Are you in the mood for a fresh, colourful maxi tank top with a sporty-chic T‑back neckline? Just follow this free pattern step by step and you are done. The great thing about this maxi tank top is the yarn: Sailorman is an easy-to-knit pure cotton tape yarn, available in lots of colours and made in Prato.

Handmade pieces are incredibly valuable because they are unique and because they take time and passion to create. Do not waste all your effort by choosing low-quality yarns. With our tape yarns you cannot go wrong: if you take good care of them, they will reward you by staying in your wardrobe for years and years. Head over to our online shop, pick your favourite colour, and cast on your maxi tank top right away!

Tutorial how to knit a maxi tank top

MATERIALS
Sailorman yarn col. Sunset 200 g / 7 oz (for size M)
Knitting needles n° 5 EU / 8 US
Crochet hook n° 5 EU / H-8 US
Stitch holders
Yarn needle

GAUGE – STOCKINETTE STITCH
10 cm x 10 cm / 4″ x 4″
12.5 stitches and 18 rows

KNITTING STITCHES USED
Knit
Purl
Twisted knit stitch:
work the stitch knitwise through the back loop of the stitch below.
Garter stitch:
work all rows in knit stitch.
Stockinette stitch:
row 1: knit
row 2: purl.
Repeat rows 1 and 2.
Single decrease (ssk):
slip 1 stitch knitwise to the right needle, knit the next stitch on the left needle, then pass the slipped (unworked) stitch over the stitch just knitted.
Right-leaning lifted increase:
lift the strand between the stitch just worked and the next stitch and knit it through the back loop.

CROCHET STITCHES USED
Single crochet

SIZES
Instructions are given for size S (M, L).

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS SIZES S (M, L)
Bust circumference 72 (78, 88) cm / 28.3″ (30.7″, 34.6″)
Back length 34 cm / 13.4″
Front length to shoulder 48 (50, 52) cm / 19″ (19.7″, 20.5″)
Side length 34 cm / 13.4″
Neck opening 19 (19, 20.5) cm / 7.5″ (7.5″, 8″)

DIFFICULTY
Intermediate

METHOD

The top is worked flat in 2 pieces, back and front, with the crossed back straps worked as a continuation of the front.

How to work the back

With knitting needles n° 5 EU / 8 US, cast on 64 (70, 74) stitches and work 2 rows in garter stitch.

Row 3: knit 1, decrease 1 stitch by working 1 single decrease over the next 2 stitches, knit to the last 3 stitches, decrease 1 stitch by knitting the next 2 stitches together, knit the last stitch
row 4: purl
row 5: knit
row 6: purl
rows 7 and 8: repeat rows 5 and 6
rows 9 to 38 (9 to 26, 9 to 38): repeat rows 3 to 8 another 5 (3, 5) times
rows 39 to 62 (27 to 62, 39 to 62): repeat rows 3 to 6 for 6 (9, 6) more times.

At the end of row 62, measuring 34 cm / 13.4″, you have 40 (44, 50) stitches on the needle. Bind off.

How to work the front and straps

With knitting needles n° 5 EU / 8 US, cast on 74 (80, 84) stitches and work 2 rows in garter stitch.

Row 3: knit 1, decrease 1 stitch by working 1 single decrease over the next 2 stitches, knit to the last 3 stitches, decrease 1 stitch by knitting the next 2 stitches together, knit the last stitch
row 4: purl
row 5: knit
row 6: purl
rows 7 and 8: repeat rows 5 and 6
rows 9 to 50 (9 to 44, 9 to 62): repeat rows 3 to 8 another 7 (6, 9) times
rows 51 to 66 (45 to 68, 63 to 70): repeat rows 3 to 6 for 4 (6, 2) more times
row 67 (69, 71): knit 1, decrease 1 stitch by working 1 single decrease over the next 2 stitches, knit the next 16 (18, 20) stitches, bind off the next 12 (12, 14) stitches for the neckline, knit the next 16 (18, 20) stitches, decrease 1 stitch by knitting the next 2 stitches together, knit the last stitch
row 68 (70, 72): purl the 18 (20, 22) stitches of the second side only. From now on, continue on this second side only and leave the stitches of the first side on a stitch holder; the instructions now continue separately for the 3 sizes.

