When bands of rainbow colour meet vintage-style crochet V-stitches, you’ve got a recipe for a laidback crochet top with plenty of retro charm. The cool cotton DK makes this breezy, kaftan-like tunic easy to wear through springtime and beyond.
As Scheepjes Catona and Catona Denim yarns are both available in such a massive, mind-boggling array of different shades, you’ll be able to hook up this free crochet top pattern in a range of colours work with your wardrobe! This free V-stitch crochet top pattern by Pat Strong was originally published in issue 55 of Simply Crochet Magazine.
You will need
Scheepjes Catona (100% cotton, 50g/125m)
Yarn A Snow White (106)
See table below for Yarn A quantities and measurements.
Scheepjes Catona Denim (100% cotton, 50g/125m), 1 ball of each:
- Yarn B Blue (165)
- Yarn C Green (170)
- Yarn D Yellow (120)
- Yarn E Orange (124)
- Yarn F Pink (135)
Sizes
Refer to the chart below to pick the correct size for you. Remember that the sizes in the pattern are colour-coded S M L XL
Tension
22 sts and 11 rows measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over V-st using a 3.5mm hook or size needed to obtain tension
Each Rainbow Band section of 5 rows of double crochet measures 2.5cm (1in) deep
Abbreviations
V-st (tr, ch1, tr) in st indicated.
You can find a full list of all abbreviations we use in our abbreviations and conversions guide. This pattern is written in UK terminology but you can easily convert it to US terms using the guide.
Notes
Front and Back pieces are worked from the bottom up with decreases towards the armholes. The decreases are ‘hidden’ in the rainbow stripes and the front section divides for the slash neck opening, which has a twisted cord. This pattern starts with the stitch patterns which will show you how to crochet V-stitch and rainbow bands, which you will need to refer to once you start making the crochet top.
Free V-Stitch Crochet Top Pattern
Stitch patterns
Stitch patterns for how to crochet V-stitch bands and the rainbow bands are described first; the main instructions start at the ‘Back’ section.
White band
(Total of 9 rows unless otherwise stated)
Foundation V-st row Join Yarn A in first st, ch3 (counts as tr throughout), skip 1 st, V-st in next st, *skip next 2 sts, V-st in next st; repeat from * to last 2 sts, skip 1 st, tr in last st, turn.
V-st row Ch3, *V-st in ch-1 sp of next V-st; repeat from * to last st, tr in last tr, turn. Repeat the V-st row 7 more times. Fasten off.
Rainbow Band
Row 1 Join Yarn B in first st, ch1 (does not count as st throughout), dc in each tr and ch-1 sp across, turn. Fasten off.
Row 2 Join Yarn C in first st, ch1, dc in st across, turn. Fasten off.
Row 3 Join Yarn D in first st and refer to the patt for instructions. In some cases this will be an increase or decrease row, and in some cases it will be worked as the other rows of the Rainbow Band without shaping.
Row 4 Join Yarn E in first st, ch1, dc in each st across, turn. Fasten off.
Row 5 Join Yarn F in first st, ch1, dc in each st across, turn. Fasten off.
Back
Hem to neck
Ch118 (130: 142: 154) loosely.
Row 1 (RS) V-st into 5th ch from hook, *skip 2 ch, V-st in next ch; repeat from * to last 2 ch, skip 1 ch, tr into last ch, turn. [38 (42: 46: 50) V-sts and 2 tr]
Work a White Band, omitting the Foundation V-st Row and working just the 8 V-st rows.
