Sunday 2 August 2015

Crochet Bikini top

Gracious, where did the spring go? August already! We've not had much bikini weather in this country but with Beyonce and Abbey Clancy both pictured in boho crochet swimwear, Nightshadow*, back from uni and heading out to Outlook festival in Croatia asked if I could try and make a crochet top with a student, rather than designer, price label.

Stitched in Silver crochet bikini top
Of course, I went straight to Ravely's pattern search. At the top of the list was this Patons Grace bikini pattern for a simple bra top. Greater minds think alike, and I found Sarah at Repeat Crafter Me had adapted the very same pattern for her own top. Take a look at her tutorial with lovely clear photos.

Using one ball of Patons 100% cotton DK from my stash and a 4mm hook it turned out much to big for my super slim 34 C teen so I frogged the first cup back until it was a better fit. Just like Sarah, I picked up across the two cups to form a band. I started with 2dc (sc) 2ch all the way across. Then one row tr(dc), 2 rows V-stich and a row of scallops 5tr(dc),1dc(sc) to match the cups. I made two stitch icords for the halter neck with a longer one to weave through under the cups and tie round the body.

I took it into the garden to photograph so I could pretend that the gravel of the path was the beach.
Cotton crochet bikini top


Stitched in silver cotton crochet bikini top
Final cost £4.95. I hope she likes it.

*for a nickname its better than the one her older brother still calls her, derived from when she was a toddler in nappies and he was 9.

Sylvia
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