Tangerine Top

Fits girls' sizes 14–16 (16½″ long) and women's xs (sm, med, lg, xlg, 1x and 2x) Sm — 17½″ long, med — 18″ long, lg — 19″ long, xlg, 1x and 2x — 19½″ long

Skill Level — Intermediate

Make this top in bright, summery tangerine. Sometimes it's fun to expand your horitzons and try colors that aren't your favorites. I'm not crazy about orange, but I absolutely love this feminine top. Great things can happen when you think outside the box!

Materials:

3 (4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6) skeins (3.5 oz./100 g/178 yd.) 51% cotton 49% acrylic yarn in light orange

Size G/6 (4 mm) crochet hook

1 yd. 3/8″-wide ribbon

Yarn needle

Sewing needle and matching thread

Used in this project: TLC Cotton Plus yarn in Tangerine

Gauge:

4 dc rows = 2″

5 dc = 1¼″

Having the right gauge is very important for this top. If gauge does not match, change to a larger hook.

Special Stitch:

Work loose dcs.

Bobble St (bbl): Yo, insert hook in st, pull through 2 lps (5 times) yo and pull through all 6 lps on hook — do not ch 1 after bbl st.

Helpful Hint:

Circle each number for your size to make the pattern easier to follow.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Back:

Ch 62 (66, 68, 72, 74, 74, 74).

Row 1: Dc in fourth ch from hook and in each ch across. Ch 3, turn — 60 (64, 66, 70, 72, 72, 72) dc.

Note: Ch 3 will count as first dc throughout patt.

Row 2: Dc in blo of each st across row, ch 3, turn. Remember to always sk first dc that is attached to ch 3 — 60 (64, 66, 70, 72, 72, 72) dc.

Rows 2–24 (26, 28, 30, 32, 36, 38): Rep Row 2. End off.

Front

Rep Rows 1–24 (26, 28. 30, 32, 36, 38) same as back. Pm here to indicate front. With RS tog, sew side seams with yarn and yarn needle, leaving 18 (20, 22, 24, 26, 26, 26) dc unworked for armhole. Turn top RS out.

Attaching Front to Back at Shoulders

At armhole opening (on either side), attach yarn with sl st to top corner of back that is to rt of opening. Counting sl st as first ch, ch 13 (15, 17, 19, 21, 25, 27) attach with sl st to corner st on front piece to close armhole opening. End off — 13 (15, 17, 19, 21, 25, 27) chs. Rep on other side.

Top Edge

With RS out, attach yarn to corner at RS when back piece is facing you. This is the same sp where you attached sl st for chs.

Rnd 1: At top neck edge, working on ends of dc rows, work 2scstog across back. (To work 2sctog, insert hook around body of dc at end of first dc row, yo and pull lp through, leaving 2 lps on hook. Insert hook in st before next dc row, yo and pull up lp, yo and pull through all 3 lps on hook.) You are working a 2sctog with both sts worked over 1 row. The first sc is worked around post of the dc and the second sc is worked at the end of the same dc — before next dc. (See Diagram C.) Cont across top edge working 2sctog, until you get to corner — 24 (26, 28, 30, 32, 36, 38) sc total. After working sc in side of last dc, work 1 sc in corner st, work 13 (15, 17, 19, 21, 25, 27) sc in chs across shoulder, sl st to next corner.

Diagram C

Next Step: Work 24 (26, 28, 30, 32, 36, 38) sc across front with 2sctog same as on back, work 13 (15, 17, 19, 21, 25, 27) sc in next 13 (15, 17, 19, 21, 25, 27) sc across shoulder, attach to first sl st in corner.

Rnd 2 (Rnd where ribbon will be woven through): Ch 3, dc in each of next 24 (26, 28, 30, 32, 36, 38) sc, dc in corner st — 26 (28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 40) total dc across back.

Words of Encouragement

Look for good in others. When i was growing up, my mother told me that you can always find something good to say about anyone — so focus on the good in others, not the bad. You will reap what you sow, and others will be more likely to find the good in you. It's not always natural to be positive, but with practice you can learn to change any negative patterns that you learned while growing up.

Next Step: Work sc in same st as last dc worked (corner st). Bbl will be on WS, but when row is finished, carefully push each one to RS with finger. * Work bobble (see special st) in next sc, sc in next st, rep from * 5 (6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12) times, sc in corner st — 6 (7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13) bbl sts.

Next Step: Work front same as back — 26 (28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 40) dc.

Note: first and last dc will be worked in corner sts on each end of front and back.

Next Step: Work sc in same st as last dc, work bbl sts across ch 13 (15, 17, 19, 21, 25, 27) same as before, and sl st to top of ch 3 at beg of rnd. End off.

Remainder of Shoulder

Work on free lps of chain.

Row 2 of shoulder/sleeve: Turn top inside-out with neck edge closest to you. On either shoulder, attach yarn to RS of sleeve opening at underside of bbl row. Attach with sl st to third dc as in Diagram D. Sc to free lp of first ch on unworked edge of ch 13 (15, 17, 19, 21, 25, 27). * Bbl in next ch, sc in next ch, rep from * 5 (6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12) times, sl st to third and fourth dc on armhole opening, ch 1, and turn — 6 (7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13) bbls.

Row 3: Work 13 (15, 17, 19, 21, 25, 27) sc across row, attach with sl st to fourth and fifth dc on armhole opening, ch 1, and turn.

Row 4: Working into sc instead of chs, work 6 (7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13) bbls with sc between each as in Row 2. Attach to fourth and fifth dc, ch 1, turn.

Row 5: Work 13 (15, 17, 19, 21, 25, 27) sc across, attach to sixth and seventh dc, ch 1, turn.

Row 6: Rep Row 4, attaching to sixth and seventh dc on side edge, ch 1, turn.

Row 7: Rep Row 5, attaching to eighth and ninth dc, ch 1, turn.

Row 8: Rep Row 4, attaching to eighth and ninth dc, ch 1, turn.

Row 9: Rep Row 5, attaching to tenth and eleventh dc, ch 1, turn.

Row 10: Rep Row 4, attaching to tenth and eleventh dc, ch 1, turn.

Row 11: Work 13 (15, 17, 19, 21, 25, 27) sc across, attaching to tenth dc. End off.

Work other shoulder in same manner.

Helpful Hint:

You should almost always use a larger hook on your beginning chain than the pattern calls for, and then go to the size hook listed.

Bobble Edging

Rnd 1: At bottom edge, attach yarn to seam on either side. Sc in same sp, * sc around post of next horizontal dc, sc in sp before next dc row, and rep from * around. Sl st to first sc.

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in same sp, * bbl in next sc, sc in next sc, rep from *. End with sl st in first sc. End off.

Finishing

If needed, adjust armhole opening by sewing up more sts at side seam, or work scs around entire armhole opening. For larger armhole opening, take out some sts. Weave in ends.

Cut ends of ribbon at a slant. Starting at center space on dc row of top front, weave ribbon through all dc around, allowing ribbon to lie loose underneath bbl row. Tack loose ribbon to underside of bbl row with needle and thread.