55 Free Crochet Top Patterns – Stylish Tees and Tanks

Introduction to Crochet Top Patterns – Stylish Tees and Tanks

Crocheted tops patterns are perfect for women of all ages! These free crochet top patterns come in many shapes and sizes, so you’ll have no problem finding the perfect garment for you or giving a gift to a friend or family member.

Crocheted tops are a fast, fun, and trendy way to update your wardrobe. Whether you’re looking for stylish crochet tops, loose-fitting tanks, or comfy staple tees, these crochet top patterns are easy to make and great to wear.

Maximize your style potential with these easy crochet top patterns that you can use over and over again. We’ve got all the details for you in this collection of the best crochet top patterns below.

Need help with any of your crochet skills to make this pattern? Perhaps it’s the garment construction or even the magic ring, or something else? I’ve put together a class designed to help you.  My Crochet & Knit Essential Skills class has 72 videos classes to help with any and every crochet (or knit) technique. What’s even better, I am giving you FREE access to watch these videos for 2 days! Register here now to gain instant access.

Why Make a Crochet Tee or Tank Pattern?

A crochet tee or tank is a great pattern to work on for beginner and intermediate crocheters who want to learn the basics of garment construction without the overwhelm by a large project.

It also allows you to challenge and polish your skills as a crocheter. You also get the extra bonus of having a cute top that fits you (or a friend you’re making it for) perfectly!

How to Correctly Measure and Size a Crochet Top

Making a crochet top is one of the best ways for you to own a garment that’s customized to your exact size. It becomes incredibly important to know how to correctly measure and choose a size for your piece if you want to wear a top that you feel beautiful and comfortable in.

You’re already putting in all the work for each of those stitches, so make them count!

This might be a little intimidating at first when trying to make your first crochet garments. I’ve put together a class designed to help you.  My Crochet & Knit Essential Skills class has 72 videos classes to help with any and every crochet (or knit) technique. What’s even better, I am giving you FREE access to watch these videos for 2 days! Register here now to gain instant access.

How to Measure

Think of your favorite tee or top and how it hugs your body and drapes over the right places. That’s exactly how you want your finished piece to feel. You can use your favorite top to reference how you want your crochet top to fit.

The most important measurement for crocheting garments is the chest measurement. It’s relatively easy to adjust the length or make the armholes deeper or narrower as needed, but if you don’t start with a pattern that fits in the chest, your top won’t fit properly.

Note: Measure the chest or bust by measuring around the fullest part of the bust with the tape measure parallel to the floor. Keep the measuring tape snug but not too tight.

Most crochet patterns will adhere to the standards for garment sizing set out by the Craft Yarn Council, which are as follows:

Size	XS	Small	Medium	Large	XL
Chest in inches	28-30	32-34	36-38	40-42	44-46
Chest in cm	71–76	81–86	91.5–96.5	101.5–106.5	111.5–117

For sizes larger than XL, the numbers increase in the same fashion. For instance, an XXL would be 48-50 inches. If your size falls in between, you’ll need to consider the amount of ease built into the pattern and whether you want a little more or a little less than the pattern calls for.

Ease is a description of how closely the crocheted garment fits the body. If your garment has no ease, it is exactly the same measurement as your body and is meant to be snug.

Garments with positive ease, on the other hand, are larger than the body they cover.

If, say, your chest measurement is 39 inches and the garment you’re looking at has 3 inches of positive ease, you’ll need to decide if you’d rather work the medium and have a little less ease, or the large and have a little more. It all depends on how you’d like your finished garment to fit.

Garment Size Calculator for Crocheters

Once you’ve noted how much ease you want in your garment, you can figure out the approximate number of stitches you’ll need for whichever size of garment you want to make.

You can do this with the help of a garment size calculator like this one from Joy of Motion Crochet.

To use this calculator, you’ll need to know your gauge in the pattern stitch you want to use, with the yarn and hook you plan to work with, as well as the fit you want (how much ease).

Once you’ve entered your numbers the site will give you suggestions for the number of stitches in sizes XS-5XL for the bust, waist, armhole, etc. If you want to design your own tank or tee in a particular stitch pattern, this will help you know the number of stitches you need.

