Learn to make the easy, fun, and customizable summer top, the Melanie Tank Top, from a free crochet pattern on DivineDebris.com

Hi everyone! How’s the third Tuesday of June treating you? Can you believe this month is half over? That the year is half over? I have to say, it’s been a heck of a year and back when I decided to design the Melanie Tank Top pattern, I thought the summer was going to be a bit different – that’d I’d be able to wear this tank everywhere. Alas, it’s also makes a good lounging at home design.

Originally I was going to do this design in a rainbow (because it’s Pride and I love a good Pride design), then I changed my mind and wanted to do neutrals but because some yarn selections are a bit dicey, I went with cool tones in Shine Worsted from Knit Picks (the colors are Iris, Wisteria, Clarity, and White). I always gravitate to cools myself, I just like the way they look – they calm me if that makes sense. I really like the way they worked up for this pattern. Although, as you’ll learn below, I wrote this pattern for 1 color instead of 4, I think you can easily adapt the pattern to as many colors as you’d like… or perhaps a nice variegated.

Speaking of adapting this pattern, it’s super easy to make longer if you’d like this as a cover up or something – just keep extending the Back and Front Bottom sections (make sure they’re even, unless you don’t want them to be). Or you could only seam up part of it so that the sides are open and all daring (like this month’s premium pattern the Heather Tank Top). Get creative with it 🙂

Anyway, I hope you like this pattern. It’s super easy and has lots of room to make something unique to you. And I hope you’re well, it’s been a hard time for so many people and I just want to say I love and support you <3
This post is linked to Hookin’ on Hump Day 217

Please note: I was provided the yarn for this pattern by We Crochet for the purposes of making this design, with compensation. I wasn’t provided the yarn with the expectations of positive or negative reviews but I did enjoy using this yarn, it’s a great cotton yarn I will be using again. The links to the yarn are affiliate links and I may receive compensation if you purchase through them.

(this post contains affiliate links)

If you appreciate my weekly patterns I hope you’d consider purchasing an ad-free pdf of this pattern in my Ravelry shop.

Thank you Susan for becoming my newest patron on Patreon!

The Melanie Tank Top free crochet pattern by DivineDebris.com

Level

Easy

Materials

US I (5.50 mm) crochet hook
Size #4/ worsted/ medium weight yarn
- I used Shine Worsted from Knit Picks
- oz/yds in Finished Product Dimensions
Notions: needle, scissors, stitch markers, measuring tape

Gauge

17 sts across ESC Linen St (blocked) = 4”
12 rows of esc Linen St (blocked) = 4”
First 12 rows of pattern = 5”

Terms/ Stitches used

Ch: chain
St: stitch
Slip st: slip stitch
Join
Sc: single crochet
Esc: extended single crochet (explained below)
Dc: double crochet

Notes

Esc (extended single crochet): insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, draw through one loop, yarn over, pull through the 2 loops on the hook.
This pattern is 3 sections: the Front, the Back, and the Details (which includes the Neck, Sleeve holes, and Waistband). Both the Front and Back pieces are worked in 2 sections, a Body and Top. The Front and Back are worked in rows back and forth, with a turn at the beginning of the row. The two pieces are then seamed together along the row ends of the Bottom Front and Back pieces, and you add a row around the arm openings and neck hole for a more finished look.
The first 12 rows is 5” high.
The ch 1 at the beginning of some rows does not count as a stitch.
The ch 3 at the beginning of some rows does count as a stitch (as noted in the pattern).
The even rows on both the Front and Back are your right side.
This pattern is written for 1 color but the sample is done in 4. Feel free to change colors as you’d like.
The sample in the photos is the Medium size made in Worsted Shine by Knit Picks in 4 colors.

