Sweet Nothings Crochet: GRANNY SQUARE BOHO / BEACH TOP

free crochet ladies boho top, free crochet granny square top, free crochet beach top

GRANNY SQUARE BOHO / BEACH TOP

This is an easy granny square adapted to make a top, and if you have made one granny square before, this one is going to be an easy peasy blast.

This is surely going to be the first in a long line of boho / beach tops – so keep an eye out for my blogs.

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Come along and let’s work on this beauty together.

Materials used : Today I’ve used some unbranded cotton with a 3.75 mm crochet hook

For Indians : You could use Anchor , Red ros e ; Red rose metallic knitting cotton as well as Oswal or Vardhaman acrylic yarns

International yarns : Among the international yarns I have used, I’d suggest Aunt Lydia Cotton 10, Aunt Lydia Bamboo-Viscose 10, DMC Petra, Sullivans knitting cotton (Australia), Milford Soft, Hilaza Rustica Eclat , Alize cotton yarn and Alize bamboo yarn.

Size : 34" (S/M)

Difficulty level : Intermediate to Advanced Skill level.

The “Advanced” skills are not for the stitches used (stitches are basic). It applies to the use of techniques to join the squares and finishing. That said, this is not that hard – so come along and enjoy this creation.

Stitches used :

Starting slip knot : https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw

Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs

How to hold your yarn in crochet : https://youtu.be/FwOlCbGdbqY

What is a chain stitch ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx5ukBjKkY

Foundation Single Crochet : fsc : https://youtu.be/mcT85fwh4mA

Single Crochet : Sc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (2 lps on hk); yo, draw through both lps. One sc made. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/ghACqBpA-3k

First stitch for Single Crochet : This is how I like to start my row of sc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/6pVYRfsf4_M

Half Double Crochet : Hdc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk) ;

yo, draw through all 3 lps. One hdc made.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/sDiELJdB2Dg

Chainless start for Half Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 start, and this is what I do to start my row of hdc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/lWXpl1KdbZ8

Here is a sizing chart for general sizing https://in.pinterest.com/pin/470063279837597366/

and https://in.pinterest.com/pin/470063279837560772/

Abbreviations used :

lp(s) : Loop(s) sc : Single crochet

dc : Double crochet sp : Space

sl-st : Slip stitch ch : Chain

st(s) : Stitch(es) hk : Hook

yo : Yarn Over

trc : Treble / triple crochet

Instructions : (Using U.S terminology)

Please note that I start all my rows with a ch 1, turning chain for ease.

Please check the top of this blog for easy video tutorials on all stitches used in today's pattern.

Please read through all my notes before you pick up your hook, so you know just where we're heading in our pattern.

In my patterns I work with the principle of stitch count and body measurement.

This means that you need to work the stitch count in pattern, till you get the measurement (length and/or width) that you need for your project.

This pattern uses granny squares to make the front and back of the beach top.

There are five parts to today's creation.

Before we head off let’s work on a few ideas and see what we are creating.

You will need the following measurements

a) Round Chest

b) Neckline depth

c) Length for your top (as this will help you decide how many squares you need)

You will need to decide whether you are working a back to this creation.

You could do just the front and have strings to hold the back together. If you do this, this is one afternoon’s work – literally decide you are going to the beach tomorrow, and whip this up today!

So right off, let’s see what you will do if you are only working a front.

You will use this basic granny square pattern and make only 3 squares, and then you will attach them as per the instructions given here.

Finally you will work a strap from shoulder to one of the corner points of the diamond /granny square that will form the armhole, and you will run another strap from the same square corner for holding the back together.

See the diagram below (not to scale, for information only)

If you are working back and front, you will work 6 squares / diamonds and follow the instructions below.

I am going to give you the basic pattern for a granny square, without indicating colours. This is where you creativity and combinations come in.

I have worked this one in multiple colors, but I have made a single-coloured boho beach top as well at https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2018/01/granny-square-boho-beach-top-3.html

I will then tell you how to attach the squares to get the basic top and tassels done – and you are free to do a little beach craziness too

Part 1 : Basic granny square pattern

Make six pieces

What is an easy way to increase the size of my granny square ? Use a longer stitch. So if you find that you need *just that little bit more* for your square to get the round chest measure, change the dc to a trc and you’ll get the slight increase.

