Crochet Mesh Top is Stylish, breezy, and easy to make. This lightweight top is perfect for layering or wearing on its own, offering endless customization options for every season.
The crochet mesh top is a lightweight, breathable, and fashionable piece, and also stylish addition to your wardrobe. It’s perfect for sunny days and can be made in any size or color to suit your preference. With its airy design and comfortable fit, it’s versatile for wearing as a casual top or layering over your favorite outfit. The mesh pattern creates a trendy, eye-catching effect, making it both modern and effortlessly chic.
Crochet Mesh Top With Easy Tutorial
You don’t need complicated skills to make the mesh top; you can create this pattern with ease. You only need basic crochet skills, your measurements, and a yarn you love. The design focuses on a simple pattern that repeats without being overly complicated. It’s an enjoyable way to crochet something practical while achieving great results. You can customize the fit to make it loose and flowy or snug, depending on your taste.
Credit Beyond Diary
Key Features and Construction:
- Uses mesh stitch: A repeating pattern combining chains and double crochets creates an open and breathable fabric.
- Made in two panels: Constructed as front and back panels and sewn together at the shoulders and sides.
- Customizable sizing: Easily adjusted for different chest and length measurements; includes options for a loose or fitted style.
- Elegant double crochet border: Adds a clean and polished finish on all edges and sleeves.
- Optional sleeves and slits: Creates flexibility in styling and comfort, with slits for ease of movement or a finished, more tailored look.
This crochet mesh top is beginner-friendly and highly customizable, with instructions designed to suit any yarn and hook size. The process begins with creating a foundation chain based on your chest measurement, worked in multiples of eight to accommodate the repeating mesh stitch pattern. Using light yarn and a larger hook size (the tutorial opts for 4.0mm), you’ll create an airy and flexible fabric with a simple sequence of chain spaces and double crochets.
The two panels—the front and back—are worked individually to your desired length, whether you’re making a cropped version or going for hip-length coverage. A double crochet border finishes the raw edges of each panel, ensuring a neat, structured look. For added interest, the back panel is made slightly longer by adding extra rows, emphasizing a relaxed, stylish silhouette.
Once the panels are complete, they are joined together at the shoulders and sides. The shoulder seams allow for a neckline opening of your choice, while the sides can remain completely stitched or left with slits at the bottom for a more flowing design. Both steps are quick and can be done with a yarn needle or slip stitches for a seamless appearance.
The tutorial also includes instructions for adding optional sleeves. These are worked directly onto the armhole openings using the same mesh pattern, ensuring a cohesive look. The length of the sleeves is entirely up to your preference, allowing for short sleeves, three-quarter sleeves, or even dramatic long sleeves. Like the body of the top, the edges of the sleeves are capped off with a neat double crochet border, tying the whole design together beautifully.
Finally, the piece is blocked to enhance its shape and drape. This essential step ensures that the loose mesh stitch lies evenly, giving the finished garment a professional, polished appearance.
Video Tutorial
Materials & Tools Needed:
- Yarn: Circular brand yarn (or any yarn of choice suitable for garments).
- Crochet Hook: Recommended size for yarn is 2.5-3.5 mm; however, a 4 mm crochet hook is used in the tutorial to achieve a looser texture.
- Stitch Markers: To mark specific stitches during the process.
- Tapestry Needle: For sewing and finishing edges.
- Measurement Tape: For chest and overall top measurements.
Step-by-Step Detailed Crochet Instructions:
Foundation & First Round:
- Start with a Slip Knot:
- Begin with a slip knot.
- Make chains long enough to match your chest measurement, ensuring the chain count is a multiple of 8.
- Example: If oversized, make 128 chains.
- Skipping & First Set of Stitches:
- Skip 5 chain spaces. Insert the hook into the 6th chain and make a double crochet (DC). This counts as a chain space (1 chain) and the first DC.
- Pattern: Chain 1, skip 1 chain space, insert into the next chain, and make another DC.
- Mark the next DC with a stitch marker (important for locating the stitch later).
- Creating Sets of Double Crochet:
- After marking the stitch: Chain 3, skip 3 chains, and begin the next set:
- First DC in the fourth chain, Chain 1.
- Skip 1 chain and make second DC.
- Chain 1, skip 1 chain, and make the third DC.
- Repeat this pattern across the chain row.
- After marking the stitch: Chain 3, skip 3 chains, and begin the next set:
Second Round:
- Turning and Starting the New Round:
- Turn your work horizontally. Begin with an alternative turning chain: Insert into the first chain space and work a single crochet (SC).
- Inside the second loop of this single crochet, work another SC. This acts as the first DC (alternative turning chain).
- Continuing the Pattern:
- Chain 1, skip the next chain space, and work the DC into the next chain space (top of DC from previous round).
- Repeat the established 3 DC set pattern with Chain 3 between sets until the round ends.
- Continue this repetitive pattern for several rows until the desired length of your mesh top is achieved.
Creating Panels:
- Front Panel: Create rows (in multiples of the pattern) for the desired crop top, tank top, or longer top design. Example: Complete 48 rows.
- Back Panel: Create the back panel with additional rows for added length (example: 52 rows). Finish with the same double crochet border as the front panel.
Joining Panels:
- Prepare for Joining:
- Place the front and back panels together with the right sides facing inward.
- Mark the neck opening using a stitch marker (example: Leave 6 sets as open space for the neckline).
- Sew Shoulder Seams:
- Use yarn and tapestry needle to sew shoulder edges together. Begin by inserting into chain spaces on both panels.
- Knot at the corners and continue sewing until reaching the stitch marker. Repeat this on the other shoulder edge.
- Joining Side Seams:
- Leave space for the armhole openings (example: 8 inches from the top for armhole) and sew sides together with the same method.
- Consider leaving space for slits at the hem – optional based on styling preference.
Sleeves:
- Starting the Sleeves:
- Attach yarn to the armpit area of the top (chain space closest to the seam).
- Begin with chain 4 (counts as DC + Chain 1).
- Work 3 DC sets around the armhole, following the same mesh top pattern.
- Repeat for Desired Sleeve Length:
- Continue the pattern for multiple rounds until reaching the sleeve’s desired length.
- Finish with a double crochet border at the end of each sleeve.
Finishing Techniques:
- Edging: Add a double crochet border to all open edges as a finishing detail.
- Blocking: Stretch and block the finished top to enhance its shape and ensure a polished appearance.
Troubleshooting and Suggestions:
- Struggling with stitch consistency? Double check that your chains and double crochets are evenly spaced. Loose tension is key for the airy effect but try not to make the yarn too slack.
- Keeping track of measurements: Use stitch markers to mark sections like the neckline and armholes for even assembly.
- Custom sizing tips: Adjust the number of foundation chains for width and add or decrease rows to achieve your desired length. For a more form-fitted look, reduce the number of chains slightly for your chest measurement.
- Creative modifications: Add stripes or color blocks by switching yarn colors every few rows, or finish the neckline with a scalloped edge for a feminine touch. For a summer-ready look, try working the sleeves shorter or skip them altogether to create a tank-style top.
