Betty top – free crochet pattern

Betty top is a quick and simple summer crochet project. It wears well with shorts, pants and skirts, and is suitable for blazing hot summer days on its own, or a layering piece for cooler weather. I have made one for me and one for may daughter, playing differently with contrast colours, but it will look great in one colour, or multiple colours as well – you fantasy is the limit.

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Tools and materials

3.5mm/E and 3.75mm/F hooks

4 skeins (3 in main and 1 in contrasting colour) of Yarn Art Jeans yarn – 160m/50g, 55% cotton+ 45% acrylic for size L with 3 contrast repeats of the lace section. I will add yarn requirements as pattern is tested in a range of sizes. You can choose your own yarn and hooks – swatch on several sizes to get the best drape!

5 crochet stitch markers.

Finished size and measurement

The sizes XXS (XS) S (M) L (XL) 2XL (3XL) 4XL (5XL) are designed to fit a bust circumference of 75-80 (80-85) 85-90 (90-95) 95-100 (100-110) 110-120 (120-130) 130-140 (140-150) cm [29½-31½ (31½-33½) 33½-35½ (35½-37½) 37½-39½ (39½-43¼) 43¼-47¼ (47¼-51¼) 51¼-55 (55-59) inches] with approximately 2.5cm/1in negative ease. The circumference of the top band is 75 (80) 85 (90) 95 (100) 110 (120) 130 (140) cm [29½ (31½) 33½ (35½) 37½ (39½) 43¼ (47¼) 51¼ (55) inches]. The circumference at the bottom is 130 cm for size L.

Gauge

14sts x 15 rows in hdc = 10×10 cm

Techniques and stitch patterns

Abbreviations – US terminology

() – designates a group of stitches to be worked in the same place

* – designates a repeat of stitches

CC – contrasting colour

ch – chain

ch-sp – space below a set of chain stitches of the previous row/round

dc – double crochet

dc2tog – double crochet two stitches together

fhdc – foundational half double crochet. Link to a video tutorial for foundational double crochet – use the same principle.

hdc – half double crochet

linked sc – linked (edging) single crochet – after making the 1^st sc of the round, insert hook in the horizontal band across the stitch you’ve just made, and as usual in the next stitch of the previous round. Yarn over, and pass it through these two loops on your hook. Make another yarn over, and finish sc as usual. Link to a video tutorial. You can substitute with regular sc or any other edging stitch of your preference.

MC – main colour

sc – single crochet

sk – skip

sl st – slip stitch

Construction

Make a good large swatch to measure your tension. If your tension is the same, follow the instructions for the selected size below. If your tension is different, measure your chest circumference, deduct 2.5cm/1in. Calculate the number of stitches to start with, rounding to the closest multiple of 6.

Top panel

With main colour and 3.5 mm/E hook, start with 108 (114) 120 (126) 132 (144) 156 (168) 186 (198) fhdc, leaving a 60 cm/24 in tail of yarn.

Work 17 (17) 19 (19) 19 (21) 21 (23) 23 (23) more rows in dc, for a total of 12 (13.5) 13.5 (13.5) 13.5 (15) 15 (16.5) 16.5 (16.5) cm

Place markers on the cast on row, for future placement of the shoulder straps and the front tie:

Front tie- between the 54^th and 55^th (57^th and 58^th ) 60^th and 61st (63^rd and 64^th) 66^th and 67^th (72^nd and 73^rd ) 78^th and 79^th (84^th and 85^th) 93^rd and 94^th (99^th and 100^th) stitches.

Back straps: mark the 13^th (14^th) 15^th (15^th) 17^th (18^th) 19^th (20th) 23^rd (24^th) stitch from the edge on both sides.

Front straps: mark the 16^th (17^th) 18^th (19^th) 20^th (23^rd) 24^th (25^th) 28^th (30^th) stitch from the middle (the front tie marker)

Using the long tail of yarn from the cast on, seam the back seam using mattress stitch, joining two shorter sides of the band together, to form a circle.

Bottom lace panel

Work the set up rounds for lace:

Switch to CC and 3.75mm/F hook

Round 1, Ch2, sk 1, dc in the next stitch, *1 ch, dc2tog – make the first part into the same stitch as the previous one, sk1, make the 2^nd part into the following stitch. Repeat from * until the en, finish the round with 1 ch and sl st in the top of the 1^st stitch of the round. Link to video tutorial for inverted V stitch.

Switch to MC:

Round 2. Turn. Sc in the same st, *3 ch, sk 2, 3 dc in the ch-sp, 3 ch, sk3, sc in the dc. Repeat from * until the end of the round 3 ch, sk 2, 3 dc in the ch-sp, dc in the 1^st sc of the round.

Work main lace pattern:

Round 1: Turn. *(dc, ch, dc) in the first dc, ch, (dc, ch, dc) in the 2nd dc, (dc, ch, dc) in the last dc. Sk ch3-sc-ch3. Repeat from * until the end of the round, finish with a sl st in the first dc of the round

Round 2: Turn. Sc in the same st, * 3 ch, 3 dc in the 3^rd ch-sp of group, 3 ch, sc between groups. Repeat from * until the end of the round. On the last repeat, after 3 dc, finish with a dc into the first sc of the round.

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 9 (9) 9 (10) 10 (11) 11 (12) 12 (12) more times. You can use the contrasting colour on some of repeats, I prefer starting new colour on Row 2 of the lace pattern.

To finish, work round 1 one more time.

Bottom edge:

Round 1: Turn. *1 dc between groups, 2 dc in each ch-sp of the group. Repeat from * until the end of the round. Finish with a sl st.

Round 2 (optional): Turn, join CC, 1 linked sc into each st of the previous round.

Assembly and finishing

Top edge.

If you are making the top for yourself, try it on, and verify the positioning of the markers for straps. Adjust if necessary to your taste and fit.

With the CC and 3.75mm/F hook, starting at the back middle seam, work in linked sc in each stitch. When you reach the first stitch marker, work the linked sc in the marked stitch, ch 50, work back with a sl st into each chain for a strap that’s approximately 30 cm/12 in long, continue working around the top edge in linked sc until you reach the next marker. Work the linked sc in the marked stitch, ch 50, work back with a sl st into each chain for a strap that’s approximately 30 cm/12 in long, continue working around the top edge in linked sc until the next marker. This time work the linked sc in the stitch before the marked stitch, ch 50, work back with a sl st into each chain, continue working in the marked stitch and around the top edge in linked sc until you reach the next marker. Work the linked sc in the stitch before the marked stitch, ch 50, work back with a sl st into each chain, continue working in the marked stitch and around the top edge in linked sc until you reach the end of the round. Join with a sl st and break off yarn.

Front tie

With the CC and 3.75mm/F hook, chain 70, work sl st in each ch. Thread it through the center of the top panel like on the picture below, pull and tie in a bow.