Want to experiment with new stitches for all the tops you plan on making? Check out the Ultimate Crochet Stitch Library, where you can learn 45 different stitches you can work into tops or any other project you want.

How to Make Sure Your Crochet Top Fits Perfectly Every Time

There’s no guarantee that every crochet top you make will fit perfectly, especially as a beginner. However, with enough practice, you’ll get the hang of figuring out what works well for your body and measurements!

Dana B has a great video on tips and tricks to create a perfect-fitting top in any size. We broke down her main points below!

1. Use the recommended hook size. This is just the general practice for any project where you’re following a pattern. As long as you are getting a gauge with the recommended hook, that’s the one you should use. (If you aren’t, adjusting your hook size can help your project come out to the expected size.)
2. Use a tape measure. Measuring your project as you stitch is great practice as a crocheter. It will help you work to the right size and adjust as needed as you go.
3. Measure your bust. Measure your bust and decide how much ease you want in your garment to help you choose the right size before you begin.
4. Measure your torso/waist. This is especially important for crop tops that you want to fit snugly around the smallest part of your torso.
5. Stretch your crochet piece while measuring. After you’ve crocheted one part of the garment, measure it while it’s stretched so you can more accurately see how it’ll fit on your body.

Tips for Crocheting Tops

Always Make a Gauge Swatch Before You Start Crocheting a Top

A gauge swatch is every crocheter’s best friend when following a new pattern, especially for a garment. Even if they used the exact same yarn and hook, no two crocheters are guaranteed to end up with the exact same size garment. The difference might come down to the tension you use as you crochet.

Gauge in crochet is the measurement of how many stitches and rows you can work in four inches using the stitch you’ll be working with for your chosen pattern, using the called-for yarn weight and hook size.

A gauge swatch is what you’ll be making to test out the gauge, but you’ll want it to be slightly bigger than what the pattern calls for to more accurately portray the gauge of your work. Make your swatch a few stitches wider and a few rows longer than needed so you can measure from the middle.

Wash your swatch the way you intend to wash your top and allow it to dry flat before measuring.

If your gauge matches what is called for in the pattern, you’re ready to go. If you have fewer stitches per inch than expected, you need to try again with a smaller hook. If you have more stitches than the pattern suggests, swatch with a bigger hook.

It’s worth taking the time to get your gauge right so your top will fit the way it’s supposed to.

Make Sure You Choose the Best Yarn Fiber for Your Crochet Top Project

The easiest choice you can make when it comes to picking yarn is to use the same yarn that the pattern calls for. However, some projects call for a more expensive kind of yarn, or even a yarn that you don’t like the texture of or that isn’t available where you live. Some older patterns might even be made with yarn that’s discontinued, so what’s a girl to do?

Choosing the best yarn for your crochet tanks and tees comes down to the weight, fiber, color, tactile sensation, and washability of the yarn. Most crochet top patterns will probably use light to worsted weight yarn to make them more breathable as crochet projects do lean towards the bulkier end of the spectrum.

If you can’t find or don’t want to use the same yarn as the pattern calls for, look at the pattern to find the yarn weight and fiber content (or look up the yarn online if the pattern doesn’t say). Different fibers have different qualities and it’s helpful to stick with the same fiber so the yarn will act the same way in your project as the designer did in theirs.

They’re also more likely to be worn in the spring or summer, so bright and light colors will be your best friend. Neutrals like white, beige, or brown are also great picks and will pair well with a lot of items in any wardrobe!

You also want to avoid yarn that feels itchy or gritty to the touch for the sake of the wearer, while also considering how long it’ll last when you wear it regularly!

If you need more help picking the right yarn for your project, see if the pattern is on Ravelry. There you can see the yarn that different people have used to make that particular project, which may make it easier for you to make a good choice.

Read Through the Entire Pattern Before You Start Crocheting

There’s nothing worse than starting on a pattern only to find out halfway through that you don’t like how the designer is constructing it, don’t understand a technique, or the pattern just doesn’t make sense. It’s always best to review the entirety of a pattern before you pick up your yarns and hooks.

