Over The Top Crop

A simple crochet crop top pattern is the best way to dive into crocheting garments. This step by step guide will help you make a darling crop top your little one will love.

Everly, my daughter, wears a dress Every. Single. Day.

She is always trying to wear her summer dresses to school. I designed the Over The Top Crop pattern to be worn “over the top” of these dresses so she can wear them all year round.

If you think that making a top down sweater is complicated, keep reading. If you can crochet a hat in the round you can make this crop top!

When I decided to make my first top down cardigan I was scared. Scared it wouldn’t fit or worse, that I wouldn’t finish at all.

I’m a #5 on the enneagram, an investigator. So I researched all things garment design. I read and reread this book, Top Down Crochet Sweaters.

I made a lot of mistakes and struggled through the tricky parts of the patterns. But after a few tries, I ended up loving it. No seaming at the end is the best part!

Now I’m sharing all that I learned with you. I’ve added all the info I wish I had right into the toddler crochet pattern.

The Summer Days Tunic Crochet Pattern

What You Need To Crochet A Crop Top

This pattern is written for toddler sizes. The girls sizes 8-16 is now available.

• Yarn: Weight #3 DK
  • 1(1,2) skeins of Lion Brand Yarn Coboo (3.5 oz/232 yds) (50% Cotton 50% Bamboo) Color// Mauve
  • Striped Crop Top- Autumn and Indigos DK mini grab bag. 75% sw merino wool / 25% nylon
• Hook: H/8 – 5.00 mm
• Tapestry Needle
• Scissors (my favorite)
• Tape Measure

Crochet Gauge

15 edc x 8 rows = 4” square Tutorial all about crochet gauge

Helpful Tips For The Crochet Crop Top Pattern

• The garment is worked top-down in one piece. 
• At the end of each round join with a slip stitch to the first stitch. Turn, chain 2, skip the joining stitch and work as written in the pattern around. The final stitch of each round will be worked in the first stitch from the previous round that you joined too. (Watch the video below to see how to do this)
• The beginning chain does not count as a stitch. 
• The pattern is written for the smallest size with the larger sizes in parenthesis. If only 1 number is given it pertains to all sizes.

Watch the video to learn:

• How to crochet the extended double crochet
• How to turn and start each round
• How to separate the sleeves from the body
• How to measure from the underarm

Special Stitches

Extended Double Crochet (edc): YO, insert hook, pull through st, YO pull through 1 loop, YO pull through 2 loops, YO pull through last 2 loops on hook.

How To Choose The Correct Size

UPDATE: The pattern is now available in girls size 8-16.

The crochet crop top is designed to be slightly fitted. The pattern is written with 1″ positive ease. This means that the top should be 1″ larger than the child’s waist measurement.

To decide what size to make, measure your child’s waist. In the chart below under the heading “Actual Waist” choose the number that is closest to your child’s measurement.

The length of the top is easy to adjust. It’s designed to be worn “over the top” of dresses. I found that if I made it to long it wasn’t as flattering.

Abbreviations (US terms)

• ch(s)= chain(s)
• dc=double crochet
• edc=extended double crochet
• sk=skip
• sl st= slip stitch
• st(s)=stitches
• rep=repeat

Toddler Over The Top Crop Crochet Pattern

Ch 54 (54, 60) sl st to join in the first ch to form a loop.

Round 1: ch 2, 1 edc in each ch around, join. Turn. 54 (54, 60) sts

Round 2: ch 2, (1 edc in each of the next 5 sts, 2 edc in the next st) around, join, turn. 63 (63, 70)sts

Round 3: ch 2, (1 edc in each of the next 6 sts, 2 edc in the next st) around, join, turn. 72 (72, 80)sts

Round 4: ch 2, (1 edc in each of the next 7 sts, 2 edc in the next st) around, join, turn. 81 (81, 90)sts 

Round 5: ch 2, (1 edc in each of the next 8 sts, 2 edc in the next st) around, join, turn. 90 (90, 100)sts 

Round 6: ch 2, (1 edc in each of the next 9 sts, 2 edc in the next st) around, join, turn. 99 (99, 110)sts 

