We Americans have appropriated a ton of words from the French over the centuries. A la carte, a la mode, baguette, blasé, du jour, impasse, pied-à-terre, protege, rapport, touché - to name a mere few.

I use them all the time, you probably do to. But for some reason, when I was in France last year, I found it just fantastic to hear the French using them. I am a well traveled person and I’ve studied a few languages over the years, so I really have no idea why this was such a stand out point for me.

The one that really made my day each and every time I heard it? Et Voila! And I heard it all the time. I think I enjoyed it so much because over here in the U.S. it’s a phrase often reserved for magicians (in my mind) and over in France, it’s everyone’s word. Buying an ice cream? Et Voila, here’s your ice cream. Looking for a size medium shirt? Et Voila, here’s your size medium madame.

And that’s why I named this tank Et Voila. One day you cast on and then, et voila, like magic, it’s finished. And it’s a simple mindless knit with a fit that (I hope (and want)) to flatter everyone.

It’s knit in the round until the armholes, at which point the front and back are worked separately. The top shoulder seams are joined with the kitchener stitch. Aside from increases + decreases, the only stitches are knit + purl. And think of the color combinations!

Magical.

Kaitlin