It’s been 4+ years since I released the Las Nubes Crochet Top. A fingering weight, reverse raglan top. It was time for a reboot.
Design
It is here! The moment many of you were waiting for and I was dreading, the Reboot / re-release of the Las Nubes Top.
The Las Nubes Crochet top was the first pattern that I ever attempted to design, and thus it was far from perfect, but I wanted to translate the pattern and offer it to my Spanish speaking friends as well. In order to do so, the pattern needed to be pruned and polished to better serve crocheters. A bit like Mrs Potts in the “Be our guest scene from Beauty and the Beast.
Yarn
Not only did I want to make this pattern inclusive, but I wanted to test it with new, perhaps more accessible yarn. Which of course means that i reached out to my friends WEcrochet for a yarn sponsorship. For this updated version of the Las Nubes Crochet Top I used Chroma Fingering. This is a fun, single ply wool, nylon blend yarn.
While this yarn blend lacks the loftiness of the mohair from the Aire Base, it’s a lovely yarn to work with and available in many beautiful gradients.
The lack of mohair also makes it easier to frog, which is always a good thing because after a glass of wine or watching a show with subtitles frogging can happen.
I honestly couldn’t be happier to bring you this updated version of the Las Nubes Crochet top, not only is the yarn accessible but the top is now graded from a 29” bust all the way up to a 62” bust. Not only is the pattern more size inclusive but the paid for pdf includes video links to help you along your Las Nubes crocheting journey.
Construction of the Las Nubes Crochet Top
The construction of this top remains the same. We start from the owl motif with using the reverse raglan method to add our sleeves and decrease our yoke. Once the body of the blouse is crocheted, we add the second portion of the sleeves. Or, as one of our fellow makers has done, crochet up to the sleeve portion and simply add straps instead of working a yoke. This results in a square neckline.
Description
Summer, a cooling breeze caressing your skin, while you are outside, sipping a delicious mojito under an umbrella. A gentle and happy day all while you wear your Las Nubes top.
Of course, you can also wear this top while going about your daily chores, just be sure to wear an apron so you don’t get anything on it. Pair with a blazer and a pencil skirt for the office. This top is as adventurous as you are.
Las Nubes Paid for version
the PDF, which can be purchased from Ravelry, includes
- written instructions for all sizes
- schematic
- picture guides
- link to the full Las Nubes crochet top tutorial
Las Nubes Crochet Top
Materials:
- 2(3,3,3,4,4,5,5,6) Balls of We crochet Chroma fingering 396 yds in 100g / 70/30 Superwash Wool/ Nylon / Single ply yarn / Sample crocheted in Bare
- Hook Size: I used Tulip Etimo hooks
- 4.5 mm
- 3.75 mm
- 3.5 mm
- Tape measure
- Yarn Needle
- Scissors
- stitch marker
Sizes:
Finished measurement after blocking given in inches
| Size | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Bust | 29 | 34.5 | 39 | 42 | 45 | 50 | 54 | 60 | 62 |
| Owl Motif | 33.25 | 36.7 | 40 | 43.25 | 47 | 50 | 53.25 | 60 | 63.25 |
| Length | 19 | 19 | 19.5 | 19.5 | 20 | 20 | 20.5 | 21 | 21 |
| Sleeve * | 11.5 | 12.25 | 12.7 | 13 | 14 | 14.25 | 15 | 15.75 | 15.75 |
| Yoke depth | 6.5 | 7 | 8 | 8.25 | 8.75 | 9 | 9.5 | 10.25 | 10.25 |
Gauge:
completed in the round with a 3.5mm hook in extended single crochet stitches and measured over 4”
15 rounds x 17 stitches (blocked) Swatch was frogged to use in project.
Stitches and Abbreviation
- ch – chain
- fsc – foundation single crochet
- sc – single crochet
- ext-sc – extended single crochet
- insert hook into the stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop. Yarn over pull through 1 loop, yarn over pull through both loops.
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together (normal single crochet decrease)
- invisible decrease for ext-sc (ext-sc2tog)
- pick up the front loop of the next st and the back loop of the following. YO pull up a loop, Yarn over, pull through 1 loop, YO, pull through both loops.
- invisible increase
- make your stitch in the front loop of the stitch as well as the back loop.
Notes:
- While this is the same overall design released in 2018, the pattern itself has been re-worked. Sizes have been added, widths have been adjusted.
- beg ch 3 of the bottom portion counts as a dc
- beg ch2 of hdc rnd counts as the first hdc
- beg ch1 does not count as a st.
- This top has been tested with We crochet Chroma fingering and a standard Fingering weight (72/25, Merino/Nylon 460 yards in 100g)
- The Owl at the bottom border is made using a pineapple stitch. This stitch requires a multiple of 15.
Construction
The Las Nubes top is crocheted bottom up in the round using the reverse raglan technique. If, this technique is not familiar to you, Click here for a video explaining the technique. The blouse is designed to have a comfortable classic fit around the hips and waist.
While I always encourage makers to make changes as needed for their body, please keep in mind that ANY PATTERN CHANGES WILL AFFECT YARN NEEDED.
Notes on Size/Yarn:
In all pictures I wear size 1 (XS) with 4” of negative ease around the bust and don’t find it to be at all uncomfortable because the wool really conforms to the bust and still allows for stretch in this area.
