KNITCROADDICT

Knitting a tank top for

newbies and pros

A simple, modern and super

wearable knit tank top pattern for all
If you’re in the thinking stages of knitting a tank top,
you’ve made it to the right spot. Regardless of skill
level, you’re gonna love this knitted tank top pattern.

How do I know? Because I designed this knit tank top

pattern with beginners in mind, and I’m confident you
can do it.

I wanted a classic looking knit tank top for the library

that was easy to access for as many people as
 possible, but I also wanted one for my wardrobe lol.

Luckily everyone benefits when I get a design on my

mind, and this free knitting tank top pattern is no
exception. Of course, it includes a follow along video
tutorial with the full free pattern in US women’s XS-
XXL.

I’m really trying to add some more knitting projects to

my libraries, especially on Ravelry as their seems to
still be mostly knitting there and I’m pretty crochet
pattern heavy.

I used Berroco Meraki #3 DK weight yarn for this

tank top and US 5/3.75mm needles. It’s not too thick,
not to thin. It’s a fantastic top for all seasons, as it will
layer nicely in colder weather and make a beautiful
stand alone top in the summer weather.
So, if you’ve been thinking about making a tank top,
search now longer. The knit tank top pattern you’ve
been looking for is here!

If not, maybe you’ll like some of my other knitted top

patterns below. There are some classics there as
well.

1 Knitted Sweater Vest / 2 Lacy Knitted Sweater

If you’d like to own this or any of my patterns in an ad

free, downloadable/printable PDF format, you can
 find over 100 on my sales channels below.

Etsy

Ravelry

Lovecrafts

Okay, enough chit chat, lets get started

knitting a tank top!
Materials

I used Berroco Meraki #3 Light/DK weight yarn

Needles size = US 5/3.75 mm 14″ circular needles

for the neckline and armhole ribbings and 32″
circular needles for the body with the same
needle size (I love this interchangeable set)

Yarn needle

2 stitch marker

Scissors

*These materials contain affiliate links, for which I make a

small commission. It’s no extra cost to you, makes
shopping easier and helps to keep the lights on.

Stitches Used & Code (US Term)

CO = Cast on

BO = Bind off

K = Knit

P = Purl

ST = Stitch(es)
 M1R = Make 1 right leaning increase

M1L = Make 1 left leaning increase

TBL = Through back loop

REP = Repeat

RS = Right side

WS = Wrong side

” = Inches

Skill: Easy

Notes:

The pattern is written in English US terminology

The pattern is made as US women’s sizes XS(S,

M, L, XL, XXL)

In this picture I have demonstrated with size

Small

For the upper back and upper front, we’re going

to work back and forth in the row. Then we’re
going to join in the round and work on the body.

Gauge blocked: 19 ST X 26 Rows = 4″

Yarn needed: 410(450, 510, 560, 620, 670) yards

Measurements (After blocked)

XS = 35.78″ Body Circumference X 19.69″ Length

S = 37.47″ Body Circumference X 20″ Length

M = 40.42″ Body Circumference X 21.23″ Length

L = 42.52″ Body Circumference X 21.84″ Length

 XL = 45.47″ Body Circumference X 23.07″
Length

XXL = 47.57″ Body Circumference X 23.69″

Length

Knit Tank Top Pattern

Upper Back
CO 54(58, 64, 68, 74, 78) ST

Row 1 (WS): P across. Total of 54(58, 64, 68, 74, 78)

ST

Row 2 (RS): K across. Total of 54(58, 64, 68, 74, 78)

ST

REP Row 1 and Row 2: 7(7, 9, 10, 12, 13) more times.
You’ll have a total of 16(16, 20, 22, 26, 28) rows

Row 17(17, 21, 23, 27, 29): P across. Total of 54(58,

64, 68, 74, 78) ST

Row 18(18, 22, 24, 28, 30): K 1, M1R, K until you have
1 ST left, M1L, K the last ST. Total of 56(60, 66, 70,
76, 80) ST

