STEP BY STEP, HOW TO MAKE A ROYAL TANK TOP

MATERIALS

Susan Crawford ‘Fenella’ 3 (4,5, 7) skeins Marriner (MC) 1 (1,1, 1) skein each of Baked Cherry (CC1), Chalk (CC2), Charcoal (CC3) & Forget Me Not (CC4) 1 pair 2.75mm needles & 1 pair 3.25mm needles

TENSION

27 sts & 36 rows = 10cm (4in) using 3.25 needles measured over stocking stitch

ABBREVIATIONS

K - knit P - purl K2tog - knit 2 together RS - right side WS - wrong side Dec - decrease rem - remaining Rep - repeat st (s) - stitch(es) Inc - increase Sl1 - slip 1 psso - pass slip stitch over

SIZING

To Fit ages 1-2 (2-3, 4-5, 6-7) years

BACK

Cast on 84 (84, 96, 108) sts using 2.75mm needles and MC and commence work as folls: Next row: * K1, P1, rep from * to end. Rep this row until rib measures 5cm ending with a WS row. Change to 3.25mm needles and commencing with a K row work in stocking stitch until work measures 23 (25.5, 27.5, 32.5) cm ending with a WS row. **

SHAPE ARMHOLES

Cast off 4 sts at beg of next 2 (2,4, 4) rows, 76 (76, 80, 92) sts. Dec 1 st at each end of next 4 (4,4, 8) rows, 68 (68, 72, 76) sts. Continue without further shaping until armhole measures 12 (13, 14, 15) cm.

SHAPE SHOULDERS

Cast off 7 sts at beg of next 4 rows, 40 (40, 44, 48) sts, then cast off 8 (8, 9, 10) sts at beg of next 2 rows, 24 (24, 26, 28) sts. Leave rem sts on holder.

FRONT

Cast on 84 (84, 96, 108) sts using 2.75mm needles and MC and commence work as folls: Next row: * K1, P1, rep from * to end. Rep this row until rib measures 5cm ending with a WS row. Change to 3.25mm needles and commencing with a K row work in stocking stitch until work measures 7 (7, 7.5, 8) cm, ending with a WS row. Row 1 (RS): Reading chart from right to left, repeat 12 stitch motif from row 1 of chart 7 (7,8, 9) times. Row 2 (WS): Reading chart from left to right, repeat 12 stitch motif from row 2 of chart 7 (7,8, 9) times. Continue as set until all 26 rows of chart completed. Using MC only and commencing with a K row, work in stocking stitch until work measures 23 (25.5, 27.5, 32.5) cm ending with a WS row.

SHAPE ARMHOLES

Cast off 4 sts at beg of next 2 (2,4, 4) rows, 76 (76, 80, 92) sts. Dec 1 st at each end of next 2 (2,0, 0) rows, 72 (72, 80, 92) sts.

SHAPE NECK

Next row (RS): K2tog, K32 (32, 36, 42), K2tog, turn, leaving rem 36 (36, 40, 46) sts on holder, and pattern to end, 34 (34, 38, 44) sts. Dec 1 st at armhole edge on foll 1 (1,3, 7) rows and AT THE SAME TIME, dec 1 st at neck edge on 11 (11, 12, 13) foll 3rd rows, 22 (22, 23, 24) sts. Work without further shaping until piece measures same as back to start of shoulder shaping, ending with a WS row.

SHAPE SHOULDER

Cast off 7 sts at beg of next and following alternate row, 8 (8, 9, 10) sts, then cast off 8 (8, 9, 10) sts at beg of next alternate row. With RS facing rejoin yarn to rem 36 (36, 40, 46) sts. Next row: K2tog, K32 (32, 36, 42), K2tog, 34 (34, 38, 44) sts. Dec 1 st at armhole edge on foll 1 (1,3, 7) rows and AT THE SAME TIME, dec 1 st at neck edge on 11 (11, 12, 13) foll 3rd rows, 22 (22, 23, 24) sts. Work without further shaping until piece measures same as back to start of shoulder shaping, ending with a RS row.

SHAPE SHOULDER

Cast off 7 sts at beg of next and following alternate row, 8 (8, 9, 10) sts, then cast off 8 (8, 9, 10) sts at beg of next alternate row.

MAKING UP

Press lightly on WS of work through a damp cloth. Darn in all ends. Join right shoulder seam.

NECK BAND

With RS facing, and using 3.25mm needles and MC, pick up and knit 32 (36, 38, 40) sts down left front neck, pick up and knit 1 st at centre of V neck, pick up and knit 31, (35, 37, 39) sts up left front neck, K into front and back of all 22 (22, 23, 24) sts on back neck holder, 108 (116, 122, 128) sts. Row 1 (WS): * K1, P1, rep to end, placing a marker either side of centre front st. Row 2 (RS): Rib to last st before first marker, Sl1, K2tog, psso, (replacing markers around this stitch), rib to end, 2 sts dec. Row 3: Match rib as set. Row 4: As row 2, 2 sts dec. Row 5: As row 3. Row 6: As row 2, 2 sts dec. Row 7: As row 3. Cast off loosely in rib.

ARM BANDS

Join left shoulder seam. With RS facing, and using 3.25mm needles and MC, pick up and knit 38 (40, 44, 50) sts up first side of armhole to shoulder seam, then pick up and knit 38 (40, 44, 50) sts down second side of armhole, 76 (80, 88, 100) sts. Next row (WS): * K1, P1, rep from * to end of row. Rep this row a further 5 times then, using 3.25mm needles, cast off fairly loosely in rib. Repeat for second armhole. Join side seams. Darn in any remaining ends. Soak in lukewarm, soapy water, rinse and leave to dry flat.