The Bray Tank Top was born from a request by knitters who wanted to try knitting in the round for the first time. They were looking for a simple, easy-to-follow pattern to build confidence with this technique – and here it is!

A tank top is a great place to start. For an experienced knitter, this is a quick, satisfying knit that adds texture and colour to your wardrobe. It’s worked from the bottom up, and the stocking stitch section is so relaxing to knit that before I knew it, I had completed the first half of my tank top!

The edging is simple too. It might look like I-cord or some other tricky detail, but it’s not – just clever knit stitches doing their magic!

The pattern includes two length options: a short, cropped version (perfect over dresses or long shirts) and a longer version that’s ideal for wearing with trousers or skirts.

This design had been tumbling around in my head for a while. I’d wondered if anyone would want to knit it or if it was just me. Then a knitter came into the studio and described exactly what I had been thinking – so it was definitely meant to be! It’s a fun, relaxing knit for experienced knitters and a fantastic introduction to knitting in the round for beginners.

CONSTRUCTION
The back and front are knitted in the round in one piece from the bottom up, then divided to knit the back and then front in rows. The neck and armhole edges are picked up and knitted.

TECHNIQUES USED
Knitting in the round and rows. Cast on, knit, purl, decreasing at the armhole and neck shaping, simple striping, cast off. Joining shoulder seams. Optional but recommended to create the feeling of joy when joining your pieces: three needle cast off.

YARN
4(5:5:6:6) 50g balls of Mohair Tweed in shade A and One 50g ball each in shade B and shade C for short version
70% merino wool & 30% mohair, 110m/120yds per 50gr short version.
5(6:6:7:7) 50g balls of Mohair Tweed for long version (knitted all in one shade).

SUGGESTED KNITTING NEEDLES
3.75mm circular knitting needles (40cm length for neck & 40cm or 60cm for armholes)
4mm circular knitting needles (80cm length for first two sizes & 100cm for last three sizes)

GAUGE (tension)
19 stitches and 27 rows to 10cm/4ins square over stocking stitch pattern. I obtained this gauge with 4mm needles.
It is important to obtain the correct gauge so do work a swatch before you start the pattern and change your needle size to achieve the correct gauge if you need to.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Size
1, (2, 3, 4, 5)

Chest circumference
90.5, (101, 111.5, 122, 132.5)cm
35½, (39¼, 43¾, 48, 52)ins

Length (short version) (from top of shoulder to cast on edge)
42, (44, 46, 50, 52)cm
16½, (17½, 18, 19½, 20½)ins

Length (long version) (from top of shoulder to cast on edge)
51, (54, 56, 62, 64)cm
20, (21¼, 22, 24½, 25¼)ins

NEED HELP?
I am here for you! Pop into the Skipton studio, send an email, or check out the Purl &Jane YouTube channel for tips, inspiration and guidance including handy resources like gauge (tension) guides and how to tutorials.