I am not a fan of seaming. When I started designing this crop tee, I asked myself if I could make this t-shirt without any joining or seaming at all. After some trial and error, I realized that wasn’t going to happen, but I could minimize the amount of seaming necessary, and that was how this was born!

• 1 skein of Shibui Knits Baby Alpaca – a DK weight (3) yarn (above colour A: Brass)
• 1 skein of Loops and Threads Joy DK – a DK weight (3) yarn (above colour B: Cloud)
• Size G (4.00 mm) hook

Pattern by tick-tock hobbies

(abbreviations: SC = single crochet; HDC = half-double crochet; DC = double crochet; DEC = one single crochet over two stitches; INC = two single crochet into one stitch)

BODY

1. Starting with colour B, do one hundred and forty foundation single crochet stitches. Be careful to avoid any twists in the chain. Slip stitch to the top of the first stitch to form a ring. (140 stitches)
2. Chain-one and SC in each stitch around the ring. Slip stitch to the top of the first stitch to close the ring. In this pattern, the chain stitches at the beginning of each round do not count as a stitch unless otherwise stated. (140 stitches)
3. Repeat step 2 eighteen more times.
4. Without cutting the yarn from colour B, switch to colour A. Repeat step 2 thirty times.
5. Without cutting the yarn from colour A, switch back to colour B by picking up the previous end. This carried strand will be hidden on the inside of the shirt, but if you prefer a cleaner look, you can also cut the strand and weave in both ends. Chain-one and do a SC in each of the next fifty-four stitches. Chain-sixty while skipping sixteen stitches. This will form an armhole. Do a SC in each of the next fifty-four stitches. Chain-sixty while skipping sixteen stitches to form the other armhole. Slip stitch to the top of the first stitch to close the round. (228 stitches)
6. Chain-one and skip the first stitch to act as a DEC stitch. Do a SC in each of the next fifty-two stitches. Do a DEC over the next two stitches. Do a SC in each of the next fifty-eight stitches. Do a DEC over the next two stitches. Do a SC in each of the next fifty-two stitches. Do a DEC over the next two stitches. Do a SC in each of the next fifty-eight stitches. Slip stitch to the top of the first stitch to close the round. (224 stitches)
7. Chain-one and skip the first stitch to act as a DEC stitch. Do a SC in each of the next fifty stitches. Do a DEC over the next two stitches. Do a SC in each of the next fifty-eight stitches. Do a DEC over the next two stitches. Do a SC in each of the next fifty stitches. Do a DEC over the next two stitches. Do a SC in each of the next fifty-eight stitches. Slip stitch to the top of the first stitch to close the round. (220 stitches)
8. Chain-one and skip the first stitch to act as a DEC stitch. Do a SC in each of the next forty-nine stitches. Do a DEC over the next two stitches. Do a SC in each of the next fifty-seven stitches. Do a DEC over the next two stitches. Do a SC in each of the next forty-nine stitches. Do a DEC over the next two stitches. Do a SC in each of the next fifty-seven stitches. Slip stitch to the top of the first stitch to close the round. (216 stitches)
9. Chain-one and skip the first stitch to act as a DEC stitch. Do a DEC over the next two stitches. Do a SC in each of the next forty-four stitches. Do three DEC. Do a SC in each of the next fifty-four stitches. Do a DEC over the next two stitches. Do a SC in each of the next forty-eight stitches. Do a DEC over the next two stitches. Do a SC in each of the next fifty-four stitches. Do a DEC over the last two stitches. Slip stitch to the top of the first stitch to close the round. (208 stitches)
10. Chain-one and skip the first stitch to act as a DEC stitch. Do a DEC over the next two stitches. Do a SC in each of the next forty-one stitches. Do three DEC. Do a SC in each of the next fifty-two stitches. Do a DEC over the next two stitches. Do a SC in each of the next forty-seven stitches. Do a DEC over the next two stitches. Do a SC in each of the next fifty-two stitches. Do a DEC over the last two stitches. Slip stitch to the top of the first stitch to close the round. (200 stitches)
11. Chain-one and skip the first stitch to act as a DEC stitch. Do a DEC over the next two stitches. Do a SC in each of the next thirty-eight stitches. Do three DEC. Do a SC in each of the next fifty stitches. Do a DEC over the next two stitches. Do a SC in each of the next forty-six stitches. Do a DEC over the next two stitches. Do a SC in each of the next fifty stitches. Do a DEC over the last two stitches. Slip stitch to the top of the first stitch to close the round. (192 stitches)
12. Chain-one and skip the first stitch to act as a DEC stitch. Do a DEC over the next two stitches. Do a SC in each of the next thirty-five stitches. Do three DEC. Do a SC in each of the next forty-six stitches. Do three DEC. Do a SC in each of the next forty-one stitches. Do three DEC. Do a SC in each of the next forty-six stitches. Do a DEC over the last two stitches. Slip stitch to the top of the first stitch to close the round. (180 stitches)
13. Chain-one and skip the first stitch to act as a DEC stitch. Do a DEC over the next two stitches. Do a SC in each of the next thirty-two stitches. Do three DEC. Do a SC in each of the next forty-three stitches. Using DC instead of SC, do three DEC. Do a SC in each of the next thirty-eight stitches. Using DC instead of SC, do three DEC. Do a SC in each of the next forty-three stitches. Do a DEC over the last two stitches. Slip stitch to the top of the first stitch to close the round. (168 stitches)
14. Chain-one and skip the first stitch to act as a DEC stitch. Do a DEC over the next two stitches. Do a SC in each of the next twenty-nine stitches. Do three DEC. Do a SC in each of the next forty stitches. Using DC instead of SC, do three DEC. Do a SC in each of the next thirty-five stitches. Using DC instead of SC, do three DEC. Do a SC in each of the next forty stitches. Do a DEC over the last two stitches. Slip stitch to the top of the first stitch to close the round. (156 stitches)

