This is my first test for Lily Kate France of the UK. She has super model looks and has been designing cute knitwear since she was a young girl. I love her style!

This is a razorback style tank meant to be worn with considerable negative ease. So consider making a size smaller than you normally would.

The back stripes are done with an unusual technique resembling a 3-needle bind off without binding off. Although the tank is knitted using finering weight, you may use a heavier yarn, including novelty yarn for the back stripes.

Needles used:

Size 4 US - JUST for the cast on row because some testers said theirs would not fit over their head. And I have a very large head.

Size 2 US - Body

Size 1.5 US - Neck and armhole bands

What I did differently:

I picked up 108 sts for the neckband. Pick-up ratio was 1~1 except for the curved part of the front neckline where the ratio was 2~3.

I picked up 124 sts for each armhole (64 back, 60 front) which was a ratio of 3~4. Very pleased with the fit of both the neck and arm bands.

I did a purl round for the neckband turning point. This results in a crisp but stretchy edge and makes the hemming a lot easier. So instead of knitting 9 rounds of stockinette per the pattern, I did:

K4 rounds, P1 round, K3 rounds.

Then I threaded a very long yarn tail thru all the live stitches, removed needle(s) and pulled the tank over my head to check fit. Then I hemmed by hand using sewing thread which reduces bulk and makes a very neat neckband. Went through each live stitch twice with the matching color sewing thread.

Per the pattern instructions, I used contrast yarn B for the first round of the neckband. However, it hardly showed up at all. Therefore, when I was all finished, I crocheted (using size 3/D hook) a chain with contrast yarn B long enough to go around the neckband. I sewed this on by hand with sewing thread. It compliments the striped detail in the back and looks much better, in my opinion.

I chose one size too large, so had to take in the sides to the stitch count of a size 2. That meant casting on fewer stitches under the armholes. I don’t normally knit tops with negative ease, but this style really needs quite a lot of negative ease. So when you pick a size, choose one that’s a size smaller than you’d normally wear if you want this to fit like a glove.

Weight of finished tank: 4.7 oz.

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