Knit a Perfect Tank Top for Summer

There is just something about Jessie Mead’s knitting patterns. They are so cute and they look great on literally everyone. I made her Ripple Bralette pattern (twice — so far) and it’s so comfortable and nice and the only bra I ever want to wear.

I feel like her Totally Tank Top pattern is going to be on repeat all summer for a lot of knitters.

This fingering weight, racerback, cropped tank top is worked from the top down. It features a scoop neck with a rolled neckline, and ribbing at the armholes and hem. It was designed to be cropped but you can of course knit it as long as you want, whether you’re looking for a bralette style or more of a traditional tank top.

Either way this design is super cute and perfect for summer. You can check it out on Ravelry, and this is one where you definitely want to take the time to look through the project gallery and see the different versions that people have made (Tanis Fiber Arts’ striped version is amazing).

Looking for more great knits for summer? Check out my collection of lace top knitting patterns (which actually includes another of Jessie’s recent designs). Or check out this post for more great ideas of things to knit during the summer.

Because even though the weather is warm, that doesn’t mean we have to stop knitting or using/wearing our knits, right? I know it’s easy to think that knitting is all about scarves, socks and sweaters (and all those things are great, don’t get me wrong!) but there are lots of other options and knit things we can make, wear and use no matter how hot it is outside. I need to take this advice myself, go buy this pattern and knit myself a whole wardrobe or racerback tank tops. Who’s with me?

[Photo: Jessie Mead.]

For the past few years I’ve taken part in a Christmas in July blog hop that encourages people to get a jump on their making for holiday gifts.

I love to use yarn I already have for these projects in the hope that people will consider what they already have that they can use to make projects for themselves or to give as gifts.

This year it was a couple of knit baskets made using partial balls of yarn left in my stash from other projects.

They use the same basic pattern but the first one is made with two colors of bulky yarn, and the second used two strands of worsted weight yarn held together, which made the gauge about the same, but I cast on fewer stitches to make a smaller version.

The bottom of the basket is square, though you can make them rectangular if you’d rather. Then I just knit up the sides in rounds until I was about to run out of yarn. This gave both baskets rather short sides — maybe more like a tray than a basket — but you can keep knitting as long as you like to make the sides of your basket as tall as you want.

They’re worked in seed stitch, which keeps the edges from curling and adds a nice texture to the baskets.

Of course this also allows you to use even more odd balls from your stash. I’d love to make a big one someday combining lots of different yarn. I mean, I’d probably use it to store more yarn, but that’s a fine thing to do.

As it is, these little trays are great for sitting on your desk or bedside table to hold little things that always seem to appear there. I like to use one to hold the supplies for whatever project I’m working on, things like little scissors, my tape measure, a crochet hook, etc.

And they would make good gifts on their own or as a container to hold some other goodies if you like.

You can find the free pattern for these stash busting baskets over at Our Daily Craft.

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