It always amazes me how many ways people dream up to knit a little tank sweater, but these super simple versions are the ones I want right now:
TOP: Aster by Dawn Catanzaro is designed for Quince’s awesome aran-weight linen Kestrel (which I made my striped tank from last year), while …
BOTTOM: Farrah by Wool and the Gang is designed for their Shiny Happy Cotton
Perfect summer staples, knitted up in no time!
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PREVIOUSLY in New Favorites: from Plucky’s Spring Forward collection
Yes! I think that Aster is my next project. I’m making myself finish a few small projects first, though.
I am definitely going to knit up a few tanks this summer. I fell in love with one with a bit of fringe that I’m going to try and make up from a photograph. I’m just not sure if I want to knit it in linen or cotton … maybe both!
Fringe around the neck or where?
The fringe sections are small and placed around the body of the tank … it’s a detail that I find really fun and fashiony (is that even a word?).
I enjoy the effortless look of these sorts of knitted tanks in photo shoots, but I admit I’ve always shied away from actually making one because I fear they’d be impractical in real life. I can’t figure out what you’d wear under Aster to preserve modesty, given its looseish gauge (I suspect the model is wearing a stick-on bra or “petals”, which… aren’t what I want to wear when I’m feeling “effortless casual”). I guess the same goes for Farrah somewhat — those enormous armholes! I also worry about how stable the straps on Aster would be. In my experience, narrow knitted strips like to streeeetch.
But maybe my fears are unfounded — has anybody out there worn a handknit like Aster? Was it wearable when moving around and wearing it for more than a few minutes? And does anyone have any suggestions for unboring, unstodgy knitted tanks that can accommodate people for whom not wearing a bra is not an option?
A bra in a pretty color! Maybe a swim top underneath?
I have knitted a light tank last sumer and it works fine. Like you, no bra is not an option except alone around the house. Yes it is a bit loose, so I probably would knit another one at a slightly tighter gauge than recommended, because summer yarns do tend to stretch a bit. And a darker colour will probably work better so that you can choose dark underwear that will be less noticeable if it shows under the armholes. Another option is to knit a top with very short sleeves, so that you have the same light as air feeling without the underwear headache.
Thanks for the encouragement, miss agnes! What tank pattern did you knit? (or did you improvise?)
Thinking about this more, I have this crazy idea of making a loose-gauge-knitted-tank in a yarn like Kestrel with some kind of light woven liner… Dunno, might be a disaster to make and to wear (drape?!)
I knit Furrowed Vest (project page here: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/missagnes/furrowed-vest). I saw some interesting linen summer patterns as well on the Espace Tricot blog (just type espacetricot.com). A summer tank would be lovely in Kestrel, and they released new colours recently in this yarn.
The straps on Aster do look a little precarious — I’m curious to see it in real life. My striped kestrel tank has picked up edging along the neckline and armhole openings, which gives it a little bit of infrastructure that Aster lacks.
Indeed, tanks are perfect for summer. I fancy one in linen and another one in bamboo this summer.
Karen – Thanks for the many hours you save me with your fabulous curatorial skills!
So perfect for summer outside knitting!
I prefer knits with a finished armhole and neckline. Even a tiny edge stabilizes the tendency to stretch. Plus rolling edges drive me nuts
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