Hello needleworkers! Hope we're all doing good today? It's been the longest time, I know. I've really missed being active on the Blockchain and I look forward to catching up with y'all soon.
Anyway... if you've come across any of my previous crochet posts, you'd recall I mentioned being a learner in the art of crocheting and I still am. It's like they say; “learning is a lifelong process”.
For a while, I've been teaching myself through YouTube tutorials and practice but along the line and for some reason, I couldn't keep up. It started from one half done project to another until they eventually became a couple of abandoned projects locked up in a dungeon of no return 😂😭.
However, as I recently returned home for the end of semester holiday, I had this spontaneous urge to create magic once again with my hook 😁.
The idea of making another crop top popped up but of course, something new and different this time. I thought I should try crocheting the style of a bralette or a corset because I really wanted to go beyond the basics and try something a little extra. So, I challenged myself to crochet this lily crop top I saw online.
And being my first time crocheting a bra cup, I first proceeded to watch a YouTube tutorial on it before giving it a try myself. Now, let's journey through my experience and the making process of my lily top, shall we? 😃
The Materials used:
- 6 balls of 45g yarns (Acrylic)
- 4.5mm crochet hook.
- Measuring tape.
- A pair of scissors.
The Making Process:
The first process is crocheting the bra cups for the top. To determine your cup size, you could measure from your nipple to below your breast using your measuring tape.
I started by doubling my first two yarns. I normally do this to make my stitches thicker when I can't get the bigger sized yarns.Then as usual, I made a slip knot, inserted my hook and chained 15 to measure 10 inches long.
After which, I proceeded to making my first stitch. To do this, I skipped one chain and worked into the back loops using a single crochet stitch pattern. I continued this until I reached the last chain where I had to work three single crochet stitches into it. This formed my stitch into a half-circle like this 👇
Then I continued my first row by working single crochet stitches all the way down the bottom of my chain.
For my second row, I turned my work over and continued making single crochets all the way up to my middle stitch, worked 3 single crochets into it and repeated this pattern until I got to my desired number of rows (10).
However, for the 10th row, I did a different pattern (double crochet with spaces). To do this, I started by doing a stacked single crochet, chained one, skipped a stitch and worked a double crochet into the next one. I repeated this pattern until I reached the top of my cup where I had to work two single crochets into the center stitch to create a V-turn. Then I continued all the way down the other side of my cup.
To end my cup rows, I chained one, cut off my yarn with a scissors and pulled through. Tied my extra yarns firmly and cut them off carefully and completely this time. Then went ahead to crochet my second cup to look exactly like the first one. Someday I'd talk about how challenging it is for me to make perfectly exact same crochet pieces (really, how do y'all do it? 😩)
The next process is to crochet the buttom band of the bra cups from which the bodice would be made. And to do this, I chained 15 for the side part of my top. Then I picked up one of my cups and with the wrong side facing me, I did a single crochet on my first space to attach the chains to my cup.
Then I grabbed my second cup and connected them together from the first space. I continued all the way across the bottom till I got to the end of the other side. After which, I matched the same number of chains I did for the first side of my top. Then, I turned my work and did another row of double crochet with chain spaces as I did on the 10th row of my cups.
The next process is crocheting the bodice of the top and to do that, I flipped my work and did my first 10 rows of single crochet in every stitch. For the next row, I did a double crochet with chain spaces to create a pattern. After that, I continued with another 10 rows of single crochet stitches and did a last row of double crochet with chain spaces. You can decide to either add or reduce your rows depending on how you want the length of your top to be. Unlike the tutorial I watched, I extended mine because I wanted it a bit longer.
For a little finishing on the bodice, I did a row of single crochets from the bottom to the side and up to the top middle of my cup.
It is at this point that I chained 200 for my handles. Pretty long right? Well, it has to be long enough to serve as tie straps to lace up the back of my top. From there, I worked slip stitches on the chains all the way back down my cup so I could continue my single crochet borderlines. On reaching the top middle of my second cup, I continued the process of the handle as I did on my other cup.
Then, I finished up my single crochet borderline until I reached the bottom where I started from. I chained one, pulled through and cut off my yarn. You could weave in your excess yarn into your top with a darning needle but I prefer to just tie and cut mine with a scissors.
Finally my top was nice and ready. It's also not difficult to put on. All you need to do is lace up the straps in each of the first spaces on the side ends of the top, following the X pattern. Then tie the straps nice and firm perhaps in a ribbon if longer.
Speaking of long, this post has gotten quite lengthy so I'm just gonna wrap it already.
For the records, this top took me two days to complete but believe me, it wasn't as effortless as it may seem. I had my hiccups, especially with the cups. I had to cut or loosen my beginning stitches and restart a few times.
Perhaps because it had been long I last crocheted or because it's my first time crocheting something like this. Initially, I got frustrated and thought of giving up. My brothers can definitely attest to this 😅
At some point, I'd just take a deep breath, put my work aside and take a nap or a walk outside then figure it out later. And apparently, I did! I really liked the outcome that I just had to take more photos.
I even made a little headband I made to match with my top 🤭
So, what do you think of my work? Please feel free to share your thoughts, questions, suggestions or corrections in the comments. I'd appreciate it 😊.
Thanks for stopping by! ❤️
P.S All photos are mine and taken with my cellphone.