School is in session! Look the part when you sport the Maya Striped Tank, a free crochet pattern designed for Crochet Academy.
I fondly remember the excitement of setting out my school clothes the night before classes began. I painstakingly chose the perfect jeans, top, shoes, and accessories. What I would have given to crochet my own clothing to wear to school! Now you can – make the Maya Striped Tank using the free pattern and tutorial video provided.
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Get The Maya Striped Tank
- FREE PATTERN: Keep scrolling for the FREE version of the Maya Striped Tank + helpful tutorial video.
- PRINTABLE PDF: Pick up the beautifully formatted, ad-free PDF version of the Maya Striped Tank from Ravelry or TLYarnCrafts.com.
- CROCHET KIT: Get everything you need to make the Maya Striped Tank in a convenient kit from Lion Brand. Customize your kit now!
Cropped Fall Tank Top
When fall rolls in, you might think the season for making cute crop tops is over. Don’t shove those tops to the back of the closet just yet! Get another season out of your favorite cropped tank tops when you layer them. Try one over a chambray shirt or your favorite white button-up. The change transforms an outfit from summer to fall in an instant.
I designed the Maya Striped Tank to inspire thoughts of fallen leaves, pumpkin spice everything, and the smell of fresh cut pencils. The eye-catching stripes and thick bottom ribbing feel professional yet playful.
Crocheting with Baby Alpaca Yarn
I used Lion Brand’s Chainette yarn for the Maya Striped Tank. It contains baby alpaca, polyamide, and virgin wool for a texture that is out of this world. Baby alpaca is a luxurious and often expensive fiber to crochet with. Collected from young alpacas, the fiber is pillowy soft, naturally stretchy, and an excellent insulator.
The flexibility of this pattern makes just about any worsted weight yarn a great choice for a substitute. The pattern speaks of construction mainly in measurements instead of the number of rows, so you can make nearly any yarn work. Look for category 4, worsted weight yarns with some animal fibers. These will have the best drape and maintain the light stretch you need in this pattern. I’d recommend WeCrochet’s City Tweed Aran, Lion Brand Jeans, or Hobbii’s Starlight.
Learn how to substitute yarn the easy way in this blog post.
If you want to take the guesswork out of making your Maya Striped Tank, get the all-in-one kit from Lion Brand. With just a few clicks, you can choose the colors of your preppy cropped tank and add in any hooks and notions you need. Complete your purchase to get the yarn sent to our door and a PDF version of the pattern sent to your inbox.
Want to make the Maya Striped Tank? Customize your kit by choosing your favorite shades of Lion Brand Chainette. START HERE!
Get The Maya Striped Tank
- FREE PATTERN: Keep scrolling for the FREE version of the Maya Striped Tank + helpful tutorial video.
- PRINTABLE PDF: Pick up the beautifully formatted, ad-free PDF version of the Maya Striped Tank from Ravelry or TLYarnCrafts.com.
- CROCHET KIT: Get everything you need to make the Maya Striped Tank in a convenient kit from Lion Brand. Customize your kit now!
Maya Striped Tank Details
MATERIALS
- Lion Brand Chainette (category 4) worsted weight yarn. COLOR A: 3 (4, 4, 5) (5, 6, 6) skeins. COLOR B: 2 (2, 2, 2) (3, 3, 3) skeins.
- 4.5mm crochet hook (like this one!)
- 6.5mm crochet hook (like this one!)
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
- Locking stitch markers
- Tape measure
- Steam blocking supplies (what are those?!)
FINISHED SIZES
S (M, L, XL) (2XL, 3XL, 4XL). All sizes are intended to have 2-4” negative ease. Measurements were taken after light steam blocking.
- Finished Bust: 30 (34, 38, 42) (46, 50, 54)”
- Finished Length: 20 (20, 21, 22) (22.5, 23.5, 24.5)”
GAUGE
4” = 15 rows x 16 stitches in linen stitch pattern using 6.5mm crochet hook. Each sc and ch-1 count as stitches. (Sc, ch 1) = 2 stitches.
ABBREVIATIONS
| BLO | back loop only | Sk | skip |
| Ch | chain | Sl St | slip stitch |
| Rep | repeat | Sp | space |
| RS | right side | St(s) | stitch(es) |
| Sc | single crochet | WS | wrong side |
NOTES
- Starting ch-2 counts as sc + ch 1
- Pattern is written for smallest size with all other sizes in parentheses.
