Beginner tank top knitting pattern
Pick tasty ice cream-inspired shades and make an easy aran tank top knitting pattern.
Published:
Learn how to knit a tank top and you’ll have that tricky winter-to-spring transition thing nailed. The bottom part is worked in the round and then split at the arms and worked straight for the top. A ribbing is added at the neck and armholes worked in the round. An aran tank top knitting pattern is just what you need when you are are a beginner to get you comfortable with making garments. It’s easy with our how to knit a tank top walkthrough!
This project was created by Katty for Mollie Makes magazine – for more easy-make craft projects and creative inspiration, subscribe to Mollie or click here to find out more.
The aran tank top knitting pattern is written for the small size and, where different, medium and large size instructions are shown in brackets ().
Tank top knitting pattern materials
- Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn, aran weight, 100% acrylic, 200g/355m per ball, one ball each in white (A), light peach (B) and turquoise (C)
- Alternative yarn: Rico Creative Cotton Aran, 100% cotton, 50g/85m per ball, two balls each in white (80) (A), rose (00) (B) and turquoise (36) (C)
- 5mm (US 8) circular knitting needle
- Set of five 5mm (US 8) double pointed needles
- Stitch markers (optional)
- Stitch holder (optional)
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
Abbreviations (UK)
- k knit
- st(s) stitch(es)
- p purl
- k2tog knit two stitches together p2tog purl two stitches together pm place marker sm slip marker RS right side
- WS wrong side
For a full list, see our knitting abbreviations article
Tank top knitting pattern tension
Approx. 13sts and 15 rows to 10cm (4″) square over stocking stitch. For more about tension and why it is important, see our article on knitting tension squares
Aran tank top sizes
To fit bust (cm) Finished bust (cm) Length (cm)
S: 85-90, 92, 50
M: 91-96, 96, 53
L: 97-101, 102, 56
To fit bust (cm) Finished bust (cm) Length (cm)
Aran tank top knitting pattern
You Will Need
- Yarn
- Knitting needles
- Scissors
Total time:
Step 1
With circular needles and yarn A, cast on 123 (129, 132) sts, pm and join into the round being careful not to twist the sts.
Round 1 *K2, p1; repeat from * until the end of the round. By repeating this round you will create a rib st.
Repeat Round 1 five times. On the last repeat for the small size make one stitch at the end of the round by picking up the loop between stitches and knitting into it – 124 sts. On the last repeat for the medium size purl the last 2 sts together – 128 sts.
Next round P1, k61 (63, 65), pm, p1, K to the end of the round Next round P1, k to marker, sm, p1, k to end of the round
Repeat last round until work measures 15 (17, 19) cm (6 (63/4, 71/2)”). Cut yarn leaving a 10cm (4″) tail.
Join yarn B.
Next round P1, k to marker, sm, p1, k to the end.
Repeat last round until work measures 30 (32, 34) cm (117/8 (125/8, 133/8)”) long. Cut yarn leaving a 10cm (4″) tail.
At this point you create armholes and work the front side only, working straight.
Next row Join yarn C, p1, k
until marker, turn. 62 (64, 66) st Place the rest of the sts on a st holder, or leave them on circular needle without working them. Next row P
Next row K
Next row P
Repeat last 2 rows until piece measures 38 (39, 41) cm (15 (153/8, 161/8)”) ending after a purl
(WS) row.
Shaping the shoulders
Step 1
First shape the left shoulder.
Next row With RS facing k18 (18, 19), turn. Place remaining sts on a holder.
Next row P
Next row K
Next row P1, p2tog, p15 (15, 16). 17 (17, 18) sts
Next row K
Next row P1, p2tog, p14 (14, 15). 16 (16, 17) sts
Next row K
Next row P
Repeat last two rows until left side of the shoulder measures 12 (12, 13) cm (43/4 (43/4, 31/4)”) ending with a WS row.
With RS facing, cast off 3 sts, knit remaining 13 (13, 14) sts.
