Valley Yarns Wrap It Up Asymmetrical Lace Hem Tank Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Wrap It Up Asymmetrical Lace Hem Tank

Project Overview

The Wrap It Up Asymmetrical Lace Hem Tank, designed by Julie Turjoman, is a hip-length sleeveless tunic featuring an elegant asymmetrical wrap front and a deep lace border at the hem. This intermediate-level knitting project combines modern design with classic construction techniques, making it an ideal summer garment. The piece is worked from the bottom up in a single flat piece, with minimal seaming required to complete the finished sweater.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a sleeveless tank top with a sophisticated asymmetrical wrap-front design. The garment is hip-length and available in seven sizes, ranging from 36" to 60" bust measurements. The wrap front creates visual interest and a flattering silhouette, while the deep lace border at the hem adds an elegant finishing touch. The design is constructed to be both functional and stylish, suitable for warm-weather wear.

Construction Techniques

The Wrap It Up tank employs a bottom-up construction method, beginning with the lace hem and working upward to the shoulders. The entire body is initially worked flat back and forth as one continuous piece rather than in the round. This approach simplifies the asymmetrical wrap design and allows for precise shaping of the front panels.

The construction sequence involves several key steps: First, the lace hem is established and worked upward. Yarn-over increases are strategically worked up the side edge of the outer front wrap panel to create the asymmetrical shaping. Once the body reaches the underarm, the inner wrap section is bound off, and the remaining stitches are divided to work the back and front armholes and necklines separately. Mock side "seams" are created using single slipped stitches on the right side of each body edge, providing visual definition without traditional seaming. Finally, the shoulders are joined using the 3-Needle Bind-off technique, a method that creates a secure, finished edge while simultaneously joining two pieces.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

This pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with decorative lace elements:

• Stockinette Stitch: The primary stitch throughout the main body, created by alternating knit and purl rows when working flat
• Lace Stitches: The decorative hem features lace patterning, which incorporates yarn-over increases for openwork effects
• Yarn-Over (yo): Used to create decorative holes and increase stitches simultaneously, essential to both the lace border and the asymmetrical shaping
• Decrease Stitches: The pattern employs multiple decrease techniques including knit 2 together (k2tog), slip-slip-knit (ssk), slip 2 stitches as if to purl with knit 1 and pass over (s2kp), and slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over (sk2p) to shape the garment and create lace patterning
• Slipped Stitches: Used to create mock side seams for a polished appearance
• 3-Needle Bind-off: A joining technique used to secure shoulder seams

Materials and Tools

The Wrap It Up tank is designed to be worked with Valley Yarns Southwick, a yarn blend composed of 52% Pima Cotton and 48% Bamboo Viscose. This fiber combination provides breathability and drape, making it ideal for a summer sleeveless garment. The yarn comes in 50-gram skeins with 105 yards per skein. The pattern requires 9 to 14 skeins depending on the finished size, with the largest size (60" bust) requiring 14 skeins. The sample shown is worked in colorway #04 Blue Lapis.

Needles required include US Size 6 (4.0 mm) circular needles in both 29-32" and 16" lengths to accommodate the different sections of the garment as stitches are divided. A spare needle is needed for the 3-Needle Bind-off technique. The recommended gauge is 4.5 stitches and 6.5 rows per 1 inch when working Stockinette Stitch on US Size 6 needles.

Additional tools and materials include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping points, stitch holders or waste yarn for holding stitches during construction, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and a