Row 19(19, 23, 25, 29, 31): P across. Total of 56(60,

66, 70, 76, 80) ST

Row 20(20, 24, 26, 30, 32): K across. Total of 56(60,

66, 70, 76, 80) ST

Row 21(21, 25, 27, 31, 33): P across. Total of 56(60,

66, 70, 76, 80) ST
REP Row 18(18, 22, 24, 28, 30) – Row 21(21, 25, 27,
31, 33): 3(3, 3, 3, 3, 3) more times. You’ll have a total
of 33(33, 37, 39, 43, 45) rows

The row that you’re repeating row 18(18, 22, 24, 28,
30) you’ll increase by 2 ST. The end of row 33(33,
37, 39, 43, 45) you’ll have a total of 62(66, 72, 76,
82, 86) ST

Row 34(34, 38, 40, 44, 46): K 1, M1R, K until you

have 1 ST left, M1L, K the last ST. Total of 64(68, 74,
78, 84, 88) ST

Row 35(35, 39, 41, 45, 47): P across. Total of 64(68,

74, 78, 84, 88) ST

REP Row 34(34, 38, 40, 44, 46) and Row 35(35, 39,
41, 45, 47): 10(10, 10, 10, 10, 10) more times. You’ll
have a total of 55(55, 59, 61, 65, 67) rows

The row that you’re repeating row 34(34, 38, 40, 44,
46) you’ll increase by 2 ST. The end of row 55(55,
59, 61, 65, 67) you’ll have a total of 84(88, 94, 98,
104, 108) ST. Cut the yarn and place all ST on hold.
Check picture below
Upper Right Front (When you’re
wearing it)
We’re going to pick up the stitches at the upper back
CO edge for the upper right front. With your upper
back RS facing up, then pick up 12(12, 14, 14, 16, 16)
ST on the right hand side corner of the upper back
CO edge. Check picture below

Row 1 (WS): P across. Total of 12(12, 14, 14, 16, 16)

ST

Row 2 (RS): K across. Total of 12(12, 14, 14, 16, 16)

ST

REP Row 1 and Row 2: 7(7, 9, 10, 12, 13) more times.
You’ll have a total of 16(16, 20, 22, 26, 28) rows

Row 17(17, 21, 23, 27, 29): P across. 12(12, 14, 14, 16,
16) ST

Row 18(18, 22, 24, 28, 30): K 1, M1R, K until you have
1 ST left, M1L, K the last ST. Total of 14(14, 16, 16, 18,
18) ST

Row 19(19, 23, 25, 29, 31): P across. Total of 14(14,

16, 16, 18, 18) ST

Row 20(20, 24, 26, 30, 32): K across. Total of 14(14,

16, 16, 18, 18) ST

Row 21(21, 25, 27, 31, 33): P across. Total of 14(14,

16, 16, 18, 18) ST

REP Row 18(18, 22, 24, 28, 30) – Row 21(21, 25, 27,
31, 33): 3(3, 3, 3, 3, 3) more times. You’ll have a total
of 33(33, 37, 39, 43, 45) rows

The row that you’re repeating row 18(18, 22, 24, 28,
30) you’ll increase by 2 ST. The end of row 33(33,
37, 39, 43, 45) you’ll have a total of 20(20, 22, 22,
24, 24) ST

Row 34(34, 38, 40, 44, 46): K 1, M1R, K until you

have 1 ST left, M1L, K the last ST. Total of 22(22, 24,
24, 26, 26) ST. Cut the yarn and place all ST on hold.
Check picture below

Upper Left Front (When you’re

wearing it)
We’re going to pick up the stitches at the upper back
CO edge for the upper left front. With your work RS
facing up, then pick up the last 12(12, 14, 14, 16, 16)
ST on the left hand side corner of the upper back CO
edge. Check picture below
Row 1 – Row 34(34, 38, 40, 44, 46) we’re going to
make the same as the upper right front but DO NOT
cut the yarn at the end of row 34(34, 38, 40, 44, 46).
Check picture below

Now we’re going to join the upper left and right

front together

*Pattern continue

Row 35(35, 39, 41, 45, 47): With the working yarn on
the upper left front. P across the upper left, CO
20(24, 26, 30, 32, 36) ST, P across the upper right.
Total of 64(68, 74, 78, 84, 88) ST. Check picture
below

