Tahki Yarns Belle Harbor Tank Dress Knitting Pattern

Tahki Yarns Belle Harbor Tank Dress

What Is Being Made

The Belle Harbor Tank Dress is a sleeveless knitted dress designed by Irina Poludnenko, available in four sizes ranging from Small to XL. This garment features a fitted silhouette with bust measurements from 34 inches (Small) to 46 inches (XL) and a length of approximately 30 to 31.5 inches depending on size. The dress is constructed using a lightweight mercerized cotton yarn, making it an ideal warm-weather garment suitable for casual wear.

Techniques Used

The Belle Harbor Tank Dress is worked flat on straight needles, then seamed together to create the finished garment. This construction method makes the pattern accessible to knitters of all experience levels. The dress incorporates lace elements throughout the design, creating an open, airy aesthetic that enhances breathability in warm weather. The pattern uses picked-up stitches for the finishing edgings, a technique where stitches are picked up directly from the finished edges of the garment using a circular needle. This method ensures a professional, polished appearance at the neckline and armholes. The dress is then blocked to measurements to achieve the correct finished dimensions and to enhance the drape of the lace pattern.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern used in the Belle Harbor Tank Dress is Dropped Garter stitch, which creates the signature lace effect. This stitch is worked over an 8-row repeat and combines knit stitches with yarn overs that are intentionally dropped in subsequent rows, creating elongated loops and openwork. The pattern incorporates the following stitch techniques:

• Garter stitch is used for the edge stitches (first and last stitch of each row) to create a clean, finished selvage
• Yarn overs (yo) are strategically placed to create the lace openings within the Dropped Garter stitch pattern
• Decreases are worked at the side seams to shape the dress, with 1 stitch decreased on each side every 8th row for a total of 6 to 7 decreases depending on size
• Bind-off stitches are used to shape the armholes, with varying numbers of stitches bound off depending on the size
• Purlwise bind-off is used for the neckline and armhole edgings to create a smooth, professional finish

Materials and Tools

The Belle Harbor Tank Dress is knitted using Tahki Yarns MALIBU, a 100% mercerized cotton yarn. The yardage requirement ranges from 5 balls for the Small size to 7 balls for the XL size, with each ball containing 1.75 ounces (50 grams) and 169 yards (155 meters). The yarn is worked in color #05 citron, a vibrant yellow-green shade. Knitters will need size 8 (5mm) straight needles for the main body of the dress and one size 8 (5mm) circular needle measuring 24 inches (60 centimeters) for picking up and working the neckline and armhole edgings. Additional supplies include a stitch marker for tracking rounds when working the edgings and a yarn needle for weaving in ends and seaming the garment pieces together. The recommended gauge is 17 stitches and 25 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in Dropped Garter stitch, which should be checked before beginning the project to ensure proper fit.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as beginner level, making it an excellent choice for knitters who are new to the craft or those looking for a straightforward project. While the pattern incorporates lace stitching, the Dropped Garter stitch technique is relatively simple to execute, and the flat construction method eliminates the complexity of working in the round for the main body. The shaping is gradual and easy to follow, and the finishing techniques, such as picking up stitches for edgings, provide valuable skill-building opportunities for developing knitters.