Bloom Top

The Bloom top is an intermediate crochet lace top, worked bottom-up in two panels.

Inspiration/Design

Nature is a fascinating machine isn’t she? Given time she can heal and overcome many injuries. I’ve never given myself the time to cultivate a green thumb. Recently, though, I’ve been trying to connect more with my plants and have begun seeing them as a source of strength and inspiration. Especially after the very chaotic hail storm we had. 

My poor garden was battered, but after some pruning and time, it’s slowly begun healing. Seen this way, we have quite a bit in common with plants don’t we? When injured, we tend and prune ourselves until given time we heal. With these wild ideas in my head, I wanted to design a top that represented this cycle.

I like to think that the bloop top is a representation of spring. While I originally designed this pattern for Radicle Threads magazine, I wanted to re-work it in a more readily available yarn.

The yarn

We work this version of the bloom top in Elixir from Wecrochet. A blend of Alpaca, Merino and Linen. I’m not sure how to begin describing this yarn blend. It’s just stunning to me. 

The yarn provides warmth, softness and drape. Because of its fiber components it’s well suited for fall, light winter and in my opinion spring. The only con is that the linen does tend to shed quite a bit, but that didn’t detract from its beauty. Seriously, its halo is perfect.

Construction of the bloom top

As plants grow from a strong foundation, so does the bloom top. We start with a bottom up construction to represent our strong foundations. Then we move towards the “trunk” or body of our blouse and we complete our cycle by embroidering flowers or leaves to the crochet. 

In less flowery language (get it hehehe) The top is constructed bottom up in two panels which makes it a fairly easy garment to crochet. Once we’ve constructed our panels we lay them flat and seam the sides. As this top has no sleeves it can quite easily be used as a vest.

Paid for Printable PDF with embroidery tutorial

Bloom Top Instructions

Materials

• We Crochet Elixir (fingering weight, 45% Superfine Alpaca, 35% Merino Wool, 20% Linen) 50g/164yds) – Sample made with color Matcha

size	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
grams	180	200	240	273	294	330	360	390	415	450
Yarn Balls	4	4	5	6	7	7	8	8	9	10
Yards approx	656	656	820	984	1148	1148	1312	1312	1476	1640

• US (2.75mm) Crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge. I used a 2.75mm Furls Odyssey crochet hook to make the sample.
• Yarn Needle 
• Removable Stitch Markers 
• Embroidery floss or yarn. I used dmc floss.

Sample: I’m wearing size 2 of the Bloom top and my bust measures 33”, my waist measures 29”

Finished Measurements in inches

Size	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Bust	29	32	34	39	42	45.5	49	54	57	62
Waist	24	24	26.5	30	34	38	42	44	47	49
Length	15.5	15.5	17.5	17.5	17.5	18	18	18	18	18
Neckline	8	8	8	9	9.5	9.5	9.5	9.5	10.75	10.75
armhole depth	6.5	7	7.5	7.5	8.5	9	9	9.5	9.75	10
Shoulder	3	4	4.5	5	5.75	7	7.5	9	9	10

Gauge after blocking

6 (Sc, 2 Dc) groups + 1 st /19 stitches and 12 rows = 4×4” in Falling Leaves stitch with a 2.75mm crochet hook

Abbreviations

• BPdc: back post double crochet
• Ch: chain
• Dc: double crochet
• Fdc: foundation double crochet
• FPdc: front post double crochet
• Inc: increase
• rem: remain
• Sc: single crochet
• Sk: skip 
• Sp(s): space(s)
• St(s): stitch(es)

Notes: 

• Beginning Ch3 counts as a double crochet.
• Ch1 does not count as a stitch.
• The main pattern stitch is the Falling Leaves stitch composed of (Sc,2 Dc) in the same stitch.
• Top is crocheted bottom up in two separate panels.
• Embroidery is optional but I do think it adds to the top. Although the pattern states to do the woven wheels on the shoulder seam, you can play around with placement of the embroidery.
• I blocked my swatch and my finished garment twice. I typically soak the garment, remove excess water, pin gently and lay flat to dry.

Special Stitches:
Falling Leaves Stitch (worked flat over multiples of 3+1) 
Setup Row: Foundation double crochet in multiples of 3+1

Row 1 :  Ch 1 (does not count as Sc throughout), (Sc, 2 Dc) in 1st st, sk 2 sts, *(Sc, 2 Dc), in next st, sk 2 sts; repeat from * to last st, Sc in last st, turn.
Row 2: Ch1, *(Sc, 2 Dc) in Sc, sk 2 Dc; repeat from * to last st, Sc in last Sc, turn.
Repeat Row 2 for pattern.

Front Panel 

Setup Row:  58( 58, 64, 73, 82) 91(100, 106, 112, 118) Fdc, turn.

