INTRODUCTION

Through the Portal

by Amy Gunderson

Though I've made and designed far more things for knit than I have crochet, my first yarn skill was, in fact, crochet. There's a bit of a rivalry between knitters and crocheters that I noticed right away when the internet started getting to be a thing. It's silly, as far as I'm concerned, as each craft can make pretty and amazing things in their own right. If I want to make a colorwork yoke sweater, I will likely knit it. If I want a beautiful doily, I will probably crochet it. And so on.

But when it comes to warm-weather garments, I love to use both skills and let them shine equally. Crocheted lace has infinite possibilities with stitches that can be short or tall, flat or three dimensional, and patterns that can appear geometric or floral or pineapply or dainty. I love a good mesh pattern, and chose a crochet lace that looks a bit like arched doorways, the entrance to a cave, or maybe the way through a portal. I refuse to stop wearing my handmade garments in the summer and love to make tops like this that are perfect for layering.

The lowcut open back pairs perfectly with a strappy sports bra as shown. But it also looks great over a sundress, standard fitting tank, and other summer wardrobe scenarios that you might imagine, and can be worn with either side as the front. Shown just a bit cropped, it's easy enough to lengthen as desired.

model + photos: Amy Gunderson

SIZE

Women's XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X]
Shown in size S with 0 inches/0 cm of ease at full bust and 2 inches/5cm of ease at upper bust

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest:  30[34, 38.5, 42.5, 46.5, 51, 55, 59.5, 63.5] inches/ 76[86.5, 98, 108, 118, 129.5, 139.5, 151, 161.5] cm
Length:  17.5[19, 19, 20.25, 20.25, 21.5, 21.5, 23, 23] inches/ 44.5[48.5, 48.5, 51.5, 51.5, 54.5, 54.5, 58.5, 58.5] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Universal Yarn Bamboo Pop [50% bamboo, 50% cotton; 292 yd/267 m per 3.5 oz/100 g skein]; color: 123 Fuchsia; 2[3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5] skeins

Yarn Characteristics
The sample shown uses a DK-weight plied yarn that is a blend of plant fibers. There is no elasticity to the yarn which works well for this design. Wool or wool blends will also work. But to keep this top warm-weather friendly, I recommend a cotton or cotton blend.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 set US#4/3.5mm needles for working flat
1 US#4/3.5mm circular needle, 24-inch/60 cm (or longer; for armhole and neck edgings which are worked flat)
1 US G-6/4mm crochet hook

Notions
removable stitch markers
yarn needle

GAUGE

19 sts/12 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in Crochet Arc Stitch
24 sts/28 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm in (k2, p2) ribbing
22 sts/28 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch

Note: gauge is always taken after blocking.

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Construction method: The crochet portion of front and back pieces are made first, separately, from the bottom up. The knitted hem and sleeve edgings are knitted directly onto the Front and Back. Neck edging is added after seaming.

CHARTS

Crochet Arc Stitch (begin with a multiple of 5 chs + 2)
Work from chart or written instructions as you prefer.

Set-up Row [WS]: Sc in second ch from hook, sc in next ch, [ch 3, skip 2 chs, sc in each of next 3 chs] to last 4 chs, ch 3, skip 2 chs, sc in last 2 chs, turn.
Row 1 [RS]: Ch 1, sc in first sc, 5 dc in ch-3 sp, [skip 1 sc, sc in next sc, skip 1 sc, 5 dc in ch-3 sp] to last 2 sc, skip next sc, sc in last sc, turn.
Row 2 [WS]: Ch 3 (counts as hdc + ch 1), skip next dc, [sc in each of next 3 dc, ch 3, skip next (dc, sc, dc)] to last 4 dc, sc in next 3 dc, ch 1, skip next dc, hdc in last sc, turn.
Row 3: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in ch-1 sp, skip next sc, sc in next sc, skip next sc, [5 dc in ch-3 sp, skip next sc, sc in next sc, skip next sc] to last ch-1 sp, 2 dc in ch-1 sp, dc in hdc, turn.
Row 4: Ch 1, sc in first 2 dc, [ch 3, skip next (dc, sc, dc), sc in each of next 3 dc] to last 4 dc, ch 3, skip next (dc, sc, dc), sc in last 2 dc, turn.
Rep Rows 1-4 for patt.