SLEEVES

1. Pick up the strand of colour A that was left in step 5. Chain-one and do eighty SC around the armhole to form the sleeve. Slip stitch to the top of the first stitch to close the round. (80 stitches)
2. Chain-one and SC in each stitch around the arm. Slip stitch to the top of the first stitch to close the round. (80 stitches)
3. Chain-one and then do two DEC. Do a SC in the next fifty-six stitches. Do four DEC. Do a SC in the next eight stitches. Do two DEC. Slip stitch to the top of the first stitch to close the round. (72 stitches)
4. Chain-one and then do a SC in the next ten stitches. Do one HDC. Do a DC in the next forty stitches. Do one HDC. Do a SC in the next twenty stitches. Slip stitch to the top of the first stitch to close the round. (72 stitches)
5. Repeat step 4 four more times. (72 stitches)
6. Chain-one and SC in each stitch around the arm. Slip stitch to the top of the first stitch to close the round. (72 stitches)
7. Repeat step 6 six more times. (72 stitches)
8. Cut the yarn and weave in the ends. Repeat steps 1 to 7 on the other sleeve. This time, you will have to add the yarn to the shirt rather than picking up a loose end.

As you can see, there’s only one real “join” in this pattern as you only have to add a new strand of yarn when you’re making one of the sleeves. I guess the colour changes technically count as well, but if you wanted to make this crop tee in a single colour, there would only be one “join”! Most of the other patterns I’ve seen for garments tend to approach things with a front and back panel, and to the best of my knowledge, working a shirt in rounds is uncommon. From a design standpoint, this was a really interesting experiment for me, since I wasn’t even sure if it was possible when I started out.

Another lesson that I learned from this project was the importance of yarn selection. The Shibui Knits alpaca yarn had a completely different drape than the Loops and Threads acrylic, and despite being both DK weight yarns, I found the Loops and Threads yarn a bit thicker and stiffer to work with. The alpaca fibre was also a bit scratchier than I thought it would be, so I’m not sure that I would’ve liked a whole garment made with it. Still, I loved the contrast of the mustard yellow against the gray, and I think overall, I made the right yarn decisions.

I ended up naming this pattern after my mother, Lena.  The funny thing is that my mom would hate this design, as it’s not as modest as she would like, but the entire attitude of trying new things and pushing your boundaries is something that I definitely picked up from her, so that’s why I decided to stick with the name anyways. I think part of growing up includes a burgeoning appreciation for your parents and an increased awareness of all that they do for you. It also happens to be my mom’s birthday this week, so that’s another reason why I chose this name. 

Now that this crop tee is done, I can’t help but think of ways that I could rework this design in the future. For example, I would love to see a less boxy neckline, or perhaps sleeves that are a bit more fitted. Even shaping the body of the crop tee more to have a waist would be a new way of looking at this pattern. There is so much potential out there, and it honestly excites me to think about.

Until next time, happy crafting!