Noro Short Row Colorblock Tank Jumper Knitting Pattern

Noro Short Row Colorblock Tank

What is Being Made

The Noro Short Row Colorblock Tank is an intermediate-level knitted sleeveless garment designed as a fitted tank top. This piece features a distinctive colorblock design created through strategic short row shaping, resulting in a modern, geometric aesthetic. The tank is available in five sizes with finished bust measurements ranging from 34 inches (86.5 cm) to 50 inches (127 cm), and finished lengths between 27¾ and 28¾ inches (70.5 to 73 cm).

Techniques Used

This design employs several advanced knitting techniques to achieve its striking appearance:

• Short Row Shaping: The primary construction method uses short rows with wrapped stitches (w&t) to create the colorblock effect. Rows are worked progressively, wrapping stitches at strategic intervals and later hiding these wraps to maintain a clean finish.
• Bottom-Up Construction: The garment is knitted from the bottom edge upward, allowing for straightforward fitting adjustments and a logical progression through the pattern.
• Flat Knitting: Despite using circular needles, the piece is worked flat in rows back and forth rather than in the round, providing greater control over shaping and colorblock placement.
• Seamed Assembly: Finished pieces are seamed together, creating defined edges and allowing for precise garment structure.
• Striped Colorblocking: The short row technique combined with color changes creates bold horizontal colorblock sections throughout the tank.
• Provisional Cast-On: The pattern uses a provisional cast-on method with scrap yarn and a crochet hook, allowing for live stitches to be picked up later for seamless finishing.

Stitches Used

The Noro Short Row Colorblock Tank is constructed primarily in stockinette stitch (St st), which creates a smooth, classic fabric with a defined V-texture on the right side and horizontal bumps on the wrong side. This stitch choice provides an ideal canvas for displaying the colorblock design created by the short row shaping technique.

Materials

This tank is designed to be knitted with Noro Silk Garden Lite, a premium yarn that combines silk with other fibers for a luxurious drape and subtle variegation. The pattern calls for 5 to 7 balls of the main color (#2087) and 4 to 6 balls of the contrast color (#2094), depending on the chosen size. Knitters will need two circular needles in sizes 6 and 7 (4 and 4.5 mm), each measuring 24 inches (60 cm) long, or the size required to obtain proper gauge. Additional materials include stitch holders, stitch markers, a crochet hook, and scrap yarn in a contrasting color for the provisional cast-on technique.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 18 stitches and 29 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch using the size 7 (4.5 mm) needles. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for proper fit, particularly given the fitted nature of this design and the precision required for the short row shaping to align correctly across all sizes.