We've been hit with some pretty extreme heat this summer, and it's had me reaching for the lightest, tiniest articles of clothing I own. Since designing my Polished Collection this spring, I've been super into warm weather knits and can't seem to make them fast enough (why does lighter weight have to mean tinier stitches!?). When I narrowed down the eight pieces of that collection, I had quite a few "leftovers" that I knew I'd have to release down the line, and I've finally got the first one ready for you! Introducing ... the Deco Tank! Scroll down for the free pattern, purchase the ad-free, printer-friendly PDF here, or grab the full yarn kit here.

Inspired by the Chrysler Building and the Art Deco movement of the early 20th century, this slinky little number is the ultimate summer garment! Slightly cropped with crisscrossed straps, the smooth lines and elegant, geometric shapes give a nod to the simple luxuries of the time, and the result is a truly effortless piece that can be dressed up or down for any occasion.

I've had a crochet project with bust cup shaping like this in my sketchbook for years now, and was finally going to include this tank and a dress with similar shaping in my Polished Collection, but I had my heart set on naming this the Deco Tank because of the strong Art Deco influences, and to be honest that's the main reason I didn't include it! Every piece in the Polished Collection is named for a gemstone to keep it cohesive, and my gut told me to keep this one singular and release it down the line in the heat of the summer. I think I'll have to hold the dress idea until next spring, but don't worry - it's coming eventually!

Last night as I was walking home from dinner uptown (a rare occasion as I tend to avoid most things above 14th St) I spied the shining Chrysler Building poking out amongst the skyline and got SO excited to release this pattern today! I've always loved Art Deco motifs and the Chrysler Building is my favorite architecture in NYC. It's so timeless and iconic and feels both simply sophisticated and decorative at the same time. I always think of it as the more feminine counterpart to the more masculine Empire State Building just blocks away as if they are a couple :)

Just as I was finishing up this project and about to start grading it into other sizes, Janine from Knits 'N Knots released a nearly identical tank. It's no surprise as she has designed some of the cutest bralettes with a similar construction, but until then I hadn't seen the technique used for a longer tank like this. I reached out to her immediately to make sure she was cool with me still moving forward with my design, and with her blessing I went back to the drawing board to add some details to give it a bit of its own personality. I ended up adding the raised stitch detailing at the top of the bust, the crisscrossed straps, and the ribbed bottom edging all because of this experience, and the challenge of adding these details actually made me love the Deco Tank even more! I'm so grateful to Janine for giving me the green light and encouraging me to still release this pattern. To learn more about how we handled it, check out my recent post about it on Instagram here.

Now back to those details! I've seen so many knit tanks with a similar silhouette and those perfectly symmetric decrease lines running up the top of the bust cups to the straps, so I decided to recreate that in crochet with post stitches that would be raised and pop out from the fabric. I absolutely love the way this subtle detail turned out! Having first worked the tank with straps that went straight over each shoulder to the back, I also prefer the crisscrossed version to my original as they pull in a little more on the bust and feel more supportive and flattering. The last detail I added was the ribbed bottom edging. You could absolutely leave this off (or lengthen it, or lengthen the tank itself!) but I think it adds a "finished" look to the tank instead of just having the raw edge there. If I hadn't been pushed to make this design more unique, I never would have added these details, and to me they truly make the Deco Tank so it ended up being such a happy accident!

This is an easy level crochet pattern, and the techniques involved are double crochet, single crochet, slip stitch, post stitches, working on both sides of the foundation chain, and seaming. The Truboo yarn I used creates a fabric that is beautifully slippery and slinky, but it tends to stretch and not have any "memory" to shrink back. If you are between sizes, I would recommend going with the smaller of the two as it will definitely stretch out with wear.

MATERIALS

2 (2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5) skeins Lion Brand Truboo in Slate
(DK/light worsted, weight 3; 241yds/220m per skein)
Size US F/5 (3.75mm) crochet hook
Removable stitch markers
Tapestry needle

FINISHED SIZE

Suggested ease: (-)2 – (+)2”/(-)5 – (+)5cm. Garment will stretch with wear, so if between sizes it is recommended to go with the smaller of the two.
Pictured in a size S on model with 34”/86.5cm bust.

GAUGE

20 sts + 10 rows = 4”/10cm in double crochet, blocked

ABBREVIATIONS

*All Two of Wands patterns are written in standard US terms

Ch – chain
Bpdc – back post double crochet
Dc – double crochet
Fpdc – front post double crochet
Rep – repeat
RS – right side
Sc – single crochet
Sc tbl – single crochet through the back loop only
Sc3tog – single crochet 3 together
Sk – skip
Sl st – slip stitch
St(s) – stitch(es)
WS – wrong side

Notes: Camisole is worked flat in pieces and seamed together. Turn at the end of each row. The chain 1 at the beginning of each double crochet row does not count as a stitch. Straps and bottom ribbing are worked seamlessly onto the camisole after construction. Pattern is written for sizes XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL).

Front panels (make 2):

Ch 40 (40, 43, 44, 44, 45, 47, 50).

