Your little girl is bound to look angelic in this little top. There's a band of really quick and simple motifs around the hem and the rest of the top is worked in just trebles. Complete the pretty look with a clever scalloped edging and neck ties
Excerpted from Easy to Crochet - Cute Clothes For Kids by Sue whiting, priced £14.99, published by New Holland Publishers.
Measurements
| age | 0-3 | 3-6 | 6-12 | 12-18 | months |
| chest | 41 | 46 | 51 | 56 | cm |
| actual chest (at underarm) | 43 | 47 | 53 | 57 | cm |
| full length | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | cm |
| sleeve seam | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | cm |
Materials
- 2 [3:3:4] x 50 g balls of Rowan 4 ply Cotton in Bleached 113
- h 2.50 mm crochet hook
Abbreviations
tr2tog - *yarn over hook and insert hook as indicated, yarn over hook and draw loop through, yarn over hook and draw through 2 loops, rep from * once more, yarn over hook and draw through all 3 loops on hook.tr3tog - *yarn over hook and insert hook as indicated, yarn over hook and draw loop through, yarn over hook and draw through 2 loops, rep from * twice more, yarn over hook and draw through all 4 loops on hook.
tr4tog - *yarn over hook and insert hook as indicated, yarn over hook and draw loop through, yarn over hook and draw through 2 loops, rep from * 3 times more, yarn over hook and draw through all 5 loops on hook.
Tension
24 stitches and 121?2 rows to 10 cm measured over treble fabric using 2.50 mm hook. Change hook size if necessary to obtain this tension.
Motif
With 2.50 mm hook, make 6 ch and join with a ss to form a ring.1st round (RS) : 4 ch (counts as first tr and 1 ch), (1 tr into ring, 1 ch) 11 times, ss to 3rd of 4 ch at beg of round.
2nd round: Ss into first ch sp, 3 ch (does NOT count as st), tr3tog into same ch sp, 3 ch, *tr4tog into next ch sp, 5 ch, (tr4tog into next ch sp, 3 ch) twice, rep from * twice more, tr4tog into next ch sp, 5 ch, tr4tog into next ch sp, 3 ch, ss to top of tr3tog at beg of round.
Fasten off.
Motif is a square shape with 12 'petals'. In each corner of square there is 5 ch sp, and along sides there are a further two 3 ch sps. Join Motifs whilst working 2nd round by replacing corner (5 ch) with (2 ch, 1 ss into corner ch sp of adjacent Motif, 2 ch) and side (3 ch) with (1 ch, 1 ss into corresponding ch sp of adjacent Motif, 1 ch).
Body
(worked in one piece to armholes)
Motif Band
Make and join 13 [15:17:19] Motifs to form one long strip.
Main Section
With 2.50 mm hook, attach yarn to corner ch sp of an end Motif of Motif Band, 1 ch (does NOT count as st), work 152 [176:208:232] dc evenly along one long edge of Motif Band, turn. (This is 12 dc for each Motif, minus [minus:plus:plus] 4 dc.) Next row (WS) : 3 ch (counts as first tr), miss dc at base of 3 ch, 1 tr into each dc to end, turn. 152 [176:208:232] sts.Next row: 3 ch (counts as first tr), miss tr at base of 3 ch, 1 tr into each tr to end, working last tr into top of 3 ch at beg of previous row, turn.
This row forms tr fabric.
Now shape skirt section as follows:
Next row: 3 ch (does NOT count as st), miss tr at base of 3 ch, 1 tr into next tr - 1 st decreased, *1 tr into each of next 15 [18:22:25] tr**, (tr2tog over next 2 tr) twice, rep from * to end, ending last rep at **, tr2tog over last 2 sts, turn. 136 [160:192:216] sts.
Work 0 [1:1:2] rows.
Next row: 3 ch (does NOT count as st), miss tr at base of 3 ch, 1 tr into next tr - 1 st decreased, *1 tr into each of next 13 [16:20:23] tr**, (tr2tog over next 2 tr) twice, rep from * to end, ending last rep at **, tr2tog over last 2 sts, turn. 120 [144:176:200] sts.
