Color Theory: Cumberland Tank
THE CUMBERLAND TANK IS AN EXCLUSIVE PATTERN MADE IN MY BRAND NEW YARN, COLOR THEORY, PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LION BRAND YARN. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE YARN AND COLLABORATION HERE!
Designed for summer boat trips and picnics in the park, the Cumberland Tank is a shell style sleeveless top with a slightly relaxed fit. This striped fabric evokes a classic feel that will carry through years to come. Scroll down for the free pattern, purchase a printer-friendly PDF of the Cumberland Tank pattern, or purchase the kit with all the Color Theory yarn you’ll need!
This design was inspired by one of my favorite tank tops that I’ve had since I was in high school! I just love the shell shape and thick-and-thin striping, and clearly it has proven to be a classic that’s remained in style all these years.
Color Theory is so comfortable on the skin due to its smooth fibers, so I knew it would be the perfect yarn for this piece that I’ve been wanting to bring to life for ages. It was so enjoyable to crochet AND to wear! I love that with the Color Theory 18-color palette of mix-and-matchable options, there are 153 different 2-color combos you could choose for this project - how wild is that!? On top of that, reversing the colors would give the finished piece a totally different feel, so there are actually 306 versions that could be made from this palette alone. Mind. Blown.
The Cumberland Tank is worked in the round, so there’s no seaming involved. Plus the two row striping in this pattern means that you can carry the unused color up the side of the work which prevents the need to weave in hundreds of ends. This make for a speedy project that will fly off of your hook.
This is an easy level crochet pattern and the techniques involved are single crochet, half double crochet, sc2tog and hdc2tog decreases, and crocheting evenly along the side edge of rows.
MATERIALS
2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4) skeins Lion Brand Color Theory in Moonbeam (619-099V) for color A
1 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3) skein(s) Lion Brand Color Theory in Raisin (619-144U) for color B
(worsted, weight 4; 246yds/225m per skein)
Size US J/10 (6mm) crochet hook
Size US I/9 (5.5mm) crochet hook
Tapestry needle
GAUGE
14 sts = 4”/10cm
2 rows half double crochet = .75”/2cm
2 rows single crochet = .5”/1.25cm
12.75 rows in striping pattern = 4”/10cm
FINISHED DIMENSIONS
Suggested positive ease: 5-7”/13-18cm
Pictured in a size S on model with 34”/86cm bust
ABBREVIATIONS
*All Two of Wands patterns are written in standard US terms.
Ch – chain
Dec – decrease
Hdc – half double crochet
Hdc2tog – half double crochet 2 together
Rep – repeat
Rnd(s) – round(s)
RS – right side
Sc – single crochet
Sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
Sk – skip
Sl st – slip stitch
St(s) – stitch(es)
WS – wrong side
Notes: Tank is worked first in joined, turned rounds to the underarms and then flat in rows for the front and back. Turn at the end of each round and row. To change color in rounds, work the slip stitch that joins the round in the new color and carry the alternating colors up the wrong side of the work. To change color in rows, work the final yarn over of the last stitch of the row in the new color and carry the alternating colors up the side of the work. Pattern is written for eight sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL).
Body:
With J/10 (6mm) hook and color A, ch 122 (136, 150, 164,178, 192, 206, 220). Being careful not to twist the ch, sl st to the 1st ch to join in the round.
Rnd 1 (RS): Ch 1, hdc around, sl st to 1st hdc to join and pull to tighten. (122 (136, 150, 164,178, 192, 206, 220) sts)
Turn here and at the end of each round.
Rnd 2 (WS): Ch 1, hdc around, sl st to 1st hdc to join and pull to tighten.
Change to color B.
Rnds 3+4: Ch 1, sc around, sl st to 1st sc to join and pull to tighten.
Change to color A.
Rnds 5+6: Ch 1, hdc around, sl st to 1st hdc to join and pull to tighten.
Rnds 7-42 (42, 42, 42, 46, 46, 46, 46): Rep rnds 3-6, 9 (9, 9, 9, 10, 10, 10,10) more times, changing colors every 2 rnds.
Next 2 rnds: Rep rnds 3 and 4, 1 more time.
Fasten off and cut both colors.
Work will now be separated and worked flat for back and front. Maintain established striping pattern throughout.
Back:
Row numbers will restart for simplicity.
Shape armholes:
Turn work to begin next row, sk 6 (7, 8, 9, 10, 11,12, 13) sts, and rejoin yarn in next st.
Row 1: Ch 1, and starting in same st as join, hdc 1, hdc2tog, hdc 43 (48, 53, 58, 63, 68, 73, 78), hdc2tog, hdc 1, turn leaving remaining sts unworked. (47 (52, 57, 62, 67, 72, 77, 82) sts)
Row 2: (Dec) Ch 1, hdc 1, hdc2tog, hdc to last 3 sts, hdc2tog, hdc 1. (45 (50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80) sts)
Rows 3+4: (Dec) Ch 1, sc 1, sc2tog, sc to last 3 sts, sc2tog, sc 1. (41 (46, 51, 56, 61, 66, 71, 76) sts)
Sizes - (S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X) only:
Continuing in established striping pattern, work a dec row every row, - (2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11) more times. (- (42, 45, 46, 49, 50, 53, 54) sts)
All sizes:
Work even in established striping pattern until 26 (26, 30, 30, 34, 34, 38, 38) total armhole rows have been worked, ending with a hdc row.