Model Size: 33” bust, 29” waist
Now that we have read all the notes and gathered our materials, we can start to crochet!
We start with our 4.5mm hook (I used a tulip)
- Foundation sc 150 (165, 180, 195) 210 (225, 240, 255, 270) join in the round with a slip stitch. Alternatively ch151 (166, 181, 196) 211(226, 241, 256, 271) and starting at the second ch from the hook work 1 sc in each chain space.
- Ch 3 Make 1 dc in the next 2 sts *Ch 2, skip 4 sc and make 7 tr into the next sc, Ch 2 skip 4 sc, 1 dc into the next 6 sc; rep from *, until 12 sts are left, ch2, skip 4, 7tr in the next st, ch2, sk 4, dc in the last 3 sts, join with a slip stitch to the top of ch 3.
- Pattern repeats: 10(11, 12, 13) 14(15, 16, 18, 19)
- Ch3, 1 dc into the next dc, *Ch 2, [dc, ch2] in the next 6trb’s, dc, ch2, ( 7 dc and 6 ch 2 spaces), skip ch 2 space and dc, dc into the next 4 dc ( we have skipped a total of 2 dc on this repeat); Repeat from *, ending with ch2, skip 1 dc and 1 dc in the last 2 dc. slip stitch to the top of the Ch3 to join.
- Ch3 , *Ch2 ( total of 5 ch) Work ** [sc,ch3] into the next 5 ch spaces from the round below, 1 sc in the last fan ch space ( total of 6 sc and 5 ch 3 spaces). Ch2, Skip ch space and next dc. ** Work 1 dc into the next 2 dc, (skip the next dc) ; Repeat from * until you have 1 fan left, complete ** [ ] ** instructions, 1 dc into the last st, slip stitch to the top of the ch 3 to join.
- Ch3, *Ch2 (total of 5 chains) Skip ch 2 space and 1 sc. Working into each ch 3 space from the round below work [sc, ch 3] (total of 5 sc and 4 ch3 spaces) ch 2, skip ch 2 space, work 1 dc into the next 2 dc; Rep from *, ending the round with 1 dc in the last dc, slip stitch to the top of the ch3 to join.
- Ch 3, 1 dc into the same stitch as the ch 3. Ch2 (skip ch space and sc), *Working in the ch3 spaces ** [sc, ch3] three times, sc in last ch3 space (total of 4 sc and 3 ch3 spaces) Ch 2 **, work dc2inc in the next 2 sts (we have increased 2); Repeat from * until one fan remains; repeat [ ] *ending the round with dc2inc in last dc. Slip stitch to the top of Ch 3 to join.
Bottom Border Cont
7 – Ch 3, dc2inc in next dc. *Ch 2, working in the ch 3 spaces **[sc, ch3] twice, sc in last ch3 space(total of 3 sc and 2 ch3 spaces) Ch2, dc2inc in next st **, 1 dc in the next 2, dc2inc (6 dc total); Repeat from * until 1 fan remains, repeat ** ** ending with 1 dc in the last dc. Slip stitch to the top of the ch 3 to join.
8 – Ch 3, 1 dc in the next dc, dc2inc in the last dc of group, *Ch2, Working in ch3 space ** [sc, ch3], sc in last ch3 space (total of 2 sc and 1 ch 3 space) Ch 2 **, dc2inc, 1 dc into the next 4, dc2inc in last dc (8 dc total); Repeat from * until 1 fan remains, repeat ** ** ending the round dc2inc in the next dc and 1 dc in the last 2 dc. Slip stitch to the top of the ch 3 to join.
9 – Ch3, 1 dc into the next 2 dc, dc2inc in the last dc of group, *Ch2, sc into the ch 3 space, Ch2, dc2inc in the next dc, 1 dc into the next 6 dc, dc2inc last dc of group (10 dc total); Repeat from * until last ch3 space, sc, ch2, dc2inc in next dc, 1dc into the next 3, Slip stitch to the top of the ch 3 to join.
10 – Ch3, 1 dc in the next 3 dc, dc2inc in the last dc. Ch2, skip sc and next ch2 space from previous row, dc2inc in next dc, 1 dc in each of the next 8 dc, dc2inc in last dc of group. Repeat from * until 1 pineapple is left, ch2, dc2inc, 1 dc in each of the next 4 dc. Slip stitch to the top of the ch 3 to join.
11 – Ch 3, 1 dc in the next 2 dc, *Ch2, 7 tr into the ch 2 space, Ch2. skip 4 dc, dc2inc in the next dc, 1 dc into the next 2 dc, dc2inc in the next dc, skip 4 dc (6 dc total); Repeat from * to last ch2 space, 7 trb in the ch2 space, ch2, skip 4 ending round with dc2inc, dc in last st, Slip stitch to the top of the Ch 3 to join.
12 – Ch3 (counts as first dc), 1dc in each stitch around (we will be skipping the ch spaces). Join with a slip stitch130 (143, 156, 169) 182 (195, 208, 234, 247).
This completes the Owl Motif from the bottom border
In part 2 we will cover Rounds 13 to 40 of the top. If, however, you find that you can’t wait, you can purchase the full add free pdf pattern via Ravelry.
