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Tiger Lily
Design by Paloma Parra

A simple tank top with a bit of punch, worked in the round from the bottom up and finished with some fancy crocheted straps.

Skill Level
Beginner

Gauge
12 sts and 22 rows = 4 inches (10 cm)

Size
Child’s size 4 (6, 8, women’s sizes S, M and L, follow).

Materials
Yarn: 1 (2, 3, 4, 4, 5) Plymouth Yarn, Fantasy Naturale color 9916 (100 gms, 140 yds)
100% mercerized cotton, or any other worsted weight yarn to obtain gauge.

Tools: Size 6 (4 mm) circular needles, size 8 (5mm) circular needles, size E crochet hook.

Knit Abbreviations
K-knit
P-purl
SSK- slip, slip knit (knit 2 stitches together with a \ slant)
YO- yarn over increase

Crochet Abbreviations
Ch- chain
SC- single crochet
Dc- Double crochet

Instructions
With smaller needles, cast on 68 (72, 72, 88, 96, 100) stitches. Join taking care not to twist the stitches.

Decorative ribbing:
Round 1: *p2,yo, k1, repeat from star around.

Rounds 2-8: p2, k2 rib, around.

Round 9: *yo, p1, ssk, repeat from * around.

Round 10: k1*p2, k2* around 32 times, end p2, ssk (this ssk includes the last stitch of R10 and the first stitch of R11, if using a stitch marker, shift forward 1 stitch, this is the new beginning of all rounds).

Round 11 : *p2,yo,ssk, repeat from *around.

Round 12: p2, k2 rib around.

Body:
Round 13: Change to larger needles, knit around in stockinette until piece measures 9 ½” (11, 11 ½, 12, 12 ½, 12 ½”) from edge or desired length from edge to underarm. {Note: If you would like to add in some short rows shaping for the bust, take your measurements and stop knitting just below your bust line. See this tutorial on short row shaping.}

BO 34 (36, 36, 44, 48, 50) stitches across the back.
{Note: These are stitches that are being bound off for the neckline in the back and the back portion of the "armholes." The back "neckline" is lower than the front, which is why this BO occurs first.}

Knit front back and forth in stockinette st. as follows:
Row 1: and all odd rows: purl across

Row 2 and Row 6: ssk, knit to last 2 stitches, k2tog. {Note: This is for the front "armhole" shaping.}

Row 4 and Row 8: knit

For size 4 ONLY, BO remaining stitches. Do NOT cut thread. Strap instructions below.

All other sizes repeat rows 1-4 (1,1,2, 3, 3) more times.

BO remaining stitches. Do not cut thread.

Silver Dollar Straps:
With crochet hook and attached thread, ch 18 (23, 23, 28, 28, 28) OR desired length for appropriate fit. Remember that the straps will stretch slightly with use, so it may be better to err on the tight side.

Line up the side seams of the tank top and sc into the bound off stitch in the back that most closely aligns itself with the front edge stitch where your chain began.

Turn and work shells along one edge of chain as follows:
*4 Double crochet in 3^rd chain from hook, skip two chain stitches; sc in next stitch, repeat from * to end, turn. Work along the opposite side in the same way so that the half shell stitches align to form full circles. Instead of working the sc into the top of the chain stitch, wrap the yarn all the way around the chain and previous sc stitch to more clearly accentuate the circles.

SC across the cast off knit stitches in the back. Once you reach the stitch that aligns itself with the front topmost edge, begin strap chain and join to front edge.

Work shell stitches as for other strap.

SC across the cast off knit stitches in the front, reducing stitches as follows to shape the neck: *sc in first three stitches, sc the following two stitches together (or simply skip a stitch), repeat from* across. Cast off. Weave in loose ends.

Crochet flower embellishment:
With scrap of left over thread, chain 8, close loop with 1 sc, work 8 dc in around sc loop, *ch 4, sc in back loops of DC behind flower, repeat around, evenly spacing anchored chain around to form petals. Attach to left crocheted strap as shown.

You can read more about Paloma’s projects and ruminations at: www.lasirena.typepad.com.

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