Conversely, if you find that the trc is working too much, then the dc is the way to go for you.

Magic circle : https://youtu.be/ISC39yOqWro

What is a slip stitch : https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw

Start Round 1 : with a magic circle and work 8 sc in that circle.

Join with a sl-st to the 1^st sc.

Double Crochet : dc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk); [yo, draw through 2 lps] twice. One dc made. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/xdnjB27zpYo

Chainless start for Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of dc.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/wskv3iTjRx0

Round 2 : 2 dc in the 1^st sc and in each sc all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1^st dc.

Triple Crochet : trc : wrap yarn twice around hook, insert hk into st ; yo (4 lps on hk); [yo, draw through 2 lps] three times. One trc made.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/A0y4BbgDTbs

Chainless start for Triple / Treble Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of trc.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/f42MO0cGYC0

Round 3 : trc in the 1^st dc ;

(ch 2, trc in the next dc) ;

rep (to) all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1^st dc.

In this round, we will work two sets of 3 dc in the four corner ch-2 sps and form the start of our granny square.

Round 4 : sl-st into the 1^st ch-2 sp ;

[3 dc in the ch-2 sp ; ch 2, 3 dc in the same ch-2 sp]

*(ch 1, 3 dc in the next ch-3 sp) ;

rep (to) 2 times ;

ch 1, rep [to] once* ;

rep *to* all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1^st dc.

Round 5 : sl-st into the 1^st ch-2 corner sp ;

[3 dc in the ch-2 corner sp ; ch 2, 3 dc in the same ch-2 sp]

*(ch 1, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp) ;

rep (to) 3 times ;

ch 1, rep [to] once* ;

rep *to* all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1^st dc.

Round 6 : sl-st into the 1^st ch-2 corner sp ;

[2 dc in the ch-2 corner sp ;

<ch 2, 2 dc in the same ch-2 sp> ; rep <to> once]

*(ch 1, 2 dc in the next ch-1 sp) ;

rep (to) 4 times ;

ch 1, rep [to] once* ;

rep *to* all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1^st dc.

Round 6 : dc in the 1^st 2 dc (corner) ;

[2 dc in the ch-2 sp ; dc in the next 2 dc] ;

rep [to] once ;

*(dc in the next ch 1 sp ; dc in the next 2 dc) ;

rep (to) 4 times ;

dc in the next ch-1 sp ; dc in the next 2 dc ;

rep [to] once* ;

rep *to* all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1^st dc.

Part 2 : Joining Granny squares

Using one of the joining techniques given below, join your granny squares.

Whipstitch to join : https://youtu.be/wZ-9LNzftMA

Invisible join : https://youtu.be/a6XZQ6VzJFM

Single crochet to join : https://youtu.be/6FXoW_47_dI

Join-as-you-go joining method : https://youtu.be/zN3ECWTYXBk

How to place your granny squares to join

To join, turn your squares such that they become diamond shaped and then join two sides of the centre one to one side each of the side diamonds.

We have spun our squares into diamonds, Ta .. da!

Look at the diagram below to get an idea of how to place them before joining.

How do you join the squares evenly?

a) Count the number of stitches you have on each side and place a marker at the 2 corner points of two squares

b) Join the squares neatly till the two corner points

c) After having joined Squares (diamonds) 1 & 2, ensure that you once again place a marker for the two corner points of the 3^rd square and join this one neatly too.

d) Ensure that you have a neat join at the “V” between the 3 squares / diamonds which will form your neckline.

e) Work with the same care for the other side of your top as well.

f) You now have a “V” (facing downwards)> We will work your shoulder straps from the top 2 points of the side diamonds.

g) We will join the back and front from the side two points of the two side diamonds.

h) We will hang tassels off the lower two points of the diamonds. Got it?

Part 3 : Border around diamonds

Now that you have the diamonds joined, let us run a small border all around, before we make our shoulder straps and join the back to the front.

a) Re-attach your yarn at any point on the side of one of the diamonds / granny squares.

b) Mark the corner points of the top.

c) Run a round of sc all around the squares, with 3 sc in each corner st.

d) Work a sc 2-tog (single crochet 2-tog) over the 2 sts in the “V” point / neckline. Check the top of this blog for a “how to”

e) Work stitches such that you get a stitch count in multiples of 3 all around.

