Touch of Style
Carefree Cotton Top
PATTERN NOTES
Weave in loose ends as work progresses. Join with slip stitch as indicated unless otherwise stated. Chain-6 at beginning of round counts as first double crochet and chain-3 unless otherwise stated. Chain-5 at beginning of round counts as first double crochet and chain-2 unless otherwise stated.
Carefree Cotton Top length is written as tank top length and can be easily adjusted to halter length or a swimsuit cover length by removing or adding repeats of rounds 3 and 4, ending all sizes with round 4.
SPECIAL STITCHES
First foundation single crochet (first foundation sc): Ch 2, insert hook in 2nd ch from hook, yo, draw lp through, yo, draw through 1 lp on hook (base ch completed), yo, draw through 2 lps on hook. Next foundation single crochet (next foundation sc): [Insert hook in base ch just completed, yo, draw lp through, yo, draw through 1 lp on hook (base ch completed), yo, draw through 2 lps on hook] until indicated number of sts has been completed.
TOP
Rnd 1 (RS):A Beg at bodice edge of Top, work first foundation sc (see Special Stitches), work 111 [119, 127, 135, 143, 151, 159] next foundation sc (see Special Stitches),B join (see Pattern Notes) in first foundationB sc. (112 [120, 128, 136, 144, 152, 160] foundation sc) Rnd 2: Ch 6 (see Pattern Notes), [sk next 3 foundation sc, dc in next C foundationC sc, ch 3] around, join in 3rd ch of beg ch-6. (28 [30, First FoundationFirst Foundation Single Single Crochet Crochet 32, 34, 36, 38, 40] ch-3 sps) Rnd 3: Ch 5 (see Pattern Notes), sc in center ch of next ch-3 sp, ch 2, [dc in next dc, ch 2, sc in center ch of next ch-3 sp, ch 2] around, join in 3rd ch of beg ch-5. Rnd 4: Ch 6, sk next ch-2 sp, sc and next ch-2 sp, [dc in next dc, ch 3, sk next ch-2 sp, sc and next ch-2 sp] around, join in 3rd ch of beg ch-6. Rnds 5–32 [5–34, 5–34, 5–36, 5–36, 5–38, 5–38]: [Rep rnds 3 and 4 consecutively] 14 [15, 15, 16, 16, 17, 17] times. Rnd 33 [35, 35, 37, 37, 39, 39]: Ch 1, sc in same st as beg ch-1, 3 sc in next ch-3 sp, [sc in next dc, 3 sc in next ch-3 sp] around, join in beg sc. Rnd 34 [36, 36, 38, 38, 40, 40]: Ch 1, sc in same sc as beg ch-1, sk next sc, 3 dc in next sc, sk next sc, [sc in next sc, sk next sc, 3 dc in next sc, sk next sc] around, join in beg sc. Fasten off.
NECKLINE & SHOULDER STRAPS
With joining of rnd 1 at center back, position stitch markers so there are 34 [36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46] sts across each front and back, leaving 22 [24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34] sts free for each underarm. Rnd 1: Starting at center back, join yarn at center back and working in opposite side of foundation sc sts, ch 1, sc in same sc as beg ch-1, sc in each of next 16 [17, 18, 19, 10, 21, 22] sc, ch 28 [30, 30, 32, 32, 34, 34] (first Shoulder Strap), sc each of next 34 [36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46] sts across front, ch 28 [30, 30, 32, 32, 34, 34] (2nd Shoulder Strap), sc in each of next 17 [18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23] sts across back, join in beg sc. Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each of next 17 [18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23] sts across back, working in back
bar of ch (see illustration), sc in each of next 28 [30, 30, 32, 32, 34, 34] chs across first Shoulder Strap, sc in each of next 34 [36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46] across front, working in back bar of ch, sc in each of next 28 [30, 30, 32, 32, 34, 34] chs across 2nd Shoulder Strap, sc in each of next 17 [18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23] sts across back, join in beg sc. (124 [132, 136, 144, 148, 156, 160] sc)
Rnds 3 & 4:
Ch 1, sc in each sc around, join in beg sc. At the end of rnd 4, fasten off.