Barley Cable Tank Top Knitting Pattern

Barley Cable Tank in Sirdar Loveful 100% Bio Blend

What is Being Made

The Barley Cable Tank is a sleeveless knitted vest designed as Design No. 10916 by Sirdar. This contemporary knitwear piece is available in seven sizes, ranging from XS (71-76cm chest) to XXXL (132-137cm chest), with finished lengths from 57cm to 68cm depending on size. The tank features a modern silhouette with subtle design details inspired by natural structures including cell formations, beehives, and shells.

Techniques and Construction

This intermediate-level knitting project employs cable knitting techniques as the primary decorative element, evident from the garment's name. The pattern uses double knitting as the foundational construction method, which creates a fabric with excellent drape and durability suitable for a sleeveless tank. The cable work adds textural interest and structural definition to the piece, requiring intermediate knitting skills to execute the twisted stitch patterns that form the characteristic raised cables running through the design.

Stitches Used

The Barley Cable Tank incorporates cable stitches as the signature stitch pattern. These cables are worked using the double knitting technique, which involves working with yarn at double thickness to create a dense, stable fabric. Cable stitches require crossing groups of stitches over one another to create the twisted, rope-like texture that defines this design. The pattern instructions provide specific guidance for each size to ensure proper cable placement and alignment throughout the garment.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

This pattern is designed specifically for Sirdar Loveful Bio Blend yarn in double knitting weight. The Loveful Bio Blend is an innovative sustainable yarn incorporating award-winning CiCLO® technology, which blends natural wool with recycled polyester created through advanced sustainability processes. This eco-conscious yarn choice aligns with modern knitting values while maintaining the quality standards Sirdar has upheld since its establishment in West Yorkshire in 1880.

Yarn quantities required vary by size:

• Sizes XS, S: 3 balls of Sirdar Loveful Bio Blend
• Sizes M, L, XL: 4 balls
• Sizes XXL, XXXL: 5 balls

The pattern is worked in shade 110, a color from the Loveful Bio Blend palette. Appropriate knitting needles for double knitting weight yarn are required, though specific needle sizes should be confirmed in the complete pattern instructions to achieve the correct gauge and fabric density for the cable work.

Design Features and Sustainability

The Barley Cable Tank showcases Sirdar's commitment to affordable sustainability through the Loveful Bio Blend yarn. The CiCLO® technology used in this yarn is designed to last through extended wear and washing, behaving like traditional wool when eventually recycled, thereby reducing microplastic pollution in the environment. The garment's modern aesthetic, combined with its sustainable construction, makes it a contemporary choice for environmentally conscious knitters seeking quality knitwear with lasting appeal.