Sweet Nothings Crochet: SHELLED BEAUTY TOP

SHELLED BEAUTY TOP

This is not an easy top and it has been not an easy write up. Looking at the meagre chart, I may not have chosen to make it – had it not been specifically chosen by my client. Come along, let’s work on this beautiful creation together.

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Materials used : Today I’ve used ~ 250 gms of 4-Seasons Flinders 8-ply knitting cotton with a 3.5 mm crochet hook

For Indians : The yarn I’ve used is similar in thickness to our Laura knitting cotton. Our lovely Indian Anchor knitting cotton ; Red rose or White rose knitting cotton yarns are a good substitute. I’d also suggest Alize cotton yarn – and you can get all of this with a easy mouse click on the top right hand side of this blog (read : Click here to buy yarns Online)

For Non-Indians : This yarn is similar in thickness to Lily Sugar n Cream cotton yarn. The other international yarns I’ve used of this thickness are Milford Satin knitting cotton, DMC Petra knitting cotton & Aunt Lydia Bamboo Viscose 10 knitting cottons.

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

Size made : 34” (M/L)

Size given only so you can figure out yarn requirement approximately. You can make this top to any size.

Difficulty level : Advanced Skill level.

Stitches used :

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here is a sizing chart for general sizing. https://in.pinterest.com/pin/470063279837597366/

and https://in.pinterest.com/pin/470063279837560772/

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

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

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

Abbreviations used :

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.

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.

Before we head off to the project, let’s get an idea of what we’re creating here today.

For this pattern we will start at the base of the top and work our way to the shoulders. As you may have noticed the project is a bolero, but I am planning on using the chart to make a top.

With this pattern we will work a rectangle and then fashion out sleeves from the sides after we finish the two rectangles that will make up a back and front.

You can make this to any size, just ensuring that you get the stitch count right.

The stitch count for our pattern is in multiples of 20

While working in multiples of 20, you may end up with one extra ch-5 sp, which you will ‘discover’ when you have worked a row or two. Do not worry. You have been ‘warned’ that this may happen, so all you need to do is work the pattern all the way to the end, and in that ‘extra ch-5 sp, work ch 3, sc in that ch-5 sp ; ch 3 and work that last st as per pattern’.

In each following row then, you will need work ch-5 over that last sc (ie over the ch-3 sps).

This is an advanced skill pattern, so you do need to figure a bit of this as you work along.

This is the chart that I used for this pattern

Start : with fsc in multiples of 20 + 2. Turn.

Row 1 : dc in the 1^st st ; ch 2, sc in the next fsc ;

(ch 5, sk next 4 fsc, sc in the next fsc) ;

rep (to) till the last 2 fsc ;

ch 2, dc in the last fsc. Turn.

Row 2 : dc in the 1^st dc ; ch 3, sc in the next ch-5 sp ;

(8 dc in the next ch-5 sp ; sc in the next ch-5 sp ;

ch 5, sc in the next ch-5 sp) ;

rep (to) till the last ch-5 sp ;

ch 3, dc in the last dc. Turn.

In the following row, we will work a picot stitch.

Please check the top of this blog for a ‘how to’.

Our picot is a ch-3 picot which is (ch 3, sl-st in the 3^rd st from hk)

Row 3 : dc in the 1^st dc ; ch 1, sc in the next ch-3 sp ;

[(dc + picot in the next dc) ;

rep (to) 6 times ; dc in the last dc] ;

*sc in the next ch-5 sp ; rep [to] once* ;

rep *to* till the end ;

ch 1, dc in the last dc. Turn.

Row 4 : dc in the 1^st dc ; dc in the next dc ;

(ch 4,sk next 2 picot, sc in the next picot ;

ch 3, sk next picot, sc in the next picot ;

ch 4, sk next 2 picot, dc in the next sc) ;

rep (to) till the last sc ;

dc in the last dc. Turn.

