Revisiting the Streamline Tank while designing the new crochet Borderline Tank reminded me how much I love the geometric Art Deco detailing of the half fisherman’s rib along the neckline of these garments. I have been wanting to design something else with a similar detail and with fall approaching I thought a t-shirt version would be a perfect transitional piece, and thus the Streamline Tee was born. Scroll down for the free pattern, click here to purchase an ad-free PDF, or click here to purchase the full yarn kit.

Sometimes I design takes weeks and several attempts to work out (ahem, Borderline Tank). But other times, the idea just flies off of my needles and it feels like it makes itself. That was the case with the Streamline Tee! I knocked this baby out in only three days and didn’t even have to frog a single stitch :)

I did make one change to my original plan while working it up, which was to make the back panel solid rather than the same as the front panel (like the Streamline Tank). Having the v-neck shape in the front and the back suits the tank version really nicely, but I wanted more of a true t-shirt look and silhouette for this one, so chose to make the back solid and extend the front neckline detail up to wrap around the back, forming a sort of collar.

I kept the center front and side ribbing and the split side seam vent details from the tank to otherwise make this very similar aesthetically. It translated so well from tank top to t-shirt and I could not be more happy with the result! It fits like such a comfortable tee but these little details make it look polished and less casual, so it’s perfect for a “jeans and tee” look, or it can be paired with a skirt or slacks for a more formal ensemble.

Like the tank, the Streamline Tee is worked flat in two panels and seamed. I know many of you don’t like seaming and there were several makers who worked out an in-the-round version of the tank and will likely do the same for the tee, but there is a reason I designed it this way - two, actually. First of all, seams prevent stretching and keep the shape of the garment how it is supposed to be, and they also increase the longevity of the item. And in order to have the split side vent, you’d have to start this flat, then join in the round to the underarms, then work flat again. Many people have a different gauge when working flat vs in the round, which can create a noticeable line where you switch back and forth, so it’s better to work flat throughout.

I think I might have to work out a cardigan version next so I can keep adding to the collection! I just love the cascading ribbing so much and it feels both modern and classic at the same time, which I absolutely love. It means these garments will stand the test of time and be fashionable for years to come so they can remain staples in your closet, which is always my goal!

This is an easy level knitting pattern and the techniques involved are knitting and purling; half fisherman’s rib; M1L and M1R increases; K2tog, SSK, P2tog, and SSP decreases; the centered single decrease, slipping stitches, and seaming.

MATERIALS

3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5) skeins Lion Brand Color Theory in Dijon (619-170AE)
(worsted, weight 4; 246yds/225m per skein)
Size US 8 (5mm) knitting needles
Stitch markers
Stitch holders
Tapestry needle

FINISHED SIZE

Suggested positive ease: 5-7”/13-18cm
Pictured in size S on model with 34”/86.5cm bust

GAUGE

18 sts + 24 rows = 4”/10cm in stockinette

ABBREVIATIONS

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

CO – cast on
CSD – centered single decrease
Dec – decrease
Inc – increase
K – knit
K1B – knit 1 below
K2tog – knit 2 together
M1L – make 1 left
M1R – make 1 right
P – purl
P2tog – purl 2 together
Pm – place marker
Rep – repeat
RS – right side
Sl – slip
SSK – slip, slip, knit
SSP – slip, slip, purl
St(s) – stitch(es)
WS – wrong side
Wyib – with yarn in back
Wyif – with yarn in front

STITCH EXPLANATION

CSD (centered single decrease) – Separately slip 2 stitches knitwise, then slip the stitches back to the left needle and knit them together through the back loops. Insert the left needle into the second of the two stitches just knit together to lift it up, then insert the right needle into the first unworked stitch as well as this picked up stitch on the left needle and knit them together.

Notes: Tee is worked flat in two identical pieces from the bottom up. All sts are slipped purlwise. Pattern is written for 8 sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL).

BACK

CO 73 (81, 89, 99, 107, 117, 125, 135).

Row 1 (WS): Sl 1 wyif, *K 1, P 1, rep from * to end of row.

Row 2 (RS): Sl 1 wyib, *P 1, K1B, rep from * to last 2 sts, P 1, K 1.

Rows 3-8: Rep rows 1 and 2, 3 more times.

Row 9: Sl 1 wyif, (K 1, P 1) twice, K 1, P to last 6 sts, (K 1, P 1) 3 times.

