The Driftwood Lace Tank Top: A Free Knitting Pattern for a Breezy, Textured Summer Layer

The Driftwood Lace Tank Top: A Free Knitting Pattern for a Breezy, Textured Summer Layer

Knit a stunning, open-weave tank top that evokes the feeling of a gentle sea breeze. This pattern combines a delicate lace panel with a soft, linen-like stitch for a uniquely textured and airy garment. The Driftwood Lace Tank Top is the perfect handmade layer for warm weather, offering both style and comfort with its relaxed, slightly A-line silhouette and beautiful cotton yarn.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima Fine (100% Pima Cotton; 136 yards / 50g): 3 (3, 4, 4, 5) skeins in color 'Natural' (a soft, creamy white).
• Needles: US 4 (3.5 mm) circular needles (24-inch length) and US 6 (4.0 mm) circular needles (24-inch length).
• Gauge: 20 sts x 28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch on larger needles, after blocking.
• Notions: Stitch markers, tapestry needle for weaving ends.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Sizes and Abbreviations

Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL) – Finished bust: 32 (36, 40, 44, 48) inches.

Abbreviations:

• CO: cast on
• BO: bind off
• k: knit
• p: purl
• yo: yarn over
• k2tog: knit two together
• ssk: slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
• st(s): stitch(es)
• RS: right side
• WS: wrong side
• pm: place marker
• sm: slip marker

Stitch Patterns

Lace Panel (worked over 12 sts):

• Row 1 (RS): k2, yo, ssk, k4, k2tog, yo, k2
• Row 2 and all WS rows: purl all sts
• Row 3: k1, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k1
• Row 5: k2, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2
• Row 7: k3, yo, ssk, yo, s2kp2 (slip 2 together as if to k2tog, k1, pass slipped sts over), yo, k2tog, yo, k3
• Row 9: k4, yo, ssk, k2, k2tog, yo, k4
• Row 11: k5, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k5
• Row 12: purl all sts
• Repeat rows 1-12 for pattern.

Back

1. With smaller needles, CO 80 (88, 96, 104, 112) sts.
2. Work in garter stitch (knit every row) for 6 rows.
3. Switch to larger needles.
4. Set up pattern:
   • Row 1 (RS): k2 (4, 6, 8, 10), pm, work Row 1 of Lace Panel over next 12 sts, pm, k52 (56, 60, 64, 68), pm, work Row 1 of Lace Panel over next 12 sts, pm, k2 (4, 6, 8, 10).
   • Row 2 (WS): p2 (4, 6, 8, 10), sm, purl across lace panel, sm, p52 (56, 60, 64, 68), sm, purl across lace panel, sm, p2 (4, 6, 8, 10).
5. Continue in pattern, working lace panels as established and stockinette stitch between markers, until piece measures 12 (12.5, 13, 13.5, 14) inches from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.
6. Armhole Shaping:
   • BO 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) sts at beginning of next 2 rows.
   • Then decrease 1 st at each edge every RS row 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) times: k1, ssk, work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 66 (70, 74, 78, 82) sts remain.
   • Work even until armhole measures 7 (7.5, 8, 8.5, 9) inches from first bind-off, ending with a WS row.
7. Shoulder and Neck Shaping:
   • Next row (RS): Work 20 (22, 24, 26, 28) sts, BO center 26 (26, 26, 26, 26) sts, work to end.
   • Working each side separately, BO 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) sts at shoulder edge 2 times, then BO remaining 8 (8, 8, 8, 8) sts.

Front

1. Work same as back until armhole measures 5 (5.5, 6, 6.5, 7) inches from first bind-off, ending with a WS row.
2. Neck Shaping:
   • Next row (RS): Work 28 (30, 32, 34, 36) sts, BO center 10 (10, 10, 10, 10) sts, work to end.
   • Working each side separately, decrease 1 st at neck edge every RS row 8 times: k1, ssk, work to end (for left side); work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 (for right side). 20 (22, 24, 26, 28) sts remain for each shoulder.
   • Work even until armhole measures same as back. Shape shoulders as for back.

Finishing

1. Block pieces to measurements. Sew shoulder seams. Sew side seams.
2. Armhole Edging: With smaller needles, pick up and knit approximately 80 (84, 88, 92, 96) sts around armhole. Knit 3 rounds. BO loosely.
3. Neck Edging: With smaller needles, pick up and knit approximately 90 (90, 94, 94, 98) sts around neckline. Knit 3 rounds. BO loosely.
4. Weave in all ends.