DIRECTIONS

Front
With crochet hook, ch 72[82, 92, 102, 112, 122, 132, 142, 152] .
Work the Set-up Row of the Crochet Arc Stitch pattern, then repeat Rows 1-4, 9[10, 10, 11, 11, 12, 12, 13, 13] times.

Shape Neck/Shoulders
Row 1 [RS]: Work Row 1 of the pattern once more.

From here, you can work from chart or written instructions as you prefer.

Row 2 [WS]: Ch 3 (counts as hdc + ch 1), skip next dc, [sc in each of next 3 dc, ch 3, skip next (dc, sc, dc)] 1[2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] time(s), [sc in next 3 dc, ch 2, skip next (dc, sc, dc)] 11 times, [sc in next 3 dc, ch 3, skip next (dc, sc, dc)] 1[2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] time(s), sc in next 3 dc, ch 1, skip next dc, hdc in last sc, turn.

Left Neck/Shoulder
Row 3 [RS]: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in ch-1 sp, [skip next sc, sc in next sc, skip next sc, 5 dc in ch-3 sp] 1[2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] time(s), skip next sc, sc in next sc, turn.
Row 4 [WS] Ch 2, skip sc and dc, [sc in next 3 dc, ch 3, skip next (dc, sc, dc)] 1[2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] time(s), sc in last 2 dc, turn.
Row 5: Ch 1, sc in first sc, [skip next sc, 5 dc in ch-3 sp, skip next sc, sc in next sc] 1[2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] time(s), turn.
Row 6: Ch 2, [skip next dc, sc in next 3 dc, skip next dc, ch 2] 0[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 7] time(s), skip next dc, sc in next 3 dc, skip next dc, ch 1, hdc in last sc. Fasten off.

Right Neck/Shoulder
Skip 11 ch-2 sps from the first st of Right Neck Shoulder, skip next sc, join yarn with sl st in next sc.
Row 3 [RS]: Ch 1, sc in first st, [skip next sc, sc in next sc, skip next sc, 5 dc in ch-3 sp] 1[2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] time(s), skip next sc, sc in next sc, 2 dc in ch-1 sp, dc in last hdc, turn.
Row 4 [RS]: Ch 1, sc in first 2 dc, [ch 3, skip next (dc, sc, dc), sc in next 3 dc] 1[2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] times, turn.
Row 5: Ch 1, skip first sc, [sc in next sc, skip next sc, 5 dc in ch-3 sp, skip next sc] 1[2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] times, sc in last sc, turn.
Row 6: Ch 3 (counts as hdc + ch 1), [skip next dc, sc in next 3 dc, ch 2, skip next dc] 0[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8] times, skip next dc, sc in next 3 dc. Fasten off.

Lower Front Hem
With RS facing and straight needles, pick up and knit 90[102, 114, 130, 142, 154, 166, 178, 190] sts, turn.
Row 1 [WS]: *P2, k2; rep from * to last 2 sts, p2.
Row 2 [RS]: *K2, p2; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Rep Rows 1 and 2 until Hem measures 3 inches/8 cm. Bind off all sts in patt.

Back
With crochet hook, ch 72[82, 92, 102, 112, 122, 132, 142, 152] .
Work the Set-up Row of the Crochet Arc Stitch pattern, then repeat Rows 1-4, 4[5, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 5] times.

Shape Left Back Neck:
Row 1 [RS]: Work Row 1 of the pattern once more.

From here, you can work from chart or written instructions as you prefer.