Row 1 (RS): Starting in 2nd ch from hook, dc across to last ch, 5 dc in last ch, place marker in 3rd dc of 5-dc group, then rotate work and beginning in next available ch, dc across back of foundation ch. (81 (81, 87, 89, 89, 91, 95, 101) sts)

Row 2 (WS): Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch here and throughout), dc to marked st, (2 dc, bpdc, 2 dc) in marked st, move marker to bpdc, dc to end of row. (85 (85, 91, 93, 93, 95, 99, 105) sts)

Row 3 (RS): Ch 1, dc to marked st, (2 dc, fpdc, 2 dc) in marked st, move marker to fpdc, dc to end of row. (89 (89, 95, 97, 97, 99, 103, 109) sts)

Sizes XS (M, 2XL, 4XL) only:

Rows 4-9 (11, 15, 17): Rep rows 2 and 3. (113 (127, 147, 165) sts)

Row 10 (12, 16, 18): Rep row 2. (117 (131, 151, 169) sts)

Sizes S (L, XL, 3XL) only:

Rows 4-11 (13, 15, 17): Rep rows 2 and 3. (121, 137, 145, 159) sts)

All sizes:

Fasten off.

Back:

Ch 40 (40, 43, 44, 44, 45, 47, 50).

Row 1: Starting in 2nd ch from hook, dc across row. (39 (39, 42, 43, 43, 44, 46, 49) sts)

Row 2: Ch 1, dc across row.

Rep row 2 until work measures 13.5 (16, 18.25, 20.75, 21.5, 24, 26.25, 28.75)”/34.5 (40.5 , 46.5, 52.5, 54.5, 61, 66.5, 73)cm.

Fasten off.

Construction:

Using a slip stitch, seam front panels together at the center front, approx. 7 (7, 7.5, 7.75, 7.75, 8, 8.5, 9)”/18 (18, 19, 19.5, 19.5, 20.5, 21.4, 23)cm from the bottom up.

Using a slip stitch, seam the last row of the back to one side of the front from the bottom up, then seam the foundation row of the back to the opposite side of the front from the bottom up.

Straps:

Place markers along the top edge of the back, 4.25 (5, 5.75, 6.5, 6.75, 7.5, 8.25, 9)”/11 (13, 14.5, 16.5, 17, 19, 21, 23)cm from each side seam so that they are approx. 5 (6, 6.75, 7.75, 8, 9, 9.75, 10.75)”/ 12.5 (15, 17, 19.5, 20.5, 23, 25, 27.5)cm apart to mark where the straps will attach. The straps are worked in continuous rounds following the steps below. Because of the crisscross nature of the straps, you may periodically need to pull the working skein of yarn over, under, or through one of the straps to untwist it from the work.

With the back facing up, join yarn at the right marker and ch 92 (92, 95, 95, 98, 98, 102, 102).
Turn work over so that the front is facing, and being careful not to twist the ch, sc into the top of the fpdc at the top of the left bust (which will be the one on the right when facing you), then sc into each st along the front neckline down to the center front and up to the top of the right bust (the one of the left when facing you) with the last sc going into the top of the fpdc, then ch 92 (92, 95, 95, 98, 98, 102, 102).
Turn work over so that the back is facing, and being careful not to twist the ch, sc into a space at the left marker, then sc evenly (2 sc into the side of each dc row) across the top of the back to left side seam, then sc into each st up the side of the bust to the ch.
Sc into each ch, then sc evenly (2 sc into the side of each dc row) across the top of the back to the opposite ch. Sc into each ch, then sc into each st down the side of the bust to the side seam, then sc evenly (2 sc into the side of each dc row) to the next strap.
Sc along the strap (working into the other side of the foundation ch), then sc down to the center front and work a sc3tog around the 3 most middle sts of the center front, then sc up to the next strap, then sc along this strap (again working into the other side of the foundation ch).
Sc across the top of back to the left side seam, then sc up the side of the bust to the strap, then sc along the strap to the back, then sc across the top of back to the opposite strap. Sc along this strap to the front, then sc down the side of the bust to the side seam, then sc across the top of the back to the next strap, then sl st to join. Fasten off.

Bottom ribbing:

Rejoin yarn at one side seam, and with RS facing, sc evenly (2 sc into the side of each dc row) around entire bottom edge, ensuring you have an even number of sts, then sl st to 1st sc to join.

Row 1: Ch 8, then starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc across row (7 sts worked), then sl st in next 2 available sts along bottom edge.

Turn here and at the end of each row.

Row 2: Sk 2 sl sts, sc tbl across ribbing to last st, sc last st. (7 sts)

Row 3: Ch 1, sc tbl across ribbing, sl st in next 2 available sts along bottom edge.

Rep rows 2 and 3 around entire bottom edge, ending with a row 2 when 1 st along bottom edge remains.

Rep row 3 once more, but only sl st into the 1 remaining st at the bottom edge, then turn and sl st the two sides of the ribbing together.

Fasten off. Secure and weave in all ends.

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