SIZE S
Row 69: knit 1, decrease 1 stitch for the neckline by working 1 single decrease over the next 2 stitches, knit to the end of the row
row 70: purl
row 71: knit to the last 3 stitches, decrease 1 stitch by knitting the next 2 stitches together, knit the last stitch
row 72: purl
row 73: knit 1, decrease 1 stitch for the neckline by working 1 single decrease over the next 2 stitches, knit to the last 3 stitches, decrease 1 stitch by knitting the next 2 stitches together, knit the last stitch
row 74: purl
rows 75 and 76: work as rows 71 and 72
rows 77 to 84: repeat rows 73 to 76 two more times
row 85: knit 1, decrease 1 stitch for the neckline by working 1 single decrease over the next 2 stitches, knit 1, decrease 1 stitch by knitting the next 2 stitches together, knit the last stitch
row 86: purl
row 87: knit 1, decrease 2 stitches (1 of them for the neckline) by knitting the next 3 stitches together, knit the last stitch
row 88: purl the 3 stitches.

Return to the stitches of the first side and work them as for the second side, but mirrored.

SIZE M
Row 71: knit 1, decrease 1 stitch for the neckline by working 1 single decrease over the next 2 stitches, knit to the last 3 stitches, decrease 1 stitch by knitting the next 2 stitches together, knit the last stitch
row 72: purl
row 73: knit to the last 3 stitches, decrease 1 stitch by knitting the next 2 stitches together, knit the last stitch
row 74: purl
rows 75 to 86: repeat rows 71 to 74 three more times
row 87: knit 1, decrease 1 stitch for the neckline by working 1 single decrease over the next 2 stitches, knit 2, decrease 1 stitch by knitting the next 2 stitches together, knit the last stitch
row 88: purl
row 89: knit 3, decrease 1 stitch by knitting the next 2 stitches together, knit the last stitch
row 90: purl
row 91: knit 1, decrease 2 stitches (1 of them for the neckline) by knitting the next 3 stitches together, knit the last stitch
row 92: purl the 3 stitches.

Return to the stitches of the first side and work them as for the second side, but mirrored.

SIZE L
Row 73: knit 1, decrease 1 stitch for the neckline by working 1 single decrease over the next 2 stitches, knit to the last 3 stitches, decrease 1 stitch by knitting the next 2 stitches together, knit the last stitch
row 74: purl
row 75: knit to the last 3 stitches, decrease 1 stitch by knitting the next 2 stitches together, knit the last stitch
row 76: purl
rows 77 to 92: repeat rows 73 to 76 four more times
row 93: knit 1, decrease 1 stitch for the neckline by working 1 single decrease over the next 2 stitches, knit 1, decrease 1 stitch by knitting the next 2 stitches together, knit the last stitch
row 94: purl
row 95: knit 1, decrease 2 stitches by knitting the next 3 stitches together, knit the last stitch
row 96: purl the 3 stitches.

Return to the stitches of the first side and work them as for the second side, but mirrored.

Row 88 (92, 96) completes the front. Now continue straight into the shoulders and crossed back straps: for clarity, row numbers start again from 1. Working separately over the 3 stitches of each strap, work in stockinette stitch for 18 (18, 20) rows, measuring 10 (10, 11) cm / 4″ (4″, 4.3″). Then join the two straps and work them together over all stitches.

Row 19 (19, 21): knit the 3 stitches of the first strap, then continue and knit the 3 stitches of the second strap
row 20 (20, 22): purl
row 21 (21, 23): knit 1, work 1 right-leaning lifted increase, knit the next 4 stitches, work 1 right-leaning lifted increase, knit 1
row 22 (22, 24): purl
row 23 (23, 25): knit
row 24 (24, 26): purl
rows 25 to 32 (25 to 32, 27 to 38): repeat rows 21 to 24 (21 to 24, 23 to 26) another 2 (2, 3) times. 

All increases are complete and you have 12 (12, 14) stitches on the needle. Continue in stockinette stitch for another 12 (16, 14) rows: you will have worked up to row 44 (48, 52), measuring 24 (26, 28) cm / 9.4″ (10.2″, 11″). Place the stitches on a stitch holder.

Finishing and edging

Sew the side seams along 34 cm / 13.4″ from the lower edge. With mattress stitch, join the last row of the crossed straps to the centre of the top edge of the back: first make a temporary seam (you can also pin the pieces together with a safety pin) and try the top on to make sure the strap length suits your measurements and reaches the back comfortably; if not, adjust your work accordingly. With a crochet hook n° 5 EU / 8-H US, work 1 round of single crochet along all upper edges of the top, leaving the lower edges unfinished.