl 2 repeat used for the ribbed edging, which provides elasticity and a neat finish
• Swiss Darning: An optional embroidery technique that can be used to add the heart motif lines after the garment is knitted, rather than working them in during knitting

Materials and Tools

The Hearts Tank Top is designed to be knitted with Rowan All Seasons Cotton yarn in an aran weight. The pattern requires two colors: a primary color (lime) and a secondary color (pink). Yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from 5 balls of 50g (250g total) for the smallest sizes up to 8 balls of 50g (400g total) for the largest size in the primary lime color, plus 1 ball of 50g in pink for the contrast details. Knitters will need two pairs of needles: 4mm (US 6) needles for the ribbed sections and 4.5mm (US 7) needles for the main fabric. The pattern specifies a tension of 18 stitches and 24 rows over a 10cm (4 inch) square worked in stockinette stitch using the 4.5mm needles, which is important for achieving the correct finished measurements.