I actually started working on this crop top at the end of January, and it’s taken me until now to get the last stitch in. There was a lot of frogging and a loss of motivation, but we made it now! Even though I’ll probably have to wait until summer 2020 to wear it, I’m still happy with the way it turned out.

• 1 skein MOCOemiko Platinum Sock – a fingering weight (1) yarn (colour A: OOAK)
• 1 mini skein Allison Barnes Basic Sock – a fingering weight (1) yarn (colour B: Faded Denim)
• 3.00 mm hook

Before I get into the pattern, I want to give credit where credit is due. This design is inspired by this cropped camisole by Fatima on Crochetology. In fact, the lace bottom of this top (Steps 1-7) is taken straight from Fatima’s design, with very slight modifications! Please check out her website for other beautiful designs.

Pattern by tick-tock hobbies
Size XS

(abbreviations: HDC = half-double crochet; DC = double crochet; 3TBS = three treble bobble stitch)

1. Beginning with colour A, chain 150. Slip stitch to join in the round. (150 stitches)
2. Chain 2. HDC in the next two stitches. *Chain 3 while skipping three stitches. HDC in the next seven stitches.* Repeat from * to * fourteen more times, but in the last repetition, HDC in four stitches, rather than seven. Slip stitch to the top of the chain 2 at the beginning of the round. (150 stitches)
3. Chain 2. HDC in the next stitch. *Chain 2 while skipping two stitches. Do a 3TBS, chain 3, and another 3TBS all in the next stitch. Chain 2 while skipping two stitches. HDC in the next five stitches.* Repeat from * to * fourteen more times, but in the last repetition, HDC in three stitches, rather than five. Slip stitch to the top of the chain 2 at the beginning of the round. (210 stitches)
4. Chain 3. *Chain 2 while skipping four stitches. Do a 3TBS in the next stitch, which should have been a 3TBS in the previous row. Chain 2 while skipping one stitch. Do a 3TBS in the next stitch. Chain 2 while skipping one stitch. Do a 3TBS in the next stitch, which should have been a 3TBS in the previous row. Chain 2 while skipping four stitches Do a DC in the next stitch.* Repeat from * to * fourteen more times, but in the last repetition, omit the DC. Instead, slip stitch to the top of the chain 3 at the beginning of the row, and continue to do two more slip stitches in the first chain 2 of the repeating sequence. (180 stitches)
5. Chain 2. HDC in the next six stitches. *Chain 3 while skipping five stitches. Do a HDC in the next seven stitches.* Repeat from * to * fourteen more times, but in the last repetition, omit the final seven HDC. Instead, slip stitch to the top of the chain 2 at the beginning of the row, and continue to do one more slip stitch in the first HDC stitch of the row (150 stitches)
6. Chain 2. HDC in the next four stitches. *Chain 2 while skipping two stitches. Do a 3TBS, chain 3, and do another 3TBS all in the next stitch. Chain 2 while skipping two stitches. HDC in the next five stitches.* Repeat from * to * fourteen more times, but in the last repetition, omit the final five HDC. Slip stitch to the top of the chain 2 at the beginning of the round, and continue to do one more slip stitch in the first HDC of the row. (210 stitches)
7. Chain 3. *Chain 2 while skipping four stitches. Do a 3TBS in the next stitch, which should have been a 3TBS in the previous row. Chain 2 while skipping one stitch. Do a 3TBS in the next stitch. Chain 2 while skipping one stitch. Do a 3TBS in the next stitch, which should have been a 3TBS in the previous row. Chain 2 while skipping four stitches Do a DC in the next stitch.* Repeat from * to * fourteen more times, but in the last repetition, omit the DC. Instead, slip stitch to the top of the chain 3 at the beginning of the row, and continue to do two more slip stitches in the first chain 2 of the repeating sequence. (180 stitches)
8. Repeat steps 5 – 7 one more time in colour A.
9. Switch to colour B and repeat steps 5- 7.
10. Switch back to colour A and repeat steps 5 -7 three more times.
11. Switch to colour B and repeat steps 5 – 7, but do not cut the yarn.
12. Switch to colour A and chain 1. HDC in the next eighty-one stitches. Turn. (81 stitches)
13. Chain 1. HDC in the next eighty-one stitches. Turn. (81 stitches)
14. Work this row in the back loop only. Chain 1. Start with a HDC decrease. HDC across the row until the last two stitches. Do a HDC decrease. Turn. (79 stitches)
15. Chain 1. HDC across the row. Turn. (79 stitches)
16. Repeat steps 14 and 15 until there are only 63 stitches. (77 / 75 / 73 / 71 / 69 / 67 / 65 / 63 stitches)
17. Repeat step 14. (61 stitches)
18. Chain 2. HDC in the next two stitches. *Chain 3 while skipping three stitches. HDC in the next seven stitches.* Repeat from * to * five more times, but in the last repetition, HDC in four stitches, rather than seven. Turn. (60 stitches)
