Rainbow Love Crop Top Free Crochet Pattern

Rainbows + crochet. This might actually be the new definition of joy. The amount of happiness – almost giddiness – I experienced while making this rainbow love crop top is the epitome of why I crochet. I love it so much. The combination of the colors of the rainbow was so fun to work with. I’ve certainly never designed anything so colorful and bright as this rainbow love crop top free crochet pattern!

I hope you love it as much as I do!

This free pattern is supported by ads on my blog. I also have a printable version of the pattern, complete with 4 pages of in-the-making photos, lots of helpful tips and a sizing grid so you can customize to your exact measurements. You can find the ad-free, printable pattern of the Rainbow Love Crop Top in my Etsy shop here.

Gauge:

4”x4” = 20 stitches x 11 rows

I encourage you to make a small rectangle swatch to be sure your gauge is correct. It’s also a good idea to measure now and again and try on the crop top as you go along. This will ensure it will fit right when it’s done!

Sizing:

This pattern is written in size XS with sizes S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL & 5XL following in parenthesis like this: XS(S, M, L, XL)(2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL). The size can be easily modified by taking your measurements and adjusting the number of stitches or rows. Use this sizing grid and the gauge above to determine your custom measurements. The model pictured is wearing size XS with a bust of 33″.

Length (shoulder to hem):

XS: 15.5″
S: 17″
M: 18.5″
L: 19.5″
XL: 21″
2XL: 22″
3XL: 23″
4XL: 24.5″
5XL: 26″

Width/Bust:

XS: 32″
S: 36″
M: 40″
L: 44″
XL: 48.5″
2XL: 53″
3XL: 57.5″
4XL: 62″
5XL: 66″

The Pattern

Panel – Make 2:

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• The crop top is crocheted by making two identical panels and then seaming them together
• The crop top is made in rows of half double crochet through the back loop only which is what creates the ribbing
• Chain 1 and turn at the end of every row unless otherwise noted
• The last stitch of every row is made through both loops of the stitch versus just the back loop
• COLOR CHANGING:
  • Color changing always happens at the neckline (versus the bottom hem)
  • Leave yarn tails during color changing which will be used to clean up the neckline by a row of slip stitches during assembly
  • For one panel, leave long STARTING tails. For the second panel, leave long END tails during your color changes. This way, as you slip stitch around the neckline during assembly, the long tail will always be available to you at the start of each color as you work your way around.

With off-white yarn, begin by making a chain of 47(50, 53, 56, 59, 62, 65, 68, 71)

Row 1: hdc in the 2nd ch from the hk and in each ch thereafter [46](49, 52, 55, 58, 61, 64, 67, 70)

Row 2(2-4, 2-6, 2-8, 2-10)(2-12, 2-14, 2-16, 2-18): BLO hdc in each st across until the last st, hdc in the last st, ch 3 [46 + 3 chs](49, 52, 55, 58, 61, 64, 67, 70)(+ 3 chs)

ARMPIT INCREASE:

Row 3(5, 7, 9, 11)(13, 15, 17, 19): hdc in the 2nd ch from the hk and in the next ch, BLO hdc in each st across until the last st, hdc in the last st [48](51, 54, 57, 60)(63, 66, 69, 72)

Row 4(6, 8, 10, 12)(14, 16, 18, 20): BLO hdc in each st across until the last st, hdc in the last st, ch 5 [48 + 5 chs](51, 54, 57, 60, 63, 66, 69, 72)(+ 5 chs)

Row 5(7, 9, 11, 13)(15, 17, 19, 21): hdc in the 2nd ch from the hk and in the next 3 ch, BLO hdc in each st across until the last st, hdc in the last st [52](55, 58, 61, 64)(67, 70, 73, 76)

Row 6(8, 10, 12, 14)(16, 18, 20, 22): BLO hdc in each st across until the last st, hdc in the last st, ch 7 [52 + 7 chs](55, 58, 61, 64)(67, 70, 73, 76)(+ 7 chs)

Row 7(9, 11, 13, 15)(17, 19, 21, 23): hdc in the 2nd ch from the hk and in the next 5 ch, BLO hdc in each st across until the last st, hdc in the last st [58](61, 64, 67, 70)(73, 76, 79, 82)

