Lace Crochet Top Pattern For Summer

This lace crochet top pattern offers a laid-back yet chic vibe, ideal for beach days or leisurely afternoons, and is easily dressed up for evening outings. The relaxed style makes it versatile for any occasion, whether you’re lounging by the shore or stepping out for a night on the town. 

With a simple construction beginning at the sleeves, working from the top down, we can create a simple summer crochet tee with a stunning lace stitch complimented by a simple single crochet ribbing for balance. Super easy to make and effortless to wear too.

In adult sizes from XS to 5XL (30″-62″ chest sizes) you can create any length of top you want – it’s all detailed in the pattern to guide you through.

In this post you’ll find everything you need to know how to make this elegant crochet top, including materials, stitches, a detailed video tutorial and free written pattern for blog subscribers.

I adore working with delicate lace stitches in crochet, especially those that use long crochet stitches. I am so excited to introduce this design to you using my new favourite stitch teamed with a simple single crochet rib for the detailing.

To make the design perfect for Summer I chose to work with fingering weight yarn which I know scares lots of people (me included once upon a time!) but I can assure you that this doesn’t take as long as you might think!

The lace panels work up in a flash and the ribbing is a zip to add afterwards 🙂

If you love delicate and light crochet patterns in fingering weight yarn too then you might enjoy exploring my Hawthorne V neck crochet pattern which has a simple lace stitch and a closed body of simple stitches worked from the top down.

Or if lace isn’t your thing then you might like my Mystical simple crochet top pattern which is packed with texture and just two rectangles too!

For this design I went for an adaptation of the traditional wedge stitch because I love the diagonal slant that you get to add interest and texture to the fabric.

By substituting a couple of stitches for chains instead we can create a stunning lace version that is perfect for using on Summer crochet garments.

Lace Crochet Stitches

The thing I am loving most about using these delicate lace stitches is creating other co-ordinating designs that incorporate it too and so team up perfectly for your Summer wardrobe!

The Francesca crochet skirt pattern uses this stitch but also has an option to have a closed wedge stitch rather than a lace one! It can also be made to any length but the mini version looks like this with the top for an awesome crochet beachwear look:

Alongside that you can make the Eloise summer crochet headband to finish off the look. But you don’t just have to wear it as a headband – it can be a tie, scarf or hat band too!

Lastly, I have the Penelope crochet maxi dress that is another great option using this stitch.

With a large selection of colours, this yarn is a perfect cotton option for summer crochet patterns. The blend of Pima cotton and acrylic fibres in Comfy makes it lightweight and easy to wear. Use Comfy for babies, warm weather, or your favourite sweater that you know you will throw in the washing machine again and again.

This blend offers a cotton-based yarn that has superior wearability and longevity, as well as easy care, which you are sure to appreciate over the years.

It’s a category 1, fingering weight yarn which gives a fabulous drape and delicate feel to the top. Check our handy yarn weight chart and guide to find out more about fingering weight yarns.

How much yarn do I need to crochet the top?

Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL) (2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL)

You will require approximately 660 (710, 785, 860, 946) (1088, 1196, 1376, 1582) yards of yarn to make the top. This is 4, (4, 4, 5, 5) (6, 6, 7, 8)balls of the recommended yarn.

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Video Tutorial: Follow Along to Create Your Top

Included in the video tutorial:

We begin by creating two lace panels for the sleeves. Each of these panels have a section of simple ribbing added to one of the long sides for the neck line.

With the panels complete we seam at the centre front and back to create the neckline you want.

Then we seam up the sides of the top, leaving as much or as little open for your armholes.

To finish, we add a simple bottom band to both the front and back to complete.

Crochet Terms You’ll Need to Know

Glossary and Abbreviations

beg – beginning

blo – back loop only

ch(s) – chain(s)

ch-sp(s) – chain space(s)

rep – repeat

RS – right side

sp – space

ss/sl st – slip stitch

st(s) – stitch(es)

WS – wrong side

Yoh – yarn over hook

Stitches

The pattern is written in standard US terms and uses the following crochet stitches:

sc – single crochet (UK dc – double crochet)

dc – double crochet (UK tr – treble crochet)

dtr – double treble crochet (UK ttr – triple treble crochet)

Special Stitches

LWS – Lace Wedge Stitch

A set of 2 rows including a FLWS (forward lace wedge stitch) and RLWS (return lace wedge stitch).

