Simple Striped Tank

Simple Striped Tank by Terri Kruse

What is Being Made

The Simple Striped Tank is a lightweight, child-sized sleeveless garment designed for infants and toddlers, ranging from 3 months through 4T sizing. This knitted tank top features a classic striped pattern created through color work, making it an ideal spring and warm-weather layering piece. The garment is finished with functional button closures for easy dressing.

Knitting Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several fundamental techniques suitable for crafters with basic knitting experience. The construction utilizes stockinette stitch as the primary fabric structure, which creates a smooth, classic knit appearance. Color work is incorporated through the use of contrasting yarn colors to build the striped design throughout the garment. The pattern involves circular needle knitting, which allows for seamless construction and the ability to work in the round where applicable. Bind-off techniques are used to finish edges, and button band construction provides functional closures. The pattern also requires basic shaping through increases and decreases to achieve proper fit across multiple size ranges.

Stitches and Abbreviations

The Simple Striped Tank utilizes essential knitting stitches and abbreviations including:

• k (knit) - the fundamental stitch creating the primary fabric texture
• p (purl) - used in combination with knit stitches for texture variation and shaping
• BO (bind off) - the finishing technique used to secure stitches and complete edges
• PM (place marker) - used to mark pattern sections and shaping points
• sts (stitches) - the unit of measurement for all pattern instructions
• ws (wrong side) - refers to the reverse side of the fabric during construction
• MC (main color) - the primary yarn color used throughout most of the garment
• CC (contrast color) - the secondary yarn color creating the striped effect

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Simple Striped Tank is designed to be knitted with sport weight yarn, a lightweight option ideal for creating breathable, drape-friendly garments. The pattern calls for Felici sport self-striping yarn for the main color component, composed of 75% Superwash Merino Wool and 25% Nylon, offering durability and easy-care properties essential for children's clothing. Each skein provides 137 yards, with yardage requirements ranging from 1 skein for the smallest sizes (3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months) to 2 skeins for larger sizes (2T and 4T). The contrast color is worked in Stroll Sport, also featuring 75% Superwash Merino Wool and 25% Nylon composition, with 164 yards per skein. This fiber blend ensures the finished tank is soft against delicate skin, machine washable, and resistant to pilling.

Needles and Gauge

Construction requires two circular needles in different sizes to achieve proper fabric density and fit. A US4 (3.5mm) circular needle is used for ribbed sections and finishing details, while a US5 (3.75mm) circular needle is used for the main stockinette stitch body. Needle length varies by size: a 16-inch circular needle accommodates all sizes except 2T and 4T, which require 24-inch circulars to accommodate the increased stitch count. The pattern specifies a gauge of 22 stitches and 25 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch, making accurate gauge swatching essential for achieving the correct finished measurements across all six size options.

Sizing and Finished Measurements

The Simple Striped Tank is available in six sizes spanning from newborn through toddler stages. Finished chest measurements range from 17 inches for the 3-month size to 27 inches for the 4T size, with graduated increments of approximately 1-2 inches between sizes to ensure proper growth accommodation. This sizing range makes the pattern suitable for gift-giving across multiple age groups or for siblings.

Additional Materials Required

Beyond yarn and needles, the pattern requires a darning needle for weaving in yarn ends and finishing seams, a