Last week I wrote a post about my current favorite project, which I named the Ivy League Top since it didn’t have a name. I guess it might have a name, but as I explained in the post, I don’t read Russian, and that’s the language the original pattern is in, which you can find pinned here. It looks like this:
It’s a beautiful top, and the pattern is lovely, but it’s not written out as we’re used to. So I’m going to do my best to write it out in US English here. It just took a little bit of math.
The pattern repeat itself is 20 stitches, and then there are three additional DC on each side. I used a super fine yarn (Yarn Bee Rainbow Wrapsody in Ivy League) with a 3.125 mm (D) hook by Boye, so one pattern repeat ended up being about 3.5″. Since most of my tee shirts have a FW of about 23″ (I’m usually a size large), this worked out pretty well. I could make the pattern similar to the picture with seven repeats, which would make the FW 24.5″. The extra DC on the end would add another half inch to an inch. This allows to me easily layer this over a tank top or cami without worrying if it’s too snug.
After a few rows, I also laid it over a tee shirt to see if I was right in my assessment of the width (I was) and to determine about how long I should make it. It turns out the towel I had laid out on the table was a good guide also, so I didn’t have to keep pulling out a tee shirt every time I want to check. When I do the front panel, the lines in the towel will be a good guide for me to measure where to stop for the neckline. The only part I haven’t figured out yet is the shoulders, but I’m nearly there, so I’ll update the post when I have a definite answer on that.
What I have worked out for my size is below. This top is worked from the bottom up in two panels as I have it worked out. I decided to do the back panel first since I’m working with a variegated yarn, to ensure the shoulders match up with a similar color. (It makes sense in my head). I’ll stitch the sides together with an invisible seam. I haven’t decided if I’ll do the picot stitch the pattern image shows or not yet. It is pretty. I may just finish with two rows of sc around. You’ll have to check back and see!
sk = skip
ch = chain
st = stitch
dc = double crochet
dc3tog = double crochet three together (this is a great video tutorial if you need help!)
To start: ch 146 (140 for the 7 pattern repeats, + 6 for the extra 3 DCs on each end).
Row 1: ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in the third chain from hook, dc in next ch, then *dc in next 3 ch, ch 4, sk next 6 ch, 3 dc in the next ch, ch 2, 3 dc in the next ch, ch 4, sk next 6 ch, dc in next 3 ch*, repeat * to * 6 more times (total of 7 patterns), dc in last 3 ch. Turn. (Confession: I ended up with extra chains… so either I didn’t count my starting chain correctly, which is entirely possible because I didn’t have stitch markers yet, or I didn’t math my starting chain correctly, and I can’t figure that one out – someone let me know).
Row 2: ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in next two st, * dc in next 3 dc, ch 2, dc in next 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in ch 3 sp, ch 2, dc in next 3 dc, ch 2, dc in next 3 dc*, repeat * to * six more times, dc in last 3 dc. Turn.
Row 3: ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in next 2 dc, *dc in next 3 dc, dc3tog, ch 2, sk 2 ch, 3 dc in next dc, ch 2, sk next dc, 3 dc in next dc, ch 2, sk 2 ch, dc3tog, dc in next 3 dc*, repeat * to * six more times, dc in last 3 dc. Turn.
At this point, you repeat rows 2 and 3 until you get the length you want. As I said, I’m still working on the back panel, and I’m not sure about the shoulders yet. I think I have an idea though. This whole thing is a work in progress! If you see any errors in my instructions, please let me know!
Don't Be Latte! 