How to Crochet Long Sleeve Tops
Crocheted tops can lend any outfit a distinctive look. A sweater with ruffled sleeves lends a touch of femininity. A top made of brightly colored granny squares offers retro charm. They can be lightweight and lacy for spring evenings, or dense and warm for winter nights. Crocheting your own long sleeved tops makes it possible for you to customize the garment to fit you precisely, or to express creativity with a variety of stitch patterns and colors.
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Things You'll Need
- Crochet pattern (recommended)
- Yarn
- Crochet hook
- Measuring tape
- Spray bottle
- Straight pins
- Towel
Instructions
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Measurements
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1
Crocheters and designers must take careful measurements. Take the measurements for your garment at the fullest part of the chest, hips and arms, the natural waistline, and the sleeves from the shoulder to where you want the sleeve to end. Measure around your wrist at the point where you want the sleeve to end. Measure your neck at the point where you want the neckline to fall. Measure the front and back from the neckline to the desired hemline. Add your desired inches for ease, at this point.
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2
Gauge swatches are essential to developing a garment that fits. Crochet a 4- by 4-inch square in the dominant stitch pattern of your garment. Block the swatch by spraying with water until moist. Lay it out flat, stretching slightly. Pin the swatch to a towel. Remove it when dry.
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3
Measure the swatch. Write down the number of stitches per inch, and number of rows per inch. The first number is your stitch gauge. The second is your row gauge.
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Multiply the stitch gauge by your chest, hip, arm, waist neck and wrist measurements, each. This is the minimum number of stitches needed at these points to make sure that the garment will fit. Multiply your row gauge by your sleeve, front and back lengths, each. This is the minimum number of rows needed at these points to make sure that the garment will fit.
Develop the Pattern
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5
Decide whether you want to begin crocheting your top from the neckline or the hemline. The number of stitches needed at your chosen point is the number you will need to chain to begin crocheting the garment. For garments starting at the hemline, use your hip measurement. Write down the number of chain stitches needed.
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6
Plan where your shaping will begin. If you are crocheting from the neckline down, you will need to increase the number of stitches to fit the bust. Write down where and what type of increases or decreases you will use.
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7
The rows of plain crochet are just as important as the shaping. Write down the number and location of plain crocheting rows that are needed between shaping rows.
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8
Decide where to being crocheting the sleeves. Write down the number of chain stitches needed to begin crocheting at that point, where to begin shaping, and the number and location of plain crocheting rows. For a long sleeved garment, you will need to decrease from the shoulder to the wrist, or increase from the opposite direction.
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9
Write down how you want pieces to be joined. Your pattern is complete. Begin crocheting your long sleeved top, and block when complete.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are crocheting for someone else, as a surprise, or have trouble measuring yourself, measure a garment that fits the way you want it to fit.
Worsted weight cotton is popular for crochet projects, but it can be quite heavy for garments for adults or older children. If you are working with worsted weight cotton, use lace patterns near the hemlines and ends of sleeves to relieve some of the weight.
You can indicate location of shaping in inches or rows of crocheting. For example, 6 inches from the edge of the sleeve or 7 rows from the decreases.
Crocheting uses more yarn than knitting. If adapting a knitting pattern, get 30 percent more yarn than is recommended for the knitting pattern.
Try a stitch dictionary for decorative stitches and colorwork ideas.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit crochet project image by robert mobley from Fotolia.com measuring tape image by Andrzej Włodarczyk from Fotolia.com crochet image by Lytse from Fotolia.com
