I’m back again with another crochet project. In my last post, I made mention of a crop top I crocheted as a gift for my best friend’s birthday. I added that I didn’t take pictures of the process. Because of that, I wasn’t going to post it at first, but then I had a second think and realized that besides the pictures, I still had the process to explain and the whole story surrounding the project to tell. Also, a couple of people indicated interested in seeing it, so why not?
I’d intended crocheting a top with the design for a long time. A top that would be two colours with vertical and horizontal lines demarcating them. In The top right and right sleeve would be one colour and the top left and left sleeve will be the other colour. For the bottom right and left, the colours will be alternated. Something like this:
So when I decided to gift my friend a crochet piece for her birthday, I chose to use that design and crochet something really pretty and feminine. I would add ruffles to the sleeves and the bottom of the body and I would use army green and pure white. The other colours at the shop I get yarn from close to my house did not have the colours I preferred so I settled for those.
I encountered a little problem. I did not have my friend’s measurement and I wanted the top to be a surprise. I contemplated using an estimated measurement but tossed that idea aside. I decided that I’d let her know I was crocheting a top for her, but she wouldn’t know the design so it’d still be a surprise.
It was around the end of the semester. Exams were less than a month away when I started and I was really slow with it.
I used a 3mm hook and a double crochet, starting with white and green. I hadn’t tried using two colours at the beginning of a crochet piece before. I mean, using two colours in my chain. It seemed like I was doing it wrong. I actually frogged twice before I was okay with what I had. At this point, I felt like I was somewhere even when I hadn’t gone anywhere.
When I was halfway between the bottom and the middle of the neckline, I switched colours and began to work with green and white instead of white and green. I was still crocheting while doing exams. Anytime I had some time to spare, I’d whip up a few rows.
I finally got to the armholes after what seemed like ages. Having reached this point, I was at the neckline in no time. I made a wide round neck.
For the second panel, I only had to do the same thing. I was faster with this one though. In no time, I was at the sleeves. I simply crocheted a few rows round and then added ruffles by doing five single crochets in each stitch. It was left to do the ruffles at the bottom. I also made them by doing five single crochets in each stitch. By the time I finished, it was a day after my last paper. That was more than a month after I started. But the top looked better than it even did in my mind that I didn’t mind.
And when I finally gave it to my friend, she was delighted. She could hardly believe her eyes. And it was a perfect fit! Check it out.
Till next time, guys. Ciao!
