The design for this project came from a picture of a top I found a while ago. I liked the idea of creating a garment with a central focal point – kind of like a mandala you can wear!
My goal was a light weight summer top so I chose a light cotton yarn. I love how the blue tones come together on the back and remind me of the ocean with a clear sky above. Also this yarn contains metallic thread so it glistens like sun on water too!
I wanted the construction to be simple with as little sewing as possible, so, this garment is actually made as one piece. It starts at the front from the center of the motif, then progresses over the shoulders and down the back.
The waist portion is crocheted on to the bottom edges of the front and back sections like an extra wide belt. All that was left was to I figure out the best way to close the sides. I simply added a few rows on to each side the joined them to the back with a row of slip stitches.
This project may look complicated but the double crochet stitch, along with chain and slip stitch, is all you need!
Buy a PDF of this pattern: Ravelry
Isabella Blouse Free Crochet Pattern
Step out in style in this light and breezy sparkly cotton top. The Isabella Blouse is deceptively simple to make; cleverly constructed as one piece with minimal sewing required! This pattern is designed to fit a small/medium figure but includes instructions on how to make larger sizes.
You are welcome to sell the items you make with this pattern, but please give me, Krazy Kabbage, a
mention in your sales listing and provide a link to my website www.krazykabbage.com.
Yarn Bee Sugarwheel Cotton Sparkle (light weight; 97% cotton, 3% metallic polyester) in Just Relax. 650 yards. Similar cotton yarn may be used.
You will need crochet hook size 7 – 4.5mm and a yarn needle to weave in ends.
Gauge: 12 single crochet x 17 rows = 4″.
This pattern uses US terminology.
Stitches and Terms Used: Chain (ch), Slip stitch (sl st), double crochet (dc)
Construction: The pattern starts with the front center motif and is worked in rounds. The shoulders are worked in rows directly onto the front piece, before the back section is worked onto the shoulders.
The front and back are connected by working in rounds down from the waist. Lastly a few rows are worked onto the sides, connection to the back with a slip stitch seam.
Sections need to be completed in the order they are written.
The yarn had 3 shades of blue; dark, medium and light. Color changes are abrupt so yarn was cut at these points. Dark was used for the motif, light for the chains around motif then alternating mid, dark, light. Dark was used for the waist to hips section and the sides.
Center motif
With dark blue, Ch 4 and sl st in first ch to form ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 2. 11 dc in ring. Sl st in top of first dc to join. (12 dc)
Rnd 2: Sl st in first space. Ch 3. [Dc in next space and ch 1] 11 times. Sl st to join in top of the ch 3.
Rnd 3, row 1: Sl st in next space. Ch 8. Dc in third chain from hook. Place stitch marker in same chain. 11 dc around chain. Sl st in next space of rnd 2 to anchor to ring.
Rnd 3, row 2: Ch 6 and turn work over. Working back along row 1, Skip first 6 stitches then dc in each of next 6.
Rnd 3, row 3: Ch 2 and turn work back over to front side. Working back along row 2, dc in first space. 2 dc in each of next 4 spaces. 12 dc in big space. Sl st in next space of rnd 2.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 around finishing with sl st in same space as beginning of rnd 3.
Rnd 3, row 4: Turn work over. Working back along last row, sl st in each of first 7. Ch 2. Sl st in marked chain of row 1. Dc in next 5 stitches of last row. Ch 2 and turn.
Rnd 3, row 5: Working back along row 4, dc in space, 2 dc in each of next 4 spaces. (change color here) Sl st in top of next dc to join row. (12 petals)
Rnd 4: *Ch 6, sl st in same space of next petal. Repeat from * around.
Rnd 5: Sl st in 1st space. *[Ch 24. Sl st in same space] 6 times. Sl st in next space. Rep from * around. Fasten off. (72 big loops)
Rnd 6: (use med blue) Sl st in 1st big loop. [Ch 4 sl st in next] around. Sl st around 1st ch 4 to join.
Rnd 7: Ch 3. 3 dc in same space. [Ch 4 skip next space. 4 dc in next] around, ch 4 skip last space and sl st in top of ch 3 to join.
Rnds 8 and 9: Sl st in center of 4dc block. Ch 3, 3 dc in same space. [Ch 4, 4 dc in center of next 4dc block] around until last block. Ch 4, sl st in top of ch 3 to join.
Shoulders
1st Shoulder
Row 1: With dark blue, sl st in center of 4dc block. Ch 3, 3 dc in same space. [Ch 4, 4 dc in center of next 4dc block] 4 times.
Rows 2 and 3: Turn, repeat row 1.
Rows 4-6: Using light blue, repeat rows 1-3.
Rows 7-9: Using medium blue, repeat rows 1-3.
Rows 10-18: Repeat rows 1-9. Fasten off.
2nd Shoulder
Working into round 9 to left of 1st shoulder, skip next 4dc block. Repeat rows 1-18. Do not fasten off.
Back of Garment
Row 18 continued: Ch 12, 4 dc in center of 1st 4dc block of other shoulder. [Ch 4, 4 dc in center of next 4dc block] 4 times. Turn.
Row 19: With dark blue, sl st in center of 4dc block. Ch 3, 3 dc in same space. [Ch 4, 4 dc in center of next 4dc block] 4 times. Ch 4, 4 dc around chain. [Ch 4, 4 dc in center of next 4dc block] 5 times. Turn.
Change color every 3 rows. Place stitch markers at ends of row 30.
Rows 20-54: Sl st in center of 4dc block. Ch 3, 3 dc in same space. [Ch 4, 4 dc in center of next 4dc block] 10 times. Turn.
Waist
Row 55 / Rnd 1: Sl st in center of 4dc block. Ch 3, 3 dc in same space. [Ch 4, 4 dc in center of next 4dc block] 10 times.
Fold garment at shoulders. Count 8 unworked 4dc blocks down on each side of front motif. Mark.
Ch 4 (12 or 20 for larger sizes), 4 dc in center of marked 4dc block. [Ch 4, 4 dc in center of next 4dc block] 9 times. Ch 4, 4 dc in center of other marked 4dc block].
Ch 4 (12 or 20 for larger sizes) sl st to join in top of ch 3.
Rnds 2 – 9: Sl st in center of 4dc block. Ch 3, 3 dc in same space. [Ch 4, 4 dc in center of next 4dc block] around until last block. (For larger sizes work a 4dc block or two into the ch12 spaces when working rnd 2.) Ch 4, sl st in top of ch 3 to join. Fasten off at end of round 9 or keep adding rows for longer length.
Sides
The sides are worked in rows onto the front of the garment and then sewn to the edges of the back.
Starting in next 4dc block down from shoulder, join yarn in center of block.
Row 1: Ch 3. Dc in same space. [Ch 4, 4 dc in center of next 4dc block] 6 times. Ch 4, 2 dc in next block. Turn.
Row 2: Ch 3. Dc in same space. [Ch 4, 4 dc in center of next 4dc block] 6 times. Ch 4, 2 dc in ch3 space. Turn.
Row 3: Repeat row 2.
For larger sizes repeat row 2 three or six more times.
Work the other side in the same way.
Turn garment inside out.
Clip or pin edge of last row to edge of back section (use markers at ends of row 30 to line it up) Slip stitch or sew along edges to close the sides.
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