Shannon

Shannon, by Valentina Strokina,  is my second knit for the Tops, Tanks, and Tees Knitalong.  Knit in Cotlin, it’s light and comfortable, or at least as comfortable as clothing can be in extreme heat.

I knit mine with a bit more positive ease than the sample, because that’s just what I’m wearing right now.  I want air flow at all times.  I think this design can easily be worn either way, as I’ve seen another easy fitting Shannon on the Ravelry projects page.

Details:  I knit this in Knit Picks Cotlin Dk with a size 3 needle.  However, halfway through, someone sat on my needles and they broke, so I subbed a size 2.  Rather than deal with my usual loose gauge issues, I decided to knit one needle size down, knit the smallest size, aim for a relaxed fit, and knit in a loose English style.  Cavalier, I know.  And yet, it worked.

I washed and dried this to get a true feel for the finished product.  It’s nice and soft, but not too draped.  It feels more like cotton than linen, but I think it has more durability than straight cotton.  At least, that’s what I’ve noticed with my Cotlin knits in the past.

Okay, I have to make a confession.  I didn’t do the narrow lace portion, below, correctly.  After I passed the leaf stitch portion, it must have been quite late at night.  I just misread my pattern.  Basically, I knit the last two thirds of the back’s lace like the side lace, but I think they’re supposed to be a little bit different.  I didn’t realize it was wrong until I was an inch from the bottom.  Needless to say, I didn’t start over.  Besides, it still looks great.

 Some of my favorite things about this tank is the way the broader leaf patterned lace narrows down the back, visually shaping the tank.  Had I knit it correctly, I think it would’ve enhanced the narrowing effect.

 I also liked the reverse stockinette at the armholes and neckline.  They give a nice rounded finish to all of the edges.

And check out the asymmetrical hem.  It’s subtle, but still very cool.

(more on my ravelry, kollabora, instagram, and flickr)

 Valentina has lots of other designs in her shop and seems to constantly be calling for testers.  The lady never stops creating.  I love Neon is the New Black, which I’m sure I’ll knit once I get out of my oversized knit phase.  It’s a great classic sweater shape but with a super long, ribbed sleeve detail that I adore.  It makes me think of a sweater I had in the nineties that got ruined at the dry cleaners.  Check out akforty7’s striped version on the pattern page- so very cool.  Angler and Wings, on the other hand have plenty of positive ease and would totally work for me year-round.

More posts on this tank: as part of a KAL and the back of the tank.