Once upon a time, I wanted to make another ribbon tank top. However, I went to the yarn store and couldn't find more than 3 balls of any one shade of color/yarn that I wanted to use. Then I got an idea... since two of the yarns were about the same size and similar colors...why not make a top that's half one yarn and half the other?
Hence, the Half and Half Halter.
On the right side, we have Crystal Palace Party, "Ultra Blues" #402. On the left, we have The Collection Sari, shade 06. Both are about the same size and knit approximately to the same gauge (about 6 stitches per inch with size 8 needles).
Instructions are the same for both sides, but make sure you have the sides set up so that one covers the left boob and one covers the right. It uses size 8 regular and double pointed needles (the DPN's for the straps).
Measure around waist to see how many inches you've got going. Cast on enough stitches to fit half of your waist, but leave a few stitches off at the end. Make sure to have an even number. It came out to about 88 inches for me.
K1, P2, K2- continue K2, P2 ribbing as such until the bottom of the halter is as long as you want it. The ribbing will stop at the bottom of your breasts.
Knit stockinette stitch for an inch and a half. Bind off half of your stitches, finish your row. (Should have around 44 inches to cover your boob.)
Follow the short row instructions
here, depending on your tit size. I did 12 rows since I'm er...hugeish. Then knit 2 rows after finishing the short rows.
With stitch markers, indicate the middle 13 stitches. You'll want to bind off the left and right sides and leave the 13 as normal. (Note: if you put the second side stitches onto your other needle and then start slipping stitches over each other without using thread, it leaves your thread intact to keep knitting at the new starting point.)
Switch to double-pointed needles and do 2 rows of stockinette stitch.
Decrease by 1 at the start of each side on the next 2 rows, RS and WS.
Knit 2 more rows of stockinette stitch.
Repeat that until you are down to 7 stitches.
Knit in stockinette for as long as you want the halter strap to be.
When you're done, decrease by 1 on the next 2 rows.
Knit 2 more rows of stockinette stitch.
Repeat 13 and 14 until you're down to 3 stitches. Bind off.
When you've finished both sides, sew front and back sides together.
When I finished this, I found that the back rolled a fair amount. I ended up sewing in a dart in the back (sorry, no photo) to take in the extra space, and it worked pretty well. I'm not sure how to re-alter the pattern to compensate for that since I'm a beginner at making up my own patterns- maybe you'd just want to do ribbing all the way on the back instead.