Finished product dimensions (measurements may vary by gauge and yarn used)

XS Height: 21” Across: (Body) 14” Across: (Top) 11” Yarn: 9.5 oz/405 yds Fits Chest: 28″ – 30″	SM Height: 22” Across: (Body) 16” Across: (Top) 11” Yarn: 10.7 oz/456 yds Fits Chest: 32″ – 34″	MD Height: 22” Across: (Body) 18” Across: (Top) 12” Yarn: 12 oz/511 yds Fits Chest: 36″ – 38″
LG Height: 23” Across: (Body) 20” Across: (Top) 12” Yarn: 14 oz/597 yds Fits Chest: 40”- 42”	1X Height: 23” Across: (Body) 22” Across: (Top) 13” Yarn: 15 oz/639 yds Fits Chest: 44″ – 46″	2X Height: 24” Across: (Body) 24”Across: (Top) 13” Yarn: 16.4 oz/ 699 yds Fits Chest: 48″ – 50″
3X Height: 24” Across: (Body) 26” Across: (Top) 14” Yarn: 17.7 oz/754 yds Fits Chest: 52″ – 54″	4X Height: 25” Across: (Body) 28” Across: (Top) 14” Yarn: 19.6 oz/835 yds Fits Chest: 56″ – 58″	5X Height: 25” Across: (Body) 30” Across: (Top) 15”Yarn: 20.7 oz/882 yds Fits Chest: 60″ – 62″

Melanie Tank Top Pattern Instructions

Front Bottom
Sizing as follows: XS (SM, MD, LG, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X)

Row 1: Ch 61 (69, 77, 87, 95, 103, 111, 121, 129), esc into the second ch from the hook, *ch 1, skip the next st, esc into the next st,* repeat from * to * 28 (32, 36, 41, 45, 49, 53, 58, 62) more times, esc into the last st – 31 (35, 39, 44, 48, 52, 56, 61, 65) esc, 29 (33, 37, 42, 46, 50, 54, 59, 63) ch-1 spaces
Rows 2 – 3: Ch 1, turn, esc into the first st, *ch 1, skip the next st, esc into the next ch space,* repeat from * to * 28 (32, 36, 41, 45, 49, 53, 58, 62) more times, esc into the last st – 31 (35, 39, 44, 48, 52, 56, 61, 65) esc, 29 (33, 37, 42, 46, 50, 54, 59, 63) ch-1 spaces
(RS) Row 4: Ch 4 (counts as a dc + ch 1 here and throughout), turn, skip the next st, dc into the next ch space, *ch 1, skip the next st, dc into the next ch space,* repeat from * to * 27 (31, 35, 40, 44, 48, 52, 57, 61) more times, dc into the last st – 31 (35, 39, 44, 48, 52, 56, 61, 65) dc, 29 (33, 37, 42, 46, 50, 54, 59, 63) ch-1 spaces
Rows 5 – 7: Ch 1, turn, esc into the first st, *ch 1, skip the next st, esc into the next ch space,* repeat from * to * 28 (32, 36, 41, 45, 49, 53, 58, 62) more times, esc into the last st – 31 (35, 39, 44, 48, 52, 56, 61, 65) esc, 29 (33, 37, 42, 46, 50, 54, 59, 63) ch-1 spaces
Row 8: Ch 4, turn, skip the next st, dc into the next ch space, *ch 1, skip the next st, dc into the next ch space,* repeat from * to * 27 (31, 35, 40, 44, 48, 52, 57, 61) more times, dc into the last st – 31 (35, 39, 44, 48, 52, 56, 61, 65) dc, 29 (33, 37, 42, 46, 50, 54, 59, 63) ch-1 spaces
Rows 9 – 36: repeat rows 5 – 8, 7 times (for all sizes)
Fasten off.

Front Top
Sizing as follows: XS (SM, MD, LG, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X)

