Free Lace Essence Top Crochet Pattern from RedHeart.com

GAUGE: 4 pattern repeats = 5” (12.5 cm); 10 rows = 3” (7.5 cm). Note: One pattern repeat consists of one trefoil and one single crochet. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.

Directions are for size XS/S Changes for sizes M/L and 1X/2X are in parentheses.

Finished Bust: 36 (40, 48)” [91.5 (101.5, 122) cm]

Finished Length: 17½ (18¾, 20)” [44.5 (47.5, 51) cm]

Cl (cluster) = [Yarn over] twice, insert hook in indicated stitch, yarn over and draw up a loop, [yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook] twice; *[yarn over] twice, insert hook in same stitch, yarn over and draw up a loop, [yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook] twice; repeat from * once, yarn over and draw through all 4 loops on hook.

Beg dc2tog = Ch 2, dc in next stitch.

dc2tog = [Yarn over, insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up loop, yarn over, draw through 2 loops] 2 times, yarn over, draw through all 3 loops on hook.

dc3tog = [Yarn over, insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up loop, yarn over, draw through 2 loops] 3 times, yarn over, draw through all 4 loops on hook.

dc-join = Yarn over, insert hook in next sc of second half back, yarn over and pull up loop, yarn over, draw through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), insert hook in next sc of first half back, yarn over and pull up loop, yarn over, draw through 2 loops (3 loops on hook), draw through all 3 loops on hook.

trefoil = (Cl, [ch 5, Cl] twice) in indicated stitch.

V-st (V-stitch) = (Dc, ch 2, dc) in indicated stitch.

1. Top is made in 2 pieces. Each piece is worked back and forth in rows from sleeve to center of front and back. Each piece is divided at neck and front and back worked separately.

2. Pieces are joined at center of front and back with a double crochet join (dc-join).

3. When instructed to work into a V-st, work into the ch-2 space of the V-st.

Ch 162 (182, 202).

Row 1 (right side): Sc in 2nd ch from hook, *skip next 4 ch, trefoil in next ch, skip next 4 ch, sc in next ch; repeat from * across, turn— 16 (18, 20) trefoils and 17 (19, 21) sc.

Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), dc in first sc, ch 4, sc in center Cl of next trefoil, *ch 4, V-st in next sc, ch 4, sc in center Cl of next trefoil; repeat from * across, ch 4, 2 dc in last sc, turn—15 (17, 19) V-sts, 16 (18, 20) sc, and 2 dc at each end.

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in first dc, trefoil in next sc, *sc in next V-st, trefoil in next sc; repeat from * across, skip next dc, sc in top of beginning ch, turn—16 (18, 20) trefoils and 17 (19, 21) sc.

Row 4: Repeat Row 2.

Row 5: Ch 3, 2 dc in first dc, ch 5, sc in next sc, *ch 5, 5 dc in next V-st, ch 5, sc in next sc; repeat from * across, ch 5, 3 dc in top of beginning ch, turn—15 (17, 19) 5-dc groups, 32 (36, 40) ch-5 spaces, and 3 dc at each end.

Row 6: Beg dc2tog, ch 3, skip next dc, sc in next ch-5 space, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 space, *ch 3, skip next dc, dc3tog, ch 3, sc in next ch-5 space, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 space; repeat from * across, ch 3, skip next dc, dc2tog over last dc and top of beginning ch, turn—17 (19, 21) dc and 16 (18, 20) ch-5 spaces.

Row 7: Ch 1, sc in first dc, ch 5, 5 dc in 3rd ch of next ch-5 space, *ch 5, sc in next dc, ch 5, 5 dc in 3rd ch of next ch-5 space; repeat from * across, ch 5, sc in last dc, turn—17 (19, 21) sc and 16 (18, 20) 5-dc groups.

Row 8: Ch 6 (counts as tr, ch 2), *sc in next ch-5 space, ch 3, skip next dc, dc3tog, ch 3, sc in next ch-5 space**, ch 5; repeat from * across ending last repeat at **, ch 2, tr in last sc, turn—2 tr, 16 (18, 20) dc, and 15 (17, 19) ch-5 spaces.

Row 9: Ch 3, 2 dc in first tr, *ch 5, sc in next dc, ch 5**, 5 dc in 3rd ch of next ch-5 space; repeat from * across ending last repeat at **, 3 dc in 4th ch of beginning ch, turn—16 (18, 20) sc, 15 (17, 19) 5-dc groups, and 3 dc at each end.

Row 10: Repeat Row 6.

Rows 11–14: Repeat Rows 7–10.

Row 11 (15, 15): Ch 1, sc in first dc, *trefoil in 3rd ch of next ch-5 space, sc in next dc; repeat from * across, turn—16 (18, 20) trefoils and 17 (19, 21) sc.

