Cloth and crochet in a cool summer top
Materials
100% Bamboo (One of a kind) 4 ply (50 g skeins): 2 skeins (1090) (order online from www.oneofakindyarns.co.za)
Vinnis Colours 4 ply (50 g balls): 3 balls (Plum 644)
3 mm crochet hook
Needle for tidying away threads
40 cm x 120 cm matching material (preferably material with draping weight)
General sewing kit
Size
One square is 13 cm x 13 cm. Top’s width = 91 cm and length = 17 cm (excluding straps)
Fits medium size.
Abbreviations
beg – begin
c/off – cast off
ch – chain stitch
cl – cluster
dc – double crochet (US single crochet)
d tr– double treble
h tr – half treble
lp – loop
rep – repeat
rnd – round
sp – space
ss – slip stitch
st – stitch
tr tr – triple treble
tr – treble crochet
Instructions
Square 1
The 1st square is crocheted to the 11th rnd. The 2nd and following squares are crocheted to the 10th rnd and then attached to each other in the 11th rnd.
With Bamboo: start with 6 ch, ss in 1st ch to form ring.
1st rnd: 5 ch, 1 tr in ring, 2 ch, (1 tr, 2 ch in ring) 6 times, ss in 3rd of beg-5 ch.
2nd rnd: [(1 dc, 1 h tr, 2 tr, 1 h tr, 1 dc) in each 2 ch-sp] 8 times, ss in 1st dc (= 8 petals).
3rd rnd: The rnd is crocheted on back side of petals: (3 ch, 1 dc in back of next 2 petals) 8 times, ss in 1st of beg-3 ch.
4th rnd: [(1 dc, 1 h tr, 5 tr, 1 h tr, 1 dc) in each 3 ch-sp] 8 times, ss in 1st dc.
5th rnd: The rnd is also worked on back of petals. (3 ch, 1 dc at back between next 2 petals) 8 times, ss in 1st of beg-3 ch.
6th rnd: 9 ch, (5 d tr-cl in 3 ch-sp, 3 ch, 1 d tr in ch (= between 2 petals), 3 ch, 5 d tr-cl in next 3 ch-sp, 4 ch, 1 tr tr in dc, 4 ch) 3 times, 5 dtr-cl in next 3 ch-sp, 3 ch, 1 d tr in dc, 3 ch, 5 d tr-cl in 3 ch-sp, 4 ch, ss in 5th of beg-9 ch. C/off.
7th rnd: With Vinnis Colours: 1 dc in any tr tr, (4 dc in 4 ch-sp, 1 dc in cl, 3 dc in 3 ch-sp, 1 dc in d tr, 3 dc in 3 ch-sp, 1 dc in cl, 4 dc in 4 ch-sp, 1 dc in tr tr) 3 times, 4 dc in 4 ch-sp, 1 dc in cl, 3 dc in 3 ch-sp, 1 dc in tr tr, 3 dc in 3 ch-sp, 1 dc in cl, 4 dc in 4 ch-sp, ss in 1st dc.
8te rnd: (5 ch, 1 tr) in same ss, [1 tr in next 17 dc, (1 tr, 2 ch, 1 tr) in next dc] 3 times, 1 tr in next 17 tr, ss in 3rd from beg-5 ch, ss in 2 ch-sp.
9th rnd: (5 ch, 1 tr in 2 ch-sp), [1 ch, 1 tr in next tr, (1 ch, skip 1 tr, 1 tr in next tr) 9 times, 1 ch, (1 tr, 2 ch, 1 tr) in 2 ch-sp] 3 times, 1 ch, 1 tr in next tr, (1 ch, skip 1 tr oor, 1 tr in next tr) 9 times, 1 ch, ss in 3rd from beg-5 ch, ss in 2 ch-sp.
10th rnd: (1 dc, 2 ch, 1 dc) in 2 ch-sp, [(1 dc in next tr, 1 dc in 1 ch-sp) 11 times, 1 dc in next tr, (1 dc, 2 ch, 1 dc) in 2 ch-sp] 3 times, (1 dc in next tr, 1 dc in 1 ch-sp) 11 times, 1 dc in next tr, ss in 1st dc.
11th rnd: [(1 dc, 3 ch, 1 dc) in 2 ch-sp, (1 dc in next 5 dc, 3 ch, skip 2 dc) 3 times, 1 dc in next 4 dc] 4 times, ss in 1st dc. C/off.
