Noro Tank Top (Akita) Jumper Knitting Pattern

Noro Tank Top (Akita) – Knitted Sleeveless Summer Top

What is Being Made

The Noro Tank Top (Akita) is a sleeveless knitted tank top designed as a lightweight summer garment. This one-size pattern features a classic fitted silhouette with finished measurements of 43 inches (109 cm) width at the underarm and 25 inches (64 cm) in length. The design combines a shaped waist with fitted armholes and a crew neckline, making it a versatile layering piece or standalone warm-weather garment.

Construction Method and Techniques

This tank top is constructed using a bottom-up, worked-flat approach with seamed construction. Rather than working in the round, the garment is knitted flat in separate pieces—left back, right back, and right front sections—and then seamed together. This traditional flat-knitting method allows for precise shaping and control over the fit, particularly in the side shaping and armhole decreases. The bottom-up construction means you begin at the lower edge and work upward toward the shoulders and neckline, making it easy to try on and adjust length as needed during the knitting process.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch used throughout this pattern is Stockinette Stitch (St st), which creates a smooth, classic fabric with a knit face on the right side and a purl face on the wrong side. Stockinette Stitch is achieved by knitting all stitches on right-side-facing rows and purling all stitches on wrong-side-facing rows. This fundamental stitch provides an elegant drape and allows the beautiful color variations of the Noro yarn to be the focal point of the design. The pattern also incorporates knit-through-the-back-loop (tbl) cast-on at the beginning of each piece, which creates a neat, twisted edge. Strategic decreases, including knit-two-together (k2tog) decreases, are used to shape the side seams, armholes, and shoulders, creating a fitted silhouette.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

This pattern calls for 340 grams of Noro Silk Garden Sock yarn in shade #S397. Noro Silk Garden Sock is a premium blend that combines silk, wool, and nylon, offering both luxury and durability. The yarn is worked on US 6 (4mm) needles, which is a standard size for sock-weight and fingering-weight yarns. The recommended tension is 20 stitches by 30 rows over a 4-inch (10 cm) square measured in Stockinette Stitch using US 6 needles. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for obtaining the finished measurements and proper fit of the garment. The combination of Noro's variegated colorway with the smooth Stockinette Stitch base creates a beautifully patterned, sophisticated finished piece.

Shaping Details

The tank top features multiple shaping techniques to create a fitted, flattering garment. Side shaping is achieved through a series of cast-off stitches and decreases that gradually reduce the width from the cast-on edge. Armhole shaping involves casting off stitches at the beginning of rows followed by single-stitch decreases over multiple rows to create a smooth, curved armhole opening. Neck and shoulder shaping uses strategic cast-offs to define the neckline and create clean shoulder lines. This combination of techniques results in a professionally finished garment with proper garment architecture and a comfortable, wearable fit.