​Fancy Retro Crochet Top

Finished bust: 36½ (40½, 44½, 47½, 51½)”.

Finished length: 18 (19, 20, 22, 23)”.

Yarn Weight(3) Light/DK (21-24 stitches to 4 inches)

Aunt Lydia’s® "Fashion Crochet Thread", Size 3: 3 (4, 4, 5, 5) balls 0625 Sage A; 1 (2, 2, 2, 2) balls 0264 Lime B.

Crochet Hooks: 3.5mm [US E-4]; 5.0mm [US H-8] for beginning Fsc only.

Yarn needle, Stitch markers.

Round 1: Ch 1, 3 hdc in first sc (half shell made), *ch 1, sc in center st of next shell, ch 1, large shell in next sc; repeat from * around ending last repeat with 2 hdc in beginning sc (to complete first shell); join with a slip st in first hdc; turn.

Round 2: Ch 1, sc in same hdc as joining, ch 1, *large shell in next sc, ch 1**, sc in center st of next shell, ch 1; repeat from * around, ending last repeat at **; join with a slip st in first sc; turn.

Repeat rounds 1-2 for pattern.

COLOR SEQUENCE: Work in the following color sequence: *2 rounds A, 1 round B; repeat from * throughout.

With larger hook and A, work 64 (64, 64, 72, 72) fsc, without twisting foundation; join with a slip st in first fsc. Change to smaller hook for remainder of pattern.

Round 1 (right side): With smaller hook and A, ch 1 (does not count as a st here and throughout), sc in first fsc, *ch 1, skip next fsc, large shell in next fsc, ch 1, skip next fsc**, sc in next fsc; repeat from * around, ending last repeat at **; join with a slip stitch to first sc; turn—16 (16, 16, 18, 18) shells. Drop A to be picked up later. Join B.

Round 2 (inc round) (wrong side): With B, Ch 1 (does not count as a st here and throughout), 3 hdc in first sc (half shell made), ch 1, sc in center hdc of next shell, ch 1, increase shell in next sc, *[ch 1, sc in center st of next shell, ch 1, large shell in next sc] 2 times, ch 1, sc in center of next shell, ch 1, increase shell in next sc*, [ch 1, sc in center st of next shell, ch 1, large shell in next sc] 4 (4, 4, 5, 5) times, ch 1, sc in center st of next shell, ch 1, increase shell in next sc; repeat from * to * once, [ch 1, sc in center of next shell, ch 1, large shell in next sc] 3(3, 4, 4, 4) times, ch 1, sc in center st of next shell, ch 1, 2 hdc in first sc (to complete first large shell); join with slip st in first hdc; turn—12 (12, 12, 14, 14) shells and 4 increase shells. Place marker in sc of each increase shell. Move marker up as work progresses. Drop B, pick up A.

Round 3: With A, ch 1, sc in first st, ch 1, large shell in next sc, *[ch 1, sc in center st of next shell, ch 1, large shell in next sc] across to next increase shell, ch 1, sc in center st of next small shell, ch 1, large shell in next sc, ch 1, sc in center st of next small shell; repeat from * 3 times, ch 1, large shell in next sc, ch 1; join with slip st in first sc; turn—20 (20, 20, 22, 22) shells.

Round 4: Ch 1, 3 hdc in first sc (half shell made), *ch 1, sc in center of next shell, ch 1, large shell in next sc; repeat from * around, ending last repeat with 2 hdc in first sc (to complete first large shell); turn. Drop A, pick up B.

Round 5: With B, ch 1, sc in first st, *[ch 1, large shell in next sc, ch 1, sc in center st of next shell] across to next marked sc, increase shell in next sc; repeat from * 3 times, ch 1, sc in center st of next shell, ch 1, large shell in next sc, ch 1; join with slip st in first sc; turn—20 (20, 20, 22, 22) shells plus 4 increase shells. Drop B, pick up A.

Round 6: With A, ch 1, 3 hdc in first sc (half shell made), [ch 1, sc in first st, ch 1, large shell in next sc] across to next marked increase shell, ch 1, sc in center st of next small shell, ch 1, large shell in next sc, ch 1, sc in center st of next small shell, ch 1, large shell in next sc; repeat from * 3 times, [ch 1, sc in center st of next shell, ch 1, large shell in next sc] around to beginning, ending with 2 hdc in first sc (to complete first large shell); join with slip st in first hdc; turn—24 (24, 24, 26, 26) shells.

