You are now viewing the Gardenia Top by guest designer Sarah Truesdell.
The Gardenia Top is a fun summer garment that looks great on every body.
The beginner friendly pattern is constructed with repetitive stitches that create a unique, floral texture perfect for the warmer months.
Find more: Women’s Top FREE Crochet Patterns.
Table of Contents
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Pattern Overview
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About the Gardenia Top
The Gardenia Top is a size inclusive pattern written for XS – 5XL. The pattern is also beginner friendly, using simple stitches throughout, and easy construction techniques.
Project level: Easy
Materials
Crochet Hook Size
Yarn
- Yarn
- Lion Brand – Comfy Cotton Blend in color "whipped cream" and "chai latte"
- Weight
- 3 Light Yarn
- Fiber
- 50% cotton, 50% polyester
Yarn amount needed:
| Color | Skeins | Yards |
|---|---|---|
| Size XS-S | ||
| Body color (whipped cream) | 4 | 1300 |
| Border color (chai latte) | 1 | 160 |
| Total | 5 | 1460 |
| Size M-L | ||
| Body color (whipped cream) | 4 | 1500 |
| Border color (chai latte) | 1 | 180 |
| Total | 5 | 1680 |
| Size XL-3XL | ||
| Body color (whipped cream) | 5 | 1750 |
| Border color (chai latte) | 1 | 200 |
| Total | 6 | 1950 |
| Size 4XL-5XL | ||
| Body color (whipped cream) | 5 | 1950 |
| Border color (chai latte) | 1 | 230 |
| Total | 6 | 2180 |
One skein is 200 grams · 358 meters · 392 yards.
Other Materials Needed
Gauge
4 fans & 11 rows per 10 cm / 4".
To create gauge swatch, chain a multiple of 4 and follow rows 1 – 4 of the pattern, until desired length is reached
Crochet Pattern Notes
- This crochet pattern is written in US terms.
- All measurements given are unblocked.
- Note that measurements are given as exact as possible. But crochet tension & technique might give variations in the result, that changes from person to person.
- Read pattern instructions carefully before beginning to make sure you understand everything. It might save you hours frogging your work & crocheting it again!
- Make a swatch that measure at least 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 inches using the stitch the gauge is given for. If your swatch matches the gauge, you’re good to go. If the gauge is wrong, you might need to change your hook. Go up in crochet hook size if your stitches are smaller & go down in crochet hook size if your stitches are bigger. Learn more about testing gauge.
- Check yarn info if you want to find an alternative or test your yarn against the gauge. Learn more about substituting yarn.
- Pattern is written for size XS – S with sizes M – L, XL – 3XL, and 4XL – 5XL listed in parenthesis.
- Stitch counts are given as the number of chain 1 spaces per row. This is to make it easier to count stitches (instead of counting each sc, ch 1 sp, dc, etc.)
- Stitch counts are listed in parenthesis at the end of each row as follows [XS – S (M – L, XL – 3XL, 4XL – 5XL)]
Sizes and Measurements
This is an over sized, batwing style top that fits more like a poncho than a traditional sweater.
| Sizes | Width | Length |
|---|---|---|
| XS-S | 32 inches | 23 inches |
| M-L | 36 inches | 24 inches |
| XL-3XL | 40 inches | 25 inches |
| 4XL-5XL | 46 inches | 25.5 inches |
Abbreviations
- ( ) = work group of stitches all in the same chain or stitch
- ** = Repeat instructions between asterisks as many times as directed
- ch = chain
- dc = double crochet
- rep = repeat
- sc = single crochet
- sk = skip
- sl st = slip stitch
- sp = space
- st(s) = stitch(es)
- tch = turning chain
We try our best to include all crochet abbreviations in the list above for the crochet pattern, but sometimes we may forget one or two.
Learn more about crochet abbreviations & find a complete list on our Crochet Abbreviations & Terms post.