Row 5 : dc in the 1^st dc ; ch 3, sk next dc , sc in the next ch-4 sp ;

(ch 5, sc in the next ch-3 sp ;

ch 5, sc in the next two ch-4 sps) ;

rep (to) till end ;

ch 3, sk next dc, dc in the last dc. Turn.

Row 6 : dc in the 1^st dc ; 4 dc in the 1^st ch-3 sp ; sc in the next ch-5 sp ;

(ch 5, sc in the next ch-5 sp ;

8 dc in the next ch-5 sp ; sc in the next ch-5 sp) ;

rep (to) till the last ch-3 sp ;

4 dc in the last ch-3 sp ; dc in the last dc. Turn.

Row 7 : dc in the 1^st dc ; dc in the 1^st dc ;

(dc + picot in the next dc) ;

rep (to) 3 times ; sc in the next ch-5 sp ;

[(dc + picot in the next dc) ;

rep (to) 6 times ; dc in the last dc] ;

*sc in the next ch-5 sp ;

rep [to] once* ;

rep *to* till the last 4 dc ;

rep (to) 4 times ;

dc in the last dc. Turn.

Row 8 : dc in the 1^st dc ; ch 2, sk next picot, sc in the next picot ;

(ch 4, sk next 2 picot, sc in the next picot ;

ch 3, sk next picot, sc in the next picot ;

ch 4, sk next 2 picot, dc in the next sc) ;

rep (to) till the last 5 dc ;

ch 4, sk next 2 picot, sc in the next picot ;

ch 2, sk next picot, dc in the last dc. Turn.

Row 9 : Rep instructions of Row 1, but work with the ch-sps you have created

dc in the 1^st dc ; ch 2, sk ch-2 sp, sc in the next ch-4 sp ;

(ch 5, sc in the next ch-4 sp ;

ch 5, sc in the next ch-3 sp ;

ch 5, sc in the next ch-4 sp) ;

rep (to) till the last ch-4 sp ;

ch 2, sk ch-2 sp, dc in the last dc. Turn.

Rep Rows 2 – 9 till you reach the shoulders.

As I said before, we are not decreasing or shaping for the armholes, and later we will just join up for the sleeves.

The easy way to go is to work two exact same rectangles – one each for the back and front. Then join shoulders and sides ; and work the small sleeve. You will get a lovely off-the-shoulder creation.

In case you decide to work a U or V or square necked pattern, here is an idea of how to go about it.

Neck shaping :

The pattern along the front is exactly as for back – so you will start from the base and work all the way to the neckline. At that portion, place a marker for the centre point of the neck and work the pattern back to the armhole. Complete one side first and then come back to work the second side of the neckline.

In case you want a shaping done, I’d suggest working 4 dc in the last sequence (instead of 9 dc) so you get a shaped neckline.

Alter the pattern according to the shape you want for your neckline – go ahead, create and make something unusual and beautiful.

Sleeve ideas :

In case you want a sleeve, once you have completed back and front, join shoulders and sides leaving an armhole opening. Re-attach your yarn at the corner of the armhole and run row of ch-5 sps evenly across the armhole opening.

Keep the same pattern in mind and calculate ch-5 sps accordingly. IN case this is too confusing, first start with a round of sc all around the armhole in multiples of 20. You can then work the ch-5 sps easier all around. Once you have that done, work the pattern in rounds for the length you desire for the sleeve.

More ideas

With this beautiful creation, I have already given you ideas on neckline – so you can get an off-the shoulder top as well. If you make it short then you get a neat off the shoulder cropped top as well.

Divide the front into two halves and make yourself a snazzy jacket too. Start and end with ch-4 sps if working two halves of the front (for jacket). Then I’d suggest that you work a continuous border all around the two fronts and base of jacket using the same pattern all around just once.

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

https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2022/03/all-diamonds-top.html

https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2022/03/snazzy-chevron-top.html

https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2022/02/choco-strawberry-ripple-crop-top.html