Wave Strider Mesh Tank Top

Surreal Tank Top Collection

Read the Story:

Or feel free to skip straight to the pattern. It won’t hurt my feelings!

A crocheter’s journey is rarely free of ups and downs. We experience the gamut of emotions from the ecstasy of finding the perfect yarn for the perfect pattern to the devastation of losing yarn chicken – oh and finding out that yarn is discontinued!

But waves like these permeate all aspects of life – from the intimate waves created by a loved one’s heartbeat to the awe-inspiring waves of a storm-whipped ocean. Even the DNA residing in our cells spirals and twists, forming wave-like structures that form the foundation of our very existence.

It’s these peaks and valleys that make all life, including crochet, such an adventure. I wanted to capture this spirit of adventure with the Wave Strider Tank Top, the second pattern in the Surreal Tank Top Collection.

Designed to emulate the rise and fall of the waves that are so prevalent in our lives, this project is perfect for the intermediate crocheter looking to expand their skills and combine both basic and advanced stitches and techniques into this beautiful garment.

So what are you waiting for? Time to pick up that hook and yarn and get ready to ride those waves!

Want the ad-free printable version? Check it out here:

Wave Strider Tank Top

$7.95

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Want the entire Surreal Tank Top Collection? Check it out here:

Surreal Tank Top Collection

$23.85$17.95

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Materials & Pattern Information

Yarn	Aunt Lydia’s Crochet Thread Fashion 3 - “Warm Teal” 100% Mercerized Cotton Category 1 | Fingering Weight | 21 WPI 150yd (137m) per ball (see size chart for quantities needed) Alternative Yarn: Lion Brand Perle 5/2 Cotton Cone
Hook	US F/5 (3.75mm) or any hook needed to achieve gauge Recommended hooks: Clover Amour, Tulip Etimo
Notions	Yarn Needle, Scissors, Stitch Markers*, Blocking Mats, Blocking Pins *Optional for holding panels together while seaming and to mark first/last stitches of each row.
Challenge Level	Intermediate: Knowledge of basic stitches. Techniques included: single, half double, double, treble, double treble, and triple treble crochet; decreasing/garment shaping and seaming.
Finished Sizes	Instructions for each size will be presented in the following format: XS (S, M, L, 1X) (2X, 3X, 4X, 5X) This tank top is designed to have between 1-4” (2.5-10 cm) of negative ease for a fitted look. It’s always a good idea to go through the entire pattern first to circle or highlight the instructions for the size you’re working. *If only one value is given in an instruction, it applies to all sizes. If you see “-” or “x” in your size’s place, do not follow those instructions.
Gauge	11 chain spaces = 4” (10cm) 16 rows of the mesh pattern = 6.5” (16.5cm) *Find tips on how to make a gauge swatch in the “Notes” section.

Check out the tutorial video for help with this pattern!

Sizes

	Wearer's Chest Measurements	Tank's Chest Measurements
XS	29-32” (74-81 cm)	28” (71 cm)
S	33-36” (84-92 cm)	32” (81 cm)
M	37-40” (94-102 cm)	36” (91.5 cm)
L	41-44” (104-112 cm)	40” (101.5 cm)
1X	45-48” (114-122 cm)	44” (111.75 cm)
2X	49-52” (124-132 cm)	48” (122 cm)
3X	53-56” (135-142 cm)	52” (132 cm)
4X	58-60” (145-152 cm)	56” (142.25 cm)
5X	61-64” (155-163 cm)	60” (152.5 cm)

Yarn Quantities

Yardage	Meters
470 (538, 675, 780, 943) (1029, 1165, 1255, 1345)	430 (492, 617, 713, 832) (941, 1065, 1148, 1230)

Stitch Information

Abbreviations Used Ch(s) Chain(s) Ctr Center Dc Double crochet Dec Decrease Dtr Double treble crochet Ea Each Hdc Half double crochet Hk Hook Lp(s) Loop(s) Rem Remaining Rnd(s) Round(s) RS Right side Sc Single crochet Sk(d) Skip(ped) Sl st Slip stitch Sp(s) Space(s) St(s) Stitch(es) Tr Treble crochet Ttr Triple treble crochet WS Wrong side Yo Yarn over Uncommon Stitches Dtr: Yo 3 times, insert hk, yo, draw up lp (5 lps on hk), [yo, draw through 2 lps] 4 times. Ttr: Yo 4 times, insert hk, yo, draw up lp (6 lps on hk), [yo, draw through 2 lps] 5 times.

Wave Pattern The Wave pattern will use letters to identify stitches for ease of instructions. Each stitch in the instructions will have its corresponding letter in parentheses. Wave: Sc (A), ch 1, hdc (B), ch 1, dc (C), ch 1, tr (D), ch 1, dtr (E), ch 1, ttr (F), ch 1, dtr (G), ch 1, tr (H), ch 1, dc (I), ch 1, hdc (J), ch 1, rep from across. The stitch charts below show the basic repeat.

Notes

IMPORTANT! Definitely don’t skip these.

• Stitch counts are only given at ends of decrease and establishment rows/rounds and will be inside <>.

• The tank is constructed as follows:

  • Front and back panels are made separately then seamed along sides and shoulders.

  • Instructions for both panels are identical except the “Shoulder Straps” section.

  • Optional borders are worked around the neck and armhole openings.

  • Each size will start and end at different points in the wave, so pay close attention to which stitch letter corresponds to your size instructions throughout.

• The right and wrong sides are basically interchangeable, but there can be a slight difference in the way the stitches will look on each side.

  • You can use stitch markers to indicate the right side to help when joining panels.

• Because we all have varying body shapes, you can find a section at the end called “Customization Tips” that explains ways to adjust certain parts of the tank top to help you achieve your desired fit.

• The Main Body and ArmholeShaping sections include both written instructions and crochet charts. The charts will come first and can be used as visual aids to supplement the written instructions.

• To make a gauge swatch, you can work two repeats of the Wave pattern (instructions provided in the next section).

  • Ch 42, sc in second ch from hk, sc in next ch, ch 1, sk next ch, rep from across to last two chs, sc in ea of last two chs, turn.

  • Ch 1, sc (A) in first sc, work two reps of Wave ending with sc in last sc, turn.

  • Work subsequent rows of Main Body instructions until you reach 16 rows.

  • Block your swatch the way you’ll block your tank top.

Pattern Instructions

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