Summer Singlet

Casting on a new project — my cotton tank top I've been planning.

14 Apr 09:22:33

Chain 124. Join. Hdc.

14 Apr 20:23:15

I switched out the hook and yarn and started over again. I noticed while I was out today that I had confused my work plans and I'd brought the other navy yarn with me anyway so I was able to fix it immediately. Since I was using a smaller hook the starting chain changed.

Chain 144. Join. Dc.

In crocheting while out, I worked 14.5 rows, finishing the first skein of yarn.

17 Apr 10:13

I crocheted 25 rows then decided to start working decreases. Since I decreased evenly around, it was sloping pretty significantly. To balance this, I alternated decrease rows for 5 rounds instead.

Chain 144. Join. Dc.
Dc 25 rounds.
Dec by 2 on each side.
No dec.
Dec by 2 on each side.
No dec.
Dec by 2 on each side.

30 Apr 2024

Okay, I'm having a good time working on this. I did take a few days off as I've started a few other projects, but I've gotten back into it this week. Major notes:

I don't remember when all of it was done, but I completed the body yesterday, Monday.

1 May 2024

I then started up the back. Based on a source photo, I decided about 4 stitches from the center on each side would create a nice opening. The front straps will also begin this way so the armholes' base will be 8 stitches wide.

I made a little progress working up the back on Monday, but made the most progress yesterday. When approaching the center seam at the back, I designed a technique to imitate a seam despite working flat. I prefer the congruence in this and for such features of my work to be active design decisions when possible. This method also obscures the construction a bit.

For this technique, I worked a bottom-up chain after the last stitch before the seam. On the following rows, after I work this imitation turning chain, I work a double crochet decrease over the below imitation chain and the stitch after it.

I crocheted throughout the morning, working decreases on each end for the first five rows, and continuing straight afterwards.

Today, I've just finished up the fifth row without decreases.

Chain 144. Join. Dc.
Dc 25 rounds.
Dec by 2 on each side.
No dec.
Dec by 2 on each side.
No dec.
Dec by 2 on each side.
Dc 5 rounds.
Start 4 away from side; dc with faux decrease.
Dec by 1 on each side.
Dec by 1 on each side.
Dec by 1 on each side.
Dec by 1 on each side.
Dc 5 rows.

3 May 2024

The singlet is complete.

For the back, I added another 10 non-decreasing rows, then began shaping of the neck hole. On each side this meant starting over 12 stitches, immediately double crocheting 4 together on the inner edge, then double crocheting 2 together on te inner edge for the second row. Each back strap ended with 8 stitches.

I then attached to the front to begin the last straps. Each started with 16 stitches, went to 14 on the first row, 11 on the second row (dec 2 on outer edge), 9 on the third row, and 8 on the fourth row (dec 1 on inner edge). The straps were completed with 19 non-decreasing rows.

All that remained was seaming and edging with single crochets.

Chain 144. Join. Dc.
Dc 25 rounds.
Dec by 2 on each side.
No dec.
Dec by 2 on each side.
No dec.
Dec by 2 on each side.
Dc 5 rounds.
Start 4 away from side; dc with faux decrease.
Dec by 1 on each side.
Dec by 1 on each side.
Dec by 1 on each side.
Dec by 1 on each side.
Dc 15 rows.
Dc 8, dc4tog.
Dc2tog, dc 7.
---
Dc2tog, dc 12, dc2tog.
Dc2tog, dc 9, dc3tog.
Dc2tog, dc 7, dc2tog.
Dc2tog, dc 7.
Dc 19 rows.
Seam and finish.

This is a public note. It is not a pattern. This documentation of my process has been made public with little clarification in case there is anything to be learned.