Work a Rainbow Band [116 (128: 140: 152) sts], with the following row in Yarn D as Row 3:
Row 3 Ch1, *dc in next 15 (16:12: 13) sts, dc2tog; repeat from * 5 (5: 8: 8) more times, dc in next 14 (20: 14: 17) sts, turn. Fasten off. [110 (122: 131: 143) dc]
Work a White Band. [36 (40: 43: 47) V-sts and 2 tr]
Work a Rainbow Band, with the following row in Yarn D as Row 3:
Row 3 Ch1, *dc in next 14 (15: 11: 12) sts, dc2tog; repeat from * 5 (5: 8: 8) more times, dc in next 14 (20: 14: 17) sts, turn. Fasten off. [104 (116:122 : 134) dc]
Work a White Band. [34 (38:40: 44) V-sts and 2 tr]
Work a Rainbow Band, with the following row in Yarn D as Row 3:
Row 3 Ch1, *dc in next 13 (14:10: 11) sts, dc2tog; repeat from * 5 (5: 8 : 8) more times, dc in next 14 (20:14 : 17) sts, turn. Fasten off. [98 (110:113 : 125) dc]
Work a White Band. [32 (36: 37: 41) V-sts and 2 tr]
Work a Rainbow Band. For sizes S, L and XL work Row 3 as a plain dc row.
For size M only, work the following row as a Row 3:
Row 3 M only Ch1, *dc in next 13 sts, dc2tog; repeat from * 5 more times, dc in next 20 sts, turn. Fasten off. [98 (104: 113: 125) dc]
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Neck to shoulder
Work a White Band, working one extra V-st row for the XL size only. [32 (34: 37: 41) V-sts and 2 tr]
Work a Rainbow Band with Row 3 as a plain dc row. [98 (104: 113: 125) dc]
Work a White Band, working one extra V-st row for the L and XL sizes only. [32 (34: 37: 41) V-sts and 2 tr]
Work a Rainbow Band with Row 3 as a plain dc row. [98 (104: 113: 125) dc]
Final Row Work a Foundation V-st row of the White Band. Fasten off. [32 (34:37: 41) V-sts and 2 tr]
[2 Rainbow Bands and 19 (19:20: 21) White Band rows for the Neck to Shoulder section]
Front
Work the Hem to Neck section as for Back, then work the Foundation V-st Row only of the White Band, do not fasten off. [32 (34: 37: 41) V-sts and 2 tr]
Divide for Neck Opening
Right front
Sizes S and M only: Next row (WS) Ch3, V-st in ch-1 sp of next V-st 16 (17) times, tr in second tr of V-st just worked, turn. [16 (17:-:-) V-sts and 2 tr]
Sizes L and XL only: Next row (WS) Ch3, V-st in ch-1 sp of next V-st 18 (20) times, tr in first tr of next V-st, turn. [- (-: 18: 20) V-sts and 2 tr]
All sizes
Work V-st row of White Band 7 (7: 7: 8) times. Fasten off. [16 (17: 18: 20) V-sts and 2 tr]
Work a Rainbow Band with Row 3 as a plain dc row. [50 (53: 56: 62) dc]
Work a White Band with a Foundation V-st row and only 5 (5: 3: 4) V-st rows. Fasten off. [16 (17: 18: 20) V-sts and 2tr]
Neck shaping
Row 1 (RS) Join Yarn A in second tr of 5th (6th: 7th: 8th) V-st, ch3, *V-st in ch-1 sp of next V-st; repeat from * to last st, tr in last tr, turn. [11 (11: 11: 12) V-sts and 2 tr]
Row 2 Ch3, *V-st in ch-1 sp of next V-st; repeat from * to last st, leave last st unworked, turn. [11 (11: 11: 12) V-sts and 1tr]
Row 3 Ss to ch-1 sp of first V-st, ch3, *V-st in ch-1 sp of next V-st; repeat from * to last st, tr in last tr, turn. [10 (10: 10: 11) V-sts and 2 tr]
Work 0 (0:3: 2) V-st rows of White Band. Fasten off.