Row 10: (Inc) Sl 1 wyib, (P 1, K1B) twice, P 1, m1r, K to last 6 sts, m1l, (P 1, K1B) twice, P 1, K 1. (75 (83, 91, 101, 109, 119, 127, 137) sts)

Note: Rows 9 and 10 establish 6 sts at each edge. Maintain sts in this way throughout remainder of piece.

Rows 11-16: Rep rows 9 and 10, 3 more times. (81 (89, 97, 107, 115, 125, 133, 143) sts)

Row 17: 6 edge sts, P to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts.

Row 18: 6 edge sts, K to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts.

Rep rows 17 and 18 until work measures 18.25 (18.75, 18.75, 19.5, 19.75, 20.5, 20.75, 21.25)”/46.5 (48, 48, 49.5, 50, 52, 53, 54)cm from CO edge, ending with a WS row.

Note: To increase or decrease length of tank top, work less or more of these last two rows. Any increase in length will result in more yarn needed for the project.

Begin neck shaping and separate work for left side:

Next row (RS): 6 edge sts, K 20 (23, 27, 30, 34, 37, 41, 45), bind off 29 (31, 31, 35, 35, 39, 39, 41), K to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts.

Next row (WS): 6 edge sts, P to bind off. Place remaining unworked sts onto a holder. Only the sts on the needles will now be worked back and forth to form the left side. (26 (29, 33, 36, 40, 43, 47, 51) sts on needles)

Next row: (Dec) K 1, SSK, K to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts. (25 (28, 32, 35, 39, 42, 46, 50) sts)

Next row: 6 edge sts, P to end of row.

Rep last 2 rows, 1 more time. (24 (27, 31, 34, 38, 41, 45, 49) sts)

Bind off.

Right side:

Place sts from holder back on needles. Rejoin yarn at neck edge to begin a WS row.

Next row (WS): P to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts.

Next row (RS): (Dec) 6 edge sts, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (25 (28, 32, 35, 39, 42, 46, 50) sts)

Next row (WS): P to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts.

Rep last 2 rows, 1 more time. (24 (27, 31, 34, 38, 41, 45, 49) sts)

Bind off.

FRONT

Work as for back through row 18.

Rep rows 17 and 18 until work measures 6”/15cm from CO edge, ending with a RS row.

Note: To increase or decrease length of tank top, work less or more of these last two rows (the same amount added or subtracted from the back). Any increase in length will result in more yarn needed for the project.

Next row (WS): 6 edge sts, P 32 (36, 40, 45, 49, 54, 58, 63), (K 1, P 1) twice, K 1, P to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts.

Next row (RS): 6 edge sts, K 32 (36, 40, 45, 49, 54, 58, 63), (P 1, K1B) twice, P 1, K to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts.

Rep last 2 rows 4 more times.

Next row (WS): 6 edge sts, P 30 (34, 38, 43, 47, 52, 56, 61), (K 1, P 1) 4 times, K 1, P to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts.

Next row (RS): 6 edge sts, K 30 (34, 38, 43, 47, 52, 56, 61), (P 1, K1B) 4 times, P 1, K to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts.

Rep last 2 rows 4 more times.

Next row (WS): 6 edge sts, P 28 (32, 36, 41, 45, 50, 54, 59), pm, (K 1, P 1) 6 times, K 1, pm, P to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts.

Note: Slip markers as you come to them throughout remainder of piece.

Next row (RS): 6 edge sts, K to marker, (P 1, K1B) 6 times, P 1, K to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts.

Next row (WS): 6 edge sts, P to marker, (K1, P1) 6 times, K1, P to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts.

Rep last 2 rows, 7 (8, 8, 9, 9, 10, 10, 11) more times.

Begin neck shaping and separate work for right side:

Next row (RS): (Dec) 6 edge sts, K to 2 sts before marker, K2tog, (P 1, K1B) twice, P 1, CSD, (P 1, K1B) twice, P 1, SSK, K to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts. (78 (86, 94, 104, 112, 122, 130, 140) sts)

Next row (WS): 6 edge sts, P to marker, (K 1, P 1) twice, K 1, place next st on a cable or spare needle and hold to the front of the work, P 1, place st from cable/spare needle back on left needle, turn, place remaining unworked sts (including the one just slipped) onto a holder. Only the sts on the needles will now be worked back and forth to form the right side. (39 (43, 47, 52, 56, 61, 65, 70) sts on needles)

Size XS (S, M, -, XL, -, 3XL, -) only:

Next row (RS): (Dec) 6 edge sts, SSK, K to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts. (38 (42, 46, -, 55, -, 64, -) sts)

Next row: 6 edge sts, P to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts.

