In case you haven’t heard, the past 2 weeks we’ve been crocheting along to make to make the Midnight Top, a stylish summer crochet top! I have had SO much fun seeing all the work-in-progress photos in my Facebook Group—which, by the way, is the community for the CAL, so be sure to join it!

If this is the first time you’re seeing this post, be sure to first read the Intro post, and the Part 1 post. There you’ll find all the information you need to make your top, including detailed information about yarn and sizing.

Here we will just cover some quick references (see below) but the other posts cover lots more details.

Quick Links

• To stop reading all these different blog posts and go straight to the printable PDF, click HERE.
• To buy the yarn for this top (Lion Brand Jeans), click HERE.
• To join the CAL community in my Facebook Group, click HERE.
• To read more details about the CAL, click HERE.
• To pin this pattern to your Pinterest boards, click HERE.

THE MIDNIGHT TOP: FREE CROCHET ALONG PART 2

Note: this is PART 2 of the Midnight Top pattern. If you’re just starting your top, be sure to view the post below.

MATERIALS:

• Lion Brand Jeans yarn 2 (3, 3, 3, 4) skeins
• Total yardage needed: Approx. 470 (550, 620, 700, 780) yards worsted weight yarn
• K/6.5mm crochet hook (or size to obtain gauge)
• Yarn needle

ABBREVIATIONS/STITCHES USED (U.S. TERMINOLOGY):

Chain – ch

Foundation Single Crochet – fsc

Slip Stitch – sl st

Single crochet – sc

Double crochet – dc

Repeat – rep

Round – rnd

Skip – sk

Stitch(es) – st(s)

Space – sp

SPECIAL STITCHES: 

Shell (sh): (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in indicated stitch.

SIZING

The finished bust size of the top (as long as you obtain gauge) is: 33 (39, 45, 50, 56)”

You can go for a few different looks as far as this top goes. If you want a loose fitting top, then choose a size that is 2-3” larger than your bust. However, if you want a more fitted top, go for either a size that is the same as your bust, or go for negative ease by choosing a size 1-2” smaller than your bust. 

For reference, I chose to make mine with 3” of positive ease. My bust is 30”, and I made a size Small. 

GAUGE:

11 dc = 4”

5 rows of dc = 3”

NOTES

1. This top’s construction is a raglan; it is worked from the top down.

2. Ch 3 at beginning of rnds counts as a stitch.

3. Ch 2 at beginning of rnds does NOT count as stitch.

4. Pattern is written in size S, with sizes M-2XL in parentheses.

INSTRUCTIONS: 

This pattern picks up where Part 1 left off. We finished the yoke in part 1, and now we will join the armholes and continue with the body!

BODY:

Rnd 1: Ch 3, dc in ch-sp of current sh. Ch 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) skip all the dc before next sh. 2 dc in ch-sp of next sh (armhole made), dc in all dc up to next sh. 2 dc in ch-sp of next sh. Ch 3 (4, 5, 6, 7), skip all the dc before next sh, 2 dc in ch-sp of next sh (armhole made), dc in remaining dc. Join with a sl st to beg ch 3.

Rnd 2: Ch 2 (does NOT count as dc), dc in same st as sl st. Dc in next dc. Dc in next 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) chains. Dc in all dc until next set of chains. Dc in next 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) chains. Dc in remaining dcs around. Join with sl st to beg ch 2. 92 (108, 124, 140, 156) dc.

Rnd 3: Ch 2, dc in same st as sl st. Dc in ea dc around. Join with a sl st to beg dc.

Rep rnd 2 till work measures 22 (23, 24, 25, 26) inches, or until top is your desired length! (Feel free to adjust the length here!)

Last Rnd: Ch 1, sc in next st. *Ch 3, Sk next st, sc in next st. Rep from * until one st left. Ch 3, Sk last st, sl st in beg sc. Fasten off and weave in ends. 46 (54, 62, 70, 78) ch sps.

FINISHING

Sleeves: Join yarn with a sc at the base of the armpit. Sc evenly around the armhole opening. Join with a sl st to first sc, and fasten off.

Neck: Join yarn with a sc at the back of the neck opening. Sc evenly around the neck opening. Join with sl st to first sc, fasten off, and weave in ends.

That’s it—you’re done! Thank you SO MUCH for participating in my CAL; I’ve had so much fun with you guys!

DON’T FORGET to share your finished pictures in my Facebook Group, and share pictures on Instagram too! I want to see you wearing your new summer top!

Tag me @desertblossomcrafts, and use the hashtag#midnightcal and #themidnighttop so everyone else crocheting along can see as well.

Happy Crocheting!

—Rachel 

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The Pattern

Right off the bat I’ll tell you…the entire pattern, written in PDF form, is already available. I release the PDF early for those of you who would rather have the pattern all together in one place. This is also perfect for easy printing. Grab the PDF HERE.

P.S. It’s ON SALE right now!

However, if you prefer to wait for the sections of the free pattern, that is totally fine too! Read on to hear the details of how this will work.

PIN THIS POST TO YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS HERE

The Yarn

The yarn used for this top is one of my new favorites…Lion Brand Jeans! Why do I love this yarn? It is worsted weight, but it is the softest, most amazing worsted weight I’ve ever used, especially for an acrylic yarn! Even though it’s worsted, it still makes for an airy, breathable summer top.

You can order your yarn right now by clicking HERE! Note: Lion Brand has 2 different listings for this yarn. The more neutral colors can be found here. But there are also some brighter colors, which can be found here. All of them would make amazing tops!

How much yarn will you need? That depends on your size. This top is available in sizes S-2XL.

Yarn needed: 2 (3, 3, 3, 4) skeins of Jeans Yarn.

Follow the steps below to choose your size…

The finished bust size of the top (as long as you obtain gauge) is: 33 (39, 45, 50, 56)”

You can go for a few different looks as far as this top goes. If you want a loose fitting top, then choose a size that is 2-3” larger than your bust. However, if you want a more fitted top, go for either a size that is the same as your bust, or go for negative ease by choosing a size 1-2” smaller than your bust.

For reference, I chose to make mine with 3” of positive ease. My bust is 30”, and I made a size Small.

The Community

One of my favorite things about CAL’s is the community that gets built during them. For this CAL, there’s a few things you need to know about the community aspect.

The main place we’ll talk about our tops is in my Facebook Group! Here we can share photos, ask questions, etc. Be sure to join HERE if you haven’t already!

Secondly, I’d love it if you guys share your photos on Instagram! Be sure to use the hashtag #midnightcal in your posts, and tag me @desertblossomcrafts so I can see!

Now that we’ve covered the pattern, yarn, and community, let’s get on to the schedule for the CAL.

Midnight Top Crochet Along

The crochet along spans 3 weeks total. Here is how I have everything scheduled:

Week 1: Read Intro post (that’s this post!) Get your yarn and pattern (if you want the PDF). And finally, join my Facebook group!

Week 2: Part 1 of pattern will be released on the blog. Note: it is now available! Click HERE to view part 1. This week you will make your gauge swatch, and then begin the yoke of the top.

Week 3: Part 2 of pattern will be released on the Blog. Join the armholes of your top and then make the body.

I hope you guys are as excited about this CAL as I am! I can’t wait to see all your tops in progress. Don’t forget to join my Facebook group so we can all encourage each other.

Happy Crocheting!

— Rachel

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