The Muscle Tank is your basic oversized tee, but without the sleeves. It is designed to compliment the shoulder and bicep lines and pairs the iconic low armhole of this sporty style with the classic crew neck of a regular tee.
The basic construction allows for infinite mix and match between shoulder and bust sizes, for a perfect fit on all body types and for any fit taste. This tank is thought-out to be a perfect basic wardrobe staple with a twist that will make you look effortlessly cool and active.
Or, as my awesome tester Kim said : “One is never too old nor too young to wear hot pink muscle tops and strut around like a proud partridge! Let us all rejoice in our new fangled creations and bring the world to their knees while they grovel in glorified wonderment!”

To see different versions of the pattern knit in various yarns, sizes, fibers and colors, you can check out the testers version under the “Project” tab at the top of the page, or the #MuscleTank on Instagram.

The pattern has been tested and professionally tech edited.

KEY FEATURES
2 gauges: fingering or DK
Top down flat then in the round
European drop shoulder construction
Positive ease
Deep armhole with raw edges (can be modified)
Optional bust darts
Optional body shaping
All over stockinette
Folded over stockinette bottom hem and neckline

SIZING
1, 2, (3, 4, 5) 6, 7, 8 9, 10, 11

NOTE: Sizes 8 to 11 haven’t been tested. If you wish to knit those sizes and have the corresponding chest or cross back/front measurement, please contact me via e-mail: if you agree to do so, I will send you the pattern for free for testing.
#sizeinclusive

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
2 cm / 0.75” wider than your cross front / back (see sizing chart, the pattern includes guidance on this).

Alternatively, pick a size based on your bust size: 5 to 15 cm / 2 to 6” of positive ease at the bust.

Bust circumference of the finished garment (these are rounded, see full size chart):
80, 90, (100, 110, 120) 130, 140, 150 160, 170, 180 cm / 32, 36, (40, 44, 48) 52, 56, 60 64, 68, 72”
To fit bust measurement:
70, 80, (90, 100, 110) 120, 130, 140 150, 160, 170 cm / 28, 32, (36, 40, 44) 48, 52, 56 60, 64, 68”

Curly hair model: 165 cm / 5’5” tall, chest and full bust 85 cm / 33½’’. Wearing a modified size 2 without bust darts in fingering weight.
Long haired model: 169 cm / 5’6” tall, chest 85 cm / 33½’’, full bust 80 cm / 31½’’. Wearing a modified size 3 without bust darts in DK weight.

SUGGESTED YARN
FINGERING: Cotton Merino by Knitting for Olive in colorway Dark Sea Green (70% cotton, 30% merino wool, 3 ply, 250 meters / 273 yards per 50g)

DK: Studio Linen by Erika Knight in colorway 405 Remnant (85% recycled linen, 15% premium linen, 120 meters / 131 yards per 50g)

YARN REQUIREMENTS
A buffer for swatching purposes is already accounted for.

FINGERING
625, 675, (750, 850, 925) 1000, 1075, 1175 1250, 1350, 1450 meters
680, 740, (820, 930, 1010) 1090, 1180, 1290 1370, 1480, 1590 yards
125, 135, (150, 170, 185) 200, 215, 235 250, 270, 290 g of Cotton Merino
The optional bust darts will require an additional:
13 m / 14 y to 210 m / 230 y (= 2 to 42 g of Cotton Merino)

DK (single strand length)
500, 560, (620, 700, 760) 820, 890, 950 1020, 1120, 1190 meters
550, 620, (680, 760, 830) 890, 970, 1040 1120, 1220, 1300 yards
210, 235, (260, 290, 315) 340, 370, 395 425, 465, 495 g of Studio Linen
The optional bust darts will require an additional:
10 m / 11 y to 170 m / 190 y (= 5 to 75 g of Studio Linen)

GAUGE
Gauges are in stockinette flat and in the round, wet blocked.
FINGERING: 27 sts by 38 rows/rounds over 10x10 cm / 4x4”
DK: 21 sts by 32 rows/rounds over a 10x10 cm / 4x4”

SUGGESTED NEEDLES AND NOTIONS
All circular needles, length shorter than your bust circumference.

FINGERING: Main needles: 3.25 mm / US 3 circular needles
Hem needles: 2.75 mm / US 2 circular needles, or 2 sizes smaller than Main needles
DK: Main needles: 4.5 mm / US 7 circular needles
Hem needles: 4 mm / US 6 circular needles or 2 sizes smaller than Main needles

Notions: removable stitch markers, scissors, 1 unique marker, darning needle, measuring tape, waste yarn/stitch holders

SKILLS

• Knitting flat and in the round
• Increasing/decreasing
• German short rows
• Long tail cast on
• Backwards loop cast on
• Picking up stitches
• Sewing down a folded over hem (video tutorial)

Photo credit: @alexialinn__ on Instragram
Model: @ici_annajuraskova on Instagram