Crochet a Striped Heart Crop Top with this Free Pattern
Inspired by Alexandria Masse, the Cotton Candy Love Top is the crop top version of the infamous crochet heart sweater. Designed and crocheted during the summer of 2021 when the bustier and Y2K trends were in full swing, this top reflects similar silhouettes, accenting the waist with a corset shape, allowing for adjustable sizing with the lace up back, and incorporating fun and vibrant colors. With knowledge of basic crochet stitches and a willingness to test your skills, you can make this top within a few days!
Why this heart top?
I made this top to celebrate Pride month as well as my first year of learning to crochet. Ironically enough, I found several skeins of spare yarn in the back of my closet, and I thought that this sort of project would be the perfect way to add a bow on top of these two reasons to celebrate. This top was made of completely freehand crochet, as a fun challenge to myself, and I'm sure you'll find this exciting to make for yourself as well!
Some things you need to know before getting started
This top is written for a size small, but I've indicated some places within the pattern where the length and width can be altered.
Key:
sc: single crochet
sl st: slip stitch
inc: increase
st: stitch
hdc: half double
crochet
ch: chain
dc: double crochet
trc: triple crochet
dc inc: double corchet increase (2 double crochets in the same stitch)
trc inc: triple crochet increase (2 triple crochets in the same stitch)
Suggested hook and yarn:
H/8 - 5.00mm crochet hook
Sugar and Cream yarn in Faded Denim and Pink Stripes, but any worsted 4 ply yarn will do
I used 1 ball of Pink Stripes and two balls of Faded Denim for a size S top. Pink Stripes is color 1, and Faded Denim is color 2
Other Materials:
stitch markers
yarn needle
Let's get started!
How to make the Cotton Candy Love Top
Instructions:
Chain 15, loosely
Round 1, color 1: 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 5 sc, skip next 2 ch and place a st mrkr to mark ch 2 space, 5 sc, 3 sc in last chain
Turn work upside down so you are working into the bottom loops of ch: 5 sc, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch 2 space, 5 sc
Round 2: inc 3 sts, 4 sc, skip 2 sts and place st mrkr to mark ch 2 space, 4 sc, inc 3 sts, turn, 6 sc, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch 2 space, 6 sc
Round 3, color 2: inc in 6 sts, 3 sc, skip 2 sts, 3 sc, inc 6 sts, turn, 7 sc, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch 2 space, 7 sc
Round 4: 6 sc, inc 2 sts, 6 sc, skip 2 sts, 6 sc, inc 2 sts, turn, 14 sc, (sc, ch 3, sc) in ch 2 space, 9 sc
Round 5: sl st, ch 1, 3 sc, inc, sc, inc, sc, inc, 5 sc, skip middle 2 ch, 5 sc, inc, sc, inc, sc, inc, turn, 14 sc, (sc, ch 3, sc) into ch 3 space, 11 sc
Round 6, color 1 : sl st, ch 1, 2 sc, inc, 1 sc, hdc inc, dc, trc, trc inc, trc, dc inc, 2 hdc, 3 sc, skip 2 st, 3 sc, 2 hdc, dc inc, trc, trc inc, trc, dc, hdc inc, sc, sc inc, turn, 14 sc, (sc, ch 3, sc) in ch 3 space, 12 sc
Round 7: sl st, ch 1, sc, inc, 2 sc, inc, sc, inc, sc, inc, sc, inc, sc, inc, 4sc, skip middle 2 sts, 4 sc, inc, sc, inc, sc, inc, sc, inc, sc, inc, 2 sc, inc, sc, turn, 14 hdc, (hdc, ch 2, hdc) in ch 3 space, 14 hdc
Round 8, color 2: sl st in first st, ch 2, dc inc, dc inc, 2 dc, dc inc, dc inc, 4 dc, dc inc, 2 dc, dc inc, dc, dc inc, 5 dc, skip 2 sts, 5 dc, dc inc, dc, dc inc, 2 dc, dc inc, 4 dc, dc inc, dc inc, 2 dc, dc inc, dc inc, turn, 16 dc, (dc, ch 2, dc) in ch 2 space, 15 dc (you might be able to take out an inc from this round, at this point it wasn't laying completely flat for me)
Round 9, color 1 (for this round we begin to flatten the top part of the heart): sl st, ch 2, 4 dc, dc inc, 4 dc, dc inc, 3 dc, 3 hdc, 6 sc, 2 hdc, 2 dc, skip 2 sts, 2 dc, 2 hdc, 6 sc, 3 hdc, 3 dc, dc inc, 8 dc, turn, 18 dc, trc, (trc, ch 1, trc) in ch 2 space, trc, 15 dc
Round 10, color 2: sl st, ch 1, 70 sc around until you are 3 sts away from ch 1 space: hdc, dc, dc and trc in next st, (trc, ch 2, trc) in ch 2 space, trc and dc in next st, dc in next st, hdc, 15 sc to end
Round 11, color 1:insert yarn in between the 20th and 21st sc from the last round, then 16 sl st across the flat top, sc, 2hdc, 2dc (put a st mrkr after first dc,) dc inc, 2 dc, dc inc, 2 dc, dc inc, 3 dc, dc inc, 3 dc, dc inc, 3 dc, dc inc, 13 dc, dc inc, (trc, ch 2, trc) in ch 2 space, dc inc, 13dc, dc inc, 3 dc, dc inc, 3 dc, dc inc, 3 dc, dc inc, 2 dc, dc inc, 2 dc, dc inc, 2 dc, (put a st mrkr between these dcs) 2 hdc, sc, sl st in first st
