Grotto Nymph

Free your inner dryad with the lacy leaf design of this elegant tank. With cascading leaves wrapping around the sides and a beautifully reversible fit, your summer wardrobe is perfectly suited for any forest dream escape.

The tank is completely reversible, but for simplicity, we’ve indicated the lacy side as the back and the Stockinette stitch side as the front. It is worked in the round from the bottom up. After dividing for the armholes, the front and back are worked separately in rows. Waist and bust shaping are achieved by changing needle size several times.

Front shoulder shaping is fully fashioned with single, double, and triple cabled decreases. The back shoulders are worked straight with deeper armholes than the front, so the shoulder seams fall toward the front, enhancing the reversibility.

The lace pattern is proportional to the finished measurements, meaning that for each size, there’s a different number of stitches and rows in the pattern repeat.

#sizeinclusive to a 61.5” / 156 cm finished chest measurement.

This knitting pattern includes written instructions for lace (no charts), front and back images, and a schematic with measurements.

Skill Level
Advanced

Finished Measurements

• Bust circumference: 31 ½ (34 ½, 37 ½, 40 ½, 43 ½, 46 ¾)(49 ¼, 52 ½, 55 ½, 58 ½, 61 ½)“ / 80 (87.5, 95.5, 103, 110.5, 118.5)(125, 133.5, 141, 148.5, 156) cm
• Hip circumference: 33 ½ (36 ½, 39 ½, 43, 46, 49 ½)(52 ½, 55 ½, 59, 62, 65 ½)” / 85 (92.5, 100.5, 109, 117, 125.5)(133.5, 141, 150, 157.5, 166.5) cm
• Length: 22 ¼ (22 ½, 22 ¾, 23, 23 ¼, 23 ¼)(23 ½, 23 ½, 23 ¾, 24 ¼, 24 ¾)” / 56.5 (57, 58, 58.5, 59, 59)(59.5, 59.5, 60.5, 61.5, 63) cm
• Intended to be worn with ½-1” / 1.5-2.5 cm positive ease.

Yarn

• Fingering weight yarn
• 860 (940, 1000, 1080, 1155, 1230)(1300, 1375, 1440, 1545, 1640) yd / 790 (860, 915, 990, 1055, 1125)(1185, 1260, 1315, 1410, 1500) m fingering weight yarn
• Shown in: SweetGeorgia Yarns Bulletproof Sock in Jasmine (437 yd / 400 m per 3.5 oz / 100 g skein; 50% Superwash Merino, 20% Nylon, 15% Kid Mohair, 15% Silk)

Substitution Notes
Bulletproof Sock is no longer available but SweetGeorgia Yarns Mohair Silk Sock (affiliate) would substitute nicely. Choose a smooth, fingering weight yarn in a fibre blend that will be comfortable for your climate and next to the skin.

Needles & Notions

• Size 2 US / 2.75 mm circular needle, 16” / 40 cm long and 24” / 60 cm long
• Size 2.5 US / 3 mm circular needle, 24” / 60 cm long
• Size 3 US / 3.25 mm circular needle, 24” / 60 cm long
• Size 4 US / 3.5 mm circular needle, 24” / 60 cm long
• Size 5 US / 3.75 mm circular needle, 24” / 60 cm long
• Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
• Locking stitch markers, cable needle, one ½“ / 12 mm button.

Gauge

• 32 sts and 37 rows = 4” / 10 cm in Fern Grotto Lace stitch using size 3 US / 3.25 mm needle, in the round and flat, after blocking.
• 26 sts and 37 rows = 4” / 10 cm in Stockinette stitch using size 3 US / 3.25 mm needle, in the round and flat, after blocking.

Techniques
Knitting in the round, increases/decreases, cabled decreases, working basic lace from written instructions, basic sweater construction, one piece, seamless, bottom up, English-tailored shoulders, picking up stitches.

Helpful Links
Raised Increases video tutorial
Raised Increases photo tutorial
SSK & SSP Decreases video tutorial
Cabled Decreases video tutorial