Thistle Top
The thistle top is an elegant and modern top with beautiful drape added with the use of bamboo and/or cotton yarn. The shell stitch pattern gives the top delicate texture without adding much difficulty to the pattern, making this an easy project to work on while on the go or to have on hand while watching a favorite show.
Basic Information
Skill level: Intermediate
Sizes: S (XS, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X, 4X)
Yarn: Lion Brand Truboo in Thistle (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5 skeins), or similar dk weight yarn (Coboo by Lion Brand also works very well).
Gauge: 2 ⅔ shells x 5 rows in 4” (shells for rows are counted stacked, rather than diagonally)
Note on gauge: I crochet loosely- if your tension is usually tight I would go up half a mm from the recommended hook size before making a gauge swatch.
Hook: 5 mm, or hook needed for gauge
Additional materials: stitch markers will come in very handy for some of the rounds. A tapestry needle will be helpful for sewing in ends.
Construction: this top is worked from the bottom up in rounds and then split at the arm for front and back panels.
Note 1: numbers noted in pattern are for size small, numbers for other sizes are included in parentheses as stated above. You may find it helpful to highlight or circle the appropriate numbers for your size before beginning.
Note 2: The yarn used for this top (bamboo) stretches considerably when washed. If you want a tighter top, I would recommend sizing down and blocking the finished product. You could also try using Coboo, which is a combination of cotton and bamboo and will not stretch.
Stitches and abbreviations
Pattern uses US terminology.
Ch = chain
Sk = skip
St = stitch
Dec = decrease
Sl st = slip stitch: pull up loop in next stitch, pull yarn through loop on hook.
Sc = single crochet: Insert hook into next stitch. Pull up a loop (two loops on hook). Yarn over and pull yarn through both loops.
Dc = double crochet: Yarn over. Insert hook into next stitch. Pull up a loop (three loops on hook). *Yarn over and pull through two loops* twice.
Shell = shell stitch: 5 dc in next single crochet. Sk 2 dc and sc in next dc.
Body
The body is worked from the bottom up in rounds.
Round 1: ch 150 (144, 156, 168, 186, 192, 210, 216). Join to the first chain with a sl st. Be very careful not to twist your chain. (Note: take a look at the chart in the Basic information section above. If you would like to reduce the width of the top, decrease the starting chain by 6).
Round 2: ch 1. sc in every stitch around (Note: you can combine rounds 1 and 2 by using foundation single crochet if you prefer). Sl st to first sc. 150 (144, 156, 168, 186, 192, 210, 216) sc.
Round 3: ch 1. *Sk next st. sc in next stitch and then ch 1.* repeat to end of row. 150 (144, 156, 168, 186, 192, 210, 216) stitches.
Round 4: sc in ch 1 space from previous round and add stitch marker. *Ch 1 and then sc in next ch 1 space.* repeat until end of round. 150 (144, 156, 168, 186, 192, 210, 216) stitches.
Round 5: ch 1 and move up stitch marker. *sc in next ch 1 space and then ch 1.* repeat until end of round. 150 (144, 156, 168, 186, 192, 210, 216) stitches.
Rounds 6 - 7: Repeat rows 4 and 5.
Round 8: ch 2. Dc in same space and in every stitch and space around. Sl st to first dc. 150 (144, 156, 168, 186, 192, 210, 216) dc.
Round 9: Ch 2. 3 dc in same space. *Sk 2 stitches and sc in next st. sk 2 stitches and 5 dc in next st.* repeat until end of row, ending with sk 2 stitches. Place 2 dc in same stitch as beginning 3 dc and sl st to first dc. 25 (24, 26, 28, 31, 32, 35, 36) shells.
Round 10: ch 1. Sc in same space. *sk 2 stitches and place 5 dc in next stitch. Sk 2 stitches and sc in next stitch.* Repeat until end of round, ending with sk 2 stitches. Sl st to first sc.
Repeat rounds 9 and 10, ending with a round 10, until length of body measures 12” (12”, 13”, 13”, 14”, 14”. 15”, 16”).
Front
You will now be working in rows back and forth across the chest.
Row 1: Ch 2. 3 dc in same space. *Sk 2 stitches and sc in next st. sk 2 stitches and 5 dc in next st.* repeat across next 10 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16) shells, ending with sk 2 stitches. Sc in next st. Skip next 8 stitches and place stitch marker in the next stitch. Turn, leave remaining stitches unworked.
Row 2: Ch 2. 3 dc in same space. *Sk 2 stitches and sc in next st. sk 2 stitches and 5 dc in next st.* Repeat until end of row, ending with sk 2 stitches. Sc in last st. Turn
Row 3: Ch 2. 3 dc in same space. *Sk 2 stitches and sc in next st. sk 2 stitches and 5 dc in next st.* repeat across row, ending with sk 2 stitches. Sc in last st. Turn
Repeat rows 2 and 3 1 (1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3) more times.
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Front Right
You will now be splitting for the neckline, which you will work back and forth in rows in a right and left panel.
