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Knit Your First Top with Leesi

June 19, 2023 by Sarah White

I love a good skill-building top that is great for people who are new to knitting tops or sweaters but is interesting enough for people with more experience, too.

The Leesi Tee by Lanre Ojikutu is a simple raglan with cap sleeves. The design is straightforward but includes a panel a diamond-shaped lace eyelets running down the center front, which is a great way to learn the basics of lace knitting or just to break up the monotony of a stockinette stitch project. It also adds a bit of air flow if you are knitting and wearing this top in the summer.

The pattern is worked from the top down in worsted weight yarn (she used Lion Brand Pima Cotton but any smooth cotton would do nicely). It is offered in nine sizes, to fit from a 28-30 inch bust to a 60-62 inch bust. Because it is made with cotton, which has a tendency to stretch over time, the pattern is actually intended to be worked with 1-2 inches of negative ease.

I always like to know where the names of projects come from, and Lanre helpfully adds in her pattern notes that lessi is from the word for lace in Nigerian Yoruba. So fun! You can get this pattern on Ravelry.

The addition of lace or eyelets is actually one of my favorite style features for summer garments. If you’re looking for more lacy top knitting patterns, I’ve got a little collection here. (And don’t miss the Maya top, which has some eyelets, too, and is just so pretty!)

If you’re more of a tank top person, I’ve been sharing a lot of individual patterns for tank tops lately such as the Totally Tank Top and the Split Back Tank.

Not summer where you live? I’ve got you covered, too! Check out my recent roundup of hoodie knitting patterns to keep you warm and cozy (and if you’re my teen, you’re still wearing hoodies even if it’s warm outside. No judgement!)

[Photo: Lanre Ojikutu]

Next Pattern:

  • Knit Your First Shawl -- It's a Piece of Cake
  • Knit Your First Sweater with Easy Raglan Patterns
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Fun Tank Top Knitting Patterns

It seems like every summer there’s a new crop of tank top knitting patterns, and what I noticed about a lot of the new releases this year is that they have fun little details that make them a little more interesting both to knit and to wear. 

Like the Sailoress Top from Joji Locatelli, which has a pretty cable worked up the center from and back, with shorter sections of cable work on the shoulders. It uses DK weight yarn and comes in 10 sizes up to a bust circumference of 72 inches/ 158 cm. You can find the pattern on Ravelry. 

Combine lace and cables in an allover pattern on the Mountain Laurel Top from Andrea Gaughan. This sport weight pattern is worked from the bottom up in the count and has 10 sizes. It’s available on Ravelry.

The Vienna Textured Tank Top by Sarah Hatton has wide ribs broken up by eyelets. There’s very little shaping so it’s a pretty easy knit worked in fingering weight yarn. There are nine sizes available and it’s a free download on Ravelry.

Make a tank with a boho vibe perfect for festival season with Mary Beth Temple’s Tropical Sunset Tank Top. Worked in worsted weight cotton yarn, it’s knit from the bottom up in pieces to make it more stable. The coloring changing yarn is perfect for this one, or you can make it solid or work in your own stripes. You can get the XS size free on her blog, and other sizes are available on Ravelry.

Looking for a cropped lacy V-neck top to knit for summer? Jessie Maed Designs has the Sundae Swirl Tank, worked in DK weight yarn in the round with a fun combination of lace and cables. The ribbing under the arms helps give it a great fit. There are six sizes up to a chest measurement of 62 inches/157.5 cm. You can find this one on Ravelry.

How about a tank top with buttons? The Ridge Tank Button Down from Bluebird Pine Shop could double as a vest in cooler weather. This one is made with light fingering weight yarn and comes in 10 sizes. Grab a copy on Ravelry.

An otherwise simple top can be made a little more interesting with the addition of a fun edging, like on Sarah Opie’s Seashell Tank. Worked in fingering weight yarn, it has a whopping 24 sizes and lots of customization options for making it fit the way you want. The edging is crocheted. Learn more on Ravelry.

7 Tank Top Knitting Patterns

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