Valley Yarns Rachel Leaf Lace Tank Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Rachel Leaf Lace Tank

What Is Being Made

The Rachel Tank is a fitted, hip-length sleeveless garment designed by Julie Turjoman for Valley Yarns. This warm-weather knit features a feminine silhouette with waist shaping and a striking leaf lace center panel that runs vertically down the front. The tank is versatile enough to wear on its own or layered under a jacket, making it an elegant addition to any summer wardrobe.

Techniques Used

This advanced beginner pattern employs several intermediate knitting techniques to create its sophisticated design. The garment is worked in the round using circular needles, which eliminates the need for seaming and creates a seamless construction. The pattern incorporates lace knitting as a central design element, specifically featuring a leaf lace motif that requires careful attention to yarn overs and decreases to achieve the delicate, openwork appearance. Additional shaping techniques include waist shaping to create a fitted silhouette and short-row shaping (wrap and turn method) for targeted shaping in specific areas. The pattern uses both stockinette stitch and reverse stockinette stitch to frame and highlight the lace panel.

Stitches Used

The Rachel Tank utilizes a variety of fundamental and decorative stitches. The primary stitch is stockinette stitchReverse stockinette stitch appears in the ribbing and framing sections, creating textural contrast. The lace panel features yarn overs (yo) to create the openwork leaf pattern, paired with strategic decreases including k2tog (knit two together), SSK (slip, slip, knit), k3tog (knit three together), and sk2p (slip one, knit two together, pass slipped stitch over) to maintain stitch count and shape the lace motif. Knit through the back loop (k tbl) appears in sections of the pattern for textural variation.

Materials and Gauge

The Rachel Tank is worked in Valley Yarns Charlemont, a luxury blend yarn composed of 50% Fine Superwash Merino, 20% Mulberry Silk, and 20% Polyamide. This fiber content provides softness against the skin and a subtle sheen from the silk component, making it ideal for a fitted tank top. The pattern requires 2 to 4 skeins depending on size, with each skein weighing 100g and yielding 439 yards.

Two sizes of circular needles are required: US size 5 (3.75 mm) needles measuring 32–40 inches for the main body, and US size 3 (3.25 mm) needles of the same length for the ribbed sections. The pattern is worked to a gauge of 24 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Additional notions include stitch markers to track pattern repeats and shaping points, and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Finished Measurements

The Rachel Tank is available in seven sizes with finished bust measurements ranging from 32 ¼ inches to 56 ¼ inches, accommodating a wide range of body types. The pattern is shown in the smallest size (32 ¼ inches), and the hip-length cut provides coverage and a flattering silhouette for various body shapes.