Valley Yarns Spice Drop Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Spice Drop Knitted Tank Top

What Is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Spice Drop is a sophisticated notched boat neck tank top designed by Julie Turjoman. This sleeveless sweater features visible waist and bust shaping, creating a refined silhouette that works as a versatile capsule wardrobe piece suitable for both professional and casual occasions. The design offers a contemporary take on a classic style, with finished bust measurements ranging from 33 inches in size XS to 63¾ inches in size 5XL, providing options across a wide range of body sizes.

Techniques Used

The Spice Drop employs multiple construction techniques to achieve its polished finish. The garment is worked seamlessly, combining both worked in the round and worked flat methods depending on the section being constructed. The bottom-up construction approach allows knitters to try on the piece as it progresses and easily adjust length as needed. The pattern incorporates strategic waist shaping through decreases and increases placed at marked intervals, creating the visible waist definition that characterizes this design. Slip-stitch patterning is used in specific sections to enhance stitch definition and create clean edges.

Stitches and Stitch Details

The primary stitch pattern used throughout the Spice Drop is stockinette stitch, which provides a smooth, refined surface that showcases the yarn's beautiful stitch definition. The pattern includes essential shaping techniques such as knit 2 together (K2tog) for decreases and strategic increase placements to create the fitted waist and bust shaping. Slip-stitch techniques are employed to create clean, finished edges and transitions between pattern sections. The notched boat neckline is constructed with careful attention to stitch placement and finishing details that contribute to the garment's elegant appearance.

Materials: Yarn, Needles, and Notions

The Spice Drop pattern calls for Valley Yarns Leverett, a premium yarn blend composed of 70% Pima Cotton and 30% Linen. This natural fiber combination provides a crisp hand and excellent stitch definition, making it ideal for displaying the clean lines of this design. Yarn requirements range from 7 balls for size XS to 14 balls for size 5XL, with each ball containing 50 grams and 109 yards.

The pattern requires US size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needles in 16-inch and 24- to 40-inch lengths for the main construction, worked at a gauge of 22 stitches and 30 rounds over 4 inches in stockinette stitch on blocked fabric. US size 3 (3.25 mm) circular needles in 16- to 24-inch lengths are needed for ribbed sections. Additional materials include a stitch holder or waste yarn for holding stitches, stitch markers for tracking shaping and pattern repeats, and a tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends.

Skill Level

Rated as an Adventurous Beginner level, the Spice Drop is accessible to knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle seamless construction and shaping techniques. The combination of straightforward stockinette stitch with strategic decreases and increases makes this an excellent project for building confidence in garment construction while creating a sophisticated, wearable piece.