Next row P all
Next row Cast off remaining 13 (13, 14) sts. Cut yarn leaving
a 10cm (4″) tail.
Now work right shoulder.
With RS facing, rejoin yarn C cast off 26 (28, 28) sts of the centre front. K the remaining 18
(18, 19) sts.
Next row P until last 3 sts, p2tog, P1. 17 (17, 18) sts
Next row K
Next row P until last 3 sts, p2tog, P1. 16 (16, 17) sts
Next row K
Next row P
Repeat last two rows until right side of the shoulder measures 12 (12, 13) cm (43/4 (43/4, 51/4)”) ending with a right side row.
Next row With WS facing cast off
3 st, p the rest.
Next row K all
Next row Cast off remaining 13 (13, 14) sts. Cut yarn leaving
a 10cm (4″) tail.
Place the remaining sts back on the needle and work the back, again working straight.
With RS facing, rejoin yarn C.
Next row K
Next row P
Repeat last 2 rows until piece measures 40 (42, 44) cm (153/4 (161/2,173/8)”) ending with a WS. Shaping the shoulders, starting with the right shoulder.
Next row With RS facing k18 (18, 19), turn. Place remaining sts on
a holder.
Next row P
Next row K
Next row P1, p2tog, p to end.
17 (17, 18) sts
Next row K
Next row P1, p2tog, p to end.
16 (16, 17) sts
Next row Cast
Next row P
Next row Cast
(13, 14) sts. Cut
a 10cm (4″) tail.
With RS facing,
back side sts on needle and rejoin yarn C, cast off 26 (28, 28) sts from (4″) long tail.
Turn your garment inside out, thread yarn tail into tapestry needle and seam the shoulders together.
Shaping the neck
Step 1
Turn your garment RS out and with the RS facing, yarn C and the double point needles, pick up and k 7 (7, 8) sts from the left side of the neck, 22 (22, 23) sts from the front, 7 (7, 8) sts from the right side of the neck and 30 sts from the back.
66 (66, 69) sts in total.
Join into the round and work rib as follows:
Next round *K2, p1; repeat from * to end of round*
Repeat last round 5 times.
Cast off. Cut yarn.
Shaping the sleeves
Step 1
With the RS facing, yarn C and the double point needles, pick up and k 21 (21, 22) sts from the front side of one of the sleeves and 21 (21, 23) sts from the back. 42 (42, 45) sts in total.
Join into the round and work rib as follows:
Next round *K2, p1; repeat from * to end of round*
Repeat last round 4 times.
Cast off. Repeat on other sleeve.
Finishing
Step 1
Weave any loose yarn ends into WS of the work and block your work as required.
off 3 sts, k.
place the remaining
off remaining 13 yarn leaving the centre. K the (18, 19) sts.
Next row P Next row K Next row P until P1. 16 (16, 17) sts Next row K Next row P until P1. 16 (16, 17) sts Next row K until off 3 sts.
remaining 18
last 3 sts, p2tog,
last 3 sts, p2tog,
last 3 sts, cast
We hope you enjoyed making Katty’s project. Share a picture of your tank top knitting pattern with us on Instagram using #molliemakers, and don’t forget to subscribe to Mollie Makes to get creative inspiration delivered to your door every month!
Katty is an art student, animal lover and knitter who lives in Florida with her husband and two cats.
She sells hand knitted and crocheted accessories in her Etsy shop, all made from super soft vegan yarn, and also paints, draws and takes photographs.
More like the aran tank top knitting pattern
We have many more free knitting patterns like this for you on Gathered! For more top patterns, check out our fair isle tank top or our knit crop top patterns. You’ll like our mohair scarf knitting pattern, too or try our toe up socks knitting pattern. For warmer wrap ups, try our free poncho knitting pattern or our ladies chunky cardigan knitting pattern.
Authors
Katty is an art student, animal lover and knitter who lives in Florida with her husband and two cats. She sells hand knitted and crocheted accessories in her Etsy shop, all made from super soft vegan yarn, and also paints, draws and takes photographs.