Instructions for the Gardenia Top
Front Panel
Ch 136 (152, 168, 192)
Row 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, sk 1 ch, sc in next ch, sk 1 ch, *(dc, ch 1 dc) all in next ch, sk 1 ch, sc in next ch, sk 1 ch* rep across, 2 dc in last ch, ch 1, turn [32 (36, 40, 46) fans]
Row 2 sc in 1st dc, *(dc, ch 1, dc) all in next sc st, sc in next ch 1 sp* rep across working last sc into top of tch, ch 3, turn [33 (37, 41, 47)]
Row 3 dc in 1st sc st, sc in next ch 1 sp,*(dc, ch 1, dc) all in next sc st, sc in next ch 1 sp* rep across, dc twice in last sc st, ch 1, turn [32 (36, 40, 46) fans]
Rows 4 – 54 (56, 58, 60) rep rows 2 -3, ending on row 2
Place a stitch marker in the 14th (16th, 18th, 21st) chain 1 space in from the left, and another in the 14th (16th, 18th, 21st) chain 1 space in from the right
Row 55 (57, 59, 61) dc in 1st sc st, sc in next ch 1 sp, *(dc, ch 1, dc) all in next sc st, sc in next ch 1 sp* rep across working the last sc st into the ch 1 sp containing the stitch marker, ch 1, turn [13 (15, 17, 20) fans]
Row 56 (58, 60, 62) sc in 1st ch 1 sp, *(dc, ch 1, dc) all in next sc st, sc in next ch 1 sp* rep across working last sc into top of tch, ch 3, turn [13, (15, 17, 20) fans]
Row 57 (59, 61, 63) dc in 1st sc st, sc in top of next ch 1 sp, *(dc, ch 1, dc) all in next sc st, sc in next ch 1 sp* rep across, (dc, ch 1, dc) all in last sc st, ch 1, turn [13, (15, 17, 20) fans]
Row 58 (60, 62, 64) sc in 1st ch 1 sp, *(dc, ch 1, dc) all in next sc st, sc in next ch 1 sp* rep across, working last sc into top of tch, ch 3, turn [13, (15, 17, 20) fans]
Row 59 (61, 63, 65) dc in 1st sc st, sc in next ch 1 sp, *(dc, ch 1, dc) all in next sc st, sc in next ch 1 sp* rep across, dc twice in last sc st, ch 1, turn [13, (15, 17, 20) fans]
Row 60(62, 64, 66) sc in 1st dc st, *(dc, ch 1, dc) all in next sc st, sc in next ch 1 sp* rep across working last sc into top of tch [13, (15, 17, 20) fans]
Fasten off
Join yarn in the first single crochet stitch on the opposite side, ch 3, repeat rows 55 (57, 59, 61) – 60(62, 64, 66)
Back Panel
Ch 136 (152, 168, 192)
Row 1 rep row 1 of front panel [32 (36, 40, 46) fans]
Rows 2 – 58 (60, 62, 64) rep rows 2 – 3 of front panel, ending with row 2 [32 (36, 40, 46) fans]
Fasten off
Place a stitch marker in the 13th (15th, 17th, 20th) chain 1 space in from the left, and another in the 13th (15th, 17th, 20th) chain 1 space in from the right
Row 59 (61, 63, 65) dc in 1st sc st, sc in next ch 1 sp, *(dc, ch 1, dc) all in next sc st, sc in next ch 1 sp* rep across working the last sc st into the ch 1 sp containing the stitch marker, dc twice into the next sc st, ch 1, turn [13, (15, 17, 20) fans]
Row 60 (62, 64, 66) sc in 1st dc st, *(dc, ch 1, dc) all in next sc st, sc in next ch 1 sp* rep across working last sc into top of tch [13, (15, 17, 20) fans]
Join yarn in the first single crochet stitch on the opposite side, ch 3, repeat rows Row 59 (61, 63, 65) – Row 60 (62, 64, 66)
Fasten off, weave in ends.
Finishing
Use a mattress stitch to seam along the top of the sweater, leaving the collar open. Then, seam up both the left and right sides of the sweater leaving 6” (7”, 8”, 9”) open at the top for the sleeves.
Join a new strand of yarn in any stitch around the collar, chain 1, and pick up stitches, single crocheting around the collar. Repeat for each of the sleeve openings, and along the bottom of the sweater. This creates a border around all the openings of the sweater for the crochet ribbing to be worked on top of.
To create the crochet ribbing around the collar, sleeves, and bottom of the sweater, join a new strand of yarn in any single crochet stitch. Chain the following number of stitches:
For the sleeve openings, chain 9
For the collar opening, chain 10
For the bottom of the sweater, chain 8
Follow the steps below:
- chain the specified number of stitches
- single crochet in the 2nd chain from hook, and in each remaining chain
- slip stitch into the next 2 single crochet stitches of the border
- turn your work so you are working back up the single crochet stitches that were just made
- single crochet in the back loops only of each stitch, single crochet through both loops of the final single crochet stitch, chain 1, and turn
- working back down the single crochet stitches that were just made, single crochet through both loops of the first stitch, then single crochet in the back loops only of the remaining stitches
- repeat steps 4 – 5 until you have slip stitches into every single crochet stitch
When you have worked the crochet ribbing around the entire border, use a whip stitch to seam the edges closed.
Fasten off and weave in ends
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