FIRST STRAP:

Row 8(10, 12, 14, 16)(18, 20, 22, 24): BLO hdc in each st across until the last st, hdc in the last st, ch 21(26, 29, 32, 35)(38, 41, 44, 47) [58 + 21 chs for strap](61+26chs, 64+29chs, 67+32chs, 70+35chs) (73+38chs, 76+41chs, 79+44chs, 82+47chs)

Row 9(11, 13, 15, 17)(19, 21, 23, 25): hdc in the 2nd ch from the hk and in each remaining ch, BLO hdc in each st across until the last st, hdc in the last st [78](86, 92, 98, 104)(110, 116, 122, 128)

Row 10-11(12-13, 14-15, 16-19, 18-21)(20-23, 22-25, 24-29, 26-31): BLO hdc in each st across until the last st, hdc in the last st [78](86, 92, 98, 104)(110, 116, 122, 128)

NECKLINE DECREASE:

Row 12(14, 16, 20, 22)(24, 26, 30, 32): BLO hdc in the next 57(60, 63, 66, 69)(72, 75, 78, 81) st, hdc in the next st (leave the rest of the st unworked) [58](61, 64, 67, 70)(73, 76, 79, 82)

Row 13(15, 17, 21, 23)(25, 27, 31, 33): BLO hdc in each st across until the last st, hdc in the last st [58](61, 64, 67, 70)(73, 76, 79, 82)

Row 14(16, 18, 22, 24)(26, 28, 32, 34): BLO hdc across until 4 st remain, hdc in the next st [55] (58, 61, 64, 67)(70, 73, 76, 79)

Row 15(17, 19, 23, 25)(27, 29, 33, 35): BLO hdc across until last st, hdc in last st [55](58, 61, 64, 67) (70, 73, 76, 79)

Row 16(18, 20, 24, 26)(28, 30, 34, 36): BLO hdc across until 4 st remain, hdc in the next st [52](55, 58, 61, 64)(67, 70, 73, 76)

Switch to red yarn.

Row 17(19, 21, 25, 27)(29, 31, 35, 37): BLO hdc across until last st, hdc in last st [52](55, 58, 61, 64) (67, 70, 73, 76)

Row 18(20, 22, 26, 28)(30, 32, 36, 38): BLO hdc across until 4 st remain, hdc in the next st [49](52, 55, 58, 61)(64, 67, 70, 73)

Row 19(21, 23, 27, 29)(31, 33, 37, 39): BLO hdc across until last st, hdc in last st [49](52, 55, 58, 61) (64, 67, 70, 73)

Row 20(22, 24, 28, 30)(32, 34, 38, 40): BLO hdc across until 4 st remain, hdc in the next st [46](49, 52, 55, 58)(61, 64, 67, 70)

Row 21-24(23-28, 25-32, 29-34, 31-36)(33-38, 35-40, 39-44, 41-48): BLO hdc across until last st, hdc in last st [46](49, 52, 55, 58)(61, 64, 67, 70)

• Switch to orange yarn
• Additional rows will be added in orange for sizes L-5XL before crocheting the neckline increase. Sizes XS-M will proceed straight to the neckline increase below

SIZE XS, S & M: PROCEED TO ROW 25 (NECKLINE INCREASE)

SIZES L – 5XL IN ORANGE: ROW 35-36(37-38, 39-42, 41-44, 45-48, 49-52): BLO hdc across until last st, hdc in last st [55](58)(61, 64, 67, 70)

NECKLINE INCREASE:

Row 25(29, 33, 37, 39)(43, 45, 49, 53): ch 4, hdc in 2nd ch from hook and next 2 chs, BLO hdc until last st, hdc in last st [49](52, 55, 58, 61)(64, 67, 70, 73)

Row 26(30, 34, 38, 40)(44, 46, 50, 54): BLO hdc across until last st, hdc in last st [49](52, 55, 58, 61) (64, 67, 70, 73)

Row 27(31, 35, 39, 41)(45, 47, 51, 55): ch 4, hdc in 2nd ch from hook and next 2 chs, BLO hdc until last st, hdc in last st [52](55, 58, 61, 64)(67, 70, 73, 76)

Row 28(32, 36, 40, 42)(46, 48, 52, 56): BLO hdc across until last st, hdc in last st [52](55, 58, 61, 64) (67, 70, 73, 76)

Switch to yellow yarn.

