How to Make a Crochet Summer Top

Crochet summer tops are a fantastic addition to any warm-weather wardrobe! With their breezy and stylish design, they are perfect for staying cool and chic during the hot summer months. The intricate crochet patterns add a lovely touch of handmade craftsmanship that is sure to turn heads wherever you go.

Whether you're lounging at the beach or out for a casual lunch date, a crochet summer top is a versatile piece that can easily be dressed up or down. So grab your favorite yarn and crochet hook, and let's create a fabulous summer top that will have you feeling fabulous and fashionable all season long!

Materials

Touch of Alpaca Yarn a #4 medium weight yarn (90% acrylic, 10% alpaca, 3.5 oz/100g, 207 yd/190m) color: taupe;
(XS) 3 (S) 4, (M & L) 5, (XL & 2X) 6, (3X & 4X) 7, (5X) 8.

Tools

• 5.5mm US size (I)-9 hook, or hook needed to meet gauge.
• Stitch markers
• Yarn needle
• Measuring tape
• Scissors

Instructions

Sizes Available:

XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X)

Round 1

FSC 84 (94, 106, 116, 128, 138, 150, 160, 176) or if you’re unfamiliar with FSC you can chain 1 more and sc in the 2nd ch and in each ch across, join with a sl st to first st and turn. (84, 94, 106, 116, 128, 138, 150, 160, 176 sts) How to join foundation stitches.

Round 2

Ch 1, esc in next st and in each st across, join with a sl st to first st, turn.

Round 3

Rep Round 2. Continue repeating Round 2 for 40 rows total = 16”/40.6cm long, or to your desired length.

Divide

Mark half of the stitches for front and half for back.

Move seam (1st st) to right underarm.

Back Panel

Row count starts over.

Row 1. Ch 1, esc in next st and in each st across, turn. (42, 47, 53, 58, 64, 69, 75, 80, 88 sts)

Rep Row 1 until you have 15 (17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25) rows total from the divide, measuring = 6”/15cm (6.8”/17.3cm, 7.2”/18.3cm, 7.6”/19.3cm, 8”/20.3cm, 8.8”/22.4cm, 9.2”/23.4cm, 9.6”/24.4cm, 10”/25.4cm) and total length of your back panel = 22”/56cm (22.8”/58cm, 23.2”/59cm, 23.6”/60cm, 24”/61cm, 24.8”/63cm, 25.2”/64cm, 25.6”/65cm, 26”/66cm) inches.

Cut yarn and leave a long tail for seaming shoulders.

Front Panel

It’s important to start in the same direction you were working when you stopped this section, in order to keep the row texture the same.

Join on RS for front panel on the first stitch. The seam is on the opposite side.

Count off half of the stitches for one side of the v-neck. Place stitch marker after the last stitch and leave the other half unworked for now. Some sizes (S, M, 2X, 3X) will have 1 stitch unworked in the center.

On Row 2, you decrease; you may use a sc2tog or an esc2tog here; both stitches are in the stitches section.

Divide for V-Neck Decreases

Row 1. (RS) Ch 1, esc in next (21, 23, 26, 29, 32, 34, 37, 40, 44 sts), turn.

Row 2. (Dec row) Ch 1, esc in next st, dec, esc in each st to end, turn. (20, 22, 25, 28, 31, 33, 36, 39, 43 sts)

Row 3. Ch 1, esc in each st across, turn.

Rep Rows 2-3 until you have (16, 17, 19, 22, 24, 25, 28, 30, 34 sts) and you have 15 (17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25) rows to match your back panel.

If you prefer a wider v-neck you can continue repeating the decreases over the next few rows.

• XS: dec through row 10 = 16 sts; Rows 11-15 rep Row 3 for 5 more rows.
• S: dec through row 12 = 17 sts; Rows 13-17 rep Row 3 for 5 more rows.
• M: dec through row 14 = 19 sts; Rows 15-18 rep Row 3 for 4 more rows.
• L: dec through row 14 = 22 sts; Rows 15-19 rep Row 3 for 5 more rows.
• XL: dec through row 16 = 24 sts; Rows 17-20 rep Row 3 for 4 more rows.
• 2X: dec through row 18 = 25 sts; Rows 19-22 rep Row 3 for 4 more rows.
• 3X: dec through row 18 = 28 sts; Rows 19-23 rep Row 3 for 5 more rows.
• 4X: dec through row 20 = 30 sts; Rows 21-24 rep Row 3 for 4 more rows.
• 5X: dec through row 20 = 34 sts; Rows 21-25 rep Row 3 for 5 more rows.

Other Side of V-Neck

Join at center st going in same direction as the first side. Remember (S, M, 2X, 3X) will leave the center st unworked and begin on the next stitch.

Row 1. (RS) Ch 1, esc in each st across, turn. (21, 23, 26, 29, 32, 34, 37, 40, 44 sts)

Row 2. (Dec row) Ch 1, esc in each st until last 3 sts, dec, esc in last st, turn. (20, 22, 25, 28, 31, 33, 36, 39, 43 sts)

Row 3. Ch 1, esc in each st across, turn.

Rep Rows 2-3 until you have (16, 17, 19, 22, 24, 25, 28, 30, 34 sts) and you have 15 (17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25) rows to match your other side.

Seam Shoulders

Turn WS out so RS are touching.

Line up shoulders to back panel.

Use the mattress stitch or your preferred method to sew shoulders to back panel.

Now is a good time to try it on and make any adjustments. Cut yarn.

Sleeves

Make 2

Join and turn each round.

Round 1

Join with sl st to bottom of armhole. Place 2 esc in the side of each row around the armhole = (60, 68, 72, 76, 80, 88, 92, 96, 100 sts) Join with sl st to first st of round, and turn.

Round 2

Ch 1, *{2 esc, 1 esc in next st} rep from * around, join with sl st and turn. (90, 102, 108, 114, 120, 132, 138, 144, 150 sts)

Round 3

Ch 1, esc in each st around, sl st to first st to join, turn. (90, 102, 108, 114, 120, 132, 138, 144, 150 sts)

(XS, S, M, L, XL)

Rounds 4-5

Rep Round 3.

(2X, 3X, 4X, 5X)

Rounds 4-7

Rep Round 3.

Cut yarn + weave in ends.

Rep for the other sleeve.

Finishing

Turn sweater RS out.

Join yarn with sl st to back of the neck.

Ch 1, sc evenly round v-neck, placing 2 sc in the side of each esc row.

Sl st back to first sc.

Cut yarn.

Weave in ends.