Go Fish
By Daniela Nii
My kids just love going to the aquarium and watching the fish in the giant water tanks. It seems that they never get tired of observing the spectacle and proudly teach me facts they’ve learned from previous trips. The cool blue water and my kids’ love for fish were definitely the inspiration for this fun summer tank top. Bright yellow fish are “swimming” around and button “bubbles” rise to the top.
Sizes
18m[24m, 2T, 4, 6]
Size Shown in Picture: 6
Finished Measurements
Chest: 17[18, 19, 21, 23] inches
(negative 2 inches ease)
Length: 14[141⁄2,
141⁄2, 151⁄2,
161⁄2] inches
Materials
Blue Sky AlpacasTM Worsted Cotton[100% organic cotton; 150 yards/137 meters per 3.5 ounce/100 gram hank];
#636 - Jasper (MC); 1[1, 1, 1, 2, 2] hanks
#639 - Wasabi (CC1); 1 hank
#638 - Dandelion (CC2); 25 yards
Recommended needle sizes
US #7/4.5 mm 24 inch circular or double pointed needles
US #9/5.5 mm 24 inch circular or double pointed needles
Notions
Stitch marker
Stitch holder or waste yarn
Tapestry needle
3/8 inch white/clear
shirt buttons - 16
Sewing needle
White thread
Gauge
16 sts and 22 rows = 4 inches in St st on larger needles
Pattern Notes
The lower body is worked in the round up to the armhole shaping. Then the front and back are worked flat. The fish are applied afterwards with duplicate (body) and stem (tail) stitch.
If there are no numbers given in brackets, then the single number applies to all sizes.
Skills Required
Knitting in the round for lower body and knitting on double pointed needles or circular needle for armhole and neck ribbing, duplicate and stem stitch.
INSTRUCTIONS
Bottom Ribbing
With CC1 and smaller needles, cast on 68[72, 76, 84, 92] sts. Place marker. Being careful not to twist, join to knit in the round.
Work 8 rnds of k1, p1 ribbing. Break CC1.
Body
With MC and larger needles, knit around in St st until piece measures approximately 8[81/4, 81/4, 83/4, 91/2] inches from the cast on edge or your desired length to the underarm. Split sts into front and back sts: 34[36, 38, 42, 46] sts per side. Set front sts aside. You will work back and forth.
Armhole Shaping
Edge sts are included in the following written instructions.
Rows 1 (RS) and 2: Bind off 3[4, 4, 5, 6]
sts at armhole edge and continue in pattern across: 28[28, 30, 32, 34]
sts.
Rows 3 and 4: Bind off 2 sts at armhole
edge and continue in pattern across: 24[24, 26, 28, 30] sts.
Rows 5 and 6: Bind off 1 st at armhole
edge and continue in pattern across: 22[22, 24, 26, 28] sts.
Work even in St st until the armholes measure 41/2[43/4, 43/4, 51/4, 51/2] inches, ending with a WS row.
Back Neck and Left Shoulder Shaping
Row 1 (RS): Knit first 9[9, 10,
11, 11] sts, slip sts just worked onto st holder or waste yarn for
right shoulder, bind off next 4[4, 4, 4, 6] sts, knit across remaining
sts: 9[9, 10, 11, 11] sts.
Row 2: Purl across.
Row 3: Bind off 2 sts at neck edge and
work across: 7[7, 8, 9, 9] sts.
Row 4: Work across.
Row 5: Bind off 1 st at neck edge and
work across: 6[6, 7, 8, 8] sts.
Row 6: Work across.
Repeat Rows 5 and 6: 5[5, 6, 7, 7] sts.
Knit 4[4, 2, 2, 2] rows in pattern.
Bind off remaining sts in pattern.
Back Neck and Right Shoulder Shaping
With WS facing, slip sts from st holder or waste yarn onto empty needle. Complete same as Left Shoulder Shaping, beginning with Row 3.
Front
Work same as Back through Row 6 of Armhole Shaping: 22[22, 24,
26, 28] sts.
Work even in St st until the armholes measure 3[31/4,
31/4, 31/2,
31/2] inches, ending with
a WS row.
Right Front Neck Shaping
Row 1 (RS): Knit first 9[9, 10,
11, 11] sts, slip sts just worked onto st holder or waste yarn, bind
off next 4[4, 4, 4, 6] sts, knit across remaining sts: 9[9, 10, 11, 11]
sts.
Row 2: Purl across.
Row 3: Ssk, knit across: 8[8, 9, 10, 10]
sts.
Row 4: Purl across.
Rows 5-12: Repeat Rows 3 and 4, 3 times:
5[5, 6, 7, 7] sts.
Work even until Right Front measures the same as Back.
Bind off remaining sts in pattern.
Left Front Neck Shaping
With WS facing, slip sts from st holder or waster yarn onto
empty needle.
Row 1 (WS): Beginning at neck edge, purl
across.
Row 2: Knit across to last 2 sts, k2tog:
8[8, 9, 10, 10] sts.
Row 3: Purl all.
Rows 4-11: Repeat Rows 2 and 3, 3 times:
5[5, 6, 7, 7] sts.
Work even until Right Front measures the same as Back.
Bind off remaining sts in pattern.
Finishing
Sew shoulder seams. Weave in ends.
Armhole Ribbing
With RS facing, using CC1 and smaller needles and beginning at the underarm, pick up an even number of sts evenly spaced around the armhole edge.
Work 6 rnds of k1, p1 ribbing.
Bind off all sts in pattern.
Repeat for second armhole.
Neck Ribbing
With RS facing, using CC1 and smaller needles and beginning at the back center, pick up an even number of sts evenly spaced around the neck edge.
Work 6 rnds of k1, p1 ribbing.
Bind off all sts in pattern.
Embellish
Using tapestry needle and about 100 inches of CC2 per fish, embroider the fish in duplicate stitch and stem stitch for the tail on front of tank top. A chart for the fish body has been included. Use picture as a guide for fish placement.
Place buttons to imitate bubbles rising to the top. Use picture as a guide for button placements. Sew on buttons with sewing needle and white thread.
Weave in all ends.
Knitting is just one of many techniques Daniela likes to use in her many crafting projects – she is a proud multi-crafter. Her precious crafting time keeps her sane in a high-paced life with two young boys, husband and her own software consulting business. You can follow her crafting projects on her blog and sometimes something makes it into her Etsy shop. She is also on Ravelry as nikkisstudio.
Pattern & images © 2010 Daniela Nii. Contact