This lacy blouse is perfect on those hot end-of-summer days. With leafy lace running up the center of the front and branching lace directionally up the back, this tank manages to blend sporty and frilly. Using the body shaping to move the lace columns on the back, the Alyssa tank flatters the feminine figure without being extreme. The high neck-line creates a summertime feel that is at once casual and formal depending on what it’s paired with.

Yarn

Cascade Heritage Silk (85% Superwash Merino, 15% silk; 437 yards [400 m]/3.5 oz [100 g]): 5687 Cockatoo, 2 (2, 3, 3, 4, 4) skeins.

Needles

Size US 5 (3.75 mm): straight and 24” circular and Double Pointed (DPN)

Schematic

Notions

Stitch holders; stitch markers (m); tapestry needle

Gauge

22 sts and 31 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking.

Abbreviations

See our standard abbreviations.

Ssk, sl, psso: Ssk, slip stitch back to left needle, pass next stitch over, return stitch to right needle; 2 stitch decreased.

Pattern Notes

Piece is worked seamlessly from the bottom up to the underarms. Waist shaping is located on the sides and along the back lace panels. Front and back are separated at the underarms and worked separately before the shoulders are grafted together.

Charts

Front Lace

Right Column

Left Column

Pattern

Body

Using Backwards Loop Method, CO 176 (188, 212, 232, 256, 284). Being careful not to twist sts, pm and join for working in the round.

Purl 4 rnds.

Next Rnd: K26 (29, 35, 40, 46, 53), p2, k3, p2, work Front Lace over foll 22 sts, p2, k3, p2, k38 (44, 56, 66, 78, 91), p1 work Right Lace over foll 12 sts, k38, work Left Lace over foll 12 sts, p1 knit to end. Work in patt until piece measures 3” [7.5 cm] from CO edge.

Setup Rnd: Work 88 (94, 106, 116, 128, 142) sts in patt, pm, work 25 (28, 34, 39, 45, 52) sts in patt, pm, k38, pm, work in patt to end.

Dec Rnd: K1, k2tog, work in patt to 3 sts from m, ssk, k1, sl m, work in patt to m, sl m, k1, k2tog, work in patt to 3 sts from m, ssk, k1, work in patt to end—4 sts dec’d. Rep Dec Rnd every 6^th rnd 8 (7, 7, 6, 5, 6) more times; 140 (156, 180, 204, 232, 256) sts rem. Work evenly in patt until piece measures 11 (11, 11, 11, 12, 12)” [28 (28, 28, 28, 30.5, 30.5) cm] from CO edge.

Inc Rnd: K1, m1l, work in patt to 1 sts before m, m1r, k1, sl m, work in patt to m, sl m, k1, m1l, knit to 1 st before m, m1r, k1, work in patt to end; 4 sts inc’d. Rep Inc Rnd every 8^th rnd 5 (6, 6, 5, 4, 4) more times;164 (184, 208, 228, 252, 276) sts total. Work in patt until piece measures 19” [48.25 cm] from CO edge.

Yoke

Next Rnd: Work 82 (92, 104, 114, 126, 138) sts in patt. Place next 82 (92, 104, 114, 126, 138) sts on holder for back. Turn piece.

Front

Next Row (WS): Purl across.

Shape Underarm

BO 3 (4, 4, 5, 5, 6) sts at the beg of the next two rows and 3 (3, 4, 4, 5, 5) at the beg of the next two rows;70 (78, 88, 96, 106, 116) sts rem.

Armhole Dec Row (RS): Sl 2 pwise, k1, ssk, work in patt to 5 sts from end, k2tog, k to end – 2 sts dec’d.

Next Row (WS): Sl 2 pwise, purl to end. Rep Dec Row every RS row 3 (4, 6, 8, 10, 13) more times; 62 (68, 74, 78, 84, 88) sts rem. Work evenly in patt until armhole measures 5.5 (6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8)” [14 (15.25, 16.5, 17.75, 19, 20.5) cm] from underarm.

Shape Right Strap

K16 (16, 19, 21, 22, 23) and place on holder for Left Strap. BO next 30 (36, 36, 36, 40, 42) sts, knit to end; 16 (16, 19, 21, 22, 23) sts rem for Right Strap.

Row 1 (WS): Sl 2 pwise, purl to end.

Row 2(RS): Knit across.

Repeat previous 2 rows until Front measures 2” [5 cm] from BO row, ending on a WS row. Break yarn leaving along tail and place sts on holder.

Shape Left Strap

Carefully return sts to needles. With WS facing, rejoin yarn and purl across.

Row 1 (RS): Sl 2 pwise, knit to end.

Row 2 (WS): Purl across.

Repeat previous 2 rows until Front measures 2” [5 cm] from BO row, ending on a WS row. Break yarn leaving along tail and place sts on holder.

Back

Carefully return sts to needles. With WS facing, rejoin yarn and work in patt across.

Next Row (WS): Purl across.

Shape Underarm

BO 3 (4, 4, 5, 5, 6) sts at the beg of the next two rows and 3 (3, 4, 4, 5, 5) at the beg of the next two rows; 70 (78, 88, 96, 106, 116) sts rem.

Armhole Dec Row (RS): Sl 2 pwise, k1, ssk, work in patt to 5 sts from end, k2tog, k to end.

Next Row (WS): Sl 2 pwise, purl to end. Rep Dec Row every RS row 3 (4, 6, 8, 10, 13) more times; 62 (68, 74, 78, 84, 88) sts rem. Work evenly in patt until armhole measures 4.5 (5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7)” [11.5 (12.75, 14, 15.25, 16.5, 17.75) cm] from underarm. Break yarn leaving along tail and place sts on holder.

Join Shoulders

Left Side: Place 16 (16, 19, 21, 22, 23) Left Strap sts on DPN and 16 (16, 19, 21, 22, 23) sts from the left edge of the Back. Using the long tail from the front, join shoulder using three-needle bind off method.

Right Side: Place 16 (16, 19, 21, 22, 23) Right Strap sts on DPN and 16 (16, 19, 21, 22, 23) sts from the right edge of the Back. Using the long tail from the front, join shoulder using three-needle bind off method.

Neck

Place 30 (36, 36, 36, 40, 42) back neck sts on needle. With RS facing, join yarn. Starting at left shoulder, pick up and purl 14 sts, pick up and purl 30 (36, 36, 36, 40, 42) front sts, pick up and purl 14 sts, purl across back sts, pm, join—88 (100, 100, 100, 108, 112) sts total.

Purl 2 rounds.

BO pwise.

Finishing

Weave in ends. Block to schematic measurements.