Row 29(33, 37, 41, 43)(47, 49, 53, 57): ch 4, hdc in 2nd ch from hook and next 2 chs, BLO hdc until last st, hdc in last st [55](58, 61, 64, 67)(70, 73, 76, 79)

Row 30(34, 38, 42, 44)(48, 50, 54, 58): BLO hdc across until last st, hdc in last st [55](58, 61, 64, 67) (70, 73, 76, 79)

Row 31(35, 39, 43, 45)(49, 51, 55, 59): ch 4, hdc in 2nd ch from hook and next 2 chs, BLO hdc until last st, hdc in last st [58](61, 64, 67, 70)(73, 76, 79, 82)

SECOND STRAP:

Row 32(36, 40, 44, 46)(50, 52, 56, 60): BLO hdc in each st across until the last st, hdc in the last st, SWITCH TO GREEN, ch 21(26, 29, 32, 35)(38, 41, 44, 47) [58 + 21 chs for strap](61+26chs, 64+29chs, 67+32chs, 70+35chs, 73+38chs, 76+41chs, 79+44chs, 82+47chs)

Row 33(37, 41, 45, 47)(51, 53, 57, 61): hdc in the 2nd ch from the hk and in each remaining ch, BLO hdc in each st across until the last st, hdc in the last st [78](86, 92, 98, 104, 110, 116, 122, 128)

Row 34-35(38-39, 42-43, 44-47, 48-51)(52-55, 54-58, 58-63, 62-67): BLO hdc across until last st, hdc in last st [78](86, 92, 98, 104)(110, 116, 122, 128)

Row 36(40, 44, 48, 52)(56, 59, 64, 68): BLO hdc in the next 57(60, 63, 66, 69)(72, 75, 78, 81) st, hdc in next st [58](61, 64, 67, 70)(73, 76, 79, 82)

ARMPIT DECREASE:

Switch to blue yarn

Row 37(41, 45, 49, 53)(57, 60, 65, 69): BLO hdc across until last st, hdc in last st [58](61, 64, 67, 70) (73, 76, 79, 82)

Row 38(42, 46, 50, 54)(58, 61, 66, 70):BLO hdc across until the last 7 st, hdc in the next st [52](55, 58, 61, 64)(67, 70, 73, 76)

Row 39(43, 47, 51, 55)(59, 62, 67, 71): BLO hdc across until last st, hdc in last st [52](55, 58, 61, 64) (67, 70, 73, 76)

Row 40(44, 48, 52, 56)(60, 63, 68, 72): BLO hdc across until the last 5 st, hdc in the next st [48](51, 54, 57, 60)(63, 66, 69, 72)

Switch to purple yarn

Row 41(45, 49, 53, 57)(61, 64, 69, 73): BLO hdc across until the last st, hdc in last st [48](51, 54, 57, 60)(63, 66, 69, 72)

Row 42(46, 50, 54, 58)(62, 65, 70, 74): BLO hdc across until the last 3 st, hdc in the next st [46](49, 52, 55, 58)(61, 64, 67, 70)

Row 43(47-49, 51-55, 55-61, 59-67)(63-73, 66-79, 71-85, 75-91): BLO hdc across until the last st, hdc in last st [46](49, 52, 55, 58)(61, 64, 67, 70)

Fasten off.

Assembly:

• Tie off color changes along neckline with a simple knot. Do not snip ends.
• Place panels on top of each other, wrong sides together
• Whip stitch along sides from the hem up to the armpit
• Whip stitch along the top of the straps
• Flip crop top right-side-out
• Begin with the back green yarn and heading up the strap, use the yarn tails to slip stitch all the way around the neckline. Color change as appropriate with the long tails, to match the color sections with the slip stitches. Fasten off.
• Repeat the slip stitch border around the arm holes. Fasten off.
• Weave in any remaining ends.
• OPTIONAL: Steam block crop top to add more fluidity to the drape if wanted.

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