I listened to the latest episode of A Playful Day this week in which Kate was talking about her handmade wardrobe inspirations including a few patterns for knitted tops she was interested in making. I have been wanting to post about crochet patterns that have caught my eye in terms of wearability and I think summery crochet tops would be a great place to start since this would be a good time to begin your project if you want it ready for the summer months.
I went to look in my Ravelry library, searched some of my favourite designers and came up with a stupidly long list of patterns! I decided then to split it up into a couple of posts since I realised I had two categories of tops: lace crochet tops (which are back in fashion, yay!) and well… everything else 🙂
This post focuses on that first category: the lace crochet top, which I would say is what people think of when they hear “crochet top”: a very open design, maybe with some motifs that scream summer like nothing else. When I say lacy though, I don’t mean that it has to be worked with a lace-weight yarn or cotton thread, a few of the designs here use heavier yarns such as DK. What I mean is that it has a lace design which is so typically crochet and which I personally haven’t explored as much as I would like to.
I have chosen patterns, both free and paid, which celebrate this style of crochet top and which I think would fit great in my (and anyone’s) wardrobe. I prefer more loose and flowy tops than fitted ones and this style of top is usually worked with no waist shaping making not only quite straightforward for beginners but also suitable to many different body shapes.
I have not tried any of this patterns personally so as with any pattern I would advise to check projects and comments on Ravelry before running to buy yarn (don’t deny it!) since depending on the weight it could be a long project. Click on the pictures to see the pattern on Ravelry and let me know if you are thinking of giving a try to any of them. Personally I have long admired the Pond Ripples pattern but I am not a big fan of joining motifs!
© Rowan Yarns, 2013
© Berroco Inc.
© Ravliki
© Coats & Clark
© Pierrot Yarns (Gosyo Co., Ltd.)
© Pierrot Yarns (Gosyo Co., Ltd.)
Let me know if you have any other patterns to suggest, my Ravelry library is never big enough!
x
Sol
a crochet journey 
What a fabulous selection! I love Marie Wallin patterns…I have one of her books, but that is not in it. Adorable. I’m sure you’ve seen her latest collection called Filigree….wow! And the Ravliki pattern is so eye catching. Hard to choose, isn’t it! I do agree that for wearable crochet, summer tops are better than winter ones. For winter wear, I think vest and cardigans in crochet are the better option. I generally don’t use the Pierriot yarn patterns….just a bit tricky with the translation stuff, but have made a pair of slippers from there that worked out fine. Can’t wait to see what you choose!
Hi Cyndy,
I only discovered Marie Wallin recently! I liked her latest collection though the one I really liked is knitting+crochet 😦 Have you tried any of her patterns?
About Pierrot yarn patterns I know what you mean since they only have charts available, I haven’t tried them for the same reason but I think I will have to get over that fear at some point since they are so nice!