Our empire waisted tank, Wolcott has an interesting construction. The front and back are each worked from the waist up, then the skirt portions are picked up and worked downward.

Shown in size Small

Sizes

Directions are for women’s size X-Small.  Changes for sizes Small, Medium, Large, 1X and 2X are in parentheses

Finished Measurements

Bust – 32(36-40-44-48-52)”

Length – 26½(27-28-28½-29½-30)”

Materials

5(5-5-6-7-7) Hanks Berroco Weekend Chunky (100 grs), #6902 Vanilla (MC)

Optional:  2 yds #6904 Pebble (CC)

Straight knitting needles, size 10½ (6.50 mm) OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE

Crochet hook, size 6.50 mm (K-10½)

Tapestry needle

Gauge

13 sts = 4”; 18 rows = 4” in St st

TO SAVE TIME, TAKE TIME TO CHECK GAUGE

Note

Front and back bodices are worked from the waist up.  Skirt sections are picked up along lower edges of bodices and worked down.

Back Bodice

With straight needles, using MC, cast on 48(54-60-66-74-80) sts.  Work even in St st for 1”, end on WS.

Inc Row (RS):  K3, M1k, k to last 3 sts, M1k, k3 – 50(56-62-68-76-82) sts.  Rep this inc every 1¾" twice more – 54(60-66-72-80-86) sts.  Work even until piece measures 5½" from beg, end on WS.

Note:  When binding off for armholes and neck, do not work the last st of the row before the bind-off.  Turn (this leaves you with 1 st on your RH needle).  WYIB, sl the next st  purlwise, then bind off that st.  Counting this as 1 st bound off, complete bind offs in normal way.  This will give you a smoother edge.

Shape Armholes:  Bind off 3(3-4-5-6-7) sts at beg of the next 2 rows – 48(54-58-62-68-72) sts.  Bind off 2 sts at beg of the next 4(6-6-6-8-8) rows – 40(42-46-50-52-56) sts.  Work even until armholes measure 7(7½-8-8½-9-9½)”, end on WS.

Shape Shoulders and Neck:  Next Row (RS):  Bind off 2(2-3-4-5-6) sts, k until there are 11(12-13-14-14-15) sts on RH needle, join another hank of MC and bind off center 14 sts, k to end.  Working both sides at once, bind off 2(2-3-4-5-6) sts at beg of the next row, then 2(3-4-5-5-6) sts at beg of the next 2 rows.  AT THE SAME TIME, bind off 5 sts at each neck edge once, then 4 sts once.

Back Skirt

With RS facing, using straight needles and MC, pick up and k48(54-60-66-74-80) sts along cast-on edge of back bodice.  Beg with a p row, work even in St st for 2”, end on WS.

Inc Row (RS):  K3, M1k, k to last 3 sts, M1k, k3 – 50(56-62-68-76-82) sts.  Rep this inc every 2” 5 times more – 60(66-72-78-86-92) sts.  Work even until piece measures 13” from picked-up sts, end on RS.  Knit 1 row on WS for Garter Ridge.  Bind off knitwise on RS.

Front Bodice

Work same as back bodice until armholes measure 1(1½-2-2½-3-3½)”, end on WS.  Mark center 14 sts on needle.

Shape Neck:  Next Row (RS):  Continuing to shape armholes same as back, work to first marker, join another hank of MC and bind off center 14 sts, work to end.  Working both sides at once, continue to shape armholes same as back and AT THE SAME TIME,  bind off 3 sts at each neck edge once, then 2 sts 3 times.  When all bind-offs have been completed, work even on 4(5-7-9-10-12) sts each side until armholes measure same as back, end on WS.  Bind off 2(2-3-4-5-6) sts at each armhole edge once, then 2(3-4-5-5-6) sts once for shoulders.

Front Skirt

Work same as back skirt.

Finishing

Sew shoulder seams.  Sew side and sleeve seams.

Neck Edging:  With RS facing, using crochet hook, join MC with a sl st at left shoulder seam.  Working from left to right, work in Reverse Sc around entire neck edge, join with a sl st in first sc.  Fasten off.

Armhole Edging:  Beg at side seam, work same as neck edging.

Optional:  Thread length of CC into tapestry needle and work running sts around lower edge of bodices just above picked-up sts of skirts.