Hello my dear Hivers! It’smemic once again!
This post is very special to me because it’s actually my first time sharing one of my crochet creations here, and I’m beyond excited to finally show it to you all!
Crocheting has always had a soft spot in my heart. I first discovered this craft way back in Grade 6 during our TLE (Technology and Livelihood Education) class. Our adviser at the time taught us how to make a simple wallet—and that was my very first crochet project ever! I can still remember the excitement I felt seeing my own creation come to life with just yarn and a hook. And guess what? I did pretty well for a beginner!
However, growing up in the province had its limits. Yarn options were very limited, especially the ones perfect for making clothes. Most of the good ones were only available in the city, and my knowledge about crochet patterns was still very basic. Because of that, I slowly drifted away from crocheting during Grade 7 to 11.
But then came Grade 12, during the pandemic lockdowns. Like most of us, I had a lot of time. That’s when I found myself scrolling endlessly on the orange app (yes, Shopee!) and stumbled upon beautiful yarns and crochet hooks being sold online. That moment rekindled my passion. I was thrilled to realize that patterns were now so easy to find on YouTube and Pinterest, and that made me feel more confident to dive back in.
I started crocheting again, and when I made my first top after years, I showed it to my sister and mom were so amazed! Their reaction was priceless. I hadn’t touched yarn for years, and yet here I was, crocheting again like no time had passed. Of course, not everything came back instantly. I forgot most of the basic stitches I learned back in Grade 6. But with the help of online tutorials and a little patience, I slowly regained my skills. Truly, practice makes progress!
Now, let’s fast forward to a few weeks ago when we were preparing for our Psych Night. The theme? Ken and Barbie. And of course, everyone knows Barbie = PINK!
All my friends and classmates planned to wear outfits with a touch of pink. So I thought, “Why not make something handmade and special?”
My plan was to crochet the top, and then buy the bottom part somewhere. Luckily, my younger sibling found a skirt for me—and it was pink too! The skirt was so nice and matched the vibe perfectly.
When we got home—I searched for my pink and white yarns, grabbed my 3 mm crochet hook, and began sketching my design.
I wanted something cute but simple: a halter-style top with a little flower pattern in the chest area.
I began by making a slip knot, then chained 3, and started working in lemon peel stitch (a mix of double crochet and single crochet). The stitch gave the top a nice texture.
Here's how the pattern went:
I began increasing on every row to form a triangle base.
I continued this until I reached my desired width—basically until it could fully cover my chest area.
But here's where things got tricky...
I wasn’t really counting the rows carefully, and to make it worse—I didn’t use a tape measure! I kept crocheting based on instinct, only to realize later that the shape looked more like a bandana than a top.
That’s when I had to pause and tell myself—you can’t rush this. So I frogged (unraveled) a few rows and started counting properly this time, making sure I got the measurements right, especially under the bust and across the sides.
Once the triangle base was done, I stopped increasing and continued in straight rows using alternating single and double crochet stitches (lemon peel style). I just kept going until it was long enough to reach my waist.
Now, making the straps was the hardest part. I originally planned to decrease rows gradually to form a clean strap, but I kept messing up the count. I tried a few times and ended up with weird-looking pieces.
So I changed my strategy. I grabbed a different shade of pink yarn (a lighter one that matched my skirt), and simply crocheted the straps in double crochet. I made them flat and long enough to tie around my neck and back.
For the back, I added a zigzag lace-up design using double crochet chains so it could be adjustable and snug. It also added a bit of flair to the piece!
I didn’t follow a strict pattern this time because I was already running out of time—it was already around 1 PM and our event started at 5 PM!
So after finishing the yarn work, I decided to add a light pink border around the entire top using a slip stitch just to give it that nice, polished look.
It turned out better than I expected!
The Final Look
And ta-da! Here is the final outcome of my crochet top.
Here’s a photo of it laid out flat...
And here’s what it looked like on me during Psych Night—I felt super proud and confident wearing something I made with my own. Even the back part looked exactly how I imagined it.
That's all for now, my dear hivers!