Nothing beats the feeling of expressing your personal style with a shirt or tank you crafted yourself. From crop tops to tunics to blouses, this collection of crochet top patterns has you covered for summer and beyond.
Alongside plenty of pattern inspiration, you’ll also learn how to construct and size a crochet top and choose the best yarn and hook to achieve the most flattering drape.
Crochet Top Patterns for Summer and Beyond
Packing away your sweaters and cardigans may be sad, so why not whip up a crochet shirt to transition seamlessly from season to season? Crochet tank tops and blouses are lightweight and chic, making them superb for layering or wearing on their own.
Jump to:
- Crochet Top Patterns for Summer and Beyond
- How to Crochet a Top: What to Know
- Choosing a Crochet Top Pattern
- Crochet Tops, Tanks, and Shirts - Free Patterns
- Bralettes and Bra Tops
- How to Take Measurements for Crochet Tops
- Your Perfect Fit
- Supplies and Materials
- Choosing the Right Crochet Hook
- Top, Shirt, and Tank FAQs
- Invitation to our Facebook group
How to Crochet a Top: What to Know
Crocheting gorgeous garments doesn’t have to be intimidating. Clothing newbies can find plenty of beginner shirt and tank top patterns when you know what to look for.
Patterns With Simple Constructions
Intermediate and Advanced Constructions
Straps and sleeves of all shapes and sizes are great finishing touches to a simple crochet top.
More advanced crocheters can also use a top-down construction for making seamless shirts and blouses. Circular yokes are popular for this, or you can use a raglan pattern if you prefer a rectangular neckline.
Choosing a Crochet Top Pattern
Crocheting clothing means striking a balance between form and function. Your crochet top or tank should be comfortable, durable, and fashionable. The yarn and stitch you choose will help achieve this winning combination.
Which Stitch Works Best?
When picking a pattern, of course, you're aiming for a beautiful and flattering finished product. Here are a few other things to remember when choosing the best stitch for a crochet top.
Density:
Will the stitch create a stretchy, easy-to-wear fabric? When crocheting a top for summer, avoid choosing dense, compact stitches. Instead, aim for airy mesh and lace patterns that are seasonally appropriate for warmer weather. A tank top that feels comfy is essential in the heat!
Shaping:
How easy is it to increase and decrease this stitch pattern? If you’re designing your own tank top or bralette pattern, consider if you can easily shape the garment.
Drape:
The most flattering cardigans and pullovers will feature stitches that drape easily. Shirts and tanks are no different, especially when creating short-sleeve tops for summertime. Choosing patterns with more open stitches that use lightweight yarn will ensure you crochet a top you feel fantastic wearing.
More Summer Crochet Patterns
Celebrate the warm weather with these free on-trend patterns.
More summer crochet patterns →
Crochet Tops, Tanks, and Shirts - Free Patterns
Now the technical stuff is sorted, let’s begin the fun of choosing the perfect crochet top pattern. Stitched summer tops, tanks, and halters look amazing. Or will you go for an elegant tunic or blouse? From simple to advanced patterns, all crocheters can expand their wardrobe with these wearable crochet designs.
Easy Summer Tops for Beginners
Two rectangles are all you need for most of these beginner-friendly crochet top patterns. Simple stitches are super effective for creating a laidback summer feel.
Ruffle Sleeve Tunic
Easy Crochet Summer Top
Poncho-Style Blouse
Customizable Long Sleeve Shirt
Tunics + Blouses for Women
Longer pieces like tunics are ideal as beach cover-ups or over jeans for a classy look. Fine to light yarn like Lion Brand Truboo will help you achieve a drape to die for.
Boho Crochet Tunic
Related: 30+ Beautiful Free Crochet Dress Patterns
Cap Sleeve Top
“Tush-Covering” Tunic
Lacy Boho Blouse
Diamond Crochet Tank
Seamless Raglan Shirt
Oversized Mesh Summer Pullover
Summer Tank Tops
Let casual tank tops take you from spring to summer. Whether you prefer timeless stripes or flirty frills, subtle detailing brings these simple tanks to the next level.
Striped Crochet Tank
Easy Tank Top
Scallop V-Neck Cami
Crochet Fringe Top Pattern
Our Latest Crochet Inspiration:
Here are a few more free crochet patterns and tutorials that are hot off the presses.
Bralettes and Bra Tops
Pair boho bralettes with denim shorts or a floral skirt for the ultimate summer look. These beautiful bra tops will prepare you for festival season in no time!
More boho crochet patterns →
Elegant Crochet Bralette
Crochet Crop Tank
Crop Tops
Crop and halter tops can be dressed up or down for all sorts of occasions. These trendy crochet top patterns marry classic stitches with modern style.