19. Chain 2. Skip a stitch, then HDC in the following stitch. *Chain 2 while skipping two stitches. Do a 3TBS, chain 3, and another 3TBS all in the next stitch. Chain 2 while skipping two stitches. HDC in the next five stitches.* Repeat from * to * five more times, but in the last repetition, after the last 3TBS, chain 2 while skipping three stitches, then HDC in the last stitch. Turn. (82 stitches)
20. Chain 3. Skip two stitches. *Do a 3TBS in the next stitch, which should have been a 3TBS in the previous row. Chain 2 while skipping one stitch. Do a 3TBS in the next stitch. Chain 2 while skipping one stitch. Do a 3TBS in the next stitch, which should have been a 3TBS in the previous row. Chain 2 while skipping four stitches Do a DC in the next stitch. Chain 2 while skipping four stitches.* Repeat from * to * five more times, but in the last repetition, finish after the last 3TBS. Turn. (67 stitches)
21. Chain 2. HDC in the next five stitches. *Chain 3 while skipping five stitches. Do a HDC in the next seven stitches.* Repeat from * to * four more times, but in the last repetition, HDC in the next six, not seven stitches. Turn. (55 stitches)
22. Chain 2. Skip a stitch, then HDC in the next three stitches. *Chain 2 while skipping two stitches. Do a 3TBS, chain 3, and another 3TBS all in the next stitch. Chain 2 while skipping two stitches. HDC in the next five stitches.* Repeat from * to * four more times, but in the last repetition, do three HDC, skip a stitch, and then HDC in the last stitch. Turn. (73 stitches)
23. Chain 3. Skip two stitches. *Do a 3TBS in the next stitch, which should have been a 3TBS in the previous row. Chain 2 while skipping one stitch. Do a 3TBS in the next stitch. Chain 2 while skipping one stitch. Do a 3TBS in the next stitch, which should have been a 3TBS in the previous row. Chain 2 while skipping four stitches Do a DC in the next stitch. Chain 2 while skipping four stitches.* Repeat from * to * four more times, but in the last repetition, finish after the last 3TBS. Do not cut the yarn yet. (46 stitches)
24. Picking up colour B from the side, begin to HDC up the sides of the trapezoid front panel. There should be thirty-one stitches up the sloping diagonal. *HDC in the next seven stitches. Chain 3 while skipping five stitches.* Repeat from * to * three more times, but in the last repetition, omit the final chain 3. HDC down the side of the trapezoid, again with thirty-one stitches until reaching the lace work. Turn. (108 stitches)
25. Chain 1. HDC in each stitch across the trapezoid. Cut yarn and weave ends for colour B. (108 stitches)
26. Pick up colour A and chain 80. Attach the stitch to the second blue shell from the left. Turn and do eighty SC across the row, securing the last stitch to the trapezoid panel. Turn again and SC in the next fifty stitches, then chain 30 . Attach this strand to the third shell from the right, then turn and SC in the next eighty stitches, securing the last stitch to the trapezoid panel. Turn again and SC in the next fifty stitches, then chain 30. Attach this strand to the first shell on the right, then turn and SC in the next eighty stitches. Secure the last stitch to the trapezoid panel, then cut yarn and weave in ends.
27. Join colour A to the other side of the trapezoid. Chain 80. Attach the stitch to the second blue shell from the right. Be sure to weave it under the far strand of the other strap. Turn and do eighty SC across the row, securing the last stitch to the trapezoid panel. Turn again and SC in the next fifty stitches, then chain 30 . Attach this strand to the third shell from the left after weaving it over and under the middle and far strand of the other strap. Turn and SC in the next eighty stitches, securing the last stitch to the trapezoid panel. Turn again and SC in the next fifty stitches, then chain 30. Attach this strand to the first shell on the left after weaving it under, over, and under the three strands of the other strap. Turn again and SC in the next eighty stitches. Secure the last stitch to the trapezoid panel, then cut yarn and weave in ends.

If I were to make this top again, I would definitely make the straps a little bit longer. As is, the top sometimes rides up a little, which can feel a little bit exposing when the lace moves to where I want solid crochetwork. Still, I love the criss-crossing I was able to integrate in the back, and the colours of this yarn are my favourites, so I think I will take the risk and continue to wear this crop top.

Ideally, I will some day grade this pattern to be more size inclusive, but I’m not sure when that will be. Life seems to be busier these days, and I’m not great at sizing clothes for any body other than my own. If anyone has any suggestions about courses or information where I can learn more about grading, that would be amazing! Still, if you would like to make this top in a different size, please please reach out, and I will try my best to help you come to a solution.

Until next time, happy crafting!