Row 1: With the wrong side facing you, skip 8 (12, 12, 16, 18, 22, 24, 29, 32) sts from where you ended on row 36 (this counts both sts and ch spaces), create a slipknot on your hook, esc into the next ch space, *ch 1, skip the next st, esc into the ch space,* repeat from * to * 20 (20, 24, 25, 27, 27, 29, 29, 30) more times, esc into the next st – 23 (23, 27, 28, 30, 30, 32, 32, 33) esc, 21 (21, 25, 26, 28, 28, 30, 30, 31) ch-1 spaces
Rows 2 – 3: Ch 1, turn, esc into the first st, *ch 1, skip the next st, esc into the ch space,* repeat from * to * 20 (20, 24, 25, 27, 27, 29, 29, 30) more times, esc into the next st – 23 (23, 27, 28, 30, 30, 32, 32, 33) esc, 21 (21, 25, 26, 28, 28, 30, 30, 31) ch-1 spaces
Row 4: Ch 4, turn, ch 1, skip the next st, dc into the ch space, *ch 1, skip the next st, dc into the ch space,* repeat from * to * 19 (19, 23, 24, 26, 26, 28, 28, 29) more times, dc into the next st – 23 (23, 27, 28, 30, 30, 32, 32, 33) dc, 21 (21, 25, 26, 28, 28, 30, 30, 31) ch-1 spaces
From here the sizes are broken up for the straps.

Straps
XS
The next row you will only work part of the row, this will be your first strap.
Rows 5 – 7: Ch 1, turn, esc into the first st, ch 1, skip the next st, esc into the next ch space, esc into the next st – 3 esc, 1 ch-1 space
Row 8: Ch 4, turn, skip the next st, dc into the next ch space, dc into the next st – 3 dc, 1 ch-1 space
Rows 9 – 12: repeat rows 5 – 8
Rows 13 – 15: repeat rows 5 – 7
Fasten off leaving a long tail, which you will use to secure your Strap to the Back Top.
Repeat rows 5 – 15 on the last 4 sts of row 4 for your second strap. Block your piece so it measures 21” x 14”.
SM (MD)
Row 5: Ch 1, turn, esc into the first st, *ch 1, skip the next st, esc into the ch space,* repeat from * to * 20 (24) more times, esc into the next st – 23 (27) esc, 21 (25) ch-1 spaces
The next row you will only work part of the row, this will be your first strap.
Rows 6 – 7: Ch 1, turn, esc into the first st, *ch 1, skip the next st, esc into the next ch space,* repeat from * to * once more, esc into the next st – 4 esc, 2 ch-1 space
Row 8: Ch 4, turn, skip the next st, dc into the next ch space, ch 1, skip the next st, dc into the next ch space, dc into the next st – 4 dc, 2 ch-1 space
Rows 9 – 11: Ch 1, turn, esc into the first st, *ch 1, skip the next st, esc into the next ch space,* repeat from * to * once more, esc into the next st – 4 esc, 2 ch-1 space
Row 12: repeat row 8
Rows 13 – 16: repeat rows 9 – 12, once
Fasten off leaving a long tail, which you will use to secure your Strap to the Back Top.
Repeat rows 5 – 16 on the last 6 sts of row 5 for your second strap. Block your piece so it measures 22” x 16” (22” x 18”).
LG (1X)
Rows 5 – 7: Ch 1, turn, esc into the first st, *ch 1, skip the next st, esc into the ch space,* repeat from * to * 25 (27) more times, esc into the next st – 28 (30) esc, 26 (28) ch-1 spaces
Row 8: Ch 4, turn, skip the next st, dc into the next ch space, *ch 1, skip the next st, dc into the next ch space,* repeat from * to * 24 (26) more times, dc into the last st – 28 (30) dc, 26 (28) ch-1 spaces
The next row you will only work part of the row, this will be your first strap.
Rows 9 – 11: Ch 1, turn, esc into the first st, *ch 1, skip the next st, esc into the ch space,* repeat from * to * 1 (2) more time(s), esc into the next st – 4 (5) esc, 2 (3) ch-1 spaces
