Pattern:
For those who have trouble with diagrams, here is the basic pattern.
1. ch in increments of 10 (for my top, I started with 160, but you could make it bigger or smaller my adding or subtracting by 10's) and sc over them
2. For every first row of the pattern (starting the flowers), you begin with ch8 (counts as DC + ch5), dc in same stitch. Then we start the pattern: ch3, skip 4 stitches sc in the 5th, ch 3, skip 4 spaces and dc in the 5th. ch5 dc in the same stitch. Repeat all the way around.
TIP: If you find yourself getting lost, think of it as making a big V stitch, ch 3, sc, ch3, big V all the way around.
3.You're going to repeat the same stitch pattern for the next two rows (until you see 1 whole flower shape). You will make a "big V" (dc, ch5, dc in same stitch) on every sc from the previous row, ch3, then do an sc in the 3rd ch of the ch 5 sp, and ch3 again. So basically, V in each sc, sc in the center of each V, with ch 3 in between.
1. ch in increments of 10 (for my top, I started with 160, but you could make it bigger or smaller my adding or subtracting by 10's) and sc over them
2. For every first row of the pattern (starting the flowers), you begin with ch8 (counts as DC + ch5), dc in same stitch. Then we start the pattern: ch3, skip 4 stitches sc in the 5th, ch 3, skip 4 spaces and dc in the 5th. ch5 dc in the same stitch. Repeat all the way around.
TIP: If you find yourself getting lost, think of it as making a big V stitch, ch 3, sc, ch3, big V all the way around.
3.You're going to repeat the same stitch pattern for the next two rows (until you see 1 whole flower shape). You will make a "big V" (dc, ch5, dc in same stitch) on every sc from the previous row, ch3, then do an sc in the 3rd ch of the ch 5 sp, and ch3 again. So basically, V in each sc, sc in the center of each V, with ch 3 in between.
Trim:
I did a row of edging between each row of fake motif flowers. It let me more easily handle increases. Here is how to add it.
1. Once you have formed a complete flower (3 rows), sc in each sc, ch4, sc in the center ch of each V. Repeat all the way around. This closes off the flower pattern.
2. Work a row of sc by doing 1 sc in each sc and 4 sc in each ch 4 sp.
3. Work a ladder stitch row: dc1, ch1, skip 1 st, repeat
4. Work another row of sc by doing 1 sc in each dc and 1 sc in each ch sp
NOTE: this is were you handle all of the increases/decreases. I like to do mine in the sc rows. The key is to just make sure that you keep multiples of 10 stitches.
1. Once you have formed a complete flower (3 rows), sc in each sc, ch4, sc in the center ch of each V. Repeat all the way around. This closes off the flower pattern.
2. Work a row of sc by doing 1 sc in each sc and 4 sc in each ch 4 sp.
3. Work a ladder stitch row: dc1, ch1, skip 1 st, repeat
4. Work another row of sc by doing 1 sc in each dc and 1 sc in each ch sp
NOTE: this is were you handle all of the increases/decreases. I like to do mine in the sc rows. The key is to just make sure that you keep multiples of 10 stitches.
Putting it Together:
So here's how I used this to make my top:
- Ch 160 and work 1 row of sc. I recommend trying it on to see if 160 is the right size for you and increase/decrease accordingly.
- Make one round of the flower stitch pattern
- Do step 1 & 2 of the trim
- Create the racer back: along the back only (for mine, 40 stitches) continue the rest of the trim steps.
- Work another round of flowers on the back only.
- Work step 1 & 2 of the trim on the back only
- On step 3 of the trim, add arm holes (work the dc/ch1 across the back 40 sc, ch 20 and skip 40 for first arm, work the pattern across the front 40 stitches, ch 20/skip 40 for the next arm).
- Work step 4 of the trim
- Work 2 rounds of the flower stitch (makes the bust nice and stretchy)
- Do a row of trim, decreasing as needed to fit your size
- Work 1 round of flowers
- Work 1 round of trim (no decreases - unless of course you want one)
- Work 1 round of flowers
- Work 1 round of trim with increases
- Work 2 rounds of flowers
- Work 1 round of trim
