Raspberry Rose

Layer up with this versatile tank top, knitted in a lace stitch with tiny cable details

Lace-patterned tank top

PATTERN NOTE DECREASING EVENLY

To work out how to decrease evenly, count the total number of sts on the needle (e.g. 242 sts) and divide by the number of decreases to be made (e.g. 24) = 10.1.

In this example, decrease by knitting together each 9th and 10th stitch (approx).

BODY

Using 2.5mm circular needles, 80cm long, cast on 242 ( 264: 286: 312: 348: 378) sts. Pm and join to work in the round, taking care not to twist sts.

Knit 1 rnd.

Next rnd: *K1, P1; rep from * to end. This round sets rib.

Work in rib for another 4 rounds.

Knit 1 round, dec 24 ( 26: 28: 30: 34: 36) sts evenly across round (see Pattern Note). 218 ( 238: 258: 282: 314: 342) sts.

Change to 3mm circular needles.

Place a marker after first 109 ( 119: 129: 141: 157: 171) sts.

Set-up round: *K10 ( 15: 16: 22: 26: 29) sts for st st, work row 1 of Chart A over next 12 sts, work row 1 of Chart B pattern repeat a total of 8 ( 8: 9: 9: 10: 11) times over next

64 ( 64: 72: 72: 80: 88) sts, work final st of row 1 of Chart B, work row 1 of Chart A over next 12 sts, K10 ( 15: 16: 22: 26: 29) sts for st st; rep from * once more.

Continue as set until Body measures 8cm from cast-on edge.

Next round (inc): *K3, yo, pattern as set to 3 sts before mrk, yo, K3, slm; rep from * once more. 4 sts inc’d.

Next round: *K3, K1tbl, pattern as set to 4 sts before mrk, K1tbl, K3 ; rep from * once more.

Continue straight, working new sts in st st and increasing every 7 ( 8: 8: 8: 9: 9) cm twice more.

230 ( 250: 270: 294: 326: 354) sts.

Continue working straight until Body measures 28 ( 29: 30: 31: 32: 33) cm from cast-on edge.

Next round: Pattern to end.

Next round: *P7 ( 8: 8: 9: 10: 11), pattern as set to 7 ( 8: 8: 9: 10: 11) sts before mrk,

P7 ( 8: 8: 9: 10: 11); rep from * once more. These 2 rounds set garter st side edges. All other sts are worked as before.

Work another 2 rounds with pattern and garter st edges as set.

SEPARATE FOR FRONT AND BACK

Next round: Cast off 3 ( 4: 4: 5: 6: 7) sts, pattern as set to 3 ( 4: 4: 5: 6: 7) sts before mrk, cast off 6 ( 8: 8: 10: 12: 140) sts, pattern as set to 3 ( 4: 4: 5: 6: 7) sts before end of round.

Cast off these sts.

Cut yarn.

The back and front pieces are completed separately.

BACK

109 ( 117: 127: 137: 151: 163) sts.

Continue pattern as set throughout unless otherwise stated.

The first and last 4 sts of each row should always be knitted to keep garter st correct. Next row (RS dec): K4, skpo, pattern to 6 sts before end, K2tog, K4. 2 sts dec’d. Decrease as set on 0 ( 2: 2: 6: 12: 14) foll RS rows and 2 ( 3: 4: 4: 1: 1) foll 4th rows.

103 ( 105: 113: 115: 123: 131) sts.**

Set-up row (WS): K4, P3 ( 4: 4: 5: 5: 5), work next row of Chart A over next 12 sts, work final st of Chart B, work Chart B pattern repeat a total of 8 ( 8: 9: 9: 10: 11) times over next 64 ( 64: 72: 72: 80: 88) sts, work Chart A over next 12 sts, P3 ( 4: 4: 5: 5: 5), K4.

Next row (RS): K7 ( 8: 8: 9: 9: 9), work next row of Chart A over next 12 sts, work next row of Chart B over next 64 ( 64: 72: 72: 80: 88) sts, work final st of row 1 of Chart B, work chart A over next 12 sts, K7 ( 8: 8: 9: 9: 9). These 2 rows set pattern, st st and 4-st garter st edges.

Continue straight as set until Back measures 47 ( 49: 51: 53: 55: 57) cm from cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.

Next row (RS): Pattern 33 ( 34: 36: 37: 40: 44) sts, cast off next 37 ( 37: 41: 41: 43: 43) sts for Back neck, pattern to end.

33 ( 34: 36: 37: 40: 44) sts rem per shoulder.

SHAPE LEFT BACK NECK

Work 1 row straight. 33 ( 34: 36: 37: 40: 44) sts.

*** Next row: Cast off 2 sts, patt to end. 31 ( 32: 34: 35: 38: 42) sts rem for shoulder.

Cont straight until there are 2 rows left before Back meas 50 ( 52: 54: 56: 58: 60) cm, ending after a WS row.

Next row (RS): Knit to end, working centre of Chart A cable together.

30 ( 31: 33: 34: 37: 41) sts.

Work 1 row straight. Cast off.

SHAPE RIGHT BACK NECK

Work as for Left Back Neck from *** to end, working 1 row more before cable decrease, so that it is worked on a WS row.

Back measures 50 ( 52: 54: 56: 58: 60) cm from cast-on edge.

FRONT

Work as for Back to **.

103 ( 105: 113: 115: 123: 131) sts.

Continue straight in pattern until Front measures 41 ( 42: 44: 45: 47: 48) cm from cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.

SHAPE LEFT FRONT NECK.

Next row (RS): Pattern 43 ( 44: 46: 47: 50: 54) sts, turn and continue for Left Front Neck on these sts only.

Keeping pattern correct, cast off 2 sts at beg of next and 3 foll alt rows, and 1 st at beg of 4 foll alt rows.

31 ( 32: 34: 35: 38: 42) sts rem for shoulder.

****Cont straight until there are 2 rows left before Front measures 50 ( 52: 54: 56: 58: 60) cm, ending after a WS row.

Next row (RS): Knit to end, working centre of Chart A cable together.

30 ( 31: 33: 34: 37: 41) sts.

Work 1 row straight.

Cast off.

SHAPE RIGHT FRONT NECK.

With RS facing, place first 17 ( 17: 21: 21: 23: 23) sts on waste yarn, rejoin yarn to rem

43 ( 44: 46: 47: 50: 54) sts and pattern to end. Work 1 row straight.

Keeping pattern correct, cast off 2 sts at beg of next and 3 foll alt rows, and 1 st at beg of 4 foll alt rows.

31 ( 32: 34: 35: 38: 42) sts rem for shoulder.

Work as for Left Front Neck from *** to end, working 1 row more before cable decrease, so that it is worked on a WS row.

MAKING UP

Join shoulder seams.

NECKBAND

Using 2.5mm circular needles, 40cm long, and with RS facing, beg at Left Shoulder seam, pick up and knit 118 ( 122: 126: 130: 134: 140) sts around neck edge.

Pm for beg of round and cont working in the round.

Next round: *K1, P1; rep from * to end. Work another 5 rounds in rib as set. Cast off in rib.