Free Knitting Patterns: Tank Top Edition

One of the winners of yesterday’s giveaway mentioned that she loves to knit herself a new lace tank top every summer. That sounds like a marvelous thing, and reminds me of the knit tank top languishing in my T-shirt drawer right now.

This is the Tiger Lily Tank from Lion Brand Yarn. Cute, isn’t it? (I tried to take a picture of myself wearing it, but honestly, it did not go well.) I really like this shirt, though it does show a little more cleavage than I normally do. Also, it came out a little shorter than I like, or than a woman who’s had a child and never exercises should wear. I need to pick up stitches behind the ruffle and work another ruffle to add a little more length, I think. (The yarn, buy the way is Nashua Handknits Natural Focus Ecologie Cotton, which apparently does not exist anymore, since their website doesn’t seem to be live anymore. The link is to my review at About.)

Thinking of tanks reminded me that Lion Brand shared a few more free tank top patterns in its newsletter recently, if you didn’t see it:

The Graceful Top has 2×2 ribbing on the bottom and a bodice of eyelets in diamond shapes
The Tranquil Green Tank Top is a deep V-neck with diagonal eyelets this time (still a 2×2 rib bottom)
The Shimmer Lace Top is a gorgeous top with allover eyelets that’s rated for the experienced knitter (and one commenter says she found the pattern impossible to piece together, so tread with caution)

Summer tops are great projects because they take less time than a sweater and, if it’s summer where you are, you can use them right away. Have a favorite summer top pattern? Spill it!

Next Pattern:

Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

Next Pattern:

Have you read?

Leave a Reply