Row 2 [WS]: Ch 3 (counts as hdc + ch 1), skip next dc, [sc in next 3 dc, ch 3, skip next (dc, sc, dc)] 6[7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14] times, sc in next 3 dc, turn.
Row 3 [RS]: Ch 1, skip next sc, [sc in next sc, skip next sc, 5 dc in ch-3 sp, skip next sc] 6[7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14] times, sc in next sc, skip next sc, 2 dc in ch-1 sp, dc in last hdc, turn.
Row 4: Ch 1, sc in first 2 dc, [ch 3, skip next 2 sc, sc in next 3 dc] 6[7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14] times, turn.
Row 5: Ch 1, skip next sc, [sc in next sc, skip next sc, 5 dc in ch-3 sp, skip next sc] 6[7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14] times, skip next sc, sc in last sc, turn.
Row 6: Ch 3 (counts as hdc + ch 1), skip next dc, [sc in next 3 dc, ch 3, skip next (dc, sc, dc)] to last 5-dc group, sc in next 3 dc, turn.
Row 7: Ch 1, skip next sc, [sc in next sc, skip next sc, 5 dc in ch-3 sp, skip next sc] to last 3-sc group, sc in next sc, skip next sc, 2 dc in ch-1 sp, dc in last hdc, turn.
Row 8: Ch 1, sc in first 2 dc, [ch 3, skip next 2 sc, sc in next 3 dc] up to (and including) last 5-dc group, turn.
Row 9: Ch 1, skip next sc, [sc in next sc, skip next sc, 5 dc in ch-3 sp, skip next sc] to last 2 sc, skip next sc, sc in last sc, turn.
Rows 10-25: Rep Rows 6-9, 4 more times.
Work even in patt for another 0[0, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3] more reps/ 0[0, 4, 4, 4, 8, 8, 8, 12] rows.
Final Row [WS]: Ch 3 (counts as hdc + ch 1), [skip next dc, sc in next 3 dc, skip next dc] to last 5-dc group. Fasten off.

Shape Right Back Neck:
Row 2 [WS]: Skip [1 dc, 1 sc, 1 dc] from the last st of Row 1 of Left Front Neck, ch 1, [sc in next 3 dc, ch 3, skip next (dc, sc, dc)] 6[7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14] times, sc in next 3 dc, ch 1, skip next dc, hdc in last sc, turn.
Row 3 [RS]: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in ch-1 sp, skip next sc, sc in next sc, skip next sc, [5 dc in ch-3 sp, skip next sc, sc in next sc, skip next sc] to last 3-sc group, turn.
Row 4: Ch 2, skip next dc, [sc in next 3 dc, ch 3, skip next (dc, sc, dc)] 6[7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14] times, ch 3, skip next (dc, sc, dc), sc in last 2 dc, turn.
Row 5: Ch 1, sc in first sc, 5 dc in ch-3 sp, skip 1 sc [skip 1 sc, sc in next sc, skip 1 sc, 5 dc in ch-3 sp] to last 3-sc group, turn.
Row 6: Ch 2, skip next dc, [sc in next 3 dc, ch 3, skip next (dc, sc, dc)] to last 5-dc group, sc in next 3 dc, ch 1, skip next dc, hdc in last sc, turn.
Row 7: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in ch-1 sp, skip next sc, sc in next sc, skip next sc, [5 dc in ch-3 sp, skip next sc, sc in next sc, skip next sc] to last 3-sc group, turn.
Row 8: Ch 2, skip next dc, [sc in next 3 dc, ch 3, skip next (dc, sc, dc)] to last 3 dc, ch 3, skip next (dc, sc, dc), sc in last 2 dc, turn.
Row 9: Ch 1, sc in first sc, 5 dc in ch-3 sp, skip 1 sc [skip 1 sc, sc in next sc, skip 1 sc, 5 dc in ch-3 sp] to last 3-sc group, turn.
Rows 10-25: Rep Rows 6-9, 4 times.
Work even in patt for another 0[0, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3] more reps/ 0[0, 4, 4, 4, 8, 8, 8, 12] rows.

