Designed by Emma Jaeger of Midsummer Knits, The Heartless Top is exactly the top you should wear to break hearts in (wink, wink). The heart cut-out, which keeps its shape with wire reinforcements, makes this piece a serious statement. Otherwise, it features a simple and clean design with a high neckline, double-knit armhole edgings, and a folded hem for the bottom edge. Turn heads and break hearts in this iconic tank!
This tank top is knit seamlessly from the top down. Begin by casting on across the back shoulders and working flat down to the underarm. Stitches are picked up along the cast-on edge of the back to work the front shoulders, followed by increasing to join the neckline. The front panel is then knit flat with the heart cutout being incorporated until the front and back are joined under the armholes.
The main body is worked in the round with optional waist shaping and ending with a folded hem. The armholes are finished with a double-knit edging and the neckband is finished with a 1x1 rib folded hem. An applied i-cord edging (with a wire insert recommended) is used to finish off the heart cutout.
All sizes have a recommended body length of 9.25” [23.5 cm] from the underarm through the hem. A longer body will require more yarn than estimated below.
NOTE: This top requires a special finishing technique: i-cord edging with wire.
20 gauge [0.88 mm] galvanized steel wire to add structure to the heart cut-out is optional, but strongly recommended. It is not recommended to machine wash your top if you’ve included wire, but using wire is highly recommended for structural integrity. If using wire, wire cutters and pliers are also highly recommended.
See finishing technique (i-cord and wire) tutorial HERE.
Advanced Beginner
SIZE AND FINISHED MEASUREMENTS:
1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) (7, 8, 9, 10) detailed below, designed to be worn with 3-5” [7.5-12.5 cm] negative ease.
To fit bust size: 26-28 (28-30, 32-34, 36-38, 40-42, 44-46) (48-50, 52-54, 56-58, 60-62) in [66-71 (71-76, 81-86, 91-97, 102-107, 112-117) (122-127, 132-137, 142-147, 152-157) cm].
Finished bust: 21 (25, 29, 33, 37, 41) (45, 49, 53, 57) in [53.5, (66, 74, 84, 94, 104.5) (114.5, 124.5, 135, 145) cm] unstretched.
GAUGE:
22 sts and 34 rows in stockinette stitch to 4” [10 cm] on US 5 [3.75 mm] needles or needles needed to obtain gauge, after blocking.
Heartless Top PDF
3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4) (5, 5, 5, 6) skeins Malabrigo Rios
Needles and notions are not included
Knit using US 4 (3.5mm) and US 5 circular needles, 8” double-pointed needles (or size needed to obtain gauge)