Round 7: ch 2, (1 edc in each of the next 10 sts, 2 edc in the next st) around, join, turn. 108 (108, 120)sts

 Round 8: ch 2, (1 edc in each of the next 11 sts, 2 edc in the next st) around, join, turn. 117 (117, 130)sts 

Round 9: ch 2, (1 edc in each of the next 12 sts, 2 edc in the next st) around, join, turn. 126 (126, 140)sts 

Round 10: ch 2, (1 edc in each of the next 13 sts, 2 edc in the next st) around, join, turn. 135 (135, 150)sts

Size 4 only

Round 11: ch 2, (1 edc in each of the next 14 sts, 2 edc in the next st) around, join, turn. (144)sts

Size 6 only

Rounds 11-12: ch 2, 1 edc in each st around, join, turn. (150)sts

All Sizes (2-6)

Separate the sleeves from the body.

Round 1: ch 2, 1 edc in each of the next 20 (21, 22) sts, sk 27 (30, 31) sts, 1 edc in each of the next 41 (42, 44) sts, sk 27 (30, 31) sts, 1 edc in each of the last 20 (21, 22) sts, join, turn. 81 (84, 88)sts

Round 2: ch 2, 1 edc in each st around, join, turn. 81 (84, 88)sts

Repeat round 2 until work measures 3.5 (4.5, 5.5) inches from the underarm.

Sizes 2 and 4 only

Final Round: ch 2, 1 dc in first st, (sk next st, 1 sl st in next st, sk next st, 3 dc in next st) around, join. 81 (84)sts

Size 6 only

Final Round: ch 2, 1 dc in first st, (sk next st, 1 sl st in next st, sk next st, 3 dc in next st) rep around until final 3 sts, sk st, sl st in next st, 2 dc in last st, join. (88)sts

Cut the yarn and weave in ends. 

GIRLS sizes 8-16 Over The Top Crop Pattern

What You Need

• Yarn: Weight #3 DK
• 2 (3, 3, 3, 3) skeins of Lion Brand Yarn Coboo (3.5 oz/232 yds) (50% Cotton 50% Bamboo) Color// Mauve
  • Striped Crop Top- Autumn and Indigos DK mini grab bag. 75% sw merino wool / 25% nylon
• Hook: H/8 – 5.00 mm
• Tapestry Needle
• Scissors (my favorite)
• Tape Measure

Crochet Gauge

15 edc x 8 rows = 4” square Tutorial all about crochet gauge

Girls Crop Top Sizing

The pattern is written for size 8 with the larger sizes in parenthesis as follows 8 (10, 12, 14, 16). If only 1 number is given it pertains to all sizes. If there is an X in the st count that means that size does not work that round.

The top is designed to have 1” positive ease and the length is cropped.

Finished Chest Circumference: 26.75 (28.25, 30.5, 32.5, 33.5) inches Finished Length: 12.5 (14, 15, 15.5, 16) inches
Upper Arm Circumference: 9 (9.5, 9.75, 10, 10.5) inches

Helpful Tips For The Crochet Crop Top Pattern

• The garment is worked top-down in one piece. 
• At the end of each round join with a slip stitch to the first stitch. Turn, chain 2, skip the joining stitch and work as written in the pattern around. The final stitch of each round will be worked in the first stitch from the previous round that you joined too. (Watch the video below to see how to do this)
• The beginning chain does not count as a stitch. 
• The pattern is written for the smallest size with the larger sizes in parenthesis. If only 1 number is given it pertains to all sizes.

Abbreviations (US terms)

• ch(s)= chain(s)
• dc=double crochet
• edc=extended double crochet
• sk=skip
• sl st= slip stitch
• st(s)=stitches
• rep=repeat

GIRLS 8-16 Over The Top Crop Pattern

Yoke Shaping

Ch 64 (64, 72, 72, 72) sl st to join in the first ch to form a loop.

