Sweet Nothings Crochet: CROSS-BACK CROP TOP

CROSS-BACK CROP TOP

This is a really simple crop top and it is a really smart pattern. You work one side with this crossed-over pattern and one side is plain - and then you decide which part you want for front and back. How cool is this, eh?

To add another level of naughtiness,I made one side in a pale blue and the other in a pale grey and my client (and I) totally loved this end result.

With all my patterns, you need to think just a wee bit - but that also allows you to be creative and to use this to make my patterns to any size, using any yarn and a suitable hook.

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Materials used : Today I’ve used about 100 gms each of Katia SeaCell knitting cotton in 2 colors, with a 4 mm crochet hook

Note : Amount of yarn needed for individual project(s) depends on size of yarn / hook, size you are making it for as well as the tension with which you work. Amount given here is only for rough estimation for the size I’ve made it for.

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

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)

You can make this project to any size. Size here given only for rough estimation of yarn.

Difficulty level : Easy Skill level.

Stitches used :

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

Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : This is a neat new way to start your work without a slip knot. https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs

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

What is a chain stitch ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx5ukBjKkY

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

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
Extended single crochet (e-sc) : https://youtu.be/ZeXQ3NLVjPU

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

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

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.

This simple top is created with a slight shape for the armholes, but you could do it without shaping (and in that case you get the armholes falling lightly over the shoulder in a small sleeve).

The back is worked all the way to the top - shoulders ; and the front is worked in two parts as a "V".

The beauty of this top is that you can decide to make the "V" portion be the back and the front can be all the way to the neck.

My client loved that this was a possibility.

I also worked the front and back in two slightly different colors (a light blue and a light grey) and this was a cute diversion as well.

Let's get started.

Before you start there are a measurements you need :

1) Length of top (front and back)

2) Round chest measurement

3) Width of shoulder or neck opening

4) Round armhole measurement

Note : 1) We start with one half of our top and work it from bottom up.

2) Check the round bust and round waist measurements and for the first row, use the larger measurement. (I have said use half round waist, but if bust is more than waist, use half round bust measurement to start)

There is no stitch count for the top and you can choose which stitch you want to use.

I worked in dc all through but you could use sc , e-sc, hdc or dc for your work.

Please check video links for the different stitches at the top of this blog.

I have chosen to work a small bit of ribbing for which we will use sc-blo or single crochet back loop only.

For this we will make a long strip that is 8 sts wide and as long as you need for half the round waist measurement.

Back : Make one

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

Start Ribbing Row 1 : with 8 fsc chain (or the width you want for the ribbing of your top). Turn.

Single crochet back loop only (sc-blo) : https://youtu.be/TaQI3Vu9VRQ

Ribbing Row 2 : sc in the 1st fsc ; sc-blo in each fsc till end. Turn.

Ribbing Row 3 : sc in the 1st st; sc-blo in each st till end. Turn.

Rep Ribbing Row 3 till you have a strip that is half the round waist measurement.

At this point we will turn and work along the top edge of our tape, picking up sts all the way to the end. Remember we pick up only 1 st per sc row all the way end to end. Turn.

We will now start on the basic top pattern.

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

Body Row 2 : dc in the 1^st st ;

and in each st till the end. Turn

Body Row 3 : dc in the 1^st dc ;

and in each dc till the end. Turn

and that's our pattern ! D..O..N..E !!

Rep Body Row 3 till you have the length you need for your top if you are making a straight top without shaping for armholes.

Rep Body Row 3 till you are at the armholes, if you want to shape the armholes a bit.

1) Remember to check that the top is the size you need for the largest body measure

2) Remember that some yarns shrink, but some have a great stretch. Check your yarn for this

Now if you are shaping armhole, here's what I did.

One completed side - decide if you want this as front or back

Double crochet 2-tog : dc 2-tog : [yo, insert hk in st or ch-sp, yo and pull up a lp ; yo and draw through 2 lps] 2 times (3 lps on hk) ;

{yo, draw through 2 lps on hk} 2 times. One dc 2-tog made.

This video tutorial at https://youtu.be/1_oPlUfN5eg shows you how to use the dc 2-tog to decrease.

Armhole decrease : dc 2-tog over the 1st 2 sts ; dc in each st till the last 2 sts ; dc 2-tog over the last 2 sts. Turn.

Rep Armhole decrease row once more.

Then continue working dc in each dc till end all the way till you reach the shoulders. Fasten off and weave in ends.

One half of your top done.

Front : Make two halves

While the front follows the same pattern for the back all the way from ribbing to the shoulders, the one difference is the creation of the "V" pattern for this section.

1). So what I did was work that ribbing first and then divide it in half.

2). Place a marker at the half way point and then for the right hand side of your work you will go about 7 - 10 sts past that half way point and then turn.

Similarly when working the left hand side of work, you will work past the halfway point and then turn.

3). To get the "V"-shape, for every row, you will work a dc 2-tog only at the front centre edge. This means that you will either start a row with a dc 2-tog and then work all the way to the armhole edge and end without a decrease ; OR you will start without decrease at the armhole edge and then end with a dc 2-tog at the centre point.

The decrease is only at the centre point of your work. Got it?

4) The other important thing is that for the 7 - 10 sts that you overlap, when working the first side, you will work only in the front loops of those 7 - 10 sts. When you overlap for the other side, you will work in the remaining back loops for the same 7 - 10 sts. This is how you get the two parts to overlap.

check out the base to see how to overlap

4). Place the first section (back) that you have made and work till you reach the same armhole section, if making the shaped armhole - or take it all the way to the shoulders (if not making a shaped armhole).

if you look carefully you'll see the subtle blue and grey for front and back

FINISHING

Use one of the methods given below to join the two sides and shoulder seams to finish.

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

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

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

I have not chosen to work any finishing around the armholes or neckline, but you could use a picot finish or work a reverse single crochet / crab stitch

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

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

And that's it ! Voila ! one cute cross-back crop top ready to go!

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

https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2022/06/granny-square-mock-cami.html

https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2022/06/lil-black-lacy-crop-top.html

https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2022/05/peek-boo-crop-top.html