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5 sizes
Graded cups · English · US terms
Craft
Crochet · US terms
Skill level
Beginner
Yarn & hook
DK weight · 3 mm
Sizes
XS to XL, cups A to E
About this easy tie back crochet top pattern
The Claire Top is the easiest thing in the Claire collection and the one most people start with. It is a simple tank with a soft V front and a back that is nothing but two ties and a bow.
The stitch list is genuinely short: half double crochet, slip stitch, and working into the front and back loops. That is all of it.
It is graded through five sizes with five different cup sizes. There are also made to measure instructions if you would rather work to your own numbers.
In the download
What’s inside the PDF
- Graded instructions for five sizes with five cup sizes, in US crochet terms.
- Videos, photos and charts, so you can follow whichever way suits you.
- Made to measure instructions for working to your own body measurements.
- Guidance on adjusting the back width through the ties.
- A cup width table so you can pick the right combination before you start.
- Written for a genuine beginner, with nothing assumed.
Materials
- Yarn: 250 to 400 m of DK weight yarn depending on size. I used Sandnes Garn Line (50 g = 110 m) and DROPS Belle (50 g = 120 m) for the samples.
- Hook: 3 mm, or whichever hook gets you the gauge in the pattern.
- Notions: stitch markers.
Gauge
With a 3 mm hook, 17 hdc and 15 rows in alternating front loop and back loop half double crochet = 10 x 10 cm (4 x 4 in).
Because the back is adjustable, gauge matters less here than on a fitted garment. It still affects the cup though, so make a small swatch and compare it to the cup widths in the table below before you commit to a size.
Size chart
| Size | Cup | Cup width at widest point | Yarn needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS | A | 20 cm / 8 in | 250 m / 273 yds |
| S | B | 22 cm / 9 in | 275 m / 301 yds |
| M | C | 24.5 cm / 10 in | 300 m / 328 yds |
| L | D | 28 cm / 11 in | 350 m / 383 yds |
| XL | E | 31.5 cm / 12.5 in | 400 m / 437 yds |
Yarn substitutions for DROPS Belle and Sandnes Garn Line
Both sample yarns are DK weight cotton, linen and viscose blends, and either is a good starting point. The viscose gives the fabric a little more drape which I personally love. A pure cotton works too and will give you a more matte, more casual top.
These are matched on YarnSub by weight, fibre and construction rather than personally tested by me. The match percentages are theirs.
King Cole Linendale DK
57% cotton, 30% viscose, 13% linen · 50 g / 120 m · 94% match
The closest match to Belle and the same materials. Straightforward swap, and widely available.
Svarta Fåret Cecilia
53% cotton, 33% viscose, 14% linen viscose · 50 g / 110 m · 94% match
The same fibre split as Belle, and the same fibers as Line. Slightly denser fabric.
Sandnes Garn Line
53% cotton, 33% viscose, 14% linen viscose · 50 g / 110 m · 93% match
One of the two sample yarns, so this one I really have used. Lovely crisp stitch definition.
Katia Seacell Cotton
75% cotton, 25% Tencel · 50 g / 120 m · 89% match
Cooler against the skin and with a subtle sheen. A nice choice for a top you will wear in real heat.
Paintbox Cotton DK
100% cotton · 50 g / 125 m
The budget option. Matte and firmer than the samples, with a very wide colour range. Check your gauge, cotton with no viscose behaves differently.
Any DK cotton blend
Look for roughly 110 to 125 m per 50 g
This is a small project, so it is a good one for using up a couple of balls left over from something else.
Skills you’ll need
- Half double crochet.
- Slip stitch.
- Working into the front loop and the back loop.
- Hdc increases.
The design process
The Claire collection exists because I love open back tops, and this is the entry point to it. Same idea as the rest of the collection, stripped down as far as it will go: a plain, pretty front, and a back that is just a tie.
The tie back was not only an aesthetic decision. It also means the top adjusts to the person wearing it, which is exactly what you want on a beginner pattern where gauge might not be perfect yet.
Maki’s tip
Make the ties longer than you think you need. They are quick to work and it is far nicer to have enough length to cross them and tie a proper bow than to end up with a tight little knot. If they are too long you can always unravel a bit off the end.
Part of a collection
The Claire collection
The Claire Top is the simplest piece in a collection built around one idea: a quiet front and an open back. Start here, and the rest of the collection uses the same fabric and the same thinking.
- Claire Top: this one. The beginner piece.
- Claire Tank: a slightly more covered version of the same idea.
- Claire Halter: high neck at the front, almost no back at all.
- Claire Sweater and Claire Blouse: the covered-up pieces, for when it is colder.
If you want to know when the next one lands, the newsletter sign-up is at the bottom of this page. Tester calls always go out on Instagram first.
Questions I get asked
Is this a pattern or a finished top?
A pattern, which is a PDF you download and make yourself. Nothing physical is shipped. The download link arrives straight after checkout.
Is this really suitable for a beginner?
Yes. Three stitches, no complicated shaping, and a back that adjusts so small gauge differences do not ruin the fit. If you have made a scarf you can make this.
How do I pick between the sizes and the cups?
Use the cup width table above rather than guessing from your usual clothing size. If you are between two, the tie back means sizing down usually works well.
Can I wear a bra with it?
The back is open and crossed with ties, so a conventional bra will show. Most people wear it with stick-on cups or nothing underneath.
Can I make it longer?
Yes. It is worked so you can keep going for extra length, and the made to measure instructions cover it. Allow a little extra yarn if you do.
Can I sell what I make from it?
Yes, finished items are yours to sell. Please credit Artsy Maki as the designer, and never resell, copy or share the pattern file itself.
What if I get stuck?
Email me at artsymaki@gmail.com with a photo of where you are. I answer every message, usually within a day or two.
Ready to make one?
The full pattern, five sizes with graded cups, videos and charts included. Instant download.