Row 1: Ch 2. 3 dc in same space. *Sk 2 stitches and sc in next st. sk 2 stitches and 5 dc in next st.* Repeat 3 (2, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6) more times. Sk 2 sts and place sc in next st. Turn.
Row 2: Ch 1. Sc in same st. *sk 2 sts and place 5 dc in next st. Sk 2 stitches and sc in next stitch.* Repeat until end of row. Turn
Row 3: Ch 2. 3 dc in same space. *Sk 2 stitches and sc in next st. sk 2 stitches and 5 dc in next st.* Repeat until end of row, ending with a sk 2 and placing a sc in the last stitch. Turn.
Row 4 (dec): sl stitch in first 4 stitches. Ch 1. Sc in same st. *sk 2 sts and place 5 dc in next st. Sk 2 stitches and sc in next stitch.* Repeat until end of row. Turn
Row 5: Ch 2. 3 dc in same space. *Sk 2 stitches and sc in next st. sk 2 stitches and 5 dc in next st.* Repeat until end of row, ending with sk 2 and placing 3 dc in last sc. Turn.
Row 6: Ch 1. Sc in same st. *sk 2 sts and place 5 dc in next st. Sk 2 stitches and sc in next stitch.* Repeat until end of row. Turn
Row 7 (dec): Ch 2. 3 dc in same space. *Sk 2 stitches and sc in next st. sk 2 stitches and 5 dc in next st.* Repeat until half of a shell remains unworked, placing a sc in 3 dc of unworked shell. Turn, leave this half shell unworked.
Row 8: Ch 2. 3 dc in same space. *Sk 2 stitches and sc in next st. sk 2 stitches and 5 dc in next st.* Repeat until end of row, ending with a sk 2 and placing a sc in the last stitch. Turn.
Row 9: Repeat Row 8
Continue to repeat rows 4 - 9 until work (measured from beginning of arm split) is 8.5” (8”, 9”, 9”, 9.5”, 10”, 10”, 10.5”)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for seaming.
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Front left
Turn the top over so that the left, unworked panel is on the right side, right side facing you. Attach your yarn to the first stitch with a slip stitch.
Row 1: Ch 1. Sc in same st. *sk 2 sts and place 5 dc in next st. Sk 2 stitches and sc in next stitch.* Repeat 3 (2, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6) more times. Turn.
Row 2: Ch 2. 3 dc in same space. *Sk 2 stitches and sc in next st. sk 2 stitches and 5 dc in next st.* Repeat until end of row, ending with a sk 2 and placing 3 dc in the last stitch. Turn.
Row 3: Ch 1. Sc in same st. *sk 2 sts and place 5 dc in next st. Sk 2 stitches and sc in next stitch.* Repeat until end of row. Turn.
Row 4 (dec): sl stitch in first 4 stitches. Ch 1. Sc in same st. *sk 2 sts and place 5 dc in next st. Sk 2 stitches and sc in next stitch.* Repeat, ending with sk 2 and 3 dc in last st. Turn.
Row 5: Ch 1. Sc in same st. *sk 2 sts and place 5 dc in next st. Sk 2 stitches and sc in next stitch.* Repeat until end of row, ending with sk 2 and placing 3 dc in last sc. Turn.
Row 6: Repeat Row 5.
Row 7 (dec): Ch 1. Sc in same st. *sk 2 sts and place 5 dc in next st. Sk 2 stitches and sc in next stitch.* Repeat until half of a shell remains unworked, placing a sc in 3 dc of unworked shell. Turn, leave this half shell unworked.
Row 8: Ch 2. 3 dc in same space. *Sk 2 stitches and sc in next st. sk 2 stitches and 5 dc in next st.* Repeat until end of row, ending with a sk 2 and placing 3 dc in the last stitch. Turn.
Row 9: Repeat Row 3.
Continue to repeat rows 4 - 9 until work (measured from beginning of arm split) is 8.5” (8”, 9”, 9”, 9.5”, 10”, 10”, 10.5”)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for seaming.
Back
Attach yarn to the same stitch that you placed the stitch marker in earlier with a slip stitch.
Row 1: Ch 1. Sc in same st. *sk 2 sts and place 5 dc in next st. Sk 2 stitches and sc in next stitch.* Repeat across next 10 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16) shells, ending with sk 2 stitches. Sc in next st. Turn, leave remaining stitches unworked.
Row 2: Ch 2. 3 dc in same space. *Sk 2 stitches and sc in next st. sk 2 stitches and 5 dc in next st.* Repeat until end of row, ending with sk 2 stitches. 3 dc in last st.
Row 3: Ch 1. Sc in same st. *sk 2 sts and place 5 dc in next st. Sk 2 stitches and sc in next stitch.* Repeat until end of row. Turn.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 until back measures 8.5” (8”, 9”, 9”, 9.5”, 10”, 10”, 11”). Fasten off.
Please note that for sizes XS, XL, and 3x the armhole will measure several stitches less on one side than the other.
Seaming and Finishing
Turn shirt inside out and seam the shoulders using a mattress stitch.
Sc evenly around each armhole (you can also sc around the neckline for a more polished v neck, I like to leave the staggered decreases as a design feature).
Weave in ends.
Enjoy!
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