This tie mesh cropped crochet cardigan is by far my favorite crochet top that I’ve created yet. I absolutely love it in this shade of green, and I added some glitter yarn around the border that really gives off Tinkerbell vibes. Of course you can always make in whatever color you want, I think it would look great in a pastel blue too!
Pattern tips
You can use whatever type of yarn you would like for this project but I recommend using something light for best results. I used a fine weight 2, cotton/acrylic blend yarn and it turned out perfect for this project!
For size reference, I usually wear a size medium.
Click the image above to save this pattern to your Pinterest board for easy access any time!
Step-by-step guide on Youtube
More of a visual learner or feeling stuck? All of my free patterns have a Youtube video tutorial! I show you how to crochet the top step-by-step. Check it out here!
✂️ Materials
The following is the yarn & hook size that I used in my video tutorial, but you can use whatever you’d like for this project.
✦ fine weight 2 cotton/acrylic blend yarn, approx 56g, I used this yarn for my project in the color wasabi 144
✦ 4.0mm hook
✦ scissors
✦ stitch markers
✦ darning needle
Optional Materials
✦ Glitter thread
📔 Abbreviations
Written using US crochet terminology.
st: stitch
ch: chain
sk: skip
rnd: round
sl st: slit stitch
sc: single crochet
dc: double crochet
inc: increase
bb: back bump
fo: fasten off
ws: wrong side
rs: right side
**: repeat instructions between asterisks as many times as directed
📏 How to size the top
Measure from shoulder to shoulder. Mine is about 16″ inches. Add a few inches if you’d like a looser fit.
✏️ Pattern notes
✦ Work into the bb of the starting chain
✦ Chain 4 at the start of rounds (counts as a dc + ch 1) and turn work
Special stitch
mesh stitch: ch 1, sk 1 st, dc
picot: ch 3, sl st through front vertical bar of sc
📄 Pattern
Back panel
Row 01: ch until you reach your shoulder measurement, make it an even # of ch. place a st marker on the 2nd ch from hook, ch 4 (this will be our first mesh st) and place another st marker on the 2nd ch from hook, dc into the bb of the 6th ch (your first st marker).
**ch 1, sk 1 st, dc** rep until end of ch.
Row 02 – desired length: ch 4, turn, sk 1 st, dc **mesh st** rep until end of row.
First front panel
Figure out how wide you want your front panels to be by placing the front panel over your body and placing st markers on both sides to mark how far you want the top of your front panel to go. Keep in mind that the shoulders will tug on this a bit so make them wider than you think you need to. I measured in about 4.5″ inches on my sides.
We will continue the first side panel where we left off on the back panel.
We will increase the front panel every other row.
Row 01: ch 4 & turn, mesh st until you reach your st marker.
Row 02: ch 4 & turn, inc in first st by placing a dc, mesh st until end of row.
Row 03: ch 4& turn, mesh st across row.
Repeat rows 02-03 until you are happy with the width of your front panel.
Place a st marker on your last increase (this is where we will add the ties at the end).
After you are done increasing, repeat row 03 until the front panel matches the # of rows on your back panel.
Place a st marker to connect the front and back panel together under your armpit. Try on the top and adjust until it feels comfortable. Leave the st marker there.
ch 1, fo, leave a long tail for sewing up the sides.
Second front panel
Attach a slip knot to your hook and sl st into the first dc on the other side.
Repeat the same steps as the other front panel. Make sure your increases are in the neckline side.
Sleeves
Create a slip knot, put it on your hook, sl st it onto where you’d like to start your sleeve. I started mine on the top, it doesn’t matter where you start.
Rnd 01 – desired length: ch 4, sk 1 st, dc, **mesh st** rep until end of rnd, sl st to first dc (top of ch 3) to close the rnd.
I did 6 rnds for my sleeve.
Rnd 06: ch 1 & turn, sc into every st (that includes the ch 1 spaces from previous round too) sl st to first sc to close rnd.
We will now create the picot border around the sleeves. I attached glitter yarn as well for my border.
Rnd 07: ch 1 & turn, sc inc, picot, **sc inc, sc inc, picot** rep around, sl st to first sc to close rnd. ch 1 and fo.
Note: End the rnd with a sc inc, it may not line up perfectly depending on the number of stitches you have. Just adjust as needed and make sure you have 1 st at the end for a sc inc.
repeat the same steps on the other sleeve.
Sewing the sides
Don’t forget to check out my video here if you’d like to see how I sewed my panels together.
Turn cardigan inside out so that both panel’s ws is facing you.
Place your yarn on a darning needle and seam up the sides sewing the front and back panel together.
Turn the top back around so that the rs is facing you.
Border
Attach yarn to the bottom of one of the front panels, ch 1, sc around in every outside st around the front panels, neckline, and back panel. Finish where you began on the front panel, sl st to the first sc.
Now we will work just on the bottom of the top working in rows.
Row 01: ch 1, sc into every st.
Row 02-desired length: ch 1, turn, sc into every st.
I did 4 rows of sc and I attached my glitter yarn onto the last sc row.
Now we will add a picot border around the bottom.
Picot border: ch 1, turn, sc, picot **3 sc, picot** rep until end of row, end with a picot and sl st into the same st to anchor it down.
I then went across the neckline one more time creating sc in each st (I still have my glitter thread attached).
I like to fo at the end and do an invisible join. Or you can ch 1, fo, and sl st to the picot border.
Front ties
Decide where you want your ties to go. I placed mine on the last row of increases.
I like to create an i-cord by using two strands of your yarn held together (and optionally adding in glitter thread as well). Create a slip knot and sl st to the border where you want to attach your ties. You can do a normal ch and sl st down it afterwards if you would prefer. I highly suggest doing the i-cord version as it looks a lot nicer and it’s faster!
Hold one strand of yarn like normal, you will create chains but you’ll additionally be yarning over with the second piece of thread (the one you’re currently not holding) before you bring the yarn through to form the ch. Repeat that until you reach your desired tie length.
When you reach the end, ch with all thread held together, fo and tighten to make a knot. Tie two knots to secure. Cut the yarn close.
Tie knots with the tails and weave them in through the top to secure.
There we have it! I hope you love your new top as much as I do and it makes your wardrobe a little extra kawaii. Until next time, byyyyye. ♥
