As promised! Another brand new free pattern! This one’s a little different than my usual knits. You know I love bulky yarn, and anything with wool. I love big winter sweaters, cozy socks and fluffy blankets. Basically, I like anything that you would hibernate in.
This pattern, on the other hand, is a definite departure. It is light and summery, drapey and girly.
It’s the Split Back Tank!
Knit in a lovely washable cotton-linen blend at a nice big gauge, this tank top is both fast-knitting and lightweight. The Split Back Tank is worked from the bottom up in a single piece with literally no sewing-up! (A three-needle bind-off finishes the straps and a row of single crochet closes up the neckline and arm holes.) And, the A-line shape and open back makes it flattering on just about everyone, yet incredibly comfortable. I like to wear mine with jeans and sandals for a cute-yet-put-together look!
Get the free pattern here!
On the Needles 
Very Very Cool! Clever construction.
I may actually make and wear this. Thanks!
I would like to make this but something is confusing me about the pattern. Why does it say “Set Up Rows 1-4” and “Set Up Rows 5-8” but then continue on with “Row 1 (RS)”? What is a “set up row”?
Hi Lydia,
Sorry for the confusion! Set up rows are just used to establish a pattern or start you off on the right foot. In this case, I use them to set up the slightly curving hem. Basically, you’ll just work each row in the order written, so Set Up Rows 1-4, then Set Up Rows 5-8, then Row 1, Row 2 and so on. (Now that I’m looking at it, you’re kind of right- it’s a little silly how I divided them out between Set Up and non-Set Up rows. Oh well!)
Hope this helps! And, please let me know if you have any more questions!
🙂 Allison
Thank you, I’ll be sure to comment again if I need more help!
I sat down to read through the pattern again and came across another question. When shaping the armholes it says “BO 3 sts at the edge of the armhole for the next 0 (0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1,
2, 2) RS rows. 39 (41, 46, 50, 54, 56, 60, 62, 66) sts.” the size I’m going to make this in is in the ‘0 rows’ section, so do I just skip this step and move right along, or am I supposed to knit a few rows to make sure it’s long enough?
Thanks!
Lovely! Just a minor “flaw” is that the wearer’s bra shows. I will have to figure out how to make the armhole shallower and shoulder wider…..
Hello! I love the design and feel of the Lindy Chain but am not experiencing the shrinkage like the pattern suggests. After machine washing and drying, it remains quite large despite following the pattern. Any tips before frogging?
Oh dang, that stinks! But don’t frog it! That would be a waste of so much work! Did you try washing and drying it on high? That might help with getting a little more shrinkage. But, if it’s really not shrinking, you could try letting the back overlap a little extra and/or add in a pleat or two along the front of the neckline. If the armholes still still be a little big, you could try making the crochet edging a little tighter, or ripping out a little bit at the top of the shoulders. Let me know if you figure something out! Or, if you’re really having trouble getting it to fit, you could email me a picture, and we could brainstorm a fix together. Hope that helps! 🙂 Allison
I have started and restarted this pattern. I keep getting stuck, am I supposed to be doing row 1-6, 10 rows and then a decrease row and then go back to doing row 1-6? Or just continue in stockinette with garter border for 16 rows after completing row 1-6, 10 rows and decrease once?
Thanks so much. Hope what I’m asking makes sense.
Hi Robyn, You just keep going, with a 6-stitch garter border and a center panel of stockinette, working a decrease row every 16th row. Hope that helps! Let me know if you have any more questions. 🙂
Thanks so much! I really appreciate you taking the time to reply!