FLWS – Forward Lace Wedge Stitch

Ch6, sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch1, skip next ch, dc in next ch, ch1, skip next ch, dtr in next ch.

RLWS – Return Lace Wedge Stitch

Sc in 2nd ch of FLWS, ch1, skip next ch, dc in next ch of FLWS, ch1, skip next ch, dtr in next ch of FLWS.

Dtr2tog – Double Treble Two Together

Yoh 3 times, insert hook into next stitch. Yoh and pull through stitch, (yoh and pull through two loops on the hook) three times [2 loops left on hook]. Yoh 3 times, insert hook into next stitch. Yoh and pull through stitch, (yoh and pull through two loops on the hook) three times [3 loops left on hook]. Yoh and pull through all loops on the hook.

Making Your Crochet Top Fit You Perfectly

The top is designed to have 2-4″ of ease so that it sits comfortably on your body but you can change it to be looser or closer fitting if you’d like to. The simple shaping means that you can just select a larger or smaller size to make.

Adjust The Top Length: there are a couple of ways we can do this:

Lace Panels: Continue to work as many repeats of the LWS as you would like to for the length of your top. Keep in mind that when you fold the Sleeve Panels over only half of the extra length you work will be on the actual length of the top.

Bottom Band: Work as many or as few of the Bottom Band rows as you like on both the Front and Back to change the length of the top.

Seams and Neckline: we can also adjust the fit by subtly changing the amount of seaming too:

Underarm Seams: Seam as much or as little as you like from the bottom of each Sleeve Panel towards the shoulder to create your armholes as you would like them.

Neck Seams: You can seam both the Front and Back V of the garment as much or as little as you like.

There are lots of options discussed in the video tutorial so make sure to give it a watch before beginning your project.

• A ch1 at the beg does not count as a st.
• A ch5 at the beg does count as a st.
• The pattern is worked in turned rows.
• Read through the entire pattern before beginning.
• Before you start, go through the pattern and highlight/mark the stitch and row counts that correspond to the size you are making (this will make your life much easier!).
• Make sure that you are familiar with all of the stitches in the abbreviations list before you begin.
• Instructions are given for the smallest size, with larger sizes in brackets ( ). E.g. XS (S, M, L, XL), (2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL).
• If an instruction does not apply to a particular size then a – is used instead of a number. E.g. – (-, 4, 4, 5) (5, 5, 6, 6) means that the XS and S sizes do not apply to this instruction.
• Stitch counts are given in [ ] at the end of each Row. If no stitch count is given, then the count is the same as the previous Row.
• Make sure to check your gauge before beginning using the Gauge Swatch instructions to ensure the garment meets the desired measurements.

Copyright Notice

The Violet Lace Crochet Top Pattern and its contents are fully owned and copyrighted by HanJan Crochet Ltd., and all rights are reserved.

This pattern is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws and may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the author (Hannah Cross of HanJan Crochet Ltd).

Unauthorised distribution or reproduction of this pattern or elements of the instructions is strictly prohibited. The free to view crochet pattern is intended for personal viewing only. By accessing this pattern, you acknowledge and agree to comply with these copyright terms and conditions.

Pattern Support

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Crochet Pattern Free for Blog Subscribers to View

US Terminology

Making a crochet gauge swatch is particularly important when crocheting garments to ensure that it ends up the desired size.

Gauge Swatch:

Foundation chain: ch 26.

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, *FLWS, skip next 5chs, sc in next ch; rep from * to end, turn. [4 FLWS]

Row 2: ch5 (counts as dtr), *sc in sc of FLWS, work a RLWS along the 5chs of FLWS from previous row; rep from * to last FLWS, sc in sc of last FLWS, sc in 2nd ch of last FLWS, ch1, skip next ch of last FLWS, dc in next ch of last FLWS, ch1, skip next ch of last FLWS, dtr2tog over last ch of FLWS and last st of row, turn. [4 LWS completed over 2 rows]

Row 3: ch1, sc in 1st st, *FLWS, skip next 5sts, sc in next st; rep from * to end, turn.

Row 4: Rep Row 2.

Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until you have enough to measure and be sure your gauge is correct.

NECKBAND EDGING

Add a neckband edging to one long side of each Sleeve Panel. This will sit in the centre of your garment and create the ribbed neckline. Make sure your panels are facing in the direction that you would like them to sit on your body. Add the following rib to the inside long edge.

Row 1: join yarn to the first st of the long edge, ch1, work 6sc per LWS along the edge of the panel, turn [192 (192, 192, 204, 204) (204, 216, 216, 216) sc]

Row 2: ch1, sc in blo of each st across, turn.

Rows 3-16 (16, 14, 14, 14) (12, 12, 10, 10): Rep Row 2.

Repeat on the other panel.

Before seaming and adding the Bottom Band you need to block your Sleeve Panels to measurements. It is much easier to do this now rather than after the seaming.

Block both of your Sleeve Panels to the following measurements. These are with the sleeve edges added.

Width: 8 (9.25, 10, 11.25, 12.25) (13.25, 14.25, 15.25, 16.25) inches

Length: 36.5 (36.5, 36.5, 38.75, 38.75) (38.75, 41.25, 41.25, 41.25) inches

SEAMING AND FINISHING

There are lots of options within the seaming for you to customise your garment to fit exactly as you’d like it too.

Join the neckline seams with a ss to the WS of the work.

Sew all underarm seams with the WS facing you, using your preferred seaming method (whip stitch or mattress stitch work well).

Begin by seaming the Neckline, then the Underarms before adding the Bottom Band.

NECKLINE SEAMS

You can seam both the Front and Back V of the garment as much or as little as you like using a ss seam to the WS of the Top.

With the panels laid flat, line the Neckband Edgings up in the centre. Begin at the centre Front and seam as many stitches of each Sleeve Panel together at the centre as you would like to.

Repeat this process to seam the centre of the Back.

The space you leave between the two seams will create your head hole and this can be any size you would like that feels comfortable.

The premium PDF pattern includes instructional diagrams for the seaming process.

UNDERARM SEAMS

With your neckline seams complete, fold the top in half lengthways ready to seam under the arms. Make sure that you have the WS facing you to sew these seams.

Using standardised body measurements for a regular armhole depth, leave 11.5 (12.5, 13, 14, 15) (15.75, 16.5, 17.5, 18.25) LWS unseamed at each armhole.

If you would like to close your underarm more, then seam as much or as little as you like from the bottomupwards on each side.

Leave them completely open if you want a looser, beach cover up style. Close them so that it sits just under your arm for a more formal dress or top.

BOTTOM BAND

The Bottom Band is worked in rows along half of the Top for the Front and then the other half for the Back to create small side splits. With RS facing, join the yarn to the 1st st at the bottom edge of the Front.

Please note – the following instructions pull the top in gently at the waist. If you would prefer this not to happen then work more sc at the point of the Neckband Edging.

Row 1: ch1, work 6sc per LWS along the edge of the panel, work 1 sc per 2 rows of the Neckband Edging, turn. [76 (88, 98, 110, 122) (132, 144, 154, 166) sc]

Row 2: ch1, sc in blo of each across, turn.

Row 3-14: repeat Row 2.

14 Rows will give you a 2″ Bottom Band but you can work as many rows of the Bottom Band as you would like to achieve your desired length.

Repeat the Bottom Band along the Back.

When you are happy with the fit of your garment, weave in all ends and block to measurements.

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Inspiration: Other Crochet Top Patterns For Summer

If you enjoy crocheting lace summer garments then you’ll love these too:

• Granny Square Crop Top – quick, fun and bang on trend.
• Verona Tee – a delicate and understated filet crochet top pattern.
• Eyelet Lace Tee – a quick and easy summer crochet top to whip up!

Congratulations on completing your lace crochet summer top (or whichever version you decide on)! 🌟 Now that you’ve crafted this stunning piece, why stop here? Dive into my other fun adult crochet garment patterns, each waiting to be transformed into your next crochet masterpiece.

Don’t forget to share your creations with me on social media—I love seeing your unique twists and colourful creations! Join our community of crochet enthusiasts, where we share tips, tricks, and plenty of crafting inspiration. So, grab your hooks, explore more patterns, and let’s continue this crochet adventure together! Happy stitching! 🧶✨