Think of it like a recipe: you want to make sure you have all the ingredients you need; you have and know all the skills necessary to actually make it, and you’ll actually like the product you’ll have in the end. A bad recipe (read: pattern) is just a waste of materials, time, and patience, whereas a good recipe (again read: pattern) will actually make the whole process easier for you!

Knowing the general idea of where a pattern is going will make crocheting your tanks and tees so much easier!

Check and Measure Your Crochet Top as You Go

If you’ve been crocheting long enough, you might have noticed that a crocheted piece tends to expand as you add more rows to it. It always helps to continue measuring the garment as you go along.

You don’t want to end up with a top that you’ve worked so hard on being unwearable because it doesn’t fit right, so keep that tape measure nearby and adjust your stitches as necessary!

Crochet Tops Patterns FAQs

Are Crochet Tanks and Tees Easy to Crochet?

Absolutely! If you’ve ever crocheted a flat piece of fabric before, then you basically have all the knowledge you need to crochet a tank or a tee! At their core, they’re just two panels of crocheted fabric that form the back and the front and are seamed on the sides and shoulders to fit a body. That’s incredibly manageable even for beginners!

Even if you find a project that’s worked in the round that you’d like to make, it’s not a difficult skill to learn.

How Long Does It Take to Crochet a Top for Beginners?

It depends! The length of time you need to crochet a top varies depending on how simple or complex a pattern is, your experience level as a crocheter, how fast you crochet, how many hours in a day you spend crocheting, and of course the size of the entire garment.

Some halter and crop tops can be finished in a day or two, while other tees might take a week to finish. For reference, crocheting a sweater on average takes about 30 hours or so.

Tanks and tees usually have shorter sleeves (or none at all) and usually drape more loosely on the body so it should take you about half or a third of that time to finish a tee!

How Do I Wash My Handmade Crochet Top?

How you wash crochet tanks and tees depends on the yarn that is used. If your yarn says it’s machine-washable, try washing your swatch first to see how it handles it. Sometimes projects will still stretch or twist out of shape, or colors may bleed, even if the yarn is said to be machine washable.

If your yarn isn’t machine washable, don’t try it. Handwash it gently with wool wash or another mild detergent (not the regular laundry soap you would use in your machine). It’s best to air dry crocheted clothes, as well (including those machine-washed), but avoid hanging them as this stretches out the garment.

What are the most popular crochet stitches for crocheting a top?

• Half double crochet: It’s not as dense as single crochet and isn’t as full of gaps as double crochet, the half double crochet is one of the best options for a top that’s breathable but still gives good coverage.
• Moss stitch: The single crochet, chain, and skip pattern of the moss stitch not only makes it super fun to work, but it’s also dense enough to not be too revealing, but still airy enough to be comfortable.
• Extended crochet stitches – This technique works for any of the basic stitches and allows you to create more height and a lighter fabric. You do this by adding an extra “yo, pull up one loop” after you insert your hook and pull up the first loop.

Of course, you can use any stitch pattern you want to make a tank or tee completely your own. Check out our Ultimate Crochet Stitch Library to learn 45 different stitches you can add to crochet tops or any other project you like.

Supplies Needed to Crochet a Tank or Tee

Choosing the Perfect Yarn to Crochet a Top

The first thing to consider when choosing the perfect yarn for your tank or tee is the weight of the yarn you want to use. Tanks and tees are usually worn during spring or summer, so a lighter-weight yarn is what you should opt for. Let’s use Lion Brand’s enormous collection of yarn as an example.

Lion Brand’s Linen Cone is extraordinarily supple and is perfect for light and lacy tops that you’ll want to layer over every top you own!

The LB Collection Cotton Bamboo Linen Yarn is always an excellent option for warmer weather projects. It’s breathable and drapes beautifully, which is always a plus in our book!

A lighter DK yarn like 24/7 Cotton DK is another summer favorite for creating light and airy fabrics. Since it’s made of cotton, any tanks or tees you make will be pretty breathable as well!

If you want to make a top with a medium (4) or worsted weight yarn, then Basic Stitch should be at the top of your list! It’s the perfect yarn for tops that you’ll be wearing and washing more often as it’s treated to resist pilling.

The good news is, if you’re stitching from a pattern, it will tell you what kind of yarn (weight as well as brand/variety) was used so you can choose to use the same yarn if it is still in production or you can choose a yarn of the same weight and fiber content to ensure a similar result.

