studiosquaredaway

Sep 15, 2023

Breezy Tank Top

Updated: Dec 31, 2023

I love a good tank top. They are great for layering if part of the day is warm, but mornings and evenings are cooler, or even if you're planning a beach day, you can throw them on over bathing suits or athletic-wear. They are so versatile!

With this design, I particularly love the earthy-ness of this yarn color. Sort of terracotta-esque in tone, I chose this color with this combination of the stitches because it also reminded me of brick buildings and sunbaked clay soil. It's a comfortable and reliable feeling they evoke together! The openness of the bottom stitch pattern and the choice of this piece being a tank top, allows for air flow on a warm day!

a woman wearing a hand-crocheted clay-colored tank top. It has a ribbed bottom edge, an open stitched texture on the bottom half, and a solid stitch texture on top.

I'd love to know how your parts turned out, if you enjoyed this pattern, or if you have any other feedback or concerns, so do please share with me (you can email me at studiosquaredaway@gmail.com). Otherwise, please enjoy this free pattern!

PATTERN NOTES

This pattern is written using US crochet terms, and sizing is listed in inches.

This pattern includes directions for sizes XS-2XL. Stitches and rows will be listed like this: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL)

This tank is worked by crocheting the front and the back separately, then seaming them together. The stitches can all be enjoyed from either side of the work, meaning there are no right/wrong working sides you need to worry about, and when joining the two panels together, you can choose which side of your work is the view-side of the finished product!

The pattern starts with the ribbing, then is worked up, ending with the shoulder straps. After all parts are joined, the piece is finished with a row of single crochets in each arm hole, and two rows of hdc around the neck.

There are three textures made up of different stitch combinations. First you have the ribbing around the bottom of the tank, then you have the "breezy bottom" where you see a more open texture, then finishing the top with rows of hdc.

"Breezy bottom" special stitches

This portion consists of alternating rows of combinations of stitches. We'll be using combinations of common stitches, which makes this portion fun and easy.
Aside from the very first row, the stitches will be worked in the ch spaces of the previous row.
The first pattern is of dc 3 , ch 1, dc 3, ch 1, repeat!
The second row consists of ch 3, 1 sc, ch 3, sc 1, repeat!

MATERIALS

Any worsted weight yarn. I used Lion Brand's Basic Stitch anti-microbial acrylic yarn in color Clay Argile. It is 65% recycled polyester and 35% amicor acrylic in Medium (4) weight

US H8 / 5.00mm hook for the ribbing, US J10 / 6.00mm hook for the rest of the tank, or whatever size necessary for you to hit gauge

Yarn needle, scissors, measuring tape, stitch markers

A table showing how many yards of yarn are required for each size of tank top. XS requires 310 yards, S requires 350 yards, M requires 400 yards, L requires 450 yards, XL requires 510 yards, and 2XL requires 550 yards of yarn.

GAUGE

For the most accurate gauge, crochet in the different styles squares that are larger than 4"x4" so that you can measure the center, stitches which will more accurately reflect the overall pattern.

Ribbing

16 rows of ribbing st in the US H hook = 4"

Breezy Bottom

18 stitches by 9 rows = 4" x 4"

HDC top

12 stitches by 11 rows = 4" x 4"

STITCH KEY

Ch(s) = chain(s)
Sc = single crochet
Sl St = slip Stitch
Sk = skip
Dc = double crochet
Hdc = half double crochet
BLO = back loop only

SIZING

A table listing the measurements of the bust, shirt length, and armhole length for the finished tank top for each size from XS-2XL.

PATTERN

Front Panel

Ribbing

For all sizes, ch 6. Turn.

Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook and across to end - 5 st

Row 2: Ch 1 and turn. In the first st, sc in blo. Continue sc in blo of each remaining st to the end - 5 st

Row 3 -67 (75, 83, 95, 103, 111) repeat row 2 - 5 st

Breezy Bottom

Switch to larger hook (size J)

Row 1: Ch 1 and turn strip to work along the side of the rows of ribbing. Sc in first st and across to the end. - 67 (75, 83, 95, 103, 111)

Row 2: Ch 3 and turn. Turning chain counts as a dc st, so skip the first st and dc in next 2 st. *Ch 1. Sk next st and dc in next 3 st.* Repeat between ** to the end of the row, ending with a dc. - 67 (75, 83, 95, 103, 111)

Row 3: Ch 4 and turn. Sk 3 dc from previous row and crochet 1 sc into next ch space. *Ch 3, sk 3 dc from previous row and crochet 1 sc into next ch space.* Repeat between ** to end of row, ending with 1 sc in the turning ch of the previous row. - 67 (75, 83, 95, 103, 111)

Row 4: Ch 3 and turn. Turning chain counts as first st. Work 2 dc in previous row's turning ch spaces. *Ch 1, sk previous row's sc. 3 dc into previous row's ch of 3.* Repeat to end of row, ending with a dc. - 67 (75, 83, 95, 103, 111)

Row 5-9(9, 11, 11, 13, 13): repeat rows 3-4, ending with row 3. - 67 (75, 83, 95, 103, 111)

Here we will move to the stitch pattern that makes up the top of the tank.

The clay-colored tank top folded up on a fuzzy rug with a plant in the background. The stitch combinations and textures are the focus.

Row 1: Ch 1, turn. (Turning ch does not count as a st, here and throughout the rest of the panel.) *Work 3 hdc in ch 3 space, sk next sc space from previous row*. Repeat between ** until end of row - 51 (57, 63, 72, 78, 84)

Row 2: Ch 1, turn. Hdc in each st across to end. - 51 (57, 63, 72, 78, 84)

Repeat Row 2 for 15(15, 14, 14, 13, 13,) rows

Decrease for sleeves

Here you will start decreasing for the arm holes.

Row 1: Turn your work. Sl st in the next 7 (8, 10, 12, 13, 14) st. Ch 1, hdc in same st as ch, and one hdc in each st across, leaving the following number of st unworked: 6 (7, 9, 11, 12, 13).

Row 1 will end with a total of hdc: 39 (43, 45, 50, 54, 58).

Row 2: Turn your work. Sl st in second st from hook, ch 1, hdc in same st as ch. Hdc across, leaving one st unworked. - 37 (41, 43, 48, 52, 56)

Row 3 - 6: Repeat row 2, decreasing each row - 31 (35, 37, 42, 46, 50)

Row 7-8: Repeat row 6 - 31 (35, 37, 42, 46, 50)

First Strap

Row 1: Ch 1, turn. Work 1 hdc into first st and across the following number: 8 (8, 10, 10, 12, 12)

Row 2: Turn work and sl st in second st from hook. Ch 1, hdc in first st and across. - 7 (7, 9, 9, 11, 11)

Row 3: Ch 1, turn. Hdc in first st and across, leaving last st unworked - 6 (6, 8, 8, 10, 10)

Row 4: Turn work and sl st in second st from hook. Ch 1, hdc in first st and across. - 5 (5, 7, 7, 9, 9)

The finished crocheted tank top is laying flat on a fuzzy rug. The textures and shape of the finished tank top are the focus.

Row 5: Ch 1, turn. Hdc in first st and across, leaving last st unworked - 4 (4, 6, 6, 8, 8)

Rows 6-10: Ch 1, turn. Hdc across. - 4 (4, 6, 6, 8, 8)

Trim out.

Second strap

On the opposite end of the work, join a fresh yarn end into the first st. You will repeat the same steps for the first strap, working with a fresh join and from the edge of the piece in towards the center.

Back Panel

The front and back panel are identical. Follow the steps for the front panel as listed above.

Joining

To join the two panels, seam the top of each shoulder strap, and down each side below the arm holes. I used a Whip Stitch to join them, but feel free to use your favorite joining method!

Finish

Use your yarn needle to tie in all loose ends, and enjoy!