When it’s time to take off that sweater and switch to a warmer-weather knit……

Summer Vines is a sleeveless tank that looks great over shorts or capris, but can be dressed up with nicer pants and a little jewelry. The empire waist and scoop neckline are almost universally flattering, and the wide straps will comfortably keep your bra straps under the shirt where they belong!

This pattern is written for chest sizes 34.5” (37”, 40”, 42.5”, 45”, 47.5”) (measuring around the fullest part of the bust), and is intended to fit with approx 4” of negative ease at the chest, which will allow the textured “vine” stitch to open up and lay attractively over the bust. Because this is such a stretchy stitch pattern, the approximate 4” of negative ease does not make for a tight fabric or give a “pulled” appearance. The empire waist band is fitted just below the bust, and the stockinette “skirt” gently grazes your curves on the way to the mid-hip hem, where it has a generous approximate 5” of positive ease. Chest, empire waist, hip, and many other measurements are given in the schematic to make modifications easier if you tend to change the fit of patterns to better suit your figure.

The construction of this top begins with knitting the cabled band flat and joining the ends in a circle with kitchener stitch. From there, stitches are picked up along the top edge of the band to work the textured pattern up to the shoulder seams, then picked up along the bottom edge of the band to work the stockinette “skirt” in-the-round.

Written for the confident intermediate knitter (someone who is very comfortable with basic knitting techniques, has worked cables before, and who already has a few tops / sweaters under her belt), this pattern includes the following skills:

• Provisional Cast-on
• Reading a cable chart
• Kitchener Stitch
• Picking Up Stitches
• Whip-stitching a turned up hem into place
• Working an applied i-cord edge
• Increasing using “Make 1” increase

The cabled band has charted instructions, and the remainder of the pattern is written out. A detailed schematic is included on the last page of the pattern. Video links are given to demonstrate joining cables with kitchener stitch, working an applied i-cord edge, and finishing an i-cord edge done around an arm hole. There is also a link that shows you step-by-step how to put a lifeline in your work, if you prefer working cables or textured stitch patterns that way.

Materials Needed:
1200 (1355, 1400, 1525, 1600, 1700) yds light fingering-weight yarn. Sample was made from Malabrigo Sock yarn in the Solis colorway.
US Size 2 / 2.75mm circular needle (or size needed for gauge)
US Size 1 / 2.25mm circular needle (for cabled band and picking u stitches from the band only)
2 stitch markers
3 stitch holders or scrap yarn
cable needle

Many thanks to the testers who worked on this shirt - Niks, REJ, ShelbyWoo, and BeckyU - I appreciate all your time and the feedback you provided was very valuable!