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Gardenia Top – FREE Crochet Pattern

Sarah Truesdell
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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: 31+ Women’s Top Crochet Pattern Collection.

Gardenia Top - FREE Crochet Pattern

Table of Contents

The Yarn


I chose to use Lion Brand‘s Comfy Cotton Blend Yarn for the Gardenia Top. Comfy Cotton Blend is a light weight (3) 50% cotton and 50% polyester blend. The polyester blended with the cotton fibers creates a durable, but soft material that is quickly becoming one of my favorite yarns for summer garments. Comfy Cotton comes in several solid colors, as well as some modern color blends, so you can choose from a variety of color combinations for your Gardenia Top.

If you would like to substitute yarns, look for light weight (3) yarns. I love using cotton blends for summer garments, but feel free to try other materials such as classic acrylic yarn.

Pick two colors of yarn for this amazing crochet top.

Gardenia Top - FREE Crochet Pattern

COMFORTABLE, OVER SIZED TEE


The Gardenia Top is a comfortably over sized tee constructed from two rectangles sewn together. A little bit of collar shaping is all that is needed to create this summery piece, making it a great first time crochet garment.

Written for sizes XS through 5XL, this top has something for everyone!

Since you like the Gardenia Top, these might interest you too?

Gardenia Top - FREE Crochet Pattern
Gardenia Top - FREE Crochet Pattern

How Long Does It Take To Crochet That?


How long it takes to crochet something varies depending on your skill & how fast you crochet. But that isn’t a helpful answer is it?

Well, I’ve developed a yarn calculator to help you get the answer to this question.

It will help you calculate exactly how much time you’ll spend crocheting a project.

All you need to know is how much yarn you will use on the project in either meters, yards or skeins. Then crochet your test square & time it.

Calculate how long it takes to crochet that. 

GARDENIA TOP – FREE CROCHET PATTERN


Pattern Options

GRAB THE PDF PATTERN ON RAVELRY


About The Pattern


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.

Gardenia Top - FREE Crochet Pattern

Project Level 


Easy Skill Level

Read about skill levels.

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Materials Needed


Crochet Hook

Size 5 mm / US: H – 8 / UK: 6

Yarn

Yarn used:

Lion Brand Yarn – Comfy Cotton Blend in the colors “whipped cream” and “chai latte”

Yarn amount used: 

  • Body color (whipped cream)
    • XS- S: 4 skeins (1300 yds)
    • M-L: 4 skeins (1500 yds)
    • XL-3XL: 5 skeins (1750 yds)
    • 4XL-5XL: 5 skeins (1950 yds)
  • Border color (chai latte)
    • XS- S: 1 skein (160 yds)
    • M-L: 1 skein (180 yds)
    • XL-3XL: 1 skein (200 yds)
    • 4XL-5XL: 1 skein (230 yds)
  • OR total yardage:
    • XS- S: 1460 yds
    • M-L: 1680 yds
    • XL-3XL: 1950 yds
    • 4XL-5XL: 230 yds)2180 yds

Yarn characteristics:

Other Materials Needed

Gauge


To create gauge swatch, chain a multiple of 4 and follow rows 1 – 4 of the pattern, until desired length is reached

4 fans & 11 rows per 10 cm / 4”.

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)]

Size & Measurements


SizeWidthLength
XS – S32”23”
M – L36”24”
XL – 3XL40”25”
4XL – 5XL46”25.5”

This is an over sized, batwing style top that fits more like a poncho than a traditional sweater.

Abbreviations

  • 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
  • ** – Repeat instructions between asterisks as many times as directed
  • ( ) – work group of stitches all in the same chain or stitch

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.

Gardenia Top - FREE Crochet Pattern

Gardenia Top Pattern Instructions


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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.

Gardenia Top - FREE Crochet Pattern

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.

Gardenia Top - FREE Crochet Pattern

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

Gardenia Top - FREE Crochet Pattern

Follow the steps below:

  1. chain the specified number of stitches
  2. single crochet in the 2nd chain from hook, and in each remaining chain
  3. slip stitch into the next 2 single crochet stitches of the border
  4. turn your work so you are working back up the single crochet stitches that were just made
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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.

Gardenia Top - FREE Crochet Pattern

Fasten off and weave in ends

Gardenia Top - FREE Crochet Pattern

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My crochet patterns can be used to sell handmade pieces. You are required to credit Joy of Motion/Janne Kleivset as the designer by linking back to My website: https://joyofmotioncrochet.com. You can not use my pictures when selling your handmade items. Finally, you can not resell, reprint or share any parts of my patterns as your own.

Sarah Truesdell

Sarah Truesdell

// Stitch and Hound. Guest Designer.

Sarah is the crochet pattern behind Stitch and Hound. In addition to teaching crochet, Sarah enjoys sharing free crochet patterns on her blog and social media platforms linked below.


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