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Welcome to the GRAND ARCHES Top Crochet pattern, your go-to guide for creating the perfect light and lacy summer top that seamlessly blends trendiness with comfort.

Delight in showcasing your crochet skills with a design that features a modern square neckline, crocheted seamlessly and top-down for a polished finish.

A young woman wearing a crochet summer top

If you’re looking for the ultimate easy-to-make, easy-to-wear summer crochet project, you’re in the right place. This crochet summer top is light, airy, and effortlessly stylish—perfect for beach days, picnics in the park, or just soaking up the sun on your lunch break. This cute and comfy crochet summer blouse is a perfect addition to your warm-weather wardrobe—and the best part? It’s totally beginner-friendly!

This top is crocheted seamlessly from the top down, which means you can try it on as you go and adjust the length to suit your style. Want it cropped? No problem. Prefer a longer, flowy fit? You can easily add a few extra rounds. With minimal sewing and only basic stitches—just single crochet and double crochet—this pattern keeps things simple while still delivering a polished, put-together look.

a young woman wearing a crochet summer top by the beach

The square neckline gives it a clean, modern silhouette that flatters a range of body types, and the easy top-down construction makes it a dream for first-time garment makers. If you've been thinking about making your first crochet top but weren’t sure where to start, this is a great one to try.

What yarn works best?
I recommend using a lightweight cotton or cotton blend yarn to keep things breathable and soft for summer. Yarn with good stitch definition will really let the simple texture shine. Bonus: it’s a great stash-buster if you’ve got some summery shades lying around!

If you’re after that classic, slightly structured summer top vibe, 100% cotton DK yarn is a great choice—it holds its shape well and keeps you cool. Want something softer with more flow? A cotton-bamboo blend adds a beautiful drape and a silky feel. Bonus: all of these options are machine washable, making your finished top easy to care for.

You can make your top in one solid colour for a clean, minimalist look, or have fun with two colours for a simple colour block design. It’s an easy way to add a bit of personality to your project—and a great excuse to play with your yarn stash!

When choosing colors, go bold and bright for a fun summer vibe, or stick with soft neutrals for something you can pair with everything!

a woman wearing a crochet summer blouse by the beach

How about sizing?
The pattern includes a range of sizes (from XS to XXL) and since it’s worked top-down in one piece, you’ll be able to tailor it perfectly to your body—no guesswork, no surprises. Just try it on occasionally, and you’ll get a custom fit with no extra effort.

Pair it with denim shorts, layer it over a sundress, or wear it with high-waisted linen trousers—it’s one of those versatile basics you’ll find yourself reaching for again and again. And when your friends ask where you got it? You can proudly say you made it yourself.

Ready to get started? Grab your hook, pick your favorite yarn, and scroll down for the free pattern. Happy crocheting!

More Summer Inspiration

Permissions + Copyright:
Please do not publish or share this pattern as your own. You may make items to sell with this pattern. In exchange, please link back this post. Do NOT use our photos as your own sales photos.

Materials

You will need:

Any DK yarn (I used Drops Muskat; DK; 100 m per 50gr ball; 100% cotton)

*Off White (08) colour A- 8 (8, 9, 10,11,12) balls

*Mint Green (03)- 1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 2) ball

OR

*9 (9, 10, 11,12,14) balls in any colour- 900 (900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1400) mts

5.50 mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge

Tapestry needle

4 Stitch markers

Scissors and Measuring Tape

Skill Level:

Beginner with experience reading crochet patterns. If you never crocheted a garment before you can follow the video tutorial on my Youtube channel where I explain STEP- BY- STEP how to crochet this top.

