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A great way I’ve found to learn how to design crochet tops for myself is to start with an already-published, simple pattern that I can modify according to my wardrobe needs and preferences.

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m always in search of crochet top patterns that are suitable for Hawai’i’s weather, especially during the hot months of the dry season (there are only two seasons in here – the dry season and the rainy season).

The kind of crochet top I want to create has these characteristics –

• Simple design (using mostly squares and rectangles)
• A lacy stitch pattern that’s not too “see-through.” I don’t want to have to wear a tank top underneath it, but the lace pattern is open enough  for me to feel those heavenly trade winds caressing my skin.
• Somewhat loose fitting, approx. an inch wider than my hip measurements. I have my chest, waist, and hip measurements on hand for this. And I typically go with the widest measurement which is my hips.

Based on these characteristics, I next have to consider –

• What yarn weights  (e.g. sport, worsted) and fibers (e.g. cotton, cotton blends, but not acrylic which traps heat) to use
• What hook size works best with the chosen yarn (often depends on how tight or loose I want the fabric “weave” to be).
• What stitch pattern to use (it’s possible to use a different stitch pattern from the one in the pattern if the overall design is simple enough).

In order to answer these questions, I’ll typically crochet some 8″ x 8″ swatches, using different yarns and hook sizes. This helps me make my final choices and choose a substitute yarn if I decide not to use the pattern yarn.

The Gordana Top

When I saw this pattern, I absolutely fell in love with it.  Designed by Gordana from Belgrade, Serbia, it met all of my requirements for a top I could where here. And I loved the stitch pattern!

The main thing I needed to do was pick my yarn and hook size. I would post a link to the pattern, but it’s no longer on Gordanna’s website. However, she has a video on YouTube in which she demonstrates how to make the top. And although it’s not in English, there are English subtitles, making it relatively easy to follow.

I chose five (5) skeins of YarnArt Jeans, a sport-weight cotton/acrylic blend (Color 72) and a Susan Bates 3.5 mm aluminum hook .

I will say that the resulting fabric is a tad too warm for the hottest months of the dry season. But I’d be comfortable in it at night and when temperatures drop during the rainy season. I could also wear it when I go grocery shopping at Safeway to stay warm!

The main challenge with the pattern is that the instructions are only in one size (Large) which was too big for me. She does provide the number of beginning chains you’ll need for other sizes, but that’s it. So I had to figure out the neck opening and adjust the shoulder shaping to fit the Medium size I chose.

On the other hand, you could leave the shoulder shaping out and simply adjust the neck opening, being sure to do it within the framework of the stitch pattern.

I always create a rough schematic for the patterns I crochet as well as take notes while I’m crocheting it. Makes it a lot easier to write a blog post about it two months later.

I also like to create a diagram of the stitch pattern if the pattern doesn’t include one. I find them easier to follow than written instructions alone. If I make it again, I’ll add an extra four-row repeat to make it a big longer. But from the reviews I’ve gotten on social media, it turned out well.

Slanted Granny Stitch V-Neck Top

It was the stitch pattern used in this crochet top that attracted me. Plus the fact that it’s just two rectangles encompassing the left and right sides, front and back. And it only requires sewing seams in the front and one in the back and on the sides.

The designer is Crystal White-Van Cleemput, and she has a pattern on Ravelry, as well as a YouTube video tutorial. I worked exclusively from the video on this one.

For yarn, I actually “frogged “a skirt I made for my daughter when I first moved here back in 2008. She only wore it once and was okay with me taking it back to reclaim the yarn.

The yarn is Reynolds Saucy Sport , a 100% sport-weight, mercerized cotton yarn that I absolutely love. Unfortunately, it has been discontinued. I estimate that it took about 1,100 yards total. And I used a Clover Amour 4.5 mm crochet hook.

I pretty much followed the instructions except when it came to the ribbed band on the bottom edge. Honestly, it was hard to figure out how she was doing it, so I opted for a simple Front Post/Back Post edging and placed it on a round to single crochet. I think it came out okay, but again the fabric is a bit heavy.

Multiple Tops From Simple Designs

By changing the yarn color and even yarn weight and hook size, you can create several tops from these two simple designs. And it’s easy to alter them like I did with the edging because the designs are so simple.

They are really easy patterns, so why don’t you give them a try?