Row 12: Ch 4, turn, skip the next st, dc into the next ch space, *ch 1, skip the next st, dc into the next ch space,* repeat from * to * — (1) more time, dc into the next st – 4 (5) dc, 2 (3) ch-1 space
Rows 13 – 16: repeat rows 9 – 12
Row 17 – 19: repeat rows 9 – 11
Fasten off leaving a long tail, which you will use to secure your Strap to the Back Top.
Repeat rows 9 – 19 on the last 6 (8) sts of row 8 for your second strap. Block your piece so it measures 23” x 20” (23” x 22”).
2X (3X)
Rows 5 – 7: Ch 1, turn, esc into the first st, *ch 1, skip the next st, esc into the ch space,* repeat from * to * 27 (29) more times, esc into the next st – 30 (32) esc, 28 (30) ch-1 spaces
Row 8: Ch 4, turn, skip the next st, dc into the ch space, *ch 1, skip the next st, dc into the ch space,* repeat from * to * 25 (27) more times, dc into the next st – 30 (32) dc, 28 (30) ch-1 spaces
Row 9: Ch 1, turn, esc into the first st, *ch 1, skip the next st, esc into the ch space,* repeat from * to * 27 (29) more times, esc into the next st – 30 (32) esc, 28 (30) ch-1 spaces
The next row you will only work part of the row, this will be your first strap.
Rows 10 – 11: Ch 1, turn, esc into the first st, *ch 1, skip the next st, esc into the ch space,* repeat from * to * 2 (3) more time(s), esc into the next st – 5 (6) esc, 3 (4) ch-1 spaces
Row 12: Ch 4, turn, skip the next st, dc into the next ch space, *ch 1, skip the next st, dc into the next ch space,* repeat from * to * 1 (2) more time, dc into the next st – 5 (6) dc, 3 (4) ch-1 space
Rows 13 – 15: Ch 1, turn, esc into the first st, *ch 1, skip the next st, esc into the ch space,* repeat from * to * 2 (3) more time(s), esc into the next st – 5 (6) esc, 3 (4) ch-1 spaces
Row 16 – 19: repeat rows 12 – 15 once
Row 20: repeat row 12
Fasten off leaving a long tail, which you will use to secure your Strap to the Back Top.
Repeat rows 9 – 20 on the last 8 (10) sts of row 9 for your second strap. Block your piece so it measures 24” x 24” (24” x 26”).
4X (5X)
Rows 5 – 7: Ch 1, turn, esc into the first st, *ch 1, skip the next st, esc into the ch space,* repeat from * to * 29 (30) more times, esc into the next st – 32 (33) esc, 30 (31) ch-1 spaces
Row 8: Ch 4, turn, ch 1, skip the next st, dc into the ch space, *ch 1, skip the next st, dc into the ch space,* repeat from * to * 28 (29) more times, dc into the next st – 32 (33) dc, 30 (31) ch-1 spaces
Rows 9 – 11: Ch 1, turn, esc into the first st, *ch 1, skip the next st, esc into the ch space,* repeat from * to * 29 (30) more times, esc into the next st – 32 (33) esc, 30 (31) ch-1 spaces
Row 12: repeat row 8
The next row you will only work part of the row, this will be your first strap.
Rows 13 – 15: Ch 1, turn, esc into the first st, *ch 1, skip the next st, esc into the ch space,* repeat from * to * 3 more time(s), esc into the next st – 6 esc, 4 ch-1 spaces
Row 16: Ch 4, turn, skip the next st, dc into the next ch space, *ch 1, skip the next st, dc into the next ch space,* repeat from * to * 2 more time, dc into the next st – 6 dc, 4 ch-1 space
Rows 17 – 20: repeat rows 13 – 16 once
Rows 21 – 23: repeat rows 13 – 15, once
Fasten off leaving a long tail, which you will use to secure your Strap to the Back Top.
Repeat rows 13 – 23 on the last 10 (10) sts of row 12 for your second strap. Block your piece so it measures 25” x 28” (25” x 30”).