Work 0 [1:1:2] rows.
Next row: 3 ch (does NOT count as st), miss tr at base of 3 ch, 1 tr into next tr - 1 st decreased, *1 tr into each of next 11 [14:18:21] tr**, (tr2tog over next 2 tr) twice, rep from * to end, ending last rep at **, tr2tog over last 2 sts, turn. 104 [128:160:184] sts.
2nd, 3rd and 4th sizes only
Work 1 row.Next row: 3 ch (does NOT count as st), miss tr at base of 3 ch, 1 tr into next tr - 1 st decreased, *1 tr into each of next [12:16:19] tr**, (tr2tog over next 2 tr) twice, rep from * to end, ending last rep at **, tr2tog over last 2 sts, turn. [112:144:168] sts.
3rd and 4th sizes only
Work 1 row.Next row: 3 ch (does NOT count as st), miss tr at base of 3 ch, 1 tr into next tr - 1 st decreased, *1 tr into each of next [14:17] tr**, (tr2tog over next 2 tr) twice, rep from * to end, ending last rep at **, tr2tog over last 2 sts, turn. [128:152] sts.
4th size only
Work 1 row.Next row: 3 ch (does NOT count as st), miss tr at base of 3 ch, 1 tr into next tr - 1 st decreased, *1 tr into each of next 15 tr**, (tr2tog over next 2 tr) twice, rep from * to end, ending last rep at **, tr2tog over last 2 sts, turn. 136 sts.
All sizes
Work 0 [0:2:2] rows, ending after a WS row. 104 [112:128:136] sts.
Shape right front
Next row (RS) : 3 ch (counts as first tr), miss tr at base of 3 ch, 1 tr into each of next 22 [24:28:30] tr and turn, leaving rem sts unworked.Work on this set of 23 [25:29:31] sts only for Right Front.
Next row (WS) : 3 ch (counts as first tr), miss tr at base of 3 ch, tr2tog over next 2 tr - 1 st decreased, 1 tr into each st to end, turn.
Next row: 3 ch (counts as first tr), miss tr at base of 3 ch, 1 tr into each st to last 3 sts, tr2tog over next 2 tr - 1 st decreased, 1 tr into top of 3 ch at beg of previous row, turn. Working all decreases as set by last 2 rows, dec 1 st at armhole edge of next 2 [2:4:4] rows. 19 [21:23:25] sts.
Work 0 [1:0:1] row, ending after a RS [WS:RS:WS] row.
Shape neck
1st and 3rd sizes only
Next row (WS) : 3 ch (counts as first tr), miss st at base of 3 ch, 1 tr into each st to last 6 [8] sts and turn, leaving rem 6 [8] sts unworked - 6 [8] sts decreased. 13 [15] sts.2nd and 4th sizes only
Next row (RS) : Ss across and into [8th:10th] st - [7:9] sts decreased, 3 ch (counts as first tr), miss st at base of 3 ch, 1 tr into each st to end, turn. [14:16] sts.All sizes
Dec 1 st at neck edge of next 5 rows. 8 [9:10:11] sts.Work 2 rows.
Shape shoulder
Fasten off.
Shape back
Return to last complete row worked before shaping Right Front, miss next 6 sts, rejoin yarn to next st and cont as follows:Next row (RS) : 3 ch (counts as first tr), miss tr where yarn was rejoined, 1 tr into each of next 45 [49:57:61] sts and turn, leaving rem sts unworked.
Work on this set of 46 [50:58:62] sts only for Back.
Dec 1 st at each end of next 4 [4:6:6] rows. 38 [42:46:50] sts.
Work 6 [7:6:7] rows.
Shape back neck
Next row: 3 ch (counts as first tr), miss st at base of 3 ch, 1 tr into each of next 8 [9:10:11] sts and turn, leaving rem sts unworked. Dec 1 st at neck edge of next row. 8 [9:10:11] sts.
Shape shoulder
Fasten off.
Return to last complete row worked of Back, miss centre
20 [22:24:26] sts, rejoin yarn to next st and cont as follows:
Next row: 3 ch (counts as first tr), miss st where yarn was rejoined, 1 tr into each of last 8 [9:10:11] sts, turn.
