Sweet Nothings Crochet: PINEAPPLE HALTER TOP

PINEAPPLE HALTER TOP -a free crochet pattern from Sweet Nothings Crochet

This is my first crochet halter top and it's an intermediate to advanced skill level. The stitches are easy enough - the calculations are a bit tricky. But come along, as my explanations are very detailed and loads of fun 😀

I found a Pinterest link, and of course, and as it's my favourite pineapple pattern, it had to be tried. I also love the construction of this top – bare back, tie-around ..

As usual, as I work on this pattern, I’ve written down my notes that I share with you. This is the photograph that inspired me to work on my project.

Thank you for joining me.

In case you have just joined me, know that you can access all of my earlier creations by checking under ‘categories’ on the right hand side of this blog under “Labels”. Then, for your convenience, follow me here or on Facebook, You Tube, Pinterest, Twitter or Instagram.

Check out all my social media handles at the bottom of this blog

Oh, and may I add that the fastest way to find any of my blogs is via Pinterest.

All my blogs can be printed. Find the printer friendly (green) link on the right side & bottom of this blog. You can also hit Control P (or Command P for Mac) on your keyboard, and the blog will go directly to the connected printer.

Remember that you only print if absolutely essential. Save paper – Save Our Earth.

Do remember to add my blog URL when you make and show off your creation.

Just copy the link on the search bar above - that's the blog URL.

To purchase this or similar yarn online, click here to buy your yarns online via Amazon. While you will still pay the same, I may get paid by Amazon as well.

This is a free blog - so do pay it forward for me. Cheers.

Materials used : Today I’ve used the lovely 100% cotton yarn from Aunt Lydia Cotton 10 with a 3.5 mm crochet hook .

For Indians : (Thickness-wise) This yarn is somewhere our Indian Anchor knitting cotton / Red rose knitting cotton and our Laura knitting cotton. I’ve found, however, that some of our Red Rose yarns are a little thinner – so the white and off-white are of this thickness, (whereas the black colored yarn of Red Rose yarn that I’ve used was a little thinner).

For Non-Indians : I have used a regular knitting cotton that technically uses a 2 – 2.5 mm crochet hook (recommended). I use a larger hook as I like the extra stretch it affords the end product. Among the international yarns I have used in this thickness, I’d suggest Aunt Lydia Bamboo-Viscose 10, DMC Petra, Sullivans knitting cotton (Australia), Milford Soft, Hilaza Rustica Eclat , Alize cotton yarn and Alize bamboo yarn.

Skill level : Intermediate to Advanced skill level

Abbreviations used : (Using U.S terminology)

dc : Double crochet

ch : chain ch-sp : chain space

sp : space rep : Repeat
fsc : Foundation single crochet

Stitches used : (Using U.S terminology)

Starting slip knot : https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw

Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs

What is a slip stitch : https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw

Foundation double crochet (fdc) : This is a unique way of starting a project directly with a row of double crochet stitches. Here is an easy video tutorial https://youtu.be/hjNUYVvyU9k

How to work a picot stitch : Traditionally for a ch-3 picot, you work (ch 3, sl-st in 3^rd ch from hook). For a ch-5 picot, you will do (ch 5, sl-st in 5^th ch from hook).

Here’s a great video https://youtu.be/8s3zVaBcn4s

Instructions : (Using U.S terminology)

Please note that I start all my rows with a ch 1, turning chain for ease.

Please check the top of this blog for easy video tutorials on all stitches used in today's pattern.

Please read through all my notes before you pick up your hook, so you know just where we're heading in our pattern.

In my patterns I work with the principle of stitch count and body measurement. This means that you need to work the stitch count in pattern, till you get the measurement (length and/or width) that you need for your project.

So as usual, before we start, a quick analysis of what we’re going to do here today.

We start our top with a pineapple at the shoulder , and then work our way down the neck and body of the top.
We therefore, have that lovely scalloped edge off the bottom of our top.

We start with one pineapple and then we ‘grow’ our pineapples one at at time till we work in the neckline and the body. Do note that I am writing the pattern out as charted, but I’ve decided to make a back and a front for my top – so I’ll be working the same instructions twice. This top is backless – so if working it this way, you have half the work

Foundation Single Crochet : fsc : https://youtu.be/mcT85fwh4mA

Start with 7 fsc. Turn.

Double Crochet : dc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk);

[yo, draw through 2 lps] twice. One dc made.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/xdnjB27zpYo

Chainless start for Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of dc.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/wskv3iTjRx0

What is a chain stitch ? https://youtu.be/pXx5ukBjKkY

Row 1 : sk 1^st 3 fsc ,
[2 dc ; (ch 2, 2 dc) ; rep (to) once], all in the next fsc ;

sk next 3 fsc, sc in the next fsc. Turn.