Row 36(36, 40, 42, 46, 48): K 1, M1R, K until you

have 1 ST left, M1L, K the last ST. Total of 66(70, 76,
80, 86, 90) ST

Row 37(37, 41, 43, 47, 49): P across. Total of 66(70,

76, 80, 86, 90) ST

REP Row 36(36, 40, 42, 46, 48) and Row 37(37, 41,
43, 47, 49): 9(9, 9, 9, 9, 9) more times. You’ll have a
total of 55(55, 59, 61, 65, 67) rows

The row that you’re repeating row 36(36, 40, 42, 46,
48) you’ll increase by 2 ST. The end of row 55(55,
59, 61, 65, 67) you’ll have a total of 84(88, 94, 98,
104, 108) ST. Next we’re going work on the body
part. Check picture below
Body
Now we’re going to join the upper front and back
together. We’re going to work in the round on the
right side for the body, using the long circular
needles. Make sure to place the marker at the
beginning of each round except round 1.

Round 1: With the working yarn on the upper front,

then K across the upper front, CO 1(1, 2, 3, 4, 5) ST
for the underarm, K across the upper back, CO 1(1, 2,
3, 4, 5) ST for the underarm. Total of 170(178, 192,
202, 216, 226) ST. We’re not joining in the round yet
but as soon as we’re knitting the first ST on round 2
then we’ll working in the round. Check picture below
Round 2: K around. Total of 170(178, 192, 202, 216,
226) ST

Round 3 – Round 68(70, 74, 76, 80, 82): REP Round

2

Round 69(71, 75, 77, 81, 83): *K 1 TBL, P 1 TBL* REP

from *TO* around. Total of 170(178, 192, 202, 216,
226) ST

Round 70(72, 76, 78, 82, 84) – Round 73(75, 79, 81,
85, 87): REP Round 69(71, 75, 77, 81, 83)

The end of Round 73(75, 79, 81, 85, 87) cut the yarn
and leave yourself 4 times the circumference of your
work. Then I use a tubular BO technique, it really
gives a nice invisible BO edge. If you like, you can do
a classic BO in pattern

Neckline Ribbing
Using 14″ circular needles, we’re going to work in the
round on the right side. Make sure to place the
marker at the beginning of each round.
With your top RS facing out, pickup stitches evenly
around the neckline. You can start anywhere you
prefer. I start at the middle of the back neckline. You
should have a total of 118(126, 138, 150, 162, 174) ST
around the neckline, If you have a couple more or
less stitches it’s ok but be sure that you have an even
number of stitches.

Round 1: *K 1 TBL, P 1 TBL* REP from *TO* around.

Total of 118(126, 138, 150, 162, 174) ST

Round 2 – Round 4: REP Round 1

*All sizes are have the same amount of rounds. The

end of round 4 cut the yarn and leave yourself 4
times the circumference of your work. Then I use a
tubular BO technique, it really gives a nice invisible
BO edge. If you like, you can do a classic BO in
pattern

Armholes Ribbing
Using 14″ circular needles, we’re going to work in the
round on the right side. Make sure to place the
marker at the beginning of each round.

With your top RS facing out, start from the underarm.

Pickup stitches evenly around the armhole edge. You
should have a total of 112(112, 120, 126, 134, 140) ST
around the armhole edge, If you have a couple more
or less stitches it’s ok but be sure that you have an
even number of stitches.

Round 1: *K 1 TBL, P 1 TBL* REP from *TO* around.

Total of 112(112, 120, 126, 134, 140) ST
Round 2: REP Round 1

*All sizes have the same amount of rounds. The end

of round 2 cut the yarn and leave yourself 4 times the
circumference of your work. Then I use a tubular BO
technique for that nice BO edge. Again, If you like,
you can do a classic BO in pattern

Make the same on the other side of the armhole

edge and weave all the end.

HERE’S THE VIDEO TUTORIAL FOR THIS KNITTED

TANK TOP

That’s a wrap for the knit tank top pattern!

Congrats on getting this far, I hope you’re in love with

your new knitted tank top. I know I had fun sharing it.
I’d love to see all of your work. You know where to
find me! (Instagram /FB/)

Till next time my fiber friend, happy crocheting.

Wan
 By Knitcroaddict
Last updated: January 17, 2025

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