Sesia Rei Tank Jumper Knitting Pattern

Sesia Rei Tank

What Is Being Made

The Sesia Rei Tank is an easy-level sleeveless knitted tank top designed by Teresa Chorzepa. This garment is available in six sizes ranging from Small to 3X, with finished bust measurements from 33 inches (84 cm) to 55 inches (139.5 cm) and lengths from 21¾ inches (55 cm) to 24½ inches (62 cm). The tank is designed to fit with 0–2 inches of positive ease, making it a comfortable, close-fitting garment suitable for layering or wearing as a standalone piece.

Techniques Used

The Sesia Rei Tank employs a bottom-up construction method, meaning the garment is knitted starting from the lower edge and working upward toward the neckline. The pattern utilizes both flat knitting for the main body pieces and circular needle work for finishing details. The garment is seamed, indicating that separate pieces are knitted flat and then joined together using a yarn needle. Strategic shaping is incorporated throughout the design, including waist shaping with decreases worked at regular intervals, followed by bust shaping with increases to create a fitted silhouette.

Stitches Used

This pattern features fundamental knitting stitches suitable for beginners and intermediate knitters:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The primary stitch used for the main body of the tank, creating a smooth, classic fabric with a flat appearance on the right side and bumpy texture on the wrong side.
• Ribbing (K1, P1): Used for the initial 4-row cuff at the cast-on edge, creating an elastic, textured border that helps the garment maintain its shape.
• Knit 2 Together (K2tog): A right-leaning decrease used during waist shaping to reduce stitch count on the right side of the work.
• Slip, Slip, Knit (ssk): A left-leaning decrease used as a mirror decrease during waist shaping to maintain balanced decreases on both sides of the garment.
• Make 1 Left (M1L): A left-leaning increase used during bust shaping, created by lifting the strand between stitches and knitting through the back loop to prevent holes.
• Make 1 Right (M1R): A right-leaning increase used during bust shaping, created by lifting the strand between stitches from the opposite direction and knitting through the front loop.

Materials and Gauge

The Sesia Rei Tank is knitted using Sesia Flora Paillettes yarn, a luxurious blend of 95% cotton and 5% polyester metallic. This fiber composition creates a lightweight, breathable fabric with subtle sparkle from the metallic content, making it ideal for a summer tank top. The pattern requires 4 to 6 balls depending on size, with each ball containing 0.88 ounces (25 grams) and 114 yards (105 meters) of yarn. The colorway specified is #0665 khaki, a neutral neutral tone.

The pattern calls for US size 7 (4.5mm) needles for the main body work, along with a US size 7 (4.5mm) circular needle measuring 16 inches (40 cm) for working the neckband and armhole edgings. Additional supplies include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping points, and a yarn needle for seaming and weaving in ends.

The gauge is 18 stitches and 24 rows per 4 inches (10 cm) in Stockinette stitch on blocked fabric. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for obtaining the proper finished measurements, and knitters are advised to knit a gauge swatch and block it before beginning the project.

Construction Details

The back piece begins with a cast-on of 74 to 124 stitches depending on size. After working 4 rows of K1, P1 ribbing, the knitter transitions to Stockinette stitch and works even until the piece measures 4 inches (10 cm) from the cast-on edge. Waist shaping is then introduced with decreases worked on the right side, reducing one stitch on each side, then repeating this decrease every 12th row once more. After the waist shaping is complete, the knitter works even until the piece measures 9¼ inches (23.5 cm