Double Crochet Lace Top

8/26 – This is the top I swatched for probably a year ago that I’m making based on a top that Marce/HeyBrownBerry made and showed on her podcast probably also at least a year ago. As I recall, she made it without an actual pattern though it was inspired by a pattern she’d seen? I’m fuzzy on those details at this point. (Yes, it was! Here’s the link to get to the Ravelry project page that explains that: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/heyBrownBerry/crochet-cropped-tee)

I didn’t make notes about my swatch, specifically on what hook size I used. I’m guessing I used a D him since the yarn is fingering weight and that’s my usual go-to hook size for fingering. The swatch was 5″ over 20 stitches chained on.

Marce did her top in two identical squares and then seamed them. I’d had the thought of working it in the round instead, but in the end decided two pieces would be easier and give me the same fabric I got with my swatch working back and forth. I ended up chaining on 110 stitches using an E hook, intending to go down to a D to work into the chain, but I continued with the E instead and honestly, I think it’ll be fine. I like the fabric in getting, as it’s meant to be drapey and it’s not too open. I do plan to do some sort of neck shaping though rather than have it just be straight across at the top. I’ll figure that out when I get there.

Started last night and got through two sets of my “repeat” – 2 rows of DC followed by 2 rows of DC, chain one, with two DCs at each end of the row. I’m also alternating skeins every two rows because this yarn has definite differences in color depth from skein to skein. I’m glad to be using this yarn finally though, as it dates back to when I was working at Bonnie’s.

8/30 – I’m 15″ into what I’m considering the front. After I did 7 of the 4 row repeats, I switched to a D hook, which is resulting in approximately 1/2 stitch more per inch (5 vs 4.5) and lengthwise the 4 row repeat being about 1/4″ shorter (2″ vs 2.25″).

My plan is to go about 17″ and then think about doing some armhole shaping. I’m planning to do some sort of neck and shoulder shaping as well.

6/12/25 – I pulled this out of hibernation this week. Happy to see I made a lot of notes about it back when I abandoned it last year. LOL I’ve since finished the front and have started the back. I will have to measure to make notes about how long it was before I shaped for the neck, but I’m cautiously optimistic that what I did will look ok!