Crochet Summer Top – Shield Maiden Garment

A simple but fun crochet summer top made with Bernat Home Maker Dec yarn.

For all of you who have visited before and downloaded the pdf, the pattern has been updated! Please read the pattern below

Hello one and all! I have finally decided to upload my first ever garment pattern!

The design

I wanted to make a feminine garment that could be worn in a hot stuffy climate. Therefore, the garment design had to include, a solid fabric for the chest area, combined with some sort of lace stitch. This of course meant that I had to search for a lace stitch that provided structure and breathability. Cue frantically searching through vintage stitch dictionaries and various youtube tutorials. Turns out A Vogue Dictionary of Crochet Stitches had exactly what I was looking for. Since this dictionary does not have any names for stitches whatsoever, I decided to call it the Flower Stitch.

Thus, with the combination of the Flower stitch and the hdc stitch for the top portion, a summer crochet top was in motion.

The yarn

Of course, if you are trying to make a crochet summer top, the yarn plays a huge role in breath-ability. Now, the yarn I chose for this project may have some of you screaming, but bear with me. I decided to use Bernat Maker Home Dec, a bulky cotton-blend yarn. Why? Even though this yarn is classified as a Bulky Weight, the knit tube structure of it makes it pretty lightweight. Also, the yarn has some gorgeous stitch definition and can stand up to being washed. I chose a cement type color because it reminded me of a shield, and you all know how much I love history.

Interestingly enough, the color, and stitches used are the reason I decided to name this pattern Shield maiden, after all those women who actively fought in battlefields. More on shieldmaidens here

Construction

How do we make the shieldmaiden top? This crochet summer top is crocheted in two panels. Each panel is crocheted from the bottom up, and the front panel has a v-stitch neckline. Once your two panels are complete you will pick up stitches for the sleeve.

The pattern is very beginner-friendly, it provides a chart for the stitch used and written instructions as well.

I hope you enjoy this pattern and if you make it, please tag me on Instagram and use the #crochetcakespodcast to share with the community as well! Now, onto the materials needed to make this crochet summer top.

Spanish Version – Doncella de la Flor

Materials:

2-4 balls of Bernat Home Maker Home Dec yarn

8mm hook

7mm hook

measuring tape

tapestry needle

Sizes: S/M (L,XL)

Gauge: 10 stitches x 9 rows in hdc with a 7mm hook

Finished Garment Size Unblocked – 36(40,44)” chest 22.5 in length.

Abbreviations:

Ch – chain

ss – slip stitch

sc – single crochet

hdc – half double crochet

dc – double crochet

trb – treble crochet

Notes:

Pattern is written in US terms.

Instructions are written for a size small/medium (Large, XL).

Pattern is worked from the bottom up, two pieces seamed at the sides.

We start with the Square Flower Stitch

Ch 2 at the beginning of the round counts as hdc

IN THE SQUARE FLOWER STITCH – Ch 5 at the beginning of the row counts as a dc and a ch 2 space.

Crochet Summer Top – Shieldmaiden Instructions

Square flower Stitch: Multiples of 15 + 8

Bottom Band With an 8mm hook, Ch 53 (68, 83)

Base Row: dc in the 8th ch from hook, ch 2 skip 2, dc in next stitch *ch 2, miss 2 ch, dc in next stitch* Repeat from * to * to end. Ch 5 turn (counts as a dc ch 2 space)

Row 1: Skip first stitch and ch space (this would be the chain 5) *13 dc (these are worked, dc in dc, 2 dc in ch space ). Ch2 skip ch space.* Repeat this sequence across. End row with a ch2 and a dc in the third chain from the ch 5 of the base row. Ch 5 and turn.

Row 2: Skip first stitch and ch space ( this would be the chain 5) * 1 dc in next 4 dc, ch2 skip 2, 1 trb in next dc, ch 2 skip 2 stitches, 1 dc in next 4 stitches, ch2 skip ch space.* Repeat from * to * across. Finish row with a ch 2 and dc in third ch from ch 5 of the row below. Ch 5, turn.

Row 3: Skip first stitch and ch space. * 1 dc in next two stitches, ch 5 skip 2 dc and chain space, 1 sc in the treble crochet. Ch 5 skip ch space and 2 dc, dc in next 2 dc, ch2 and skip ch space.* Repeat from * to * across. Finish the row with a ch 2 and a dc in 3rd chain of chain 5. Ch 5, turn.