Dec 1 st at neck edge of next row. 8 [9:10:11] sts.
Shape shoulder
Fasten off.
Shape left front
Return to last complete row worked before shaping Right Front and Back, miss next 6 sts, rejoin yarn to next st and cont as follows:Next row (RS) : 3 ch (counts as first tr), miss st where yarn was rejoined, 1 tr into each st to end, turn.
Work on this set of 23 [25:29:31] sts only for Left Front.
Dec 1 st at armhole edge of next 4 [4:6:6] rows. 19 [21:23:25] sts.
Work 0 [1:0:1] row, ending after a RS [WS:RS:WS] row.
Shape neck
1st and 3rd sizes only
Next row (WS) : Ss across and into 7th [9th] st - 6 [8] sts decreased, 3 ch (counts as first tr), miss st at base of 3 ch, 1 tr into each st to end, turn. 13 [15] sts.
2nd and 4th sizes only
Next row (RS) : 3 ch (counts as first tr), miss st at base of 3 ch, 1 tr into each st to last [7:9] sts and turn, leaving rem [7:9] sts unworked - [7:9] sts decreased. [14:16] sts.
All sizes
Dec 1 st at neck edge of next 5 rows. 8 [9:10:11] sts.Work 2 rows.
Shape shoulder
Fasten off.
Sleeves
With 2.50 mm hook, make 46 [50:54:58] ch.Foundation row (WS): 1 tr into 4th ch from hook, 1 tr into each ch to end, turn. 44 [48:52:56] sts.
Cont in tr fabric as follows:
Shape top
Next row (RS) : Ss across and into 4th st - 3 sts decreased, 3 ch (counts as first tr), miss st at base of 3 ch, 1 tr into each st to last 3 sts and turn, leaving rem 3 sts unworked - 3 sts decreased. 38 [42:46:50] sts.Dec 1 st at each end of next 5 [6:6:7] rows. 28 [30:34:36] sts. Fasten off.
Making up
Join shoulder seams. Join Sleeve seams. Insert Sleeves, matching centre of last row to shoulder seam and sleeve seam to centre of sts missed at underarm.
Body Edging
With RS facing and using 2.50 mm hook, rejoin yarn to Left Front neck corner point, 1 ch (does NOT count as st), work 1 row of dc evenly down Left Front opening edge to lower edge of Motif Band working a multiple of 4 dc plus 3 extra, 1 dc into 3rd of 5 ch of lower corner ch sp of end Motif, work in dc evenly across lower edge of Motif Band working a multiple of 4 dc plus 3 extra, 1 dc into 3rd of 5 ch of corner ch sp of this end Motif, work 1 row of dc evenly up Right Front opening edge to neck shaping working a multiple of 4 dc plus 3 extra, 1 dc into Right Front neck corner point, work 1 row of dc evenly around entire neck edge working a multiple of 4 dc plus 3 extra, 1 dc into Left Front neck corner point, ss to first dc, turn.Next round (WS) : 1 ch (does NOT count as st), 1 dc into first (neck corner point) dc, *miss 1 dc, 5 tr into next dc, miss 1 dc, 1 dc into next dc*, rep from * to * until dc has been worked in right neck corner point, make right tie as follows: 46 ch, 1 dc into 2nd ch from hook, 1 dc into each of next 44 ch, 1 dc into same right neck corner point dc, rep from * to * until dc has been worked into same place as first dc, make left tie as follows: 46 ch, 1 dc into 2nd ch from hook, 1 dc into each of next 44 ch, ss to first dc.
Fasten off.
Sleeve Edging
With RS facing and using 2.50 mm hook, rejoin yarn to base of Sleeve seam, 1 ch (does NOT count as st), work 1 round of dc evenly around lower edge of Sleeve, working a multiple of 4 dc and ending with ss to first dc, turn.Next round (WS): 1 ch (does NOT count as st), 1 dc into first dc, *miss 1 dc, 5 tr into next dc, miss 1 dc, 1 dc into next dc, rep from * to end, replacing dc at end of last rep with ss to first dc.