Soft Walk - A classic handknit tank top

Airy, wearable, and imminently knittable — this little tank is everything I want to shrug on in the summer.

Lighter and fresher than cotton, Soft Walk is knit in silk bourette (also known as raw silk or silk noil). Silk bourette is made from short silk fibers that are naturally short, are from the broken cocoons from which silkworms emerge, or are leftover from continuous silk production. Unlike continuous silk yarns, bourette is soft, matte, and lofty with a gently nubby texture.

A “Classic” Pattern

Our Classic series of patterns are designed to help you grow your knitting and fitting skillset. These patterns include at least one modification in the pattern to help you make it your own, and enough support that they could be your first garment pattern. Soft Walk offers two modification options —  a long and short version, and optional bust shaping in four cup sizes.

Bonus

We know you might be curious about experimenting with gauge. We’ve created a spreadsheet to show you the schematic measurements with YOUR gauge, which you can access here.

Construction

Soft Walk is knit in the round from the bottom up to the underarms and then knit flat to the shoulders. The shoulders are seamed and stitches are picked up and knit for the collar and armhole trim, which are finished with a sewn tubular bind-off (or other bind-off of your choice).

Optional Bust Shaping

Optional instructions for adding short rows for bust shaping, in four sizes, give you your best fit.

Sizes

1 (2, 3, 4) [5, 6, 7] (8, 9, 10, 11)

Finished full bust: 32 (36.25, 40, 44.25) [48, 52.25, 56] (60.25, 64, 68.25, 72) inches / 80.5 (91, 101.5, 111) [121.5, 131, 141.5] (152, 162.5, 172) cm

Download the full schematic here.

Your best fit

Choose the size closest to your actual upper chest measurement: 27.75 (31.75, 35.75, 39.25) [42.25, 44.5, 47.5] (50.5, 53.5, 56.5, 59.25) in / 70.5 (80.5, 91, 99.5) [107.5, 113, 120.5] (128.5, 136, 143.5, 150.5) cm

Upper chest is measured above the full bust, at an angle close to diagonal beneath the underarms, and straight across the back.

Soft Walk is designed to fit with approximately 4 inches / 10 cm of positive ease at the fullest part of your bust.

If you need additional room for the bust, as Jen does, working the optional short row shaping will give you the best fit in the shoulders and armholes, while still making room for your chest. Short rows add length to the front only of the garment, so that the hem does not rise in the front.

Jen is wearing size 5, cup 2, Short Length with 4 inches / 10 cm of positive ease at the full bust. Her upper chest is 41 inches / 104 cm and she is 5’8” / 172.5 cm tall.

Yarn

Sample shown in Wonderland Yarns Summer Silk

100% Silk bourette; 390 yds / 357 m per 100 g skein. This is a matte, heavy-fingering weight yarn.

Summer Silk is a high-drape yarn with moderate stitch definition and rustic texture. It is very soft and cool. Shown in Out to Sea (MC) and Little Bat (CC). If you are making a substitution, we suggest looking for plant fiber or silk blends in sport weight.

Main Color (MC)

For Short Length: 530 (610, 665, 740) [790, 870, 915] (1000, 1050, 1125, 1175) yds / 485 (555, 610, 680) [725, 795, 835] (915, 960, 1035, 1075) m; 2 (2, 2, 2) [3, 3, 3] (3, 3, 3, 4) skeins

For Long Length: 615 (695, 770, 845) [915, 990, 1060] (1145, 1205, 1290, 1350) yds / 560 (635, 705, 775) [840, 905, 970] (1045, 1100, 1180, 1230) m; 2 (2, 2, 3) [3, 3, 3] (3, 4, 4, 4) skeins

For the optional bust darts, you will need an additional 20 - 170 yds / 20 - 155 m.

Contrasting Color (CC)

For Long and Short Length: 50 (50, 55, 55) [60, 60, 65] (65, 70, 75, 75) yds / 40 (40, 45, 45) [50, 50, 55] (55, 60, 60, 65) m, less than one skein.

Gauge

22 stitches and 33 rows/rounds over 4 inches / 10 cm in stockinette stitch with size A needles after blocking.

Needles

All garment sizes use both needle sizes.

Size C (for the optional tubular cast-on): US 2 / 2.75 mm

Notions

• Waste yarn for the optional Tubular Cast-on (choose a smooth yarn in a contrasting color and similar weight)
• 1 Stitch marker for the beginning of the round
• Waste yarn or stitch holder
• Tapestry needle

Techniques

• Tubular Cast-on (optional)
• Working in the round
• Working directional shaping
• Working German Short Rows
• Working a sloped bind-off (optional)
• Seaming (for the shoulders only)
• Picking up and knitting
• Sewn Tubular Bind-off (optional)

Credits

Tech edit: Jen Hurley
Photography: Source Creative House
​Model: Jennifer Parroccini
UX Knitters: Marina (Ravelry), Kathryn (Ravelry), Anne, Sara, Kathy (Ravelry), Kristina, Tabitha, Eileen, Brittany, Kim, Amanda