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IntermediateFree Crochet Top Pattern
I named this the La Loire Summer Top in honor of the Bergere de France yarn that I used. La Loire is a coastal region of France, and this top would be perfect to wear in the summertime there!
This sleeveless top combines center panels, crocheted in double crochet, and side parts, crocheted in a shell pattern. The parts can be joined with sewing or with a row of single crochet. The neckline and the bottom of the top is finished with the narrow Shell Edging pattern.
Sizes: S (M, L, XL, 2X, 3X)
Finished Measurements
Chest: 36 [40, 44, 48, 52, 56] inches (90 [100, 110, 120, 130, 140] cm)
Length: 16 (19.75, 20.25, 20.5, 21, 21.5) inches [47.5 (49.35, 50.62, 51.25, 52.5, 53.75) cm]
Materials: Bergère (affiliate link) de France Bigarelle fingering weight yarn (55% Cotton, 36% Linen / Flax, 9% Rayon), 427 yards(390 meters) / 100 grams, color Ecru – 2 (3, 3, 4, 5, 5) balls.
Hook: 2.75 mm (C)
Gauge
for double crochet: 24 dc x 13 rows = 4” x 4” (10 cm x 10 cm)
for shell pattern: 4.8 dc x 12 rows = 4” x 4” (10 cm x 10 cm), or 6 shells in 5 inches (12.5 cm)
Abbreviations
ch = chain
st(s) = stitch(es)
sl st = slip stitch
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet
Shell - (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) into the ch-2 of the prev row shell
V-stitch (V-st) - (1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc) into the same stitch
Shell Pattern
Chain multiple of 5 + 2
Setup row: ch 3, skip 2, *shell into the next ch, ch 1, skip 4, repeat from * to the last 4 ch, shell into the next ch, skip 2, 1 dc.
Row 1: ch 3, *shell into the ch-2 of the shell of the prev row, ch 1, repeat from * to the last shell, 1 dc into the top of ch-3.
Repeat row 1.
Shell Edging
Row 1: single crochet
Row 2: ch 2 (counts as 1 sc and 1 ch), skip 2, *(2dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the next st, ch 1, skip 2, 1 sc, ch 1, skip 2, repeat from * across.
Top
Front Central Panel
Chain 42 (45, 48, 50, 51, 54).
Row 1: 1 dc into the 4th ch from the hook (counts as 1 dc), *1 dc into the next ch, repeat from * to the end of the row. 39 (42, 45, 47, 48, 51) dc.
Row 2: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), *1 dc in the next dc, repeat from * to the end of the row.
Repeat row 2 51 (53, 55, 56, 58, 59) more times.
Tie off.
Back Central Panel
Chain 42 (45, 48, 50, 51, 54).
Row 1: 1 dc into the 4th ch from the hook (counts as 1 dc), *1 dc into the next ch, repeat from * to the end of the row. 39 (42, 45, 47, 48, 51) dc.
Row 2: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), *1 dc in the next dc, repeat from * to the end of the row.
Repeat row 2 58 (60, 62, 63, 65, 66) more times.
Tie off.
Side Part
The side parts are worked in a shell pattern (see instructions above).
Chain 75 (85, 95, 105, 115, 125)
Set up Row: shell into the 6th ch from the hook, ch 1, skip 4, *shell into the next ch, ch 1, skip 4, repeat from * to the last 4 ch, shell into the next ch, ch 1, skip 2, 1 dc. Total shells 14 (16, 18, 20, 22, 24).
Row 1: ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and 1 ch), *shell into ch-2 of next shell, ch 1, repeat from * to the end of the row, 1 dc into ch-6.
Repeat row 1 34 (35, 35, 34, 35, 35) more times.
We worked to the armhole. Now we are going to work the front and the back parts separately.
Next row: ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and 1 ch), *shell into ch-2 of next shell, ch 1, repeat from * 5 (6, 7, 8, 8, 9) more times, 1 dc into next ch-1 space. 6 (7, 8, 9, 9, 10) shells. Turn.
Next Row: ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and 1 ch), *shell into ch-2 of next shell, ch 1, repeat from * to the end of the row, 1 dc into ch-6.
Repeat the last row 19 (21, 22, 24, 24, 26) more times. Tie off.
Note: the front and the back side parts are symmetrical and have the same number of shells and rows.
With the finished side part at the beginning of the row, skip 2 (2, 2, 2, 4, 4) shell in the middle of the row (these are underarm shells) and secure yarn in the space between the last under arm shell and the next shell. Ch 4, *shell into ch-2 of next shell, ch 1, repeat from * to the end of the row, 1 dc into ch-4. 6 (7, 8, 9, 9, 10) shells.
Next Row: ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and 1 ch), *shell into ch-2 of next shell, ch 1, repeat from * to the end of the row, 1 dc into ch-4.
Repeat the last row 19 (21, 22, 24, 24, 26) more times. Tie off.
Work another shell side panel identical to the first one.
Finishing
Weave in ends.
Block top parts separately to the measurements. Mark the length of the front central part along the sides of the shell parts, starting from the bottom. Position the edge of the central part on the front along the edge of the shell side part with right sides inwards. Align the bottoms of both parts. To join the parts either work one row of single crochet, connecting the parts or sew them. Repeat for the other side.
Do the same for the both sides of the back central panel.
Work Shell Edging around the neckline and around the bottom of the top.
Block again.
Enjoy!
Click image to enlarge