Round 1: ch 2, 1 edc in each ch around, join. Turn. 64 (64, 72, 72, 72) sts

Round 2: ch 2, (1 edc in each of the next 7 sts, 2 edc in the next st) around, join, turn. 72 (72, 81, 81, 81) sts

Round 3: ch 2, (1 edc in each of the next 8 sts, 2 edc in the next st) around, join, turn. 80 (80, 90, 90, 90) sts 

Round 4: ch 2, (1 edc in each of the next 9 sts, 2 edc in the next st) around, join, turn. 88 (88, 99, 99, 99) sts 

Round 5: ch 2, (1 edc in each of the next 10 sts, 2 edc in the next st) around, join, turn. 96 (96, 108, 108, 108) sts 

Round 6: ch 2, (1 edc in each of the next 11 sts, 2 edc in the next st) around, join, turn. 104 (104, 117, 117, 117) sts

 Round 7: ch 2, (1 edc in each of the next 12 sts, 2 edc in the next st) around, join, turn. 112 (112, 126, 126, 126) sts 

Round 8: ch 2, (1 edc in each of the next 13 sts, 2 edc in the next st) around, join, turn. 120 (120, 135, 135, 135) sts 

Round 9: ch 2, (1 edc in each of the next 14 sts, 2 edc in the next st) around, join, turn. 128 (128, 144, 144, 144) sts

Round 10: ch 2, (1 edc in each of the next 15 sts, 2 edc in the next st) around, join, turn. 136 (136, 153, 153, 153) sts

Round 11: ch 2, (1 edc in each of the next 16 sts, 2 edc in the next st) around, join, turn. 144 (144, 162, 162, 162) sts

Round 12: ch 2, (1 edc in each of the next 17 sts, 2 edc in the next st) around, join, turn. 152 (152, 171, 171, 171) sts

Round 13: ch 2, (1 edc in each of the next 18 sts, 2 edc in the next st) around, join, turn. 160 (160, 180, 180, 180) sts 

Round 14: ch 2, (1 edc in each of the next 19 sts, 2 edc in the next st) around, join, turn. 168 (168, 189, 189, 189) sts

Size 8 skip to Split For Sleeves Section

Size 12 skip to Yoke Length Round

Round 15: ch 2, (1 edc in each of the next 20 sts, 2 edc in the next st) around, join, turn. X (176, X, 198, 198) sts

Size 10 skip to Split For Sleeves Section

Size 14 skip to Yoke Length Round

Round 16: ch 2, (1 edc in each of the next 21 sts, 2 edc in the next st) around, join, turn. X (X, X, X, 207) sts 

Yoke Length Round: ch 2, 1 edc in each st around, join, turn. X (X, 189, 198, 207) sts

Split For Sleeves (All Sizes 8-16)

Round 1: ch 2, 1 edc in each of the next 25 (26, 29, 30, 32) sts, sk 34 (35, 37, 38, 40) sts, 1 edc in each of the next 50 (53, 57, 61, 63) sts, sk 34 (35, 37, 38, 40) sts, 1 edc in each of the last 25 (27, 29, 31, 32) sts, join, turn.100 (106, 115, 122, 127) sts

Round 2: ch 2, 1 edc in each st around, join, turn. 100 (106, 115, 122, 127) sts

Repeat round 2 until work measures 6 (7, 7.5, 7.5, 7.5) inches from the underarm or until desired length.

Size 8 Only

Final Round: ch 2, (sk next st, 1 sl st in next st, sk next st, 3 dc in next st) around, join. 100 (X, X, X, X) sts

Sizes 12 and 16 only

Final Round: ch 2, 1 dc in first st, (sk next st, 1 sl st in next st, sk next st, 3 dc in next st) around until last 2 sts, sk next st, sl st in next st, join. X (X, 114, X, 126) sts

Sizes 10 and 14 only

Final Round: ch 2, 1 dc in first st, (sk next st, 1 sl st in next st, sk next st, 3 dc in next st) around, sk the last st, join. X (105, X, 121, X) sts

Cut the yarn and weave in ends.

I’m so glad you followed along with this easy crochet crop top pattern! I’m sure your little one will be wearing this “over the top” of her dresses all year long.

Tag me on Instagram @sweeteverlyb so I can see your girls crop top.

Check out the Bell Crop Sweater for another easy beginner sweater crochet pattern.

Crochet designer//Wanna be knitter// heart of an 80 year old// When I'm not crocheting you can find me in the kitchen baking with my little ones, drinking iced coffee or watching Gilmore Girls.