Hourglass Crochet Top

The Hourglass Crochet Top is an elegant, intricate looking yet deceptively simple design. The slow nature of working with fingering weight yarn is significantly offset by the tall stitches which work up quicker than you’d expect. The 4x4 cabled stitch looked like an hourglass to me, hence the name of the design.

The top is worked seamlessly from the top down and features a modified drop shoulder construction, with shaping at the underarm and the sleeves to minimize the bulkiness of the traditional drop shoulder sweater and provide a more flattering fit.

The pattern is written for 18 sizes, with finished busts ranging from 28” to 70”. This makes sure that everyone can wear the top with the recommended 0-2” of positive ease. The top can be worn as a blouse with sleeves, or as a sleeveless vest/tee.

My sample uses Katia Air Lux (WPI=14) in color Rose (Cinnamon). I made my top as an elegant crochet blouse with long sleeves, but I couldn’t resist snapping some pics wearing it before adding the sleeves, which I included below!

Wear it with a cami or bralette underneath for a summery, breezy look, throw it on top of a long-sleeved shirt for the most unique and professional office outfit, or go for long sleeves and turn it into a blouse that you can wear year-round.

This pattern is available in English only and uses standard US crochet terminology.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Bust circumference:
Size 1: 27.5” (70 cm)
Size 2: 30” (76 cm)
Size 3: 32.5” (83 cm)
Size 4: 35” (89 cm)
Size 5: 37.5” (95 cm)
Size 6: 40” (102 cm)
Size 7: 42.5” (108 cm)
Size 8: 45” (114 cm)
Size 9: 47.5” (121 cm)
Size 10: 50” (127 cm)
Size 11: 52.5” (133 cm)
Size 12: 55” (140 cm)
Size 13: 57.5” (146 cm)
Size 14: 60” (152 cm)
Size 15: 62.5” (159 cm)
Size 16: 65” (165 cm)
Size 17: 67.5” (171 cm)
Size 18: 70” (178 cm)

The sizing for this pattern is based on the standard Craft Yarn Council (CYC) measurements.

This top is designed to be worn with up to 2 inches or 5 cm of positive ease around the bust. When choosing a size, find the bust measurement in this list that is closest to 2 inches or 5 cm larger than your actual bust measurement depending on your desired amount of positive ease and make this size.

All my garment patterns are size-inclusive and are graded for actual bust circumferences of up to at least a 60 inches or 152 cm.

DIFFICULTY
Advanced

MATERIALS
• Yarn: Any fingering weight yarn you can meet gauge with. Sample shown in Katia Air Lux. For best results, pick a lighter fingering weight yarn to preserve the delicate look of the stitches (check the blog post for a list of suitable yarn subs). If making the sleeveless version in a larger size, pick a soft yarn that drapes nicely, to prevent the shoulders from sticking out.
• Hooks: 3.0 mm or size needed to obtain gauge. I like to use my Clover Amours.
• Notions: Tape measure, scissors, darning needle, 3 stitch markers, pins for blocking

YARDAGE
Sleeveless top/vest:
(720, 785, 855, 920, 985, 1110) (1175, 1245, 1320, 1385, 1455, 1525) (1590, 1660, 1735, 1800, 1870, 1940) yds or (660, 720, 780, 840, 900, 1015) (1075, 1140, 1205, 1265, 1330, 1395) (1455, 1520, 1585, 1645, 1710, 1775) m

Long-sleeved blouse:
(1370, 1440, 1505, 1570, 1635, 1880) (1975, 2045, 2185, 2255, 2325, 2545) (2610, 2750, 2820, 2885, 2960, 3030) yds or (1255, 1315, 1375, 1435, 1495, 1720) (1805, 1870, 2000, 2060, 2125, 2325) (2385, 2515, 2580, 2640, 2705, 2770) m

Check out more photos, yarn substitution ideas, as well as the tester lookbook with exact yardages from my testers on the blog post.

DOES THIS PATTERN COME WITH A STITCH CHART?
No.

HOW DO I DOWNLOAD MY PATTERN?
After completing the payment, check your inbox for an email containing a download link button for the PDF pattern. You will need a PDF reader installed to open the pattern.

PATTERN SUPPORT
For pattern related questions, please join my Facebook support group CrochetHighway Designs.