Square 2
Crochet to the end of the 10th rnd and then attach to one side of square 1.
11th rnd: 1 dc in 3 ch-sp, 1 ch, 1 ch in corner 3 ch-sp of 1st square, 1 ch, 1 dc in same sp of 2nd square, 1 dc in next 5 dc, 1 ch, 1 ch in next 3 ch-sp of 1st square, 1 ch, skip 2 dc, 1 dc in next 5 dc of 2nd square, 1 ch, 1 ch in next 3 ch-sp of 1st square, 1 ch, skip 2 dc, 1 dc in next 5 dc of 2nd square, 1 ch, 1 ch in next 3 ch-sp of 1st square, 1 ch, skip 2 dc, 1 dc in next 4 dc of 2nd square, 1 dc in next 2 ch-sp, 1 ch, 1 ch in corner 3 ch-sp of 1st square, 1 ch, 1 dc in same 2 ch-sp of 2nd square, 1 dc in next 5 dc, continue like in rnd 11 of 1st square. C/off. Attach all the squares to each other in this way and remember to fasten the last square to the 1st one too.
Top edge
Start at any square with Vinnis Colours:
1st rnd: [1 tr (the begin-tr will be 3 ch) in 3 ch-sp, skip 1 dc, (1 tr in next 5 dc, 1 tr in 3 ch-sp) 3 times, 1 tr in next 4 dc, skip 1 dc, 1 tr in 3 ch-sp] 7 times, ending with ss at top in beg-3 ch.
2nd rnd: 4 ch, skip 1 tr, 1 tr in next tr, (1 ch, skip 1 tr, 1 tr in next tr) 10 times, 1 ch, skip 2 tr, * [(1 tr in next tr, 1 ch, skip 1 tr) 10 times, 1 tr in next tr, 1 ch, skip 2 tr] *, rep from * to * on all sides, ending with ss in 3rd from beg 4 ch. C/off.
3rd rnd: With Bamboo start at any 1 ch-sp: * (1 dc, 1 h tr, 2 tr, 1 h tr, 1 dc) in 1 ch-sp, 1 dc in next 1 ch-sp *, rep from * to * on all sides, ending with ss in 1st dc. C/off.
Bottom edge
1st rnd: [1 tr (the 1st tr will be 3 ch) in 3 ch-sp, skip 1 dc, (1 tr in next 5 dc, 2 tr in 3 ch-sp) 3 times, 1 dc in next 4 dc, skip 1 dc, 1 tr in 3 ch-sp] 7 times, ending with ss at top in beg-3 ch.
2nd rnd: 4 ch, skip 1 tr, 1 tr in next tr, * 1 ch, skip 1 tr, 1 tr in next trlb *, rep from * to * on all sides, ending with ss in 3rd of beg-4 ch.
3rd rnd: 3 ch, * 1 tr in 1 ch-sp, 1 tr in next tr *, rep from * to * on all sides, ending with ss at top in beg-3 ch.
4th rnd: 1 ch, 1 dc in next 2 tr, * 3 ch, ss in 1st ch (= picot), skip 1 dc, 1 dc in next 3 dc *, rep from * to * on all sides, ss in 1st ch. C/off.
Strap (crochet 2)
With Vinnis Colours start with 7 ch.
1st rnd: 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 ch, 1 dc in next 2 ch, turn.
2nd rnd: 3 ks, 1 tr in next tr, 1 ch, 1 tr in next 2 tr. Rep row twice 36 times (= 38 rows). C/off. Turn work sideways and crochet over length as follows with Bamboo: 1 tr in 1st tr-sp, * (1 dc, 1 h tr, 2 tr, 1 h tr, 1 dc) in next tr-sp, 1 dc in next tr-sp *, rep from * to * to end, turn. Crochet 6 dc over short side, turn and continue on opposite side. *(1 dc, 1 h tr, 2 tr, 1 h tr, 1 dc) in tr-sp, 1 dc in next dc-sp*, rep from * to * to end, ss in 1st st. C/off.
Finishing off
Tidy away all loose threads. Sew straps on at front and back. Sew up side seam of material, overlock and iron. Overlock material at top, fold into a seam and iron. Sew two rows of basting stitches on the seam and gather to same width as crochet work. Sew material to the crochet work. Overlock the material at the bottom, fold into a hem and sew on. Iron the hem.