- The finished garment is meant to fit snug, with 2-4 inches of negative ease. Adjust as needed to customize your fit – or choose a size larger for a roomier fit. To adjust the bust size, create a starting ribbing that is the length needed for the full bust and finishes with an odd number of rows. Note that the original yarn used is very stretchy. The finished piece is form-fitting and may loosen over time.
Maya Striped Tank Pattern
Let’s make the Maya Striped Tank together! Follow along with this tutorial video:
BODY – RIBBING
ROW 1: With 4.5mm hook and A, ch 25 (25, 28, 28) (30, 30, 32), sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across row, turn.
ROW 2: Ch 1, sc BLO across row, turn.
NEXT ROWS: Rep Row 2 until ribbing measures 30 (34, 38, 42) (46, 50, 54) inches when slightly stretched, ending with an ODD number of rows. Rotate to work along the row ends.
BODY
ROW 1 (RS): With 6.5mm hook and continuing to work with A, ch 2, sk row at base of ch and next row, sc in end of the next row, (ch 1, sk 1 row, sc in the end of the next row) across, turn.
ROW 2 (WS): With B, ch 2, sc in next ch-1 sp, (ch 1, sc in next ch-1 sp) across, placing last sc in ch-2 sp, turn.
ROW 3: Rep Row 2, changing to A at the end of the row (do not fasten off!), turn.
Rep ROW 2, alternating colors A and B every 2 rows, carrying the yarn up the side of the work. Repeat until top measures 13.5 (13.5, 14.5, 15) (15, 16, 17)” from bottom of ribbing to working row. Fasten off the color no longer in use – weave in this end. Fasten off the color in use leaving an 18” tail for seaming.
Bring the ends of the Body together with WS facing you. Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle. Whip stitch the back closed, working only in loops shown on the WS of the work. Focus on matching the rows to keep the stripe pattern consistent. Whip stitch the ribbing section closed as well, working only through the inside loops. Weave in the remaining end.
STRAPS
STEP 1: Place top RS out and flat with front facing you. Starting at the back seam, count the ch-1 sps. Identify the ch-1 sp that is closest to the center front. Place a locking stitch marker in this ch-1 sp.
STEP 2: From midpoint, measure 3 (3, 3.5, 3.5) (4, 4, 4.25)” to either side of midpoint. Place markers in ch-1 sps at endpoints with 6 (6, 7, 7) (8, 8, 8.5)” between them.
STEP 3: Starting with the left marker, count 3 (3, 3, 3) (4, 4, 4) ch-1 spaces going toward the outside edge. Mark that ch-1 sp. Repeat for the right marker.
STEP 4: With the RS facing and continuing the color sequence, use the 6.5mm hook to pull up a loop in the outermost marked ch-1 sp on the left strap, drop marker. Ch 2, sc in next ch-1 sp, (ch 1, sc in next ch-1 sp) across, placing the last st in the next marked ch-1 sp, turn, drop marker.
STEP 5: Continue working in the linen stitch pattern with color changes every 2 rows until your strap measures 13 (13, 13, 14) (15, 15, 15)”. Fasten off both colors, leaving a long tail of your final color for seaming.
STEP 6: Lay top flat with RS out and the back facing you. Using the back seam as a midpoint, line the straps up to connect in the back. Use the long tail to whip stitch the strap to the back. Weave in this end and the remaining end from the other color.
STEP 7: Repeat Steps 4-6 for the other strap.
EDGING
Edging is placed around the arm openings and neck opening of the top. The same technique is used for each of the three edgings needed. Follow these instructions for each edging:
- For arm openings, join with sl st at base of strap in back.
- For neckline opening, join with sl st at back seam.
ROUND 1: With RS facing out and A, use 6.5mm hook to join where instructed, ch 1, sc in same st as join. Work evenly around opening, working in linen stitch pattern over linen stitch sections and place 1 sc in the row ends for straps, join with sl st in first sc of round. Fasten off and weave in ends.
FINISHING
- Weave in all remaining ends.
- Steam block lightly to finished dimensions.
Prefer an ad-free, printable version of this pattern? Find it HERE!
Relive that excitement of the first day of school when you sport your Maya Striped Tank, black frame glasses, and brand-new backpack. Even if you only head to the local coffee shop, you’ll be the best dressed in the building!
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Find more free beginner crochet patterns here:
