Sweet Nothings Crochet: POP CORN TOP or YOKE

POP CORN TOP or YOKE

I have been really lucky in receiving really lovely gifts of yarn off late. This was my recent gift - the lovely Aunt Lydia 2-ply cotton yarn, that my friend gifted me on her return from USA.

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Materials used : Today I’ve used local superb Aunt Lydia 2-ply yarn with a 3.5 mm crochet hook ; embroidery needle ; fabric glue to seal ends ; crochet stitch markers

For Indians : The yarn I’ve used is similar in thickness to our Laura knitting cotton.

You could use Anchor , Red rose , 4-ply knitting cotton , or unbranded knitting cotton or White Rose or bamboo knitting cotton , Milk cotton ; Silk yarns as well as Oswal & Vardhaman acrylic yarns ; Baby soft acrylic yarn , Ganga Spectrum as well

General yarn info : The yarn used today is not specific to this pattern.

You can use any yarn with a suitable hook to make this project to any size.

I'd say you choose a yarn that will have a good fall - and will fall well with the material you are attaching the tape lace onto. So if the material of your top is really light, it follows that you should choose a light yarn.

Note also that the yarn I used is thick - so you may not need as much when you are using a lighter yarn.

International yarns : Among the international yarns I have used in this thickness, I’d suggest Aunt Lydia Cotton 10, Aunt Lydia Bamboo-Viscose 10, DMC Petra, Sullivans knitting cotton (Australia), Milford Soft, Hilaza Rustica Eclat , Alize cotton yarn and Alize bamboo yarn , Lily Sugar n' Cream cotton yarn, Caron Simply Soft , Bernat Softee chunky.

Size made : I’ve made this for a bust size 34”, but you can make this to suit any body type.

Stitches used :

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

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

How to hold your yarn in crochet : https://youtu.be/FwOlCbGdbqY

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

Magic circle : https://youtu.be/ISC39yOqWro

Single Crochet : Sc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (2 lps on hk); yo, draw through both lps. One sc made. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/ghACqBpA-3k

First stitch for Single Crochet : This is how I like to start my row of sc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/6pVYRfsf4_M

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

yo, draw through all 3 lps. One hdc made.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/sDiELJdB2Dg

Chainless start for Half Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 start, and this is what I do to start my row of hdc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/lWXpl1KdbZ8

Abbreviations used : (Using U.S terminology)

lp(s) : Loop(s) sc : Single crochet

dc : Double crochet sp : Space

sl-st : Slip stitch ch : Chain

st(s) : Stitch(es) hk : Hook

yo : Yarn Over

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. For your convenience, I've added video tutorials of the stitches just before you need to use them as well.

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.

Quick analysis of what we’re going to do here today.

We’re working this pattern from the bottom up.

We will start with a fdc row and then work our way up the sides to the armholes and then the neck of this top.

Front and back pattern will be the same – so you will make two of the same, and then attach the shoulders and sides.

Around the armhole and probably around the base of your top, you could run a row or picots, if you feel like it.

So as you can see, this is a really easy one – let’s get started.

So if you decide to make this a yoke, decide how long you want it, and then start with the round measurement for the bust.

If you. are making this a full top, you need to keep your round bust, round waist and round hip (if you're making the top nearly reaching your hips) measurement.

You will then choose the largest measure for this top - so if hip length and hips are the largest measure, you need to work half hip measurement for front and back respectively. Remember that you need to keep the stitch count in mind as well.

As we're working on one front and one back, you will work with half the round measurement per side.

After all my detailed instructions, the one question that seems to come up very often after I post a blog is “How do I make it “such n such” size?”. So two ways to do that (sorry for the tongue-in-cheek)

a) You read this blog especially the line that reads stitch count repeat and follow those instructions ; or

b) Call me and I’ll make it for you

On a serious note, the stitch count represents the width of this garment – so using the stitch count, ensure get the width you need either for the round measure at the base of your top or the largest part of the upper body, whichever is more – so for e.g. your bust size is more than your low waist measure, then you use the bust measurements for the start row.. Easy enough ? So moving on..

FRONT AND BACK

Make two similar pieces for front and back

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

Our stitch count is in multiples of 12 + 1

Start : with fdc in multiples of 12 + 1 for half your bust or half waist measurement. 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 : dc in 1^st dc ;

*ch 2, sk next 2 dc, dc in the next dc* ;

rep *to* till end. Turn.

In the following row, we’ll use our Popcorn st.

For this stitch, I've used a dc 4-tog.
Depending on the thickness of your yarn, you can work a dc 3-tog, dc 4-tog or dc 5-tog.

Double crochet 3-tog : dc 3-tog : Here is an easy video tutorial at https://youtu.be/qlnqXDB3OUM

Double crochet 4-tog as a decorative stitch : dc 4-tog : Here is an easy video tutorial for working a dc 4-tog all in the same stitch as a decorative stitch at https://youtu.be/_B0-ye0cClU

Double crochet 5-tog as a decorative stitch : dc 5-tog : Here is an easy video tutorial for working a dc 5-tog all in the same stitch as a decorative stitch at https://youtu.be/5806EIpgcV8

Row 2 : dc in 1^st dc ;

[ch 2, dc in the next dc] ;

*Popcorn-st in the next ch-2 sp ;

rep [to] 3 times* ;

rep *to* till end. Turn.

In the following row, we’ll basically repeat Row 1, ignoring all the Popcorn-sts and working dc’s in all the dc’s all the way to the end.

Row 3 : dc in 1^st dc ;

*ch 2, dc in the next dc* ;

rep *to* till end. Turn.

Our following Row 4, is basically the same as Row 2.

The only difference is that we’re going to work our Popcorn sts in between the earlier popcorn sts.

Row 4 : dc in 1^st dc ;

[ch 2, dc in the next dc] ;

rep [to] 2 times ;

*Popcorn-st in the next ch-2 sp ;

rep [to] 3 times* ;

rep *to* till end. Turn.

Row 5 : dc in 1^st dc ;

*ch 2, dc in the next dc* ;

rep *to* till end. Turn.

And just like that we’ve completed one repeat.

Just how easy is this pattern , right?

So our repeat rows are Rows 2- 5.

The beauty of this top is that it has no armhole shaping.

So continue this pattern all the way to the neckline where we will meet again for that shaping.

So now we’ve reached the neckline, fold your work in half, and decide the two sides for your neckline.

Place markers at these points.

Now our pattern is simple enough, so basically, you continue with this easy 4-line pattern repeat from the armhole edge to the neckline marker and back , working back and forth till your work reaches the shoulder level.

Once you’ve reached the shoulder at one side, you will then go back to the other marker, and work till the shoulder for that side as well.

This then completes one side of your top and you will mirror or work these rows for the other side of your top as well.

Once you’ve completed both sides of your top, you will attach the shoulders and sides.

Whipstitch to join : https://youtu.be/wZ-9LNzftMA

Invisible join : https://youtu.be/a6XZQ6VzJFM

Single crochet to join : https://youtu.be/6FXoW_47_dI

Neckline and armhole edging :

For a neat finish, a good edging is a must.

So you could either run a round of sc followed by a round of hdc or dc all around the neckline and armhole, or go straight with a round of dc around the armhole and neckline edgings. Check the top of this blog for sc and hdc, especially for how I start my sc and hdc rows in a neat way.

For a little showy finish, you could work a picot every third stitch as well. If you so decide (to work the picots) then ensure that you have a multiple of 3 (if every third stitch) or as required for neatness.

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

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

You could choose to end with a round of reverse single crochet or crab stitch, if you do not want the fiddly picot stitch round.

Crab Stitch or Reverse Single Crochet stitch : https://youtu.be/cG3crwyHPnk

Fasten off and weave in all ends.

Give yourself a big pat on the back as this one has really been yet another great project .. and so different from the others we’ve worked on together.. and once again, totally worth it, I’m sure you’ll agree.

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

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Here are some of my older creations. Have fun with these free patterns too

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

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

https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2019/06/rangeela-top.html