Shape back neck:
Right side:
Row 27 (27, 31, 31, 35, 35, 39, 39): Ch 1, sc 6 (6, 7, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10), sc2tog, sc 1, turn leaving remaining sts unworked. (8 (8, 9, 9, 10, 11, 12, 12) sts)
Row 28 (28, 32, 32, 36, 36, 40, 40): Ch 1, sc 1, sc2tog, sc to end of row. (7 (7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 11, 11) sts)
Fasten off and cut both colors. Sk 23 (24, 25, 26, 27, 26, 27, 28) unworked sts from row 27 (27, 29, 29, 31, 31, 33, 33) and rejoin yarn in next st.
Left side:
Row 27 (27, 31, 31, 35, 35, 39, 39): Ch 1 and starting in same st as join, sc 1, sc2tog, sk to end of row. (8 (8, 9, 9,10, 11, 12, 12) sts)
Row 28 (28, 32, 32, 36, 36, 40, 40): Ch 1, sc to last 3 sts, sc2tog, sc 1. (7 (7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 11, 11) sts)
Fasten off. Secure and weave in all ends.
Front:
Row numbers will restart for simplicity.
Shape armholes:
Return to row 1 of back, and starting from the first unworked st, sk 10 (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24) sts and rejoin yarn in next st.
Row 1: Ch 1, and starting in same st as join, hdc 1, hdc2tog, hdc 47 (52, 587, 62, 67, 72, 77, 82), hdc2tog, hdc 1, turn leaving remaining sts unworked. (51 (56, 61, 66, 71, 76, 81, 86) sts)
Row 2: Ch 1, hdc 1, hdc2tog, hdc to last 3 sts, hdc2tog, hdc 1. (49 (54, 59, 64, 69, 74, 79, 84) sts)
Rows 3+4: Ch 1, sc 1, sc2tog, sc to last 3 sts, sc2tog, sc 1. (45 (50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80) sts)
Continuing in established striping pattern, work a dec row every row, 2 (4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13) more times. (41 (42, 45, 46, 49, 50, 53, 54) sts)
Work even in established striping pattern until 14 (14, 18, 18, 22, 22, 26, 26) total armhole rows have been worked, ending with a hdc row.
Shape front neck:
Left side:
Row 15 (15, 19, 19, 23, 23, 27, 27): Ch 1, sc 10 (10, 11, 11, 12, 13, 14, 14), sc2tog, sc 1, turn leaving remaining sts unworked. (12 (12, 13, 13, 14, 15, 16, 16) sts)
Row 16 (16, 20, 20, 24, 24, 28, 28): Ch 1, sc 1, sc2tog, sc to end of row. (11 (11, 12, 12, 13, 14, 15, 15) sts)
Row 17 (17, 21, 21, 25, 25, 29, 29): Ch 1, hdc to last 3 sts, hdc2tog, hdc 1. (10 (10, 11, 11, 12, 13, 14, 14) sts)
Row 18 (18, 22, 22, 26, 26, 30, 30): Ch 1, hdc 1, hdc2tog, hdc to end of row. (9 (9, 10, 10, 11, 12, 13, 13) sts)
Row 19 (19, 23, 23, 27, 27, 31, 31): Ch 1, sc to last 3 sts, sc2tog, sc 1. (8 (8, 9, 9, 10, 11, 12, 12) sts)
Row 20 (20, 24, 24, 28, 28, 32, 32): Ch 1, sc 1, sc2tog, sc to end of row. (7 (7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 11, 11) sts)
Next 8 rows: Work even in established striping pattern.
Fasten off and cut both yarns. Sk 15 (16, 17, 18, 19, 18, 19, 20) unworked sts from row 15 (15, 19, 19, 23, 23, 27, 27) and rejoin yarn in next st.
Right side:
Row 15 (15, 19, 19, 23, 23, 27, 27): Ch 1 and starting in same st as join, sc 1, sc2tog, sc to end of row. (12 (12, 13, 13, 14, 15, 16, 16) sts)
Row 16 (16, 20, 20, 24, 24, 28, 28): Ch 1, sc to last 3 sts, sc2tog, sc 1. (11 (11, 12, 12, 13, 14, 15, 15) sts)
Row 17 (17, 21, 21, 25, 25, 29, 29): Ch 1, hdc 1, hdc2tog, hdc to end of row. (10 (10, 11, 11, 12, 13, 14, 14) sts)
Row 18 (18, 22, 22, 26, 26, 30, 30): Ch 1, hdc to last 3 sts, hdc2tog, hdc 1. (9 (9, 10, 10, 11, 12, 13, 13) sts)
Row 19 (19, 23, 23, 27, 27, 31, 31): Ch 1, sc 1, sc2tog, sc to end of row. (8 (8, 9, 9, 10, 11, 12, 12) sts)
Row 20 (20, 24, 24, 28, 28, 32, 32): Ch 1, sc to last 3 sts, sc2tog, sc 1. (7 (7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 11, 11) sts)
Next 8 rows: Work even in established striping pattern.
Fasten off. Secure and weave in all ends.
Seam shoulders.
Armhole edging:
With I/9 (5.5mm) hook and RS facing, join color A at one underarm, ch 1, and sc evenly around armhole. Do not join. Place marker for beginning of round. Work 2 more spiral, un-joined rounds of sc.
Rep for other armhole.
Fasten off.
Neckline edging:
With I/9 (5.5mm) hook and RS facing, join color A one shoulder seam, ch 1, and sc evenly around neckline. Do not join. Place marker for beginning of round. Work 2 more spiral, un-joined rounds of sc.
Fasten off. Secure and weave in all ends.
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