MELLOW YELLOW CROP TOP PATTERN

I finally finished this design this week and had a chance to wear it out to the beach this weekend! I loved the feel of the soft cotton and was comfortable hiking and lounging in this top. It is versatile and ready to wear wherever you’re headed this weekend!

Catching those summer rays!

*Please not that I recently rewrote this pattern in the summer of 2019 to improve it. It is still possible to make it very cropped and similar to the old version, just follow directions until the bust is finished and then you are done!

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DESCRIPTION

Made with lightweight cotton yarn, this top is summery and breezy. The lightweight cotton yarn feels dreamy in the heat and looks adorable over a bikini, sports bra, or bandeau! The top has a high neckline and low back. The open stitching of this top gives it a lot of stretch, making it a comfy fit. Plus check out the crossed straps in the back!

MATERIALS

Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima Yarn (Weight: 3/light – 3.5 oz/220 yd)
- Size extra-small: 2 skeins
- Size small: 2 skeins
- Size medium: 2 skeins
- Size large: 3 skeins
- Size extra-large: 3-4 skeins
Size H (5 mm) crochet hook
Finishing needle
Stitch marker (I often use a safety pin, but these are so cute!)

ABBREVIATIONS

ch: chain
sp: space
st: stitch
sk: skip one stitch
hdc: half double crochet
p: picot (tutorial)

GAUGE

4″ x 4″ Square = 15 st x 12 rows on size H (5 mm) crochet hook in half-double crochet

SIZING OF GARMENT

Extra-Small | Bust: 28–30 inches, Waist: 24-26 inches, Length: 15 inches
Small | Bust: 32-34 inches, Waist: 28-30 inches, Length: 16 inches
Medium | Bust: 36-38 inches, 32-34 inches, Length: 17 inches
Large | Bust: 40-42 inches, 36-38 inches Length: 18 inches
Extra-Large | Bust: 44-46 inches, 40-42 inches, Length: 19 inches

DIRECTIONS

FRONT PANEL

This piece is worked flat, turning and chaining between each row. You will begin with the top edge and work down; the straps will be added on afterward. Stitch and row counts are listed in the parentheses from extra-small, small, medium, large, extra-large. Please see the chart below for an example of the pattern in Rows 1-12.

ch (41, 45, 49, 53, 57)

Row 1*: ch 1. hdc across (41, 45, 49, 53, 57). Mark middle st with st marker.
Row 2: ch 2 (creating first ch-1 sp), sk next st, hdc in next st. *ch 1, sk next st, hdc in next st. Repeat from * to middle of row. ch 1, sk next st, in middle st: [hdc, ch 1, hdc].*ch 1, sk next st, hdc in next st. Repeat from * to end of row (43, 47, 51, 55, 59). Move st marker to middle ch-1 sp.
Row 3: ch 2 (creating first ch-1 sp), hdc in first ch-1 sp. *ch 1, hdc in next ch-1 sp. Repeat from * to middle of row. ch 1, in middle ch-1 sp: [hdc, ch 1, hdc]. *ch 1, hdc in next ch-1 sp. Repeat from * to end of row (45, 49, 53, 57, 61). Move st marker to middle ch-1 sp.
Row 4-12: Repeat Row 3, continuing the pattern. Each row will increase by 2 st. Ending st counts: (63, 67, 71, 75, 79). This marks the end of the open “window” stitch section.

*Chart: open row pattern for rows 1-12

Above chart free with paid versions of pattern on Etsy and Ravelry!

Row 13: ch 1. hdc in first (31, 33, 35, 37, 39) st. In middle ch-1 sp: [hdc, ch 1, hdc]. hdc in last (31, 33, 35, 37, 39) st. (65, 69, 73, 77, 81)
Row 14: ch 1. hdc in first (32, 34, 36, 38, 40) st. In middle ch-1 sp: [hdc, ch 1, hdc]. hdc in last (32, 34, 36, 38, 40) st. (67, 71, 75, 79, 83)
Row 15: ch 1. hdc in each st across. (67, 71, 75, 79, 83)

Do not finish off, but continue down to the cup step below.

Skip down to either the small cup or large cup bust versions. I recommend small cup for As, Bs, and smaller Cs, and large cup for bigger Cs and up. The bottom half of the top, below the bust, is finished in the same way for both bust versions, only the cup size will change.

SMALL CUP

You are now separately finishing each side of the top. You will be creating a rounded bust shape by decreasing on each side as you work back and forth. You will work in this way until one side is done. Then you will finish off, fasten on to the opposite corner, and repeat.

