Tahki Yarns Petals Tank Knitting Pattern

Tahki Yarns Petals Tank

What is Being Made

The Petals Tank is a sleeveless knitted sweater designed by Irina Poludnenko, featuring an elegant cable pattern at the center front and back. This garment is constructed as a fitted tank top with shaping at the sides and shoulders, available in four sizes ranging from Small to XL with finished bust measurements of 34½ inches (87.5 cm) to 46 inches (117 cm) and lengths from 20 to 23 inches (51 to 58.5 cm).

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level project employs several key knitting techniques to create its distinctive appearance and structure:

• Bottom-up construction: The tank is knitted from the bottom edge upward, allowing for easy fitting adjustments and a natural progression through the body shaping and cable sections.
• Worked flat: The pattern is worked on straight needles in flat pieces rather than in the round, with pieces later seamed together for a finished garment.
• Seamed assembly: Individual pieces are knitted separately and then joined using a yarn needle to create the complete tank top.
• Cable work: Multiple cable techniques create the signature patterned sections, requiring careful stitch manipulation and cable needle work.
• Shaping techniques: Strategic decreases and increases shape the body and armholes, creating a fitted silhouette.

Stitches Used

The Petals Tank incorporates a variety of fundamental and decorative stitches:

• Stockinette stitch: The primary stitch used for most of the garment, creating a smooth, classic knit fabric with a flat appearance on the right side.
• Reverse Stockinette stitch: Used for the initial rows at the bottom edge, creating a textured, bumpy surface that provides visual interest.
• Cable stitches: C4B (cable 4 back), C4F (cable 4 front), and C12F (cable 12 front) create the distinctive twisted rope-like patterns that define the tank's aesthetic appeal. These cables are worked by slipping stitches to a cable needle and crossing them over other stitches.
• Yarn overs: Used in combination with decreases to create openwork details and maintain stitch count through the cable pattern repeats.
• Decreases: Knit 2 together (k2tog) and slip, slip, knit (ssk) decreases shape the armholes and sides of the garment.
• Increases: Knit 1 front and back (k1-f/b) and Make 1 (M1) increases are used for body shaping.

Materials and Tools

The Petals Tank is knitted using Tahki Yarns TANDEM, a blend yarn composed of 28% cotton, 28% viscose, 28% nylon, and 16% acrylic. This fiber content creates a breathable, draping fabric ideal for a sleeveless summer garment. The yarn is supplied in balls of 1.75 ounces (50 grams) with 107 yards (98 meters) per ball. Depending on size, the project requires 5 to 8 balls of yarn in color #01 woodlands.

The pattern calls for size 7 (4.5mm) straight needles or the appropriate needle size to achieve the specified gauge of 18 stitches and 24 rows equaling 4 inches (10 centimeters) in Stockinette stitch. Additional tools required include a cable needle for manipulating cable stitches, stitch holders for managing live stitches during construction, stitch markers for tracking pattern sections and shaping points, and a yarn needle for seaming the finished pieces together and weaving in yarn ends.

Pattern Structure and Gauge

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for this project to fit properly. Knitters should take time to check their gauge before beginning, as variations will affect the finished measurements. The pattern provides detailed instructions for both the back and front pieces, with the front featuring the prominent cable pattern while maintaining the same overall shaping as the back. The cable pattern repeats every 4 rows and is worked between stitch markers placed 28 to 41 stitches in from each edge depending on size, creating a centered design element.