From this row on, we’ll use a “V”-stitch (“V”-st) which is [2 dc ; ch 2, 2 dc] all in the same ch-2 sp. We will work all our “V”-sts in the ch-2 sp of the “V”-st.

Row 2 : ch 5, sk 1^st 2 dc , “V”-st in the 1^st ch-2 sp;
ch 1, sk next 2 dc ,

“V”-st in the next ch-2 sp. Turn.

Row 3 : ch 5, sk 1^st 2 dc , “V”-st in the 1^st“V”-st ;

ch 4, sk next 4 dc , “V”-st in the next “V”-st. Turn

Row 4 : ch 5, sk 1^st 2 dc , “V”-st in the 1^st“V”-st ;
6 dc in the next ch-4 sp ;

“V”-st in the next “V”-st. Turn.

Row 5 : ch 5, sk 1^st 2 dc , “V”-st in the 1^st“V”-st ;

[ch 1, dc in the next dc] ;
rep [to] 5 times ;

ch 1, “V”-st in the next “V”-st. Turn.

Row 6 : ch 5, sk 1^st 2 dc , “V”-st in the 1^st“V”-st ;
ch 3, sk next ch-1 sp and dc, sc in the next ch-1 sp ;
[ch 3, sk next dc, sc in the next ch-1 sp] ;
rep [to] 3 times ;
ch 3, sk next ch-1 sp and 3 dc, “V”-st in the next “V”-st. Turn.

Row 7 : ch 5, sk 1^st 2 dc , “V”-st in the 1^st“V”-st ;

ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp , sc in the next ch-3 sp ;
[ch 3, sc in the next ch-3 sp] ;

rep [to] 2 times ;
ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp, “V”-st in the next “V”-st. Turn.

Row 8 : ch 5, sk 1^st 2 dc , “V”-st in the 1^st“V”-st ;

ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp , sc in the next ch-3 sp ;

[ch 3, sc in the next ch-3 sp] ;

rep [to] once ;
ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp, “V”-st in the next “V”-st. Turn.

Row 9 : ch 5, sk 1^st 2 dc , “V”-st in the 1^st“V”-st ;

ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp , sc in the next ch-3 sp ;

[ch 3, sc in the next ch-3 sp] ;
ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp, “V”-st in the next “V”-st. Turn.

Row 10 : ch 5, sk 1^st 2 dc , “V”-st in the 1^st “V”-st ;

ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp , sc in the next ch-3 sp ;

ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp, “V”-st in the next “V”-st. Turn.

Row 11 : ch 5, sk 1^st 2 dc , 2 dc in the 1^st “V”-st ;

ch 2, sk next 4 dc , 2 dc in the next “V”-st . Turn.

Row 12 : ch 5, sk 1^st 2 dc , “V”-st in the ch-2 sp ;

ch 2, 2 dc in the same ch-2 sp. Turn.

Row 13 : ch 5, sk 1^st 2 dc , “V”-st in the 1^stch-2 sp ;

ch 1, sk next 2 dc , “V”-st in the next ch-2 sp. Turn.

Row 14 - 17 : Rep Rows 3– 6

Now we start the first of our increases.
So we will add one pineapple to the pattern.
The basic pattern stays the same, but now , through the pattern, we will increase every time at this row.

Row 18 : (Increase row) :

ch 5, sk 1^st 2 dc ,

(“V”-st in the “V”-st ;

ch 2, 2 dc in the same“V”-st) ;
ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp, sc in the next ch-3 sp ;

[ch 3, sc in the next ch-3 sp] ;

rep [to] 2 times ;
ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp, rep (to) once. Turn.

Row 19 : ch 5, sk 1^st 2 dc ,

(“V”-st in the “V”-st ; ch 1, “V”-st in the next “V”-st) ;

ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp , sc in the next ch-3 sp ;

[ch 3, sc in the next ch-3 sp] ;

rep [to] once ;
ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp, rep (to) once. Turn.

Row 20 : ch 5, (“V”-st in the “V”-st ;
ch 4, sk next ch-1 sp, “V”-st in the next “V”-st) ;

ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp , sc in the next ch-3 sp ;

[ch 3, sc in the next ch-3 sp] ;
ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp, rep (to) once. Turn.

Row 21 : ch 5, (“V”-st in the “V”-st ;
6 dc in the next ch-4 sp, “V”-st in the next “V”-st);
ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp, sc in the next ch-3 sp ;
ch 3, rep (to) once. Turn.

Row 22 : ch 5, [“V”-st in the next “V”-st ;
(ch 1, dc in the next dc) ;
rep (to) 5 times ;
ch 1, “V”-st in the next “V”-st] ;
rep [to] once. Turn.

Row 23 : ch 5, “V”-st in the “V”-st ;

ch 3, sk next ch-1 sp, sc in the next ch-1 sp ;

[(ch 3, sc in the next ch-1 sp) ;
rep (to) 3 times] ;

ch 3, 2 dc in the next “V”-st ; ch 2, 2 dc in the next “V”-st ;

rep [to] once ;
ch 1, “V”-st in the next “V”-st. Turn.

Row 24 : Increase row :
ch 5, [“V”-st in the “V”-st ; ch 2, 2 dc in the same ch-2 sp] ;

{ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp , sc in the next ch-3 sp ;
(ch 3, sc in the next ch-3 sp) ;
rep (to) 2 times} ;

ch 3, sk next 2 dc, rep [to] once ;

rep {to} once ;
rep [to] once. Turn.

Row 25 : ch 5, [“V”-st in the ch-2 sp;
ch 1, “V”-st in the next ch-2 sp] ;

{ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp , sc in the next ch-3 sp ;
(ch 3, sc in the next ch-3 sp) ; rep (to) once} ;
ch 3, sk next 2 dc, rep [to] once ;
rep {to} once ;
rep [to] once. Turn.

Row 26 : ch 5, [“V”-st in the “V”-st ; ch 4, “V”-st in the next“V”-st] ;

{ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp , sc in the next ch-3 sp ;
(ch 3, sc in the next ch-3 sp} ;

ch 3, rep [to] once ;
rep {to} once ;
rep [to] once. Turn.

Row 27 : ch 5, [“V”-st in the next “V”-st ;
6 dc in the next ch-4 sp ; “V”-st in the next “V”-st] ;

{ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp , sc in the next ch-3 sp} ;
ch 3, rep [to] once ;
rep {to} once ;
rep [to] once. Turn.

Row 28 : ch 5, [“V”-st in the “V”-st ;
(ch 1, dc in the next dc) ;

rep (to) 5 times;
ch 1, “V”-st in the next “V”-st] ;
rep [to] 2 times. Turn.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

We’ve completed one side of the top from the shoulder till the start of the “V”-neck.

We fasten off and repeat all these steps for the other side of our top from shoulder to neck.

So what we’ve made so far will be the tie-back for behind the neck and the bodice of the top.

We will complete the other side of the front half, and then join these two halves at the “V”-neck centre point, and work once again in rows from one end to the other. Right then, let’s complete the other half of the front bodice, attach and return for the lower half of our top.

Re-attach your yarn at one end of your work (at the top chain of the ch-5 at one end). We will now work across the whole body of our project in rows.

Row 29 : ch 5, “V”-st in the 1^st “V”-st ;
ch 3, sk 1^stch-1 sp , sc in the next ch-1 sp ;

*(ch 3, sc in the next ch-1 sp) ;
rep (to) 3 times ;
ch 3, 2 dc in the next “V”-st ;
ch 2, 2 dc in the next “V”-st* ;

rep *to* till the last “V”-st ;
“V”-st in the last “V”-st. Turn.

Row 30 : Increase row :
ch 5, “V”-st in the 1^stch-2 sp ;
ch 2, 2 dc in the same ch-2 sp ;
ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp , sc in the next ch-3 sp ;

*(ch 3, sc in the next ch-3 sp) ;
rep (to) 2 times ;
ch 3, “V”-st in the next ch-2 sp ; ch 2, 2 dc in the same ch-2 sp* ;

rep *to* till the last ch-2 sp ;
“V”-st in the last ch-2 sp; ch 2, 2 dc in the same ch-2 sp. Turn.

Row 31 : ch 5, “V”-st in the 1^stch-2 sp ;
ch 1, “V”-st in the next ch-2 sp ;

ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp , sc in the next ch-3 sp ;

*(ch 3, sc in the next ch-3 sp) ;
rep (to) once ;
ch 3, “V”-st in the next ch-2 sp ;
ch 1, “V”-st in the next ch-2 sp* ;

rep *to* till the 2^ndlast ch-2 sp;
ch 3, “V”-st in the the 2^nd last ch-2 sp ;

ch 1, “V”-st in the last ch-2 sp. Turn.

Row 32 : ch 5, “V”-st in the 1^st “V”-st ;
ch 4, “V”-st in the next “V”-st ;

ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp , sc in the next ch-3 sp ;

*(ch 3, sc in the next ch-3 sp) ;
ch 3, “V”-st in the next“V”-st ;
ch 4, “V”-st in the next“V”-st* ;

rep *to* till end. Turn.

Row 33 : ch 5, “V”-st in the 1^st “V”-st ;
6 dc in the next ch-4 sp ;
“V”-st in the next “V”-st ;
ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp , sc in the next ch-3 sp ;

*ch 3, “V”-st in the next “V”-st ;
6 dc in the next ch-4 sp ;
“V”-st in the next “V”-st* ;

rep *to* till end. Turn.

Row 34 : ch 5, “V”-st in the 1^st “V”-st ;

(ch 1, dc in the next dc) ;
rep (to) 5 times ;

ch 1, “V”-st in the next “V”-st ;
*“V”-st in the next “V”-st ;

rep (to) 6 times ;
“V”-st in the next “V”-st* ;
rep *to* till end. Turn.

Our pattern repeat rows are Rows 29 – 34.

Rep these rows till your project is of the length desired*. (Check Note)

Do remember that as we’re “growing” the length of our top, it is also increasing in width. We do not have a back to this top, and it just increases like a triangle that neatly goes behind the lower back to be tied up. So check that the back does not overlap and get cumbersome to tie up.

*Note : Measure the length of one pineapple, and then work that many inches less than the final measurement desired. These last few inches will be made up by the last pineapple in the border row. In that last border row, we will not increase our pineapples.

Border :

Border Row 1 : ch 5, “V”-st in the 1^st “V”-st ;
ch 3, sk 1^st ch-1 sp , sc in the next ch-1 sp ;

*(ch 3, sc in the next ch-1 sp) ;
rep (to) 3 times ;
ch 3, 2 dc in the next “V”-st ;
ch 2, 2 dc in the next “V”-st* ;

rep *to* till the last “V”-st ;
“V”-st in the last “V”-st. Turn.

No increase in the next row at the two ends.

Border Row 2 : ch 5, “V”-st in the 1^st “V”-st ;
ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp , sc in the next ch-3 sp;
*(ch 3, sc in the next ch-3 sp) ;
rep (to) 2 times ;
ch 3, “V”-st in the next ch-2 sp ;
ch 2, 2 dc in the same ch-2 sp* ;

rep *to* till the last “V”-st ;
“V”-st in the last “V”-st ; Turn.

From the next row onwards, we will work one pineapple at a time, and not across the whole body of our work.

So we will work the next or 3^rd row, and then turn at the end of that first pineapple. We will then work the 4^th – 6^th rows for this first pineapple and then fasten off thread.

We will then re-attach yarn for the second pineapple at the ch-2 sp and re work Border Rows 3 – 6 for the second pineapple… and so on till the end pineapple.

Border Row 3 : ch 5, “V”-st in the 1^st“V”-st ;

ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp , sc in the next ch-3 sp ;

(ch 3, sc in the next ch-3 sp) ;
rep (to) once ;

ch 3, “V”-st in the next ch-2 sp.Turn.

Border Row 4 : ch 5, “V”-st in the 1^st “V”-st ;

ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp , sc in the next ch-3 sp ;

(ch 3, sc in the next ch-3 sp) ;
ch 3, “V”-st in the next “V”-st.Turn.

Border Row 5 : ch 5, “V”-st in the 1^st “V”-st ;

ch 3, sk next ch-3 sp , sc in the next ch-3 sp ;

ch 3, “V”-st in the next “V”-st. Turn.

Border Row 6 : ch 5, “V”-st in the 1^st “V”-st ; “V”-st in the next “V”-st.

Fasten off ends.

First pineapple for your border row complete.

Re-attach yarn in the ch-2 sp for the next pineapple, and repeat Border Rows 3 – 6 till you’ve completed all the pineapples on the border.

Fasten off and weave in all ends.

Finishing :

The chart indicates with a big black dotwhere you need to loop in a cord into the side of the top that will then neatly tie back behind the lower back.

For the cord : I just made a row of fsc from the marked ch-5 sp for a length that I thought was right for the back tie, and then worked a sc in each fsc all the way back to the end. This gave me a slim tie that I thought was perfect.

You could work a chain row and then work a dc in each stitch till end as well – or maybe you could just tie a nice satin ribbon at this point and use that as your tie-back.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

And that’s done.. yet another project brilliantly executed !

Enjoyed this ?? I sure did.. Come back right here for more freebie patterns

Remember to share this blog post when you share your photos with me on Facebook. I’d love to feature your photos on my FB page. Cheers.

If you're visiting me here for the first time, and have liked the experience, do add me to your mailing list (for your convenience) , and all my future free patterns will come straight to your mail box.

I’d appreciate if you could credit my blog (and link the original pattern link) when you make your own creation. Thanks.

Check out my awesome pins on Pinterest at https://in.pinterest.com/shyamanivas/

OR just my free patterns at https://in.pinterest.com/shyamanivas/free-patterns-made-by-me/

Join me on YouTube at https://youtube.com/shyamanivas

And on my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Sweet-Nothings-Crochet/ for more patterns.

Do follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/ShyamaNivas

Do follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sweetnothingscrochet/

Find me on Ravelry at ravelry.com/projects/shyamanivas/

Have a great day and see you soon.

I have a few tops already made, and just in case you want a dekho at those free patterns … here you go

https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2019/08/gulabi-top.html

https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2019/08/vibhinna-top.html