Round 12, color 2: put your sl knot where you placed your first st mrkr from the last row, ch 1, sc, hdc, dc, (place st mrkr between hdc and dc), dc inc, 2 dc, dc inc, 2 dc, dc inc, 2 dc, dc inc, 3 dc, dc inc, 2 dc, dc inc, 3 dc, dc inc,16 dc, dc and trc in the same st, (trc, ch 3, picot, trc) in ch 2 space, trc and dc in the same st, 16 dc, dc inc, 3 dc, dc inc, 2 dc, dc inc, 3 dc, dc inc, 2 dc, dc inc, 2 dc, dc inc, 2 dc, dc inc, dc, (stmrkr here), hdc, sc, sl st in next st
***You can keep expanding round 12 and/or row 13 for a longer/wider top. I stopped once the heart completely covered the sides of my bust
Hold it up to you and place a st mrkr at the length you'd like the sides to fall. Count the stitches and place another stitch marker on the other side of the heart so the sides will line up evenly across
Row 13, color 1: pull up your sl knot where you placed your first st mrkr from row 12, sc in next st, hdc, dc, 4 trc, (place st mrkr after first trc) trc inc, 4 trc, trc inc, 16 trc, (here we will begin shaping the sides) 2 dc, hdc, 2 sc
On the other side, pull you sl knot up from the st mrkr that marked your side length, 2 sc, hdc, 2 dc, 16 trc, trc inc, 4 trc, trc inc, 3 trc, (place st mrkr between 2nd and 3rd trc) trc, dc, hdc, sc, sl st
Next, we will straighten out the sides of the heart as the base for the back panels. Place bottom st mrkrs so that there is a straight edge.
Row 14, color 2: pull up your sl knot in the place where you put your first st mrkr from row 13, ch 1, sc in next st, hdc, dc, (st mrkr here) 2 trc, trc inc, 4 trc, trc inc, 12 trc, (place st mrkr between 11th and 12th trc,) dc, hdc, sc, sl st
Row 15, color 1: ch 1, turn to back, 4 sl sts, sc, hdc, dc, 6 trc, ch 1 and then angle to work into the side of your last dc; sc, hdc, then dc at conjunction of dc and row 14, then 2 hdc, 2 sc, 5 sl st, sc, hdc, dc
Row 16, color 1: turn to front, sl knot, ch 1, 15 hdc, dc, 2 trc, ch 1, turn to back, 18 hdc
Crochet 10 more rows of hdc, or any number of rows that will give you your desired coverage
Turn your work to the back and repeat rows 14-16 on the other side of your top, all in color 2.
Optional: sc along the bottom edge of your top to balance out the hem. When you reach row 16, crochet into the side of the triple crochet: 2hdc, 2dc, trc at conjunction of row 16 and 15, dc into row 15, skip 1 st, sc, sl st, tie off. You don't need to follow this exactly, just eyeball how tall your next stitch should be so that your hem is straight.
Create a chain until you reach the desired length for your bustier ribbon. I chained mine extra long so it could lace up and tie to the front.
For the straps, I followed this Youtube tutorial (it is not in English but I found I didn't need subtitles. Here are the instructions I wrote based off of it)
Insert hook into the top of row 11 and pull up the your sl knot, insert hook into the next st and pull up another loop. Repeat until you have 4 loops on your hook.
Yarn over, pull through the first loop, yarn over, then pull through 2 loops. Repeat til you have 1 loop on your hook.
Insert hook in between the first v, repeat until you have 4 loops on your hook
Repeat until you reach your desired length for your strap, then sew your strap to the back, close to the lace up opening
Your top is finished! Styling tips and more
Congratulations, you've finished your adorable crop top! Not sure what to wear it with? I like to paid it with my favorite mom jeans and a bucket hat. If it's cold out, I'll throw one of my chunky cardigans over the look to balance out the stripes. If you're going for a Y2K look, you can pair it with a set of low rise jeans and platforms! Always remember that these are suggestions, not demands; you can style your clothing in whatever way you like!
If you find yourself stuck at any point in this pattern, do not worry! feel free to reach out to me via email or through Instagram, and I'd be happy to help you. Thank you for joining me on my fiber journey!
Copyright Statement
This pattern may not be reproduced/sold, but items made from this pattern may be sold as long as you credit me @SeamsbySky and link back to this webpage. If you make this for personal use please tag me on Instagram for a chance to get featured!
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