Row 1: Ch 3 (counts as Dc throughout), *FPdc in next st, BPdc in next st; repeat from * to last st, Dc in last st, turn. 58( 58, 64, 73, 82) 91(100, 106, 112, 118) sts.

Row 2: Ch 3, *BPdc in next st, FPdc in next st; repeat from * to last st, Dc in last st, turn. 

Rows 3 to 6: Repeat Rows 1-2 two more times. 

Row 7 (RS): Ch 1 (Sc, 2 Dc) in 1st st, sk 2 sts, (Sc, 2 Dc) in next st, sk 2 sts,* repeat from to* to last st, Sc in last Sc, turn. 19 (19, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 35, 37, 39) groups of (Sc, 2 Dc) and 1 Sc.

Row 8:  Ch 1, (Sc, 2 Dc) in Sc, sk 2 Dc,* repeat from to* to last st, Sc in last Sc, turn. 19( 19, 21, 24, 27) 30( 33, 35, 37, 39) groups of (Sc, 2 Dc) and 1 Sc.

Rep last row 14 (14, 14, 14, 14, 14, 14, 12, 12, 12) more times. 

Inc Row: Ch 1, [(Sc, 2 Dc) in Sc, sk 2 Dc] twice, (Sc, 2 Dc) in next Dc, sk next Dc, (Sc, 2 Dc) in next Sc, sk 2 Dc,* rep from * to ** until 2 (Sc, 2 Dc) groups rem, (Sc, 2 Dc) in next Dc, sk next Dc, (Sc, 2 Dc) in Sc, Sc in last Sc, turn. 2 (Sc, 2 Dc) groups increased. 21 (21, 23, 26, 29, 32, 35, 37, 39, 41) groups and 1 Sc.

Next Row: Ch1, (Sc, 2 Dc) in Sc, sk 2 Dc,* repeat from to* to last st, Sc in last Sc, turn. 

Repeat last 2 rows  1 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4) more times. 23(25, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, 43, 45, 49) (Sc, 2 Dc)
groups. ***

Work Row 8 until a total of 46 (46, 46, 50, 50, 52, 52, 52, 54, 54) rows have been worked, turn.

Next we work our neck shaping

Neck Shaping and Front Left:

Row1(RS):  Ch1, (Sc, 2 Dc) 6 (7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 15, 17) times, Sc in next Sc, turn.  6 (7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 15, 17) groups and 1 Sc.

Row2: Sk Sc, sl st in next 2 sts, (Sc, 2 Dc) in Sc* Repeat from to* to last st. Sc in last Sc, turn. 5 (6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 14, 16) groups and 1 Sc.

Row3: Ch1, *(Sc, 2 Dc) in Sc, ** Repeat from to* last st. Sc in last Sc, turn. 
Repeat Row 3 three more times. Break yarn.

Front Right

With wrong side facing, join yarn to the first stitch on right hand side.

Row 1 (WS): (Sc, 2 Dc) 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) 12(13, 15, 15, 17) times, Sc in the next Sc, turn.  6 (7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 15, 17) groups and 1 Sc.

Row 2: Sk Sc, sl st in next 2 sts. (Sc, 2 Dc) in Sc* Repeat from to* last st. Sc in last Sc, turn. 5(6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 14, 16) groups and 1 Sc.

Row 3: Ch1, (Sc, 2 Dc) in Sc* Repeat from to* last st, Sc in last Sc, turn. 
Repeat Row 3 three more times. Cut yarn and fasten off.

Back Panel

Work same as front until ***.
Work Row 8 until a total of 52(52, 52, 56, 56) 58(58, 58, 60, 60) have been completed. Cut yarn, fasten off.

Finishing 

Weave in ends. Block to finished measurements. With right sides facing each other, join Front and Back at  shoulders. Seam sides leaving 6.5(7, 7.5, 7.5, 8.5, 9, 9, 9.5, 9.5, 10)” for armholes. 

Embroidery for the bloom top (optional)

With embroidery thread or contrasting yarn color, embroider 4 or more woven wheels stitch along the shoulder seams on either side of the Bloom Top.

1. Cut the 6 stands of the embroidery thread as long as your elbow. Thread the yarn needle. 
2. Place your needle on the inside of the crochet and insert from back to front through the crochet, insert the needle a little below where you came out of (1 spoke made)
3. Repeat step 2 until you have 5 spokes of a wheel. Then insert your needle from back to front near a spoke. We will now begin the woven wheel
4. For the woven wheel repeat [over the spoke, under the next spoke] around the spokes until you have worked almost all of your thread.

Other crochetcakes garment patterns that are worked in panels

Flower Child Top

Fallalery Crochet Top