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MAKAHIYA TANK

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MAKAHIYA is a slightly cropped tank top knitted flat in 3 pieces on circular needles. The top draws inspiration from the Mimosa pudica plant. In the Philippines where I grew up, we called it the Makahiya, or “shy plant,” because of the plant’s curious habit of folding up its fronds when touched (or in extremes of temperatures). This knit is a collaboration with the wonderful Shobha of Serendipitous Wool. Shobha generously created a shade specifically for this collaboration. Her Mimosa pudica shade is a lovely pale green with flecks of purple dappling the yarn to echo the plant's lovely tufted blooms. You can view a cool video of the plant in action here.

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Though the construction is simple, the lace detailing on the straps and the overlapping back panels make for an engaging knit. The panels start out at the shoulders and gently widen out with simple increases and decreases, and slant diagonally with the help of short rows. The panels use 2 contrasting colors with a main color for the body and one back strap, and a deeper color for the remaining strap peek-a-booing out from behind the other to coyly mimic the namesake plant’s reserved nature. Knit in DK-weight, 100% superwash merino yarn, the crop top can be worn all throughout the year–on its own or over a tank in the spring and summer or layered in the cooler seasons. 

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SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate

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SIZES: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)

 

To fit bust circumferences (AFTER wetblocking): 

  1. 32"-34" / 81-86 cm.

  2. 34"-36" / 86-91 cm.

  3. 36"-38" / 91-96 cm.

  4. 38"-40" / 96-101 cm.

  5. 40"-42" / 101-108 cm.

  6. 44"-46" / 110-118 cm.

  7. 48"-50" / 120-128 cm.

  8. 52"-54" / 130-138 cm.

  9. 56"-58" / 140-148 cm.

  10. 60"-62" / 150-158 cm.

  11. 64"-66" / 160-168 cm.

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To fit lengths (from hem to bust AFTER wetblocking):

  1. 12.25" / 31cm.

  2. 12.5" / 31.5cm.

  3. 12.75" / 32cm.

  4. 13" / 33cm.

  5. 15.5" / 39cm.

  6. 15.5" / 39cm.

  7. 15.75" / 40cm.

  8. 15.75" / 40cm.

  9. 16.5" / 42cm.

  10. 18.25" / 46cm.

  11. 19" / 48cm"

 

SUGGESTED YARN:

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(Green Sample Knit - Knit as a size 3) Serendipitous Wool’s Agni XL (DK) line. 100% Superwash Merino, 250 yards (228 meters) at 115 g/skein.

Main Color (MC): Mimosa Pudica colorway

Contrasting Color (CC): Forest colorway

 

(Blue Sample Knit - Knit as a size 2) Serendipitous Wool’s Agni (DK) line. 100% Superwash Merino, 231 yards (211 meters) at 100 g/skein.

Main Color (MC): Blue Lace colorway

Contrasting Color (CC): Moon Lake
 

YARDS:

MC: 374 (390, 411, 422, 490) [523, 572, 598, 650, 736, 803]

CC: 51 (54, 57, 58, 67) [72, 78, 82, 89, 102, 110]

 

METERS:

MC: 342 (357, 376, 385, 448) [478, 523, 547, 594, 673, 734]

CC: 47 (49, 52, 53, 61) [66, 71, 75, 81, 93, 101]

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Plus approximately 30 yards (27 meters) for seaming.
 

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SUGGESTED GAUGE: 20 stitches over 28 rows worked in stockinette stitch = 4” x 4” (10 cm. x 10 cm.) after wet blocking

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SKILLS

  • Simple stockinette and garter stitch

  • short rows

  • basic increases and decreases (ssk, k2tog, m1r & m1l, yo)

  • easy lace

  • seaming

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TOOLS:

  • US7(4.5mm) circular knitting needles (48” in length – you may use a shorter length, but I have recommended 48” needles to avoid the fabric bunching up) OR the size of needles that will allow you to obtain gauge

  • Safety pins or locking stitch markers for seaming (helpful, but optional)

  • Scrap yarn 

  • Tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends

  • Blocking mat, pins and/or wires

  • removable stitch markers (x4)

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