Row 4: Sk first stitch and chain space. * 1 dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in Ch 5 space, ch2 dc in sc, ch 2, 2 dc in 5 ch space, 1 dc in next 2 dc, ch2 sk ch space.* Repeat from * to * across. Finish row with a ch 2 and a dc in third chain from ch 5 below. Ch 5 turn

Row 5: Sk first stitch and ch space. *1 dc in the next 4 dc, 2 dc in ch 2 space, 1 dc in dc, 2 dc in chain space, 1 dc in next 4 dc, ch2 sk ch space* Repeat from * to * across. Repeat from * to * across. Finish row with a ch 2 and a dc in third chain from ch 5 below. Ch 5 turn

Row 6: Skip the first stitch and chain space, *1 dc in next stitch chain 2, skip 2 stitches* Repeat from * to * across the row, Ch 5 and turn.

Repeat rows 1-6 once more. When you have completed your last row 6 do not ch5, instead Ch2 and turn, this counts as your first hdc.

** Click for Flower Stitch Tutorial

Shirt Back

For Shirt Back: Row 1: Skip first stitch 1 (1,1) hdc in ch 2 space, skip dc, 2(2,1) hdc in ch 2 space. *hdc in dc, 2 hdc in ch 2 space.* Repeat from * to * until you come to the last dc ch2 space of the row, skip this dc, 1(1, xl – hdc dec over ch space and last stitch) hdc in ch space, hdc in the 3rd chain of the ch 5 space. Ch 2 and turn. We have decreased to 45(60,75)

Row 2: hdc in each stitch across. 45 (60,75) Switch to a 7mm hook

Row 3 – 16: Repeat row 2, remembering that the ch 2 at the end of the row counts as your first hdc. Ch 1 turn

Row 17: slip stitch over the next 5 stitches (5,6). Chain 2, hdc until 5(5,6) stitches left, ch2 turn. 35 (50,63)

Row 18 – 31(33,37) hdc in each stitch across. Fasten off.

Shirt Front:

Repeat Instructions for the Bottom Band Repeat Row 1 -16 as established for the shirt back. Don’t forget to ch 1 and turn after finishing row 16.

For Shirt Front Left: Row 17 – Slip stitch over the next 5(5,6) . Ch 2 and 1 hdc in the next 18(24,31) hdc. Ch 2 turn. remember this ch 2 counts as a hdc.

Row 18 – Skip your first stitch and the next stitch (decrease made) hdc across. 17(23,30) stitches. Ch 2, turn

Row 19 – hdc across. 17(23,30) hdc. Ch2 and turn

Row 20 – Repeat row 18. 16(22,29) hdc

Row 21 – Repeat row 19. 16 (22,29) hdc

Row 22 – 31(33,37) Continue repeating rows 18 and 19 until you have a total of 10(16,21) stitches remaining. You should end with row 19. 7(8, 8.5)” of shoulder depth.

For Shirt Front Right:

Row 17: With right side facing you, Join yarn to the left of the stitch (for size XL skip 1 stitch and join in the next). Ch 2, hdc across leaving 5(5,6) stitches unworked. 19 (25,31) (Ch 2, turn

Row 18: Skip the first stitch, hdc across stop 2 stitches before the end of the row, skip next hdc. last hdc on top of the ch 2 from previous row. Ch 2 and turn. 17(23,30) hdc

Row 19: hdc across. Ch 2 turn. 17(23,30) hdc

Row 20: Repeat row 18. 16(22,29) hdc

Row 21 – Repeat row 19. 16(22,29) hdc

Row 22 – 31(33,37) Continue repeating rows 18 and 19 until you have a total of 10(16,21) stitches remaining. You should end with row 19.

We now have two garment pieces that need to be seamed.

With right sides of the garment facing, sew shoulder straps together, I used a sc join, but you can use whatever join you feel comfortable with.

For the sides, I like to line up the rows as well as I can, then I use stitch markers to ‘pin’ together my garment pieces. I start joining the garment from the sleeve opening down, leaving the last 3 rows unjoined. Repeat for other side.

SLEEVES: Join yarn at the bottom of the armhole, right side facing you.

Row 1 – Ch 2. 11(14,17) hdc along the side of the armhole (12[15,18) hdc total counting ch 2). Continue with 15(15,17) dc on the top of the armhole, then 12(15,18) hdc along the other side of the armhole. Join with a slip stitch To the top of the ch 2. CH 2

Row 2 – Ch 2. hdc 2 together over the next 4 stitches. Continue making hdc in hdc, and dc on top of double crochet, stopping 4 stitches before the beg of round. hdc decrease over the last 4 stitches. Slip stitch on top of the ch2 from previous round. CH2

Row 3 – Hdc on top of the hdc and dc on top of dc. Join with a slip stitch on top of the ch 2. CH 2

Row 4 – 1 dc over the next 2 hdc. dc all the way round, decreasing over last 2 stitches. Ch2

Row 5 – dc all the way around. Fasten off. Repeat Rounds 1 to 5 for the other sleeve.

Weave in all ends. ET VOILA! You now have a finished garment!