Round 7: With A, ch 1, sc in first st, ch 1, large shell in next sc, ch 1, *sc in center st of next shell, ch 1, large shell in next sc, ch 1; repeat from * around; join with slip st in first sc; turn—24 (24, 24, 26, 26) shells. Drop A, pick up B. Repeat Rows 2-7 for yoke pattern, working 2 rounds A, 1 round B throughout.

Rounds 8-13 (16, 19, 19, 22): Work even in established pattern for 6 (9, 12, 12, 15) more rows, ending with round 7 (4, 4, 7, 4) of pattern. Drop A, pick up B.

Divide For Armholes

Round 1: Work even in round 1 of pattern to first marker for increase, *work large shell in marked sc, ch 3 (3, 3, 5, 5), skip next 7 (8, 9, 9, 10) shells for sleeve, large shell in next marked sc*, work even in pattern as established to next marked st; repeat from * to * once, work even in pattern as established to beginning; join with a slip st in first sc; turn. Drop B, pick up A.

Round 2: With A, *work even in pattern as established to underarm ch, skip next 1 (1, 1, 2, 2) ch sts, large shell in next chain, skip next 1 (1, 1, 2, 2) ch sts; repeat from * once, work in even in pattern as established to beginning; turn—20 (22, 24, 26, 28) shells.

Round 3: Work even in round 1 of pattern. Drop A, pick up B.

Round 4: Work even in round 2 of pattern. Drop B, pick up A.

Round 5: Ch 1, 2 hdc in first sc (half small shell made), *ch 1, sc in center st of next shell, ch 1, small shell in next sc; repeat from * around ending last repeat with 1 hdc in first sc (to complete first small shell); turn—20 (22, 24, 26, 28) small shells.

Round 6: Ch 1, sc in first hdc as joining, *small shell in next sc, ch 1**, sc in center st of next shell, ch 1; repeat from * around, ending last repeat at **, join with a slip st to first sc; turn. Drop A, pick up B.

Rounds 7-18 (18, 18, 21, 21): Maintaining color sequence as established, repeat rounds 5-6, working 12 (12, 12, 15, 15) rounds, ending with round 6 (6, 6, 5, 5) of pattern. Drop A, pick up B.

Shape Hips

Maintaining established color sequence throughout, work even in pattern, working large shells throughout, work 17 (17, 17, 20, 20) more rounds. Fasten off.

First Sleeve

Round 1: With right side facing, using smaller hook, join B in center ch of armhole, ch 1, sc in same ch, work large shell in base of next shell from previous row, *ch 1, sc in center st of next shell, ch 1, large shell in next sc; repeat from * around to underarm ch, working last large shell in base of large shell from previous row, ch 1; join with a slip st in first sc; turn—8 (9, 10, 10, 11) large shells. Drop A, pick up B.

Round 2: With A, work even in round 1 of pattern.

Round 3: Work even in round 2 of pattern. Fasten off. Repeat first Sleeve around other sleeve opening.

With right side facing, join A in ch side of fsc at the base of shell to the left of left shoulder, ch 1, sc in same ch, *ch 1, skip next ch, large shell in next fsc, ch 1**, skip next ch, sc in next ch; repeat from * around, ending last repeat at **, join with a slip st in first sc. Fasten off.

Weave in ends. Steam block and lay flat to dry.

large shell 5 hdc in same st, drawing each hdc up to ½”.

small shell 3 hdc in same st, drawing each hdc up to ½”.

increase shell (small shell, ch 2, sc, ch 2, small shell) in same st.

Foundation single crochet (fsc) (This technique createsa foundation chain and a row of single crochet stitches inone) – Place a slip knot on hook, ch 2, insert hook in 2nd ch from hook and draw up a loop; yarn over and draw through one loop on hook (the “chain”); yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook (the “single crochet”). Insert hook into the “chain” of the previous stitch and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through one loop on hook (the “chain”), yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook (the “single crochet”). Repeat for the length of foundation.