Once you have finished this preparation, lets’ start on the actual border.

Just so it looks really good, you must ensure that you get a dc in that centre stitch of the “V” of your top and in the two corners where you will work your shoulder straps. So in case it’s easier for you, re-attach your yarn at one of these points, counting off to ensure that you will get the dc in these three points.

Round 1 : dc in the 1^st sc ;

(ch 2, sk next 2 sc, dc in the next sc) ;

*rep (to) till the 1^st corner marker ;

[ch 2, dc in the same corner marker]* ;

rep *to* all around

and join with a sl-st to the 1^st st.

We will work 2 sc in each ch-2 sp, and work 3 sc in each ch-2 corner sp. The corner sp for the following round will be the (dc ; ch 2, dc) all in the same sp that forms a “V”. Got it?

Round 2 : sc in the 1^st dc ;

(3 sc in the next ch-2 sp ; sc in the next dc) ;

*rep (to) till the 1^st corner “V” sp ;

3 sc in that corner ch-3 sp* ;

rep *to* all around

and join with a sl-st to the 1^st st.

Now in the final border round, we will work a shell in every alternate ch-3 sp. For the sake of getting it all right and perfect, please check how you need to work your shells.

How do we do that?

a) You must have a shell in the corner ch-3 sps.

b) So work back from the corner ch-3 sp and see where you need to start working your 1^st sc.

c) We will be working our shell Stitch in the centre sc of each 3-sc set.

d) We will work an sc in every alternate 3-sc set, and once again in the centre sc of the set.

e) Our Shell st is [dc ; (ch 1, dc) ; rep (to) once] all in the same sc.

f) Our Corner Shell st is [dc ; (ch 1, dc) ; rep (to) 3 times] all in the same sc.

Following the above ground rules, let’s work this last border round.

Round 3 : sl-st into the 1^st centre sc of the 1^st 3-sc set ; sc in that same sc ;

(sk next 2 sc, Shell st in the next sc ; sk next 2 sc, sc in the next sc) ;

*rep (to) till the 1^st corner 3-sc set ;

sk next 2 sc, Corner Shell st in the next sc* ;

rep *to* all around and join with a sl-st to the 1^st st.

Part 4 : Shoulder & side Straps

Shoulder strap placement

(diagram not to size - representation only)

Side attachment of front & back granny squares

(diagram not to size - representation only)

Strap attachment of front & back granny squares

(diagram not to size - representation only. Colors only to differentiate)

For the straps I have worked a row of foundation half double crochet for the length I needed for my straps – two each for the shoulders and two for the sides.
Foundation half double crochet is like the fdc, but instead of working a dc, you work a hdc chain.

This video shows you how to attach your strap using fsc (Foundation single crochet). and fhdc (foundation half double crochet). So you can use either these stitches, or the fdc for your strap.

In case this video does not come on, visit https://youtu.be/K5N771OXLu4

If you find this too confusing, you can

a) Work a fsc chain for the length needed ; Turn and then work an sc in each fsc all the way back to the start. Fasten off and attach onto the top ; OR

b) Work a regular chain length for the length needed ; Turn and work a hdc in each chain all the way to the start. Fasten off and attach onto the top.

c) Attachment : Check the photo above. Ensure that you allow your work to hang for a bit before tightly securing the ends – no matter what yarn you are using. Even cotton yarn tends to stretch a bit on hanging / wear.

Part 5 : Tassels

Along the bottom edge, let’s hang some long tassels.

Decide on the following :

a) how much yarn do you have ? (as this will decide the following answers)

b) how far apart you want them ?

c) how thick would you like them ? (Remember that when you measure your tassels, you will be doubling them over, so keep this in mind before you close on this idea)

d) how long would you like them ?

How to make tassels : Here’s a quick tutorial at https://youtu.be/Ct84H8iBa9s on how to make and add tassels to your crochet work.

How to make a small pattern with your tassels : Here’s a quick tutorial at https://youtu.be/Pt5BMW_OlAg on making a small pattern using your tassels.

Isn't this a great boho / beach top, don’t you agree?

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Here are some of my older creations. Have fun with these free patterns too

https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2019/08/gulabi-top.html

https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2019/08/vibhinna-top.html