Tank top - in the round or flat?

First, I notice the pattern says it has short row shaping at the bust and waist. I'm not sure how you would work this when you convert into knitting in the round - it might be rather complicated for a relatively new knitter. I'm also not sure about using your chosen yarn for this particular project. You say it is loose and drapy, so it might "grow" during wear, which would tend to make the neckline decidedly decollete, and heaven knows what it would do if you were caught in a rainstorm!

If I were you, I would be inclined to save the soysilk for a cardigan, shrug, shawl or beach cover-up, any of which could "grow" without causing major problems. I would knit the tank top as the pattern is written and use a more stable yarn for it. I don't think I would even use the recommended yarn, as I find that 100% cotton also tends to stretch out a lot in wear. Perhaps a cotton plus synthetic fiber blend would have more stability.

Just my two cents worth.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

This is a great pattern, I have made a couple of these. It is a quick knit if you do it in sections, as it does have the short rows. I have heard of others doing it in the round, but for me the short rows make that really not worth it. Just my opinion. Coggie

My 2 cents: if the yarn grows, save it for a scarf. Knit into a sweater, it will fall off your shoulders and flow past your wrists and sag about your hips. Been there, done that.

It sounds like it has a wonderful feel; would it be comfortable around your neck?

Georgia

Thank you for your thoughts, Mary. Is it ironic that I picked (at my LYS' suggestion) this yarn as an alternative to cotton for those very reasons? :) I am still tempted to use it, just because I don't make major yarn purchases like this very often and it is so very soft. I am thinking I will knit small and block to size. I am choosing to turn the other way re the thought of getting caught in a rainstorm since this fabric turns to tissue in the water!

I have done tons of short rows in the round without issue (all my daughter's soakers and longies are knit that way). Is there something I am missing that makes them more complicated than I realize? The only problem I've run into is that I tend to forget to pick up the second wrap on my way around.

I made and washed a flat swatch last night and I just prefer the fabric in the one I knit in the round (my knit and purl stitches are drastically different). I'm thinking I may still do this in the round and if I think it needs something to pull it together put in fake seams (I know I've read about that somewhere - perhaps EZ or Yarn Harlot?). I'm going to keep doing more research though.

I really appreciate your thoughts though, even if I end up ignoring them in the end. You have the right to say "I told you so" if I don't like how it turns out :)

LauraJ

Coggie,

Can I ask what yarns you used for it? What is it about the short rows that is difficult in the round? I think I must be missing something!

Thanks, LauraJ

Hi Georgia,

Thank you for your opinion! As you see from my reply to Mary, I am still indecisive about this and may just end up throwing caution to the wind. As it is only my second adult garment (the first remains in a bag in the back of my closet) I figure I have a couple more mistakes to make :)

The yarn is very soft and I think it would be really nice to have against the skin. It would make a lovely scarf next to the neck but, alas, our winters require wool, wool and more wool!

LauraJ

Thought #1--what the heck, go for it--if worse comes to worst, you can wear it with a contrasting tank top under it.

Thought #2--If you wear wool, wool, wool in the winter, do you wear wool scarves indoors too? What do you wear in spring and fall?

Georgia

Yes, I am thinking I'm going to have to do this anyway. The ballband says 5 sts/" but it seems a little thinner than that.

No, not really a scarf person. I wish I was but I tend to go very boring and undecorated!

Laura

Laura, I don't think the tank pattern would be any more complex than the soakers and longies you have done for your daughter. Just use the swatch you made to determine the number of the stitches and it should be OK to do it in the round. Since it's a fitted garment, the lack of side seams shouldn't be a problem. I found the instructions for phony seams in EZ's Knitters' Almanac if you're interested but I think they are meant to be a design element more than functional.

In that case, you should have no problem with this pattern. I misinterpreted your comment about not having done adult garments.

If this ever causes a real problem for you, you might want to try using different size needles for knit and purl in order to even things up.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

Thanks, Jan. I cast on on Saturday and have already made it past the short rows. That plain stockinette sure goes fast! I am not used to using needles as large as 7 either. I decided to put in 2 purl stitches on each side where the seam would be. So far so good but I am reserving final judgment until it is complete :)

LauraJ

Ooh, that is a great idea. I will have to give that a try. If it works it would be a major help! I still prefer knitting in the round but have some baby sweaters which require some back-and-forth and some in the round and it is always annoying to me that each section looks different.

Thanks again, LauraJ