Sweetheart Crop
Crochet Halter
Easy Off the Shoulder Shirt
Off the Shoulder Crop Top
Pretty Puff Sleeved Crochet Top
Adorable Crochet Blouse
Summer Vibes Tank
Bell Sleeve Crop Top
Easy Crochet Crop Top
Granny Square Tops + Tanks
The humble granny square seems so simple yet brings endless possibilities. Let your creativity free by mixing color combos and designs for a crochet top made of unique granny squares. These projects are also great for using up leftover scrap yarn.
Off the Shoulder Crochet Top
Retro Tank
Granny Square Tank Top
Crochet Beach Top
How to Take Measurements for Crochet Tops
Most crochet top patterns will be available in various sizes and give exact measurements for the garments. These measurements may vary between designers, so double-check before choosing a size.
Your bust measurement is usually the most important in selecting a crochet shirt or sweater size. To figure this measurement out, wrap a flexible measuring tape around the fullest part of your chest.
Make and Do Crew’s free crochet patterns follow the Craft Yarn Council’s standard sizing. Check out the CYC's detailed women’s clothing sizing guides to learn more about taking your measurements.
Your Perfect Fit
The desired fit varies from person to person and project to project. Sizing up will give you a loose, casual shirt, for example.
Length
Tunic or crop top? Many crochet top patterns are easily customizable, meaning you can decide how long or short you want your finished piece. Adjust the garment length measurement of your chosen pattern for a trendy tunic or a cropped tank.
Ease
For crochet sizing, “ease” means the difference between the body and garment measurements. You may size up or down depending on your desired fit for your top or tank.
- Positive Ease - the garment measurements are larger than the body measurements, creating a looser look.
- Negative Ease - the garment measurements are smaller than the body measurements, creating a more form-fitting top.
Supplies and Materials
The supplies you'll need to crochet a shirt are similar to other crochet clothing projects. If you're making a top to wear in the summer, you'll want to pay special attention to choosing a yarn that will be comfortable in warm weather.
Best Yarn for a Summer Top
Keep your chunky yarn for cozy winter projects and sweaters. Tanks and crop tops work best with lightweight yarns, like sport or DK weight. Sometimes worsted weight yarn can work well if the stich pattern is loose and airy.
Here are a few of my favorite yarns for crocheted summer tops.
| Name | Weight | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| A Star is Born: Oh Baby Yarn | 2 - Fine | 100% natural fiber. Slightly stiffer than others on this list. |
| Truboo | 3 - Light | Creates fabric with amazing, slinky drape. Tendency to stretch. |
| Coboo | 3 - Light | Soft, drapey, and not too hot. Can split more than others. |
| Jeans | 4 - Medium | Easily washable and very soft. Not ideal for the dead of summer. |
| Touch of Linen | 4 - Medium | Versatile blend with natural fibers. Nice matte texture. |
| Lazy Days | 4 - Medium | Chainette construction with slight sheen. Too thick for very hot weather. |
Choosing the Right Crochet Hook
The size of the crochet hook needed for your top or tank depends on the pattern itself. With all wearable crochet garments, making a gauge swatch and adjusting your hook size up or down until you meet the pattern gauge is essential. This is how you’ll ensure your blouse turns out the size you expect.
Obsessed with finding the best free crochet patterns?
Check out these collections of handpicked patterns to find your next project.
Top, Shirt, and Tank FAQs
Lace crochet stitches naturally open up more space in the finished garment, which you can see through to an extent. If you prefer fewer gaps, choose a tighter stitch pattern. Pair an airy crochet top with a cami for more coverage.
Crochet tops and tanks made with mesh stitches can be lightweight and breathable for summer. A lot of people associate yarn with chunky knitwear. For summer crochet tops, cotton yarn is a popular choice. Lighter yarns like this create more breathable garments.
Avoid horror stories of shrinking crochet items by paying special attention to the washing instructions on your yarn label. Synthetic yarn made of acrylic or nylon will not shrink. Natural fibers like cotton and wool may shrink when exposed to high heat, so handwash and lay flat to dry.
Most crochet top patterns are available in different sizes. Be sure to measure yourself correctly and compare to the pattern measurements before starting a project. Choosing a top-down pattern will allow you to try the garment on and adjust the fit as you go.
Once your crafting is done, blocking your crochet top will help even out the stitches and improve the drape. This process will help perfect the fit of the finished shirt.
More Crochet Clothing Patterns
Level up your handmade wardrobe with our easy garment patterns.
Learn a New Skill
When you're ready to master a new skill, check out our detailed guides that include everything you need to know to level up your crochet game.
- How to Corner to Corner (C2C) Crochet for Beginners - with video tutorials to get you started
- How to Crochet a Beginner Hat - make an entire beanie in 1.5 hours!
- How to Crochet Amigurumi for Beginners - the ultimate guide to making your own toys and plushies
- How to Tunisian Crochet - learn with this video and a standard hook
That was so fun! Now what?
Invitation to our Facebook group
Come discuss crocheting top patterns and lots of other crochet projects and techniques in our Make & Do Crew Facebook group. Here thousands of helpful crocheters answer each other's questions and share their stitches. Join us!
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