There’s something magical about golden hour, that period of time right before sunset where all photos seem to glimmer and the skies are majestic. Just like admiring the majestic skies of golden hour, I find the same sense of awe in watching my daughter’s childhood. My daughter requested that I knit her a tank top and shared what yarn she wanted me to make it in. This quickly became a special design for me. I poured love and joy into this tank top design for my daughter; and, with reciprocity, she shared love and joy in wearing it. We took a little trip to Walla Walla, Washington and she wore it around exploring the downtown at golden hour. I hope you experience some of that magic we felt.

Golden Hour Tank, a children’s tank top, is knit bottom up in the round. After knitting in the round, the front and back panels of the tank top are knit flat. The tank concludes with double knitted straps. Using two different needle sizes at the top edge of the tank helps the tank lay nicely with a slight scoop. The Golden Hour Tank is a great way to use that special skein or skeins of yarn, from speckled to variegated. #goldenhourtank

Yarn: 100g of fingering weight yarn for the first six sizes, and more than 100 g for the last two sizes.

Amounts of yarn testers used: 167–188 yards, 183–210 yards, 200–269 yards, 225 yards–280 yards, 380–440 yards, 435–460 yards, 480–547 yards, 510–580 yards

Needles: US size 2 (2.75 mm) and US size 4 (3.5 mm); any size needle that provides gauge for ribbing and stockinette.

Gauge: 24 sts x 30 rows for 4” x 4”

Sizes: 0–6 months, 6–12 months, 1–2 years, 2–4 years, 4–6 years, 6–8 years, 8–10 years, 10–12 years; 20”, 22”, 24”, 26”, 28”, 30”, 32”, 34”

Choose a size that includes 4-6” of positive ease. For example, if the child’s body is 21.5” around, add 4” (or 6”). 21.5” + 4” = 25.5” so you could knit the fourth size (2-4 years) with finished 26.”

Accessories:
Stitch markers, purl strings or knitting barber cord for trying on the garment

Construction:
Bottom up in the round, front and back panels knit flat, double knitted straps

Advice:
Have fun! Try this tank top on as it is knit (if you can).

Most sizes will use less than 100 g of fingering weight yarn. Some testers used more than 100 g of fingering weight yarn for the largest size.

This could be a fun project to use that special skein of yarn or stripe it up with leftover yarns.

In terms of selecting the right positive ease for your child, I recommend less ease for under 2 years old. If you want your garment to last longer in the child’s wardrobe, do not be scared of 6” of positive ease and making longer straps.