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Every time I encounter a paintbrush flower, I momentarily lose my breath. It feels like a small miracle that these springy bursts of color are real, living things. Paintbrush flowers—members of the genus Castilleja—are often associated with transformation, intuition, and creativity.

Paintbrush plants are also hemi-parasitic, which means they photosynthesize and produce some of their own energy, but rely on host plants for most of their nutrition. To access these resources, Castilleja possess specialized root-like structures called haustoria, which pierce the roots of unsuspecting host plants to siphon off nutrients. This interaction is not one-dimensional, though. Ecological studies indicate that host plants can influence the paintbrush that parasitize them, affecting their growth or how attractive their flowers are to pollinators. For example, when parasitizing lupines, which are nitrogen-fixing legumes, paintbrush often produce more seeds and attract more pollinators than paintbrush that parasitize grasses. The bright red and orange of paintbrush flowers may also attract more pollinators when paired with the purple of lupine. In nutrient-poor ecosystems, paintbrush can support higher rates of nutrient cycling because they produce high-quality litter, making scarce nutrients available to nearby plants. More recent research has investigated how hemi-parasitic plants may foster diverse soil microbe communities, which can benefit the entire landscape.

I am an ecologist by training, so I can nerd out on this type of thing. But I love how these associations show us that relationships between living things are more intricate and nuanced than we might realize. When I see paintbrush flowers now, I think about how these bright jewels of subalpine summer are harbingers of a vast connected world underfoot. They remind me to breathe a little deeper, walk with a little more reverence, and not to resist gratitude when it ripples through my bones.

NOTES
Oct 2026 Update: This pattern has been updated to include extra notes for working the paintbrush flowers; instructions to help you modify the armhole depth for a more traditional tank fit, if the muscle-style cut isn’t your thing; and a few more video tutorial links.

Design: The Paintbrush Tank is a boxy, slightly cropped tank with sporty shaping and a dropped armhole for a muscle-tee fit. The lower body features stranded colorwork and slipped stitches that form a field of paintbrush flowers. The hem and neckband are worked in 1x1 broken ribbing. Alternative instructions are included for a traditional armhole depth.

Construction: This tank is worked bottom-up with minimal seaming. The hem and lower body are worked in the round to the underarms, where stitches are divided for the front and back. The front and back yokes are then worked flat and joined at the shoulders with an exposed seam. Armhole edges are finished as the upper yoke is completed requiring no additional pick-up or finishing after the body is complete. Finally, stitches are picked up around the neckline to complete the neckband.

Fit: This top is designed to be worn with 1 to 5 in. (2.5 to 12.5 cm) of positive ease at the upper chest. To determine your ideal size, begin by measuring your upper bust (just under the arms, above the full bust). Then add your desired amount of ease and select the size with a finished chest circumference closest to that total. Testers making sizes at the upper end of the range generally preferred less positive ease, so consider your personal fit preferences when selecting a size. If you are new to choosing a garment size based on your upper bust, I’ve created a road map that walks you through the process.

Choosing Yarn: This tank works best in yarns with good drape and clear stitch definition. The sample uses a superwash merino and linen blend, which creates a structured fabric with excellent drape and crisp colorwork detail. Other fibers will work beautifully too—cotton, linen, silk, or other plant-based summer yarns, as well as wool and wool blends.

Consider drape and body: Fibers with less elasticity (cotton, linen, silk, Tencel) create relaxed, flowing fabric with maximum drape—ideal for an airy summer piece. Wool and wool blends offer more elasticity and body, holding their shape more firmly. For best stitch definition in the colorwork, choose smooth, well-plied yarns. Avoid very fuzzy or haloed fibers, which will obscure the pattern detail.

Note: Some testers shortened the armhole depth and chose wool to create a vest for layering.

Stitch Patterns: Written and charted instructions are included for the colorwork stitch pattern so you can choose your preferred method of instructions for knitting these sections!

Yarn Estimates: The yarn estimates provided in this pattern are approximations, calculated to allow for both a sizable swatch and the tank, with a small margin of error. Your actual yarn usage may vary based on factors such as your personal gauge, the yarn’s characteristics (e.g., fiber content, ply, thickness), and any modifications you make to the pattern.

Additional Notes: See the Notes section of the pattern for additional info on choosing yarn colors that make the motifs stand out.

SIZES
(1, 2, 3)(4, 5, 6)(7, 8, 9)
#sizeinclusive

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest Circumference (Upper and Full)
(33.25, 37, 40.5)(45.25, 49, 52.5)(57.25, 61, 64.5) in.
(83, 92.5, 101.5)(113, 122.5, 131.5)(143, 152.5, 161.5) cm

Armhole Circumference
(23.25, 24.5, 26)(28, 29.75, 31.25)(33.25, 34.5, 36) in.
(58, 61.5, 65)(70, 74.5, 78)(83, 86.5, 90) cm

This tank is designed to be worn with 1 to 5 in. (2.5 to 12.5 cm) of positive ease at the upper chest. The sample is shown in Size 1, worn with 2.25 in. (5.5 cm) of positive ease at the upper chest and 1.25 in. (3 cm) of positive ease at the full chest on a woman who is 5 ft 8 in. (173 cm) tall. See the note above on fit for more information about choosing the right size for you!

YARN
Fingering
The listed totals below assume a yarn weight of 100 g/395 yds (360 m). When substituting yarn, prioritize yardage over weight.

MC: (100, 115, 130)(140, 155, 170)(185, 200, 220) g/(395, 455, 510)(550, 610, 670)(730, 790, 865) yds or (360, 415, 465)(505, 560, 615)(670, 720, 790) m

CC1: (30, 35, 40)(45, 50, 55)(60, 65, 70) g/(120, 140, 160)(175, 195, 215)(235, 255, 275) yds or (110, 130, 145)(160, 180, 195)(215, 235, 250) m

CC2 and CC3: 5 g/20 yds or 20 m (each CC)

SUGGESTED YARN
Miss La Motte Yarn Linum (100 g/395 yds (360 m)) – 90% SW merino wool, 10% linen

MC: (1, 2, 2)(2, 2, 2)(2, 2, 3) skeins
CC1, CC2, and CC3: 1 skein (each CC)

The sample tank is knit in the colorways Linen (MC), Renosterbos (CC1), Cedar Rouge (CC2), and Autumn Vine (CC3).

NEEDLES
Needle A (body): US 3 (3.25 mm)
Needle B (ribbing): US 2 (2.75 mm)

For each needle size, you will need circular needles measuring 24 in. (60 cm) to 50 in. (125 cm), depending on the finished chest circumference of your chosen size and your preferred method for smaller circumference knitting (such as magic loop, short circular needles, or double-pointed needles).

Use the needle size you need to achieve gauge, and size down 2 US needle sizes for ribbing.

GAUGE
Measure gauge on Needle A after blocking.

26 stitches and 34 rows = 4 in. (10 cm) in stockinette (flat and in the round)
26 stitches and 28 rows = 4 in. (10 cm) in stranded colorwork (in the round only)

SKILLS TO USE (OR LEARN!)
Knitting
Purling
Increasing
Decreasing
Knitting flat
Knitting in the round
1x1 broken ribbing
Knitting through the back loop
Tubular cast-on
Stranded colorwork
Slipped-stitch colorwork
Double wrapped knit stitches
Chart reading (optional)
Sloped bind-off
German short rows
3-needle bind-off
Picking up stitches
Tubular bind-off

Perfect for knitters looking for an engaging warm-weather project with earthy, nature-inspired vibes.