Row 12 (16, 16): Ch 3, dc in first sc, ch 4, sc in center Cl of next trefoil, *ch 4, V-st in next sc, ch 4, sc in center Cl of next trefoil; repeat from * across, ch 4, 2 dc in last sc, ch 61; place loop on hook on locking stitch marker or safety pin; with separate strand, join yarn with slip st in top of beginning ch, ch 60. Fasten off 2nd strand. Return loop on stitch marker or safety pin to hook.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, [skip next 4 ch, trefoil in next ch, skip next 4 ch, sc in next ch] 5 times, skip next 4 ch, trefoil in next ch, skip next 4 ch, sc in first dc, trefoil in next sc, [sc in next V-st, trefoil in next sc] 15 (17, 19) times, skip next dc, sc in next dc, [skip next 4 ch, trefoil in next ch, skip 4 ch, sc in next ch] 6 times, turn—28 (30, 32) trefoils and 29 (31, 33) sc.

Row 2: Repeat Row 2 of sleeve—27 (29, 31) V-sts, 28 (30, 32) sc, and 2 dc at each end.

Rows 3–8 (12, 12): Repeat Rows 5–10 (5–14, 5–14) of sleeve.

Row 9 (13, 13): Ch 1, sc in first dc, *trefoil in 3rd ch of next ch-5 space, sc in next dc; repeat from * across, turn—28 (30, 32) trefoils and 29 (31, 33) sc.

Row 10 (14, 14): Repeat Row 4 of sleeve.

Rows 11–17 (15–21, 15–25): Repeat Rows 3–9 (3–9, 3–13) of sleeve—28 (30, 32) sc, 27 (29, 31) 5-dc groups, and 3 dc at each end.

Place stitch marker on 3rd dc of center 5-dc group; there should be 14 (15, 16) trefoils on each side of marker 6 rows below.

Back begins on wrong side at bottom edge.

Row 1 (wrong side): Beg dc2tog, *ch 3, sc in next ch-5 space, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 space, ch 3**, skip next dc, dc3tog; repeat from * to marker ending last repeat at **, dc2tog; leave remaining sts unworked, turn—15 (16, 17) dc and 28 (30, 32) sc. Do not remove marker.

Rows 2–5: Repeat Rows 9–12 (13-16, 13-16) of body.

Rows 6–11 (6–11, 6–15): Repeat Rows 5–10 (5–10, 5–14) of sleeve.

Row 12 (12, 16): Repeat Row 9 of body. Fasten off.

Row 1: With wrong side of Row 17 (21, 25) of body facing, skip unworked sts of marked 5-dc group and next two 5-dc groups, join yarn with slip st in 4th dc of next 5-dc group, beg dc2tog, *ch 3, sc in next ch-5 space, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 space, ch 3, skip next dc**, dc3tog; repeat from * to marker ending last repeat at **, dc2tog, turn—12 (13, 14) dc and 22 (24, 26) sc. Remove marker.

Rows 2–12 (2–12, 2–16): Repeat Rows 2–12 (2–12, 2–16) of back. Fasten off.

Work same as sleeve, body, and divide for front and back of first half.

Front begins on wrong side at bottom edge.

Row 1: Beg dc2tog, *ch 3, sc in next ch-5 space, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 space, ch 3, skip next dc**, dc3tog; repeat from * 10 (11, 12) times ending last repeat at **, dc2tog; leave remaining sts unworked, turn—12 (13, 14) dc and 22 (24, 26) sc.

Rows 2–12 (2–12, 2–16): Repeat Rows 2–12 (2–12, 2–16) of first half back. Fasten off.

Row 1: With wrong side facing, join yarn with slip st in marked st of Row 29 (37, 41), beg dc2tog, *ch 3, sc in next ch-5 space, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 space, ch 3**, skip next dc, dc3tog; repeat from * ending last repeat at **, skip next dc, dc2tog, turn—15 (16, 17) dc and 28 (30, 32) sc.

Rows 2–12 (2–12, 2–16): Repeat Rows 2–12 (2–12, 2–16) of first half back. Do not fasten off.

Hold pieces with right sides together and with second half back on top of first half back.

Row 1: Beginning at bottom of back, ch 2, sc in first dc on first half back, *ch 4, working through both thicknesses, sc in 2nd Cl of first trefoil, ch 4, dc-join**, ch 1, dc-join in same sc as just worked; repeat from * across ending last repeat at **. Fasten off.

Hold pieces with right sides together and with first half front on top of second half front.

Row 1: Beginning at top of front neckline, join yarn with slip st in first sc of first half front, ch 2, sc in first dc on first half back, *ch 4, working through both thicknesses, sc in 2nd Cl of first trefoil, ch 4, dc-join**, ch 1, dc-join in same sc as just worked; repeat from * across ending last repeat at **. Fasten off.

Steam block to flatten and stretch to finished measurements as shown in schematic. Sew side and sleeve seams. Weave in ends.

ch = chain; dc = double crochet; sc = single crochet; st(s) = stitch(es); tr = treble (triple) crochet; ( ) = work directions in parentheses into same st; [ ] = work directions in brackets the number of times specified; * = repeat whatever follows the * as indicated.

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