Summer Days Crochet Tunic

This ribbed toddler tunic is such an interesting design. It’s worked in rows but still has a beautiful round neckline. Win-Win! The shape of this summer top crochet pattern is so flattering.

If you’ve been around here any amount of time you know my daughter Everly has a love of dresses. She was ecstatic to wear her new tunic. It’s shorter than a dress but still has that flowy, princessy, feel she loves.

The super-soft cotton DK yarn is from LoveCrafts. The paintbox yarns come in a rainbow of colors. It was so hard to choose just one. You can see the yarn I used and get the free Summer Days Tunic Pattern at LoveCrafts.

While you’re at Love Crafts check out all of their free crochet patterns. They feature so many great designers.

Back to how this beauty is made. It’s crocheted in rows using different stitch heights to create the shaping. No increases or decreases (yay for easy)! You will crochet 2 matching panels and seam them together at the end.

If you still aren’t comfortable with crocheting a top in the round, this summer top crochet pattern is the best of both worlds.

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What You Need

• DK Weight #3 Yarn: 4 (5, 5) balls of PAINTBOX YARNS Cotton DK(100% cotton) (1.7oz / 137 yds per ball) Color: Light Camel
• Hook: 4.00mm
• 2 stitch markers

Choosing A Size

The pattern is written for size 2T with the larger sizes in parenthesis as follows 2T (4T, 6T). Where only 1 number is given it pertains to all sizes. The tunic is designed to be worn with 1” positive ease along the chest with a loose fit through the hips.

Finished Chest Circumference: 22 (24, 26) inches

Finished Length: 14 (15, 16.5) inches

Upperarm Circumference: 8 (8, 9.5) inches

Gauge

20 (BLO) dc x 9 rows = 4” square Tutorial all about gauge

What You Need To Know

Move the markers up as you work each row.

Back Loop Only(BLO): work the entire row in the the back loop only.

The turning chain at the beginning of each row does not count as a stitch.

The pattern is crocheted in rows. You will make a front and back panel that are identical and seam the 2 panels together at the end.

Abbreviations (US crochet terms)

• (BLO) = back loop only
• ch(s) = chain(s)
• dc = double crochet
• hdc = half double crochet
• m = marker
• sc = single crochet
• sl st = slip stitch
• st(s) = stitches
• tr = treble crochet

Toddler Summer Top Crochet Pattern

Front Panel

First Sleeve

Ch 27 (29, 31)

Row 1: (BLO) 1 sl st in second ch from hook and each of the next 5 chs, 1 sc in each of the next 6 chs, 1 hdc in each of the next 6 chs, place marker, 1 dc across, turn. 26 (28, 30) sts

Row 2: ch 2, (BLO) 1 dc in each st until m, 1 hdc in m st and each of the next 5 sts, 1 sc in each of the next 6 sts, 1 sl st across, turn. 26 (28, 30) sts

Row 3: ch 1, (BLO) 1 sl st in each of the next 6 sts, 1 sc in each of the next 6 sts, 1 hdc in each st until m, 1 hdc in m st, 1 dc in each st across, turn. 26 (28, 30) sts

Rows 4-9 (9, 11): Repeat the last 2 rows.

Don’t turn or cut the yarn.

Body

Continuing where you are, ch 47 (50, 55)

Row 1: (BLO) 1 tr in 4th ch from the hook and each of the next 35 (38, 43) chs, place marker, 1 dc in each ch and st until next m, 1 hdc in m st and each of the next 5 sts, 1 sc in each of the next 6 sts, 1 sl st in each st across, turn. 70 (75, 82) sts

Row 2: ch 1, (BLO) 1 sl st in each of the next 6 sts, 1 sc in each of the next 6 sts, 1 hdc in each st until m, 1 hdc in  m st, 1 dc in each st until m, 1 tr in m st and across, turn. 70 (75, 82) sts

Row 3: (BLO) ch 3, 1 tr in each st until m,1 tr in m st, 1 dc in each st until m, 1 hdc in m st and each of the next 5 sts, 1 sc in each of the next 6 sts, 1 sl st across, turn. 70 (75, 82) sts

Next 22 (24, 26) Rows: Repeat the last 2 rows.

Don’t cut the yarn.

Second Sleeve

Row 1: (BLO) ch 1, 1 sl st in each of the next 6 sts, 1 sc in each of the next 6 sts, 1 hdc in each st until m, 1 hdc in m st, 1 dc in each of the next 8 (10, 12) sts (leave remaining sts unworked), turn. 26 (28, 30) sts

Row 2: (BLO) ch 2, 1 dc in each st until m, 1 hdc in m st and each of the next 5 sts, 1 sc in each of the next 6 sts, 1 sl st in each st across, turn. 26 (28, 30) sts

Next 7 (7, 9) Rows: Repeat the last 2 rows.

You should have 9 (9, 11) rows in the first sleeve, 25 (27, 29) rows in the body, 9 (9, 11) rows in the second sleeve. The total row count for 1 complete panel will be 43 (45, 51) rows.

Cut yarn.

Repeat all rows for the back panel.

Sewing It All Together

Place the panels on top of each other. Starting at the bottom corner, using the mattress stitch, sew the sides together. Stop at the armhole. Attach the yarn at the top of the sleeve and sew together. (Sew along the dotted lines in the picture below.)

You’re done! I hope your little one loves this summer top crochet pattern as much as Everly.

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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.