Girl's Bamboo Tank Top

This super-easy tank top is a great beginner project for someone who's never knit a garment before. Because it's for a child, there's little commitment involved, and it's knit in the round from the bottom up, making it really quick and easy.

The project has no shaping other than at the armholes and neckline, so it's easy to knit and to wear. And it's made with bamboo yarn, which is soft, naturally antibacterial, and a lot of fun to work with.

Materials

• Three (three, three, four) skeins Classic Elite Bam Boo, or about 200 yards of 100 percent bamboo, medium weight yarn
• One size 7 US circular needle, 24-inch cable
• Waste yarn or large stitch holder
• Scissors
• Yarn needle

Gauge

18 stitches and 22 rows per 4 inches (4.5 stitches and 5.5 rows per inch).

Size

Chest: 20 (22, 24, 26) inches; Length: 12.5 (13.5, 14.5, 15.5) inches. Sizes for 1 (2, 3, 4) year old. Instructions are given for size 1, with other sizes in parentheses. Pictured tank top is a size 3.

Instructions

[h4]Body[/h4]

1. Cast on 90 (100, 110, 118) stitches.
2. Join in the round, being careful not to twist stitches.
3. Work in knit 1, purl 1 ribbing for 4 rounds.
4. Knit in Stockinette Stitch (knit every round) until piece measures 8 (8.5, 9, 9.5) inches from beginning.

[h4]Divide Work[/h4]

Knit across the first 45 (50, 55, 59) stitches for front, then put the remaining 45 (50, 55, 59) stitches on a stitch holder or piece of waste yarn for back.

[h4]Front[/h4]

1. Working back and forth on the first 45 (50, 55, 59) stitches for the front, purl the next row.
2. Decrease one stitch at the beginning and end of the next five right-side rows. For best results, knit 1, [link ulr=/od/knittingglossary/g/slip-slip-knit.htm]slip, slip knit[/link], work to within three stitches of the end of the row, knit two together, knit 1.
3. Knit straight in Stockinette Stitch on remaining 35 (40, 45, 49) stitches until 2 (2.5, 3, 3.5) inches from the dividing row for the front, ending with a wrong-side row.

[h4]Shape Neck[/h4]

1. Knit 8 (9, 10, 11) stitches, join another ball of yarn and bind off 19 (22, 25, 27) stitches, knit the last 8 (9, 10, 11) stitches.
2. Working both sides at the same time, knit straight for 2.5 inches.
3. Bind off remaining 8 (9, 10, 11) stitches each shoulder.

[h4]Back[/h4]

1. Knit the 45 (50, 55, 59) stitches for the back from holder onto your needle.
2. Continue in Stockinette Stitch, decreasing one stitch at the beginning and end of the next five right side rows.
3. Knit straight in Stockinette Stitch on remaining 35 (40, 45, 49) stitches for 4.5 (5, 5.5, 6) inches until back is same length as front. Bind off all stitches.

Finishing

Using extra yarn and a yarn needle, sew the front straps to the back. Block as necessary to smooth out the neckline, or add a crocheted border, if desired.