Two in the Afternoon Tank / Dress

This pattern has been test knitted and tech edited.

This is a pattern for the tank / dress only. The matching skirt, Two in the Afternoon Skirt is not included in this pattern.

NOTES AND TECHNIQUES

Two in the Afternoon Tank/Dress is a pattern for a tank with an option to be knitted as a dress. Both tank and dress are knitted top down beginning with the back neck, using 2 colours in a tweed stitch pattern. Each round is worked with a single strand of yarn, making the pattern a beginner-friendly colourwork design.

After increases have been made for shoulders, the back is knitted to the bottom of the armholes with armhole shaping. Front stitches are picked up from the back and knitted to the neck with neck shaping, then to the bottom of the armholes with armhole shaping. All shapings are knitted with reference to charts. The tank is then knitted in the round to the hem. The dress is knitted longer with changes in needle size to widen the circumference to the hips. A back slit is worked flat to the hem. Finally, stitches are picked up around the neck and armholes to complete the edges. All bands on hem, neck and armholes are in 1x1 rib, finished with ribbed sewn bind-off.

FINISHED BUST CIRCUMFERENCE

Size 1 (2, 3, 4, 5)(6, 7, 8, 9)
75 (83.5, 94.5, 103, 114)(125, 133.5, 144.5, 153) cm
29½ (32¾, 37¼, 40½, 44¾)(49¼, 52½, 56¾, 60¼) inches

The tank sample was knit in Size 2 and worn with 5 cm / 2” negative ease at bust. Suggested ease at bust: -5 to 0 cm / -2 to 0”.

The dress sample was knit in Size 2 and worn with 5 cm / 2” negative ease at bust, zero ease at full hip.

YARN

DK weight
Woolfolk Strå (50% Ovis 21 Ultimate Merino®, 50% Linen; 164 yds per 50 g skein)

Tank Version

Sample colours:
C1: S2 (pink beige)
C2: S10 (purple grey)

C1
240 (265, 310, 345, 390)(435, 470, 520, 565) m
260 (290, 335, 375, 425)(475, 515, 570, 615) yards
2 (2, 2, 3, 3)(3, 4, 4, 4) skeins

C2
310 (345, 400, 445, 505)(565, 615, 675, 730) m
340 (375, 435, 485, 555)(620, 670, 740, 800) yards
2 (3, 3, 3, 4)(4, 4, 5, 5) skeins

Dress Version

Sample colours:
C1: S1 (off white)
C2: S11 (light ochre)

C1
465 (515, 585, 635, 715)(785, 845, 925, 980) m
510 (565, 640, 695, 785)(860, 925, 1015, 1070) yards
3 (4, 4, 5, 5)(6, 6, 7, 7) skeins

C2
605 (670, 760, 825, 930)(1020, 1095, 1205, 1275) m
660 (735, 830, 905, 1015)(1115, 1200, 1315, 1390) yards
4 (5, 5, 6, 7)(7, 8, 8, 9) skeins

Yardage is an estimate.

NEEDLES

One 3.5 mm / US 4 circular needle, 60 cm / 24” or longer
One 4 mm / US 6 circular needle, 60 cm / 24” or longer
One (set) 3.25 mm / US 3 preferred needles for working neck and armholes in the round
One (set) 3.5 mm / US 4 preferred needles for working neck and armholes in the round

Additional needles for dress version:
One 4.5 mm / US 7 circular needle, 60 cm / 24” or longer
One 5 mm / US 8 circular needle, 60 cm / 24” or longer

Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

GAUGE (after blocking)

27 sts (9 patt rep) and 36 rows (9 patt rep) = 12.5 cm / 5” width and 11.5 cm / 4½” height in Tweed Stitch with 4 mm / US 6 needle.

Additional gauge information for the dress version
27 sts and 36 rows = 13 cm / 5⅛” width and 12 cm / 4¾” height in Tweed Stitch with 4.5 mm / US 7 needle.
27 sts and 36 rows = 14 cm / 5½ width and 13 cm / 5⅛” height in Tweed Stitch with 5 mm / US 8 needle.

NOTIONS

Removable stitch markers, stitch marker, stitch holder or waste yarn for holding stitches, tapestry needle

SPECIAL THANKS

Deep gratitude to a team of kind and committed test knitters who offered their time and resources to work through the pattern to make sure that it is as clear and error-free as possible: Terry, Eveline, Qiu Fang, Selma, Emiko, Motoko, Terumi, Tomomi, Susie , Lumina, Svitlana, Elaine and Silke.

Special thanks to Naoko Ogawa (Strands of Life) for tech editing.

PHOTO CREDIT

The last 4 pictures by @vanessayapeinbund are kindly provided by Woolfolk.