STITCHES & ABBREVIATIONS
Ch = Chain
Sl st = Slip Stitch
HDC = Half Double Crochet
BLO = Back Loop
St(s) = Stitch(es)
IZE XS
ARMHOLE INCREASE
FOUNDATION CHAIN: Ch 46(62).
ROW 1: HDC into 2nd ch from hook, HDC in each ch until end, ch 3, turn.
<45(61) sts + 3 chs>
(photo 1)
ROW 2: HDC into 2nd ch from hook, HDC in next ch, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st,
turn.<47(63)>
(photo 2)
ROW 3: Ch 1, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st, ch 4, turn.
<47(63) sts + 4 chs>
ROW 4: HDC into 2nd ch from hook, HDC in each ch, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st,
turn.
<50(66)>
ROW 5: Ch 1, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st, ch 5, turn.
<50(66) sts + 5 chs>
ROW 6: HDC into 2nd ch from hook, HDC in each ch, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st,
turn.
<54(70)>
ROW 7: Ch 1, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st, ch 21, turn.
<54(70) sts + 21 chs>
21 chs = strap length.
(photo 3)
Do not fasten off! Proceed directly to ‘FIRST STRAP’ instructions.
FIRST STRAP
ROW 8: HDC into 2nd ch from hook, HDC in each ch, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st,
turn.
<74(90)>
(photo 4)
ROWS 9 - 10: Ch 1, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st, turn.
<74(90)>
(photo 5)
Do not fasten off! Proceed directly to ‘NECKLINE DECREASE’ instructions.
NECKLINE DECREASE
ROW 11: Ch 1, BLO HDC 61(77), HDC in next st, turn.
<62(78)>
ROW 12: Ch 1, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st, turn.
<62(78)>
ROW 13: Ch 1, BLO HDC across until 4 sts left, HDC in next st, turn.
<59(75)>
ROW 14: Ch 1, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st, turn.
<59(75)>
ROW 15: Ch 1, BLO HDC across until 3 sts left, HDC in next st, turn.
<57(73)>
ROW 16: Ch 1, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st, turn.
<57(73)>
ROW 17: Ch 1, BLO HDC across until 3 sts left, HDC in next st, turn.
<55(71)>
ROW 18: Ch 1, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st, turn.
<55(71)>
ROW 19: Ch 1, BLO HDC across until 3 sts left, HDC in next st, turn.
<53(69)>
ROW 20: Ch 1, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st, turn.
<53(69)>
ROW 21: Ch 1, BLO HDC across until 2 sts left, HDC in next st, ch 2, turn.
<52(68) sts + 2 chs>
ROW 21 is the centre line / middle of the top. We’ll now increase the neckline.
(photo 6)
Do not fasten off! Proceed directly to ‘NECKLINE INCREASE’ instructions.
NECKLINE INCREASE
ROW 22: HDC into 2nd ch from hook, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st, turn.
<53(69)>
ROW 23: Ch 1, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st, ch 3, turn.
<53(69) + 3 chs>
ROW 24: HDC into 2nd ch from hook, HDC in next ch, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st,
turn.
<55(71)>
ROW 25: Ch 1, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st, ch 3, turn.
<55(71) + 3 chs>
ROW 26: HDC into 2nd ch from hook, HDC in next ch, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st,
turn.
<57(73)>
ROW 27: Ch 1, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st, ch 3, turn.
<57(73) + 3 chs>
ROW 28: HDC into 2nd ch from hook, HDC in next ch, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st,
turn.
<59(75)>
ROW 29: Ch 1, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st, ch 4, turn.
<59(75) + 4 chs>
ROW 30: HDC into 2nd ch from hook, HDC in each ch, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st,
turn.
<62(78)>
ROW 31: Ch 1, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st, ch 13, turn.
<62(78) + 13 chs>
13 chs = strap length
(Note: this number is does not match the number of chs in ROW 7 – we have fewer
chains since we’re increasing from the neckline, not the armhole.)
(photo 7 + 8)
Do not fasten off! Proceed directly to ‘SECOND STRAP’ instructions.
SECOND STRAP
ROW 32: HDC into 2nd ch from hook, HDC in each ch, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st,
turn.
<74(90)>
ROWS 33 - 34: Ch 1, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st, turn.
<74(90)>
(photo 9)
Do not fasten off! Proceed directly to ‘ARMHOLE DECREASE’ instructions.
ARMHOLE DECREASE
ROW 35: Ch 1, BLO HDC 53(69), HDC in next st, turn.
<54(70)>
ROW 36: Ch 1, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st, turn.
<54(70)>
ROW 37: Ch 1, BLO HDC across until 5 sts left, HDC in next st, turn.
<50(66)>
ROW 48: Ch 1, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st, turn.
<50(66)>
ROW 39: Ch 1, BLO HDC across until 4 sts left, HDC in next st, turn.
<47(63)>
ROW 40: Ch 1, BLO HDC across, HDC in last st, turn.
<47(63)>
ROW 41: Ch 1, BLO HDC across until 3 sts left, HDC in next st.
<45(61)>
(photo 10)
Fasten off.
Repeat steps for 2nd body piece.
Proceed to 'ASSEMBLY' instructions.
ASSEMBLY
Lay the 2 body pieces on top of each other.
(photo 11)
Whip stitch the tops of the straps together and down the sides of the top.
EDGING
With the right side facing up, insert hook along the inner edge of strap. Secure
yarn and pull up a loop.
(photo 12)
ROUND 1: Ch 1 (counts as a st), sl st evenly along the edge of the neckline.
(Please refer to the detailed demonstration in the video and photos).
Sl st into 1st ch to join, turn.
Edging Tips:
Along the straps place 1 ch in each st.
Along the increases and decreases, the goal is to ‘smooth out’ the bumps. I found
that the best way is to space stitches evenly in a curved line. (photo 13)
Don’t place stitches in the points/tips of the corners (this ‘highlights’ the bumps
instead of smoothing them out), rather insert your hook into the middle of the
stitch. (photo 14)
Also, don’t worry if a small amount (less than 0.4cm / 1/8”) of the corners ‘peek
out’ from behind the sl sts, they’ll be hidden in the next round of stitches.
(photo 15 + 16)
ROUND 2: Ch 1 (counts as a st), BLO sl st in each st around, sl st into 1st ch to
join.
Fasten off.
*Make sure your BLO sl sts are worked into the sl sts of ROUND 1 – not the BLO
HDCs!
(photo 17+18)
Repeat the EDGING steps for the two armholes.
(photo 19)
Weave in all of your ends.
(photo 20)
