This ribbed 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.
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
UPDATE: The pattern is now available in Girls size 8-16.
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(Toddler)
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.)
Girls Size 8-16 Crochet Top Pattern
Choosing A Size
The pattern is written for size 8 with the larger sizes in parenthesis as follows 8 (10, 12, 14, 16). 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: 27.5 (29, 31, 32.5, 34.5) inches
Finished Length: 18.5 (20, 21, 21.5, 22) inches
Upperarm Circumference: 9.75 (9.75, 9.75, 11.5, 11.5) inches
What You Need
- DK Weight #3 Yarn: 7 (8, 9, 10, 11) balls of PAINTBOX YARNS Cotton DK (100% cotton) (1.7oz / 137 yds per ball) Color: Light Camel
- Hook: 4.00mm
- 2 stitch markers
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
Front Panel(Girls 8-16)
First Sleeve
Ch 34 (36, 39, 41, 44)
Row 1: (BLO) 1 sl st in second ch from hook and each of the next 7 chs, 1 sc in each of the next 8 chs, 1 hdc in each of the next 8 chs, place marker, 1 dc across, turn. 33 (35, 38, 40, 43) sts
Row 2: ch 2, (BLO) 1 dc in each st until m, 1 hdc in m st and each of the next 7 sts, 1 sc in each of the next 8 sts, 1 sl st across, turn. 33 (35, 38, 40, 43) sts
Row 3: ch 1, (BLO) 1 sl st in each of the next 8 sts, 1 sc in each of the next 8 sts, 1 hdc in each st until m, 1 hdc in m st, 1 dc in each st across, turn. 33 (35, 38, 40, 43) sts
Rows 4-11 (11, 11, 13, 13): Repeat the last 2 rows. Don’t turn or cut the yarn.
Body
Continuing where you are, ch 63 (68, 70, 73, 75)
Row 1: (BLO) 1 tr in 4th ch from the hook and each of the next 48 (53, 55, 58, 60) chs, place marker, 1 dc in each ch and st until next m, 1 hdc in m st and each of the next 7 sts, 1 sc in each of the next 8 sts, 1 sl st in each st across, turn. 93 (100, 105, 110, 115) sts
Row 2: ch 1, (BLO) 1 sl st in each of the next 8 sts, 1 sc in each of the next 8 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. 93 (100, 105, 110, 115) 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 7 sts, 1 sc in each of the next 8 sts, 1 sl st across, turn. 93 (100, 105, 110, 115) sts
Next 28 (30, 32, 34, 36) 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 8 sts, 1 sc in each of the next 8 sts, 1 hdc in each st until m, 1 hdc in m st, 1 dc in each of the next 9 (11, 14, 16, 19) sts (leave remaining sts unworked), turn. 33 (35, 38, 40, 43) sts
Row 2: (BLO) ch 2, 1 dc in each st until m, 1 hdc in m st and each of the next 7 sts, 1 sc in each of the next 8 sts, 1 sl st in each st across, turn. 33 (35, 38, 40, 43) sts
Next 9 (9, 9, 11, 11) Rows: Repeat the last 2 rows.
You should have 11 (11, 11, 13, 13) rows in the first sleeve, 31 (33, 35, 37, 39) rows in the body, 11 (11, 11, 13, 13) rows in the second sleeve. The total row count for 1 complete panel will be 53 (55, 57, 63, 65) 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. (seam along the dotted line in the photo.) Weave in yarn ends.
You’re done! I hope your little one loves this summer top crochet pattern as much as Everly.
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.
I love how this looks!! So very cute. I’m going to make this right away to put in my grandma box (for when I become a grandma 🙂
Hi Darlene,
I love that you have a grandma box. That is such a special idea! I’m honored one of my patterns will be added 🙂
I LOVE the ways the summer tunic looks – tho’ I haven’t even started it yet, it looks like an easy pattern. Too bad there are no instructions for adult sizes…(hint??). As soon as my local craft store is open ??, I’ll get the materials and start. Love your blog, keep posting. You’ve become one of my favorites.
Hello Chris! I can’t wait for all the yarn stores to reopen too 🙂 I’m planning on adding more sizes soon!
Can you make the toddler tunic for the adult. It’s so pretty.
Hey Barbara,
Thanks! I’m working on larger sizes for this pattern. Hopefully soon!