Valley Yarns Sophia Tank Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Sophia Tank

What Is Being Made

The Sophia Tank is a classic, hip-length sleeveless garment designed by Julie Turjoman for Valley Yarns. This versatile wardrobe basic flatters all figures and transitions seamlessly between seasons—wear it over a camisole in warm weather or layer it as a vest over a crisp white shirt in fall. The tank features a subtle allover eyelet texture that provides superior airflow while offering just a hint of skin visibility, making it an ideal choice for warm-weather knitting projects.

Techniques Used

The Sophia Tank employs several intermediate-level knitting techniques to achieve its polished, professional finish. The garment is worked flat and bottom-up, meaning you begin at the lower edge and work upward toward the shoulders, constructing the front and back as two separate pieces. Short-row shaping is used at the shoulders to add a gentle slope and create a smoother, more tailored fit across the shoulder area. The two pieces are then seamed together using the 3-Needle Bind-Off method, which creates minimal, nearly invisible finishing seams for a refined appearance. This combination of techniques results in a garment with excellent structure and a professional look suitable for everyday wear.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern throughout the Sophia Tank is Eyelet stitch, which creates the characteristic allover texture and contributes to the garment's superior breathability. The eyelet pattern is achieved through the strategic use of yarn overs (yo) paired with decreases to maintain stitch count. Common decrease stitches include knit 2 together (k2tog) and slip, slip, knit (ssk), both of which reduce stitches by one. For shaping at the armholes and neckline, the pattern calls for straightforward bind-offs at the beginning of rows. The eyelet texture is worked in stockinette stitch foundation (knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows) with the yarn overs and decreases creating the openwork design.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Sophia Tank is designed to be worked in Valley Yarns Southwick, a luxurious blend of 52% Pima Cotton and 48% Bamboo. This fiber composition contributes to the garment's softness against the skin and subtle sheen, making it particularly suitable for warm-weather wear. The pattern requires 6 to 11 skeins depending on size, with each skein containing 50 grams and 105 yards of yarn. The color shown in the pattern is Onyx (Color 15).

Two needle sizes are required: US size 7 (4.5 mm) needles for the main fabric, and US size 5 (3.75 mm) 16-inch circular needles for ribbing or edge finishing. The pattern notes to use the size needed to achieve the correct gauge. Additional materials include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping points, and a tapestry needle for seaming the finished pieces together.

Finished Measurements and Sizing

The Sophia Tank is available in seven sizes with bust measurements ranging from 32½ inches to 56½ inches. The pattern shown features a size 36-inch bust. The tank is designed to sit at the high hip, though the pattern notes that extra length can be added by working additional inches in the body section if desired. Any modifications to length will affect yarn requirements.

Gauge and Construction Details

The working gauge for the Sophia Tank is 21 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches in Eyelet stitch using US size 7 (4.5 mm) needles. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for proper fit and drape. Armhole shaping is accomplished by binding off stitches at the beginning of successive rows—the pattern specifies binding off 4 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows, followed by binding off 2 to 4 stitches (depending on size) at the beginning of the following 2 rows. This graduated decrease creates a smooth armhole curve that accommodates various sizing needs.