Back Bottom
Sizing as follows: XS (SM, MD, LG, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X)

Back Top
Row 1: With the wrong side facing you, skip 8 (12, 12, 16, 18, 22, 24, 29, 32) sts from where you ended on row 36 (this counts both sts and ch spaces), create a slipknot on your hook, esc into the next ch space, *ch 1, skip the next st, esc into the ch space,* repeat from * to * 20 (20, 24, 25, 27, 27, 29, 29, 30) more times, esc into the next st – 23 (23, 27, 28, 30, 30, 32, 32, 33) esc, 21 (21, 25, 26, 28, 28, 30, 30, 31) ch-1 spaces
Rows 2 – 3: Ch 1, turn, esc into the first st, *ch 1, skip the next st, esc into the ch space,* repeat from * to * 20 (20, 24, 25, 27, 27, 29, 29, 30) more times, esc into the next st – 23 (23, 27, 28, 30, 30, 32, 32, 33) esc, 21 (21, 25, 26, 28, 28, 30, 30, 31) ch-1 spaces
Row 4: Ch 4, turn, skip the next st, dc into the next ch space, *ch 1, skip the next st, dc into the ch space,* repeat from * to * 19 (19, 23, 24, 26, 26, 28, 28, 29) more times, dc into the next st – 23 (23, 27, 28, 30, 30, 32, 32, 33) dc, 21 (21, 25, 26, 28, 28, 30, 30, 31) ch-1 spaces
Rows 5 – 7: Ch 1, turn, esc into the first st, *ch 1, skip the next st, esc into the ch space,* repeat from * to * 20 (20, 24, 25, 27, 27, 29, 29, 30) more times, esc into the next st – 23 (23, 27, 28, 30, 30, 32, 32, 33) esc, 21 (21, 25, 26, 28, 28, 30, 30, 31) ch-1 spaces
Rows 8 – 15: repeat rows 4 – 7, twice
Fasten of XS here. Block your piece so it measures 21” x 14”.
SM (MD)
Row 16: repeat row 4 once
Fasten off SM and MD here. Block your piece so it measures 22” x 16” (22” x 18”).
LG (1X)
Rows 16 – 19: repeat rows 4 – 7 once
Fasten off LG and 1X here. Block your piece so it measures 23” x 20” (23” x 22”).
2X (3X)
Rows 16 – 19: repeat rows 4 – 7 once
Row 20: repeat row 4 once
Fasten 2X and 3X off here. Block your piece so it measures 24” x 24” (24” x 26”).
4X (5X)
Rows 16 – 23: repeat rows 4 – 7, twice
Fasten off 4X and 5X here. Block your piece so it measures 25” x 28” (25” x 30”).

Seaming
Straps
With the wrong side facing you, use the ends you left on the straps to seam together the first and last 4 (6, 6, 6, 8, 8, 10, 10) of the Top Back to the both of the Straps from the Top Front.
Body
With the wrong side facing you, seam together, in your preferred method of seaming, the row ends of rows 1 – 36 on the Front Bottom and Back Bottom on both sides of the body. Fasten off, weave in your ends.

Details
Neck Hole
Create a slipknot on your hook and begin with the RS facing you on the Top Back to the left of your strap seam, sc into the next 36 (32, 40, 42, 42, 42, 42, 42, 44) (this counts sts and chs), sc once into each esc row end and twice into the each dc row end of the straps, sc into the next 36 (32, 40, 42, 42, 42, 42, 42, 44) (this counts sts and chs) sts you skipped on the Front Top for the straps, sc once into each esc row end and twice into the each dc row end of the straps, join – 94 (92, 108, 110, 110, 112, 112, 110, 114) sc
Fasten off, weave in your ends.

Sleeve Holes
Create a slipknot on your hook and start in the first st to the left of your Bottom Front/Back seam with the RS facing you, sc into the next 8 (12, 12, 16, 18, 22, 24, 29, 32) sts, sc once into each esc row end of the Top section and twice into the each dc row end of the Strap and Top Back sections, sc into the next 8 (12, 12, 16, 18, 22, 24, 29, 32) sts, join – 52 (64, 64, 78, 82, 94, 98, 114, 120) sc
Please note: if you’d like a tighter fit on the sleeve, you can add a few decreases along the skipped sts (from the Bottom section of the Top and Back) to limit flare of the tank. If you’d like more of a sleeve, feel free to add more rounds here.
Fasten off, weave in your ends. Repeat on the other side.

Waistband
Flip your whole tank top around and work along the other side of your original ch row on the Front Bottom, sc into the next 60 (68, 76, 86, 94, 102, 110, 120, 128) sts (this counts esc and ch spaces), move to the other side of the ch row of the Back Bottom, sc into the next 60 (68, 76, 86, 94, 102, 110, 120, 128) sts (this counts esc and ch spaces), join – 120 (136, 152, 172, 188, 204, 220, 240, 256) sc
Fasten off, weave in your ends.