Row 1: ch 1. hdc2tog. hdc in next (27, 29, 31, 33, 35) st. hdc2tog twice. Turn. (30, 32, 34, 36, 38)
Row 2: ch 1. hdc2tog. hdc across in all but the last two st. hdc2tog. Turn. (28, 30, 32, 34, 36)
Row 3: ch 1. hdc2tog. hdc across in all but the last two st. hdc2tog. Turn. (26, 28, 30, 32, 34)
Row 4: ch 1. hdc2tog. hdc across in all but the last two st. hdc2tog. Turn. (24, 26, 28, 30, 32)
Row 5: ch 1. hdc2tog. hdc across in all but the last two st. hdc2tog. Turn. (22, 24, 26, 28, 30)
Row 6: ch 1. Hdc2tog. hdc across. Turn. (21, 23, 25, 27, 29)
Row 7: ch 1. hdc2tog. hdc across in all but the last 2 st. hdc2tog. Turn. (19, 21, 23, 25, 27)
Row 8: ch 1. Hdc2tog. hdc across. Turn. (18, 20, 22, 24, 26)

Finish off and fasten onto opposite corner to repeat pattern above. Once finished with the second side of the top, do not fasten off, but continue crocheting with Row 9 below. In Row 9 you will crochet across the entire bottom of the crop top, from edge to edge. This involves working stitches in the decrease sections that have no stitches between the cups.

Crochet pattern and tutorial for this summery crop top! Wear it over a bandeau or swim suit and get some sun. Uses a couple skeins of lightweight cotton and available in sizes xs to xl! hookyarncarabiner.com #hookyarncarabiner #crochet #free #pattern #easy #tutorial #cotton #croptop #bralette #summer #yellow #swimsuit #fashion #festival #music #outdoors #homemade

Row 9: ch 1. hdc in first (18, 20, 22, 24, 26) st, then work hdc 17 st (in the decrease section between the two sides) then hdc in last (18, 20, 22, 24, 26) st. (53, 57, 61, 65, 69)

ATTENTION: If you want a very cropped halter top, like the way this pattern was originally designed and in the photos above, this would be a great place to stop. All that would be needed is a long length of chain attached at each upper corner. Then the chain lengths can cross behind the back, loop through the lower corners, and tie in the back.

Row 10: ch 1. hdc in each st across. (53, 57, 61, 65, 69)
Row 11-28: Repeat Row 10. (53, 57, 61, 65, 69) If you would like a shorter or longer top, you can adjust how many rows you crochet in this section.
Final row: ch 1. *sc in next 2 st, picot. Repeat from * across.

Finish off and weave in ends.

LARGE CUP

Finish off and fasten onto opposite corner to repeat pattern above. Once finished with the second side of the top, do not fasten off, but continue crocheting with Row 13 below. In Row 13 you will crochet across the entire bottom of the crop top, from edge to edge. This involves working stitches in the decrease sections that have no stitches between the cups. See photo above in small cup section.

Row 13: ch 1. hdc in first (18, 20, 22, 24, 26) st, then hdc 21 st (in the decrease section between the two sides) then hdc in last (18, 20, 22, 24, 26) st. (57, 61, 65, 69, 73)

If you want a very cropped halter top, like the way this pattern was originally designed, this would be a great place to stop. All that would be needed was a long length of chain at each upper corner so it could cross behind the back, loop through the lower corners, and tie in the back.

Row 14: ch 1. hdc in each st across. (57, 61, 65, 69, 73)
Row 15- 28: Repeat Row 14. (57, 61, 65, 69, 73) If you would like a shorter or longer top, you can adjust how many rows you crochet in this section.
Final row: ch 1. *sc in next 2 st, picot. Repeat from * across.

Finish off and weave in ends.

BACK PANEL

This piece is worked flat, turning and chaining between each row. You will begin with the top edge and work down; the straps will be adding on afterward. Stitch and row counts are listed in the parentheses from extra-small, small, medium, large, extra-large. The back panel should reach up to just below your armpits. Make sure you line it up as you work so it fits you correctly. If you adjusted the length of your top on the front panel, you will need to adjust it here as well.

*Sizing Note: If you are concerned about your front panel being too large or too small, you can adjust your back panel up or down a size to make sure you get the fit you want by chaining more or less to start. The overall fit is comfy, please size down if you want a tight fit.

ch (53, 57, 61, 65, 69)

Row 1: ch 1. hdc in each ch across. (53, 57, 61, 65, 69)
Row 2: ch 2 (creating first ch-1 sp), sk next st, hdc in next st. *ch 1, sk next st, hdc in next st. Repeat from * to end of row. (53, 57, 61, 65, 69)
Row 3-28: ch 2 (creating first ch-1 sp), hdc in first ch-1 sp. *ch 1, hdc in next ch-1 sp. Repeat from * across. (53, 57, 61, 65, 69)
Final row: ch 1. *sc in next 2 st, p. Repeat from * across.

Finish off and weave in ends.

ASSEMBLY

Line the two panels up side-by-side, front sides up, pinning with safety pins if needed. Sew the two panels together along each side with the mattress stitch.

STRAPS

Fasten onto a corner of the front panel. You will be making two chains from this point that will cross to the opposite side of the back panel as pictured below.