Final Row [WS]: Ch 2, [skip next dc, sc in next 3 dc, ch 2, skip next dc] to last 5-dc group, sc in next 3 dc, ch 1, skip next dc, hdc in last sc. Fasten off.

Lower Back Hem
Work as for Lower Right Hem.

FINISHING

Block, by soaking pieces in tepid water with wool wash for approximately 30 minutes. Squeeze pieces in towels to absorb as much moisture as possible, then lay flat to dry, patting into shape, using finished measurements as a guide. Sew shoulder seams. Weave in ends.

Sleeve Edging
Place removable markers 7[7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11] inches/ 18[19, 20.5, 21.5, 23, 24, 25.5, 26.5, 28] cm down from shoulder seam on front and back pieces. With RS facing and straight needles, pick up and knit 82[90, 94, 102, 106, 114, 118, 126, 130] sts evenly between markers.
Row 1 [WS]: * P2, k2; rep from * to last 2 sts, p2.
Row 2 [RS]: * K2, p2; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Rep Rows 1 and 2, 2 more times. Bind off all sts in patt.

Neck Edging
With RS facing and circular needle, rejoin yarn at left shoulder, and pick up and knit approx. 72 sts along Front Neck edge, 70[70, 82, 82, 82, 92, 92, 92, 104] sts down side of Back Neck edge, 1 st in center, and 70[70, 82, 82, 82, 92, 92, 92, 104] sts up the other side of Back Neck edge, turn. 213[213, 237, 237, 237, 257, 257, 257, 281] sts.
I-Cord Bind-off Row [WS]: Cast on 3 sts to the first st on the left needle using the knitted method, * k2, k2tog tbl, sl these 3 sts back to left needle; rep from * until all sts have been bound off.

Sew ends of I-Cord together.

I-Cord Straps (make 4)
Cast on 3 sts. * K3, sl these 3 sts back to left needle; rep from * until Strap measures approximately 11.25[11.25, 12.75, 12.75, 12.75, 14, 14, 14, 15.25] inches/ 28.5[28.5, 32.5, 32.5, 32.5, 35.5, 35.5, 35.5, 38.5] cm. Do not bind off yet. Pin straps in place on top, using photo as a guide. Try on to determine exact desired placement. Shorten or lengthen straps as needed. Once they're the correct length, sew into place on the inside of the work behind the I-Cord bind-off.

Weave in remaining ends.

A (Bust Width): 15[17, 19.25, 21.25, 23.25, 25.5, 27.5, 29.75, 31.75] inches/ 38[43, 49, 54, 59, 64.5, 75.5, 80.5, ] cm
B (Length to Underarm): 10.5[11.5, 11, 11.75, 11.25, 12, 11.5, 12.5, 12] inches/ 26.5[29, 28, 30, 28.5, 30.5, 32, 30.5, 30] cm
C (Armhole Depth):  7[7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11] inches/ 18[19, 20.5, 21.5, 23, 24, 25.5, 26.5, 28] cm
D (Neck Width): 13 inches/33cm
E (Shoulder Width):  1[2, 3.25, 4.25, 5.25, 6.25, 7.25, 8.5, 9.5] inches/ 2.5[5, 8.5, 11, 13.5, 16, 18.5, 21.5, 24] cm
F (Back Neck Depth): 8.25[8.25, 9.75, 9.75, 9.75, 11, 11, 11, 12.25] inches/ 21[21, 24.5, 24.5, 24.5, 28, 28, 28, 31] cm

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Amy has been crazy for yarn ever since she had some down time in between pizza making back in Iowa. She's been the creative director for Universal Yarn, yarn director for Jimmy Beans Wool, and has done knit and crochet designs for most major magazines. She also does freelance design work, technical editing, crochet chart making, and many other assorted yarny things. When she's not busy with fiber, she's probably playing tennis, at the dog park, or sitting in the corner being antisocial.

Pattern & images © 2023 Amy Gunderson