Rep last 2 rows, 8 (9, 9, -, 11, -, 13, -) more times. (30 (33, 37, -, 44, -, 51, -) sts)

Sizes - (-, -, L, -, 2XL, -, 4XL) only:

Next row (RS): (Dec) 6 edge sts, SSK, K to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts. (- (-, -, 51, -, 60, -, 69) sts)

Next row: (Dec) 6 edge sts, P to last 8 sts, SSP, 6 edge sts. (- (-, -, 50, -, 59, -, 68) sts)

Next row: (Dec) 6 edge sts, SSK, K to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts. (- (-, -, 49, -, 58, -, 67) sts)

Next row: 6 edge sts, P to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts.

Rep last 2 rows, - (-, -, 9, -, 11, -, 12) more times. (- (-, -, 40, -, 47, -, 55) sts)

All Sizes:

Next row (RS): 6 edge sts, K to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts.

Next row (WS): 6 edge sts, P to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts.

Rep last 2 rows 10 more times.

Next row (RS): 6 edge sts, K 1, bind off remaining sts. (7 sts)

Rejoin yarn to begin a WS row.

Next row (WS): Sl 1 wyif, (K 1, P 1) 3 times.

Next row (RS): Sl 1 wyib, (P 1, K1B) twice, P 1, K 1.

Rep last 2 rows until neckline extension measures 3.25 (3.5, 3.5, 4, 4, 4.5, 4.5, 4.75)”/8.5 (9, 9, 10, 10, 11.5, 11.5, 12)cm.

Bind off.

Left side:

Place sts from holder back on needles. Rejoin yarn at v-neck edge to begin a WS row.

Next row (WS): 6 edge sts, P to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts.

Size XS (S, M, -, XL, -, 3XL, -) only:

Next row (RS): (Dec) 6 edge sts, K to last 8 sts, K2tog, 6 edge sts. (38 (42, 46, -, 55, -, 64, -) sts)

Next row: 6 edge sts, P to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts.

Rep last 2 rows, 8 (9, 9, -, 11, -, 13, -) more times. (30 (33, 37, -, 44, -, 51, -) sts)

Sizes - (-, -, L, -, 2XL, -, 4XL) only:

Next row (RS): (Dec) 6 edge sts, K to last 8 sts, K2tog, 6 edge sts. (- (-, -, 51, -, 60, -, 69) sts)

Next row: (Dec) 6 edge sts, P2tog, P to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts. (- (-, -, 50, -, 59, -, 68) sts)

Next row: (Dec) 6 edge sts, K to last 8 sts, K2tog, 6 edge sts. (- (-, -, 49, -, 58, -, 67) sts)

Next row: 6 edge sts, P to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts.

Rep last 2 rows, - (-, -, 9, -, 11, -, 12) more times. (- (-, -, 40, -, 47, -, 55) sts)

All Sizes:

Next row (RS): 6 edge sts, K to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts.

Next row (WS): 6 edge sts, P to last 6 sts, 6 edge sts.

Rep last 2 rows 10 more times.

Next row (RS): Bind off until 6 sts remain on left needle with 1 st on the right needle, (P 1, K1B) twice, P 1, K 1. (7 sts)

Next row (WS): Sl 1 wyif, (K 1, P 1) 3 times.

Next row (RS): Sl 1 wyib, (P 1, K1B) twice, P 1, K 1.

Rep last 2 rows until neckline extension measures 3.25 (3.5, 3.5, 4, 4, 4.5, 4.5, 4.75)”/8.5 (9, 9, 10, 10, 11.5, 11.5, 12)cm.

Bind off.

CONSTRUCTION

Seam front neckline extensions together. Seam shoulders and back neckline to front neckline extensions.

Place markers 7.5 (8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11)”/19 (20.5, 21.5, 23, 24, 25.5, 26.5, 28)cm down from shoulders along side edges. Seam sides from markers down to the last increase row, leaving a slit at the bottom hem.

Secure and weave in all ends.

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