Work a Rainbow Band with Row 3 as a plain dc row. [32 (32: 32: 35) dc]
Final Row Work a Foundation V-st row of the White Band. Fasten off. [10 (10: 10: 11) V-sts and 2 tr]
Left front
Sizes S and M only:
Row 58 (WS) Rejoin Yarn A in next unworked tr of Row 57, ch3, V-st in ch-1 sp of same V-st, V-st in ch-1 sp of next V-st 15 (16) times, tr in last tr, turn. [16 (17:-: -) V-sts and 2 tr]
Sizes L and XL only:
Row 58 Rejoin Yarn A in next unworked tr of Row 57, ch3, V-st in ch-1 sp of next V-st 18 (20) times, tr in last tr, turn. [- (-: 18: 20) V-sts and 2 tr]
All sizes
Work V-st row of White Band 7 (7: 7: 8) times. Fasten off. [16 (17: 18: 20) V-sts and 2 tr]
Work a Rainbow Band with Row 3 as a plain dc row. [50 (53: 56: 62) dc]
Work a White Band with a Foundation V-st row and only 5 (5: 3: 4) V-st rows, do not fasten off. [16 (17: 18: 20) V-sts and 2 tr]
Neck shaping
Row 1 (RS) Ch3, (V-st in ch-1 sp of next V-st) 11 (11: 11: 12) times, tr in first tr of next V-st, turn leaving remaining sts unworked. [11 (11: 11: 12) V-sts and 2 tr]
Row 2 Ss to ch-1 sp of first V-st, ch4, tr in same ch-1 sp (counts as V-st), *V-st in ch-1 sp of next V-st; repeat from * to last st, tr in last tr, turn. [11 (11: 11: 12) V-sts and 1 tr]
Row 3 Ch3, *V-st in ch-1 sp of next V-st; repeat from * to last V-st, tr in last V-st, turn. [10 (10: 10:11) V-sts and 2 tr]
Work 0 (0: 3:2) V-st rows of White Band. Fasten off.
Work a Rainbow Band with Row 3 as a plain dc row. [32 (32: 32:35) dc]
Final Row Work a Foundation V-st row of the White Band. Fasten off. [10 (10: 10:11) V-sts and 2 tr]
Sleeves (make 2)
With Yarn A, ch97 (103: 112: 124) loosely.
Row 1 (RS) V-st into 5th ch from hook, *skip 2 ch, V-st in next ch; repeat from * to last 2 ch, skip 1 ch, tr into last ch, turn [31 (33: 36: 40) V-sts and 2 tr]
Work 8 V-st rows of White Band.
Work a Rainbow Band [95 (101: 110: 122) dc], with the following row as Row 3:
Row 3 Ch1, *dc in next 7 (6: 6: 7) sts, dc2tog; repeat from * 8 (11: 11: 11) more times, dc in next 14 (5: 14: 14) sts, turn. Fasten off. [86 (89: 98: 110) dc]
Work a White Band. [28 (29: 32: 36) V-sts and 2 tr]
Work a Rainbow Band with the following row as Row 3:
Row 3 Ch1, *dc in next 6 (5: 5: 6) sts, dc2tog; repeat from * 8 (11: 11: 11) more times, dc in next 14 (5: 14: 14) sts, turn. Fasten off. [77 (77: 86: 98) dc]
Work a White Band, with one extra row for size XL only. [25 (25: 28: 32) V-sts and 2 tr]
Work a Rainbow Band with the following row as Row 3:
Row 3 Ch1, *dc in next 6 (5: 5: 6) sts, 2dc in next st; repeat from * 8 (11: 11: 11) more times, dc in next 14 (5: 14: 14) sts, turn. Fasten off. [86 (89: 98: 110) dc]
Work a White Band, with one extra row for sizes L and XL only. [28 (29: 32: 36) V-sts and 2 tr]
Work a Rainbow Band with the following row as Row 3:
Row 3 Ch1, *dc in next 7 (6: 6: 7) sts, 2dc in next st; repeat from * 8 (11: 11: 11) more times, dc in next 14 (5: 14: 14) sts, turn. Fasten off. [95 (101: 110: 122) dc]
Final row Work a Foundation V-st row of the White Band. Fasten off.
To make up
Weave in all ends and block pieces to size. Sew shoulder seams. Fold sleeves in half lengthways and align with shoulder seams. Sew Sleeves to Front and Back and continue seams along sides of body and sleeves.
Join Yarn B at neck opening and work 1 row of dc evenly around neckline and front opening. Make a twisted cord from Yarns C and D and another from Yarns E and F and attach to each side of neck opening.
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