How Many Skeins of Yarn Do You Need to Crochet a Top? 

Most patterns will tell you how many skeins or balls of yarn to purchase for a project depending on the size you want to make. This works well if you are using the same yarn as the pattern calls for.

However, if you’re substituting yarn, it can get difficult to calculate the exact amount of yarn you need.

The rule of thumb for this calculation is that the number of skeins the pattern calls for multiplied by the yards per skein is equal to the total yards you need for the pattern. And the inverse, the total yards needed for the pattern divided by the yards per skein of your chosen yarn is equal to the number of skeins you need, is also true. Just be sure to round up to the nearest whole number, or buy extra yarn to account for the unknown.

This is also where your gauge swatch comes in handy as you can use it to calculate how much yarn you’ll need for a specific project. If you know how many stitches are in your swatch and how much yarn it took to make those stitches, you can figure out how many stitches are in the whole top and how much yarn that would take.

Crochet Hooks for Crocheting a Tee or Tank

The best hook you could use to crochet a tank or tee is the one you feel most comfortable holding, so ergonomic crochet hooks are usually the first things that come to mind.

Furls has some of the most beautiful crochet hooks we’ve ever seen. Their Streamline Resin Galaxy collection is a feast for the eyes, including their bestselling Andromeda hook!

Furls hooks are on the expensive side, but Knit Picks has a variety of hooks for stitchers on a budget, such as Clover’s Armour Crochet Hook Set that are also ergonomic and brightly colored so you can easily tell which size you’re using.

As long as the crochet hook size matches the yarn you’re using, you are getting the correct gauge for your project, and you’re comfortable as you are stitching, then that’s really all that matters in terms of the perfect crochet hook for you!

Notions and Tools Needed

Once you’ve got your yarn and hook, you also need to consider other tools you’ll be using while crocheting your tops. Some of the most common essential notions and tools are listed below:

These are all must-haves for any crochet project but especially for crochet tanks and tees!

Blocking Tools

To make your crochet top the best it can be, you may also want to block your project when it is finished. Blocking relaxes the stitches and smooths everything out, and it gives you a chance to slightly alter the shape of your garment.

The essentials for blocking include T-pins or straight pins to hold your fabric in place when you’re using wet or spray blocking (knit blockers are also a fun tool but not essential), some kind of blocking mat, wool wash or a mild detergent for washing your garment, and a spray bottle for spray blocking or an iron or garment steamer for steam blocking.

Or just use your sink to get your garment wet. You can soak your garment in water with a bit of wool wash, rinse if necessary, press out as much water as you can, and pin flat.

With steam blocking or spray blocking, you pin the garment to the desired size first, then dampen it either by spraying with water or using the steam from the iron (not actually pressing the iron on the garment).

Either way, allow it to dry completely before removing the pins and wearing it.

Crochet Tank Top Patterns for Beginners

Crochet Tee Patterns for Beginners

Crochet Tanks and Top Patterns for Intermediate or Advanced Crocheters 

Step-By-Step Crochet Top Pattern Video Tutorials

Are You a Beginner Crochet Who Would Like Some Extra Help to Learn How to Crochet?

Being a beginner in the world of crochet is never a bad thing. It means that you get to have so much to explore and learn. That doesn’t mean that you can’t get a shortcut to all the information, however.

Our Crochet Fundamentals class is the place to learn the basics and beyond so that you can stitch up any of the tanks and tops listed here, as well as any other crochet projects you want to work on!

Do You Want to Learn to Make More Interesting Crochet Stitches to Use for Your Crochet Top Projects?

There are so many crochet stitches to learn and some of the best projects can be unlocked once you do. The Ultimate Crochet Stitch Library has a collection of 45 stitches PLUS video tutorials and patterns to help you do just that and more!

Learn new stitches, craft your own patterns, and get detailed tips on how to perfect your crocheting skills when you sign up!

Looking for more great crochet patterns: 75+ Crochet Women’s Top Patterns, 60 Crochet Summer Top Patterns Perfect for Warm Weather, 35 Stylish Crochet Bralette Patterns for Every Body Type