TENSION:

2.75 shell groups x 10 rows = 10 cm x 10cm (See picture below)

Abbreviations American terms:

Ch- Chain

Ch-sp- Chain space

St/s- Stitch/es

Beg- Beginning

Rnd- Round

RS- Right side

WS- Wrong side

Sl st- Slip stitch

Sc- Single crochet

Dc- Double crochet

Special stitches:

1 SHELL: 7 dc in next 3ch-sp

🩷PRINT AND CROCHET OFFLINE!🩷

Love to crochet on the couch? You can always find a low-cost printable PDF version of all my free patterns. Perfect for printing out or viewing offline on your tablet or phone.This beautifully formatted PDF includes the step-by-step instructions to create your own chunky vest. The printable pdf is a super useful upgrade that makes it even easier to crochet.

Are you a beginner and need extra support? Follow the step- by- step video tutorial and let’s crochet together!

STITCH PATTERN

Before you start working on your top, please take the time to crochet a sample using the stitch pattern below. After you finish, measure your sample and make sure it matches my tension. It is very important you do not skip this step as you will have time to familiarize with the stitch pattern and you can make sure your top will have the same measurements given for each size. The stitch used throughout the pattern is the ARCADE STITCH.

FOR SWATCH, chain 26

Row 1 (WS): 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in next ch, *3 ch, miss 3 ch**, 1 sc in each of next 3 ch, repeat from * ending last repeat at **, 1 sc in each of last 2 ch, turn. 4 arches

Row 2: 1 ch (does not count as a st), 1 sc in first sc, *miss next sc, 1 shell, miss next sc, 1 sc in next sc, repeat from * across to end of the row, turn. 4 shells

Row 3: 4 ch (counts as first dc and 1 ch), miss next 2 dc, *1 sc in next 3 dc**, 3 ch, miss next (2 dc, 1 sc, 2 dc), repeat from * across ending last repeat at **, 1 ch, miss last 2 dc, 1 dc in last sc, turn.

Row 4: 3 ch (counts as first dc), 3 dc in 1st 1ch-sp, *miss next sc, 1 sc in next sc, miss next sc**, 1 shell*, repeat from * across, ending last repeat at ** 4 dc in beg 4 ch from previous row, turn.

Row 5: 1 ch, 1 sc in first dc, 1 sc in next dc, *3 ch, miss next (2dc, 1 sc, 2 dc)**, 1 sc in each of next 3 dc, * repeat from * ending last repeat at **, 1 sc in each of last 2 sts, turn.

Repeat rows 2-5 three times for pattern.

SIZES AND MEASUREMENTS

This Top is written in 6 different sizes as follow: XS (S, M, L, XL, XXL). Make sure to follow the number for your size only. It is recommended that you go through the pattern and highlight numbers pertaining to your size before beginning.

Finished Bust: (A)

87 (94, 102, 116, 124, 131) cm

34.25 (37, 40.15, 45.66, 48.81, 51.57) inches

Yoke Depth: (B)

17 (17, 19, 21, 23, 25) cm

6.70 (6.70, 7.48, 8.26, 9.05, 9.84) inches

Sleeve Width: (C)

19 (20, 21, 22, 23.5, 25.5) cm

7.48 (7.87, 8.26, 8.66, 9.25, 10) inches

Length 1: (D) Length 1 is from underarm to bottom edge

26 (26, 26, 26, 26, 26) cm

10.23 (10.23, 10.23, 10.23, 10.23, 10.23) inches

Length 2: (E) Length 2 is the total length of the top.

43 (43, 45, 47, 49, 51) cm

16.9 (16.9, 17.7, 18.5, 19.29, 20.07) inches

Top is designed to be worn with approximate 4 to 11 cm of positive ease. Actual body measurements are based on the Craft Yarn Council.

XS (76 cm); S (86 cm); M (97 cm); L (107 cm); XL (117 cm); XXL (127 cm)

For size reference, model has 92 cm bust and is wearing a size M.

NOTES ON PATTERN

This design is worked from the top down. The yoke is worked first, then folded and joined to separate for the armholes and the body of the top.

The yoke is worked on the round, without turning at the end of the rounds.
The body is worked in rows, turning at the end of each row, leaving one of the sides open which will be seamed when the body is completed.
The rounds are joined at the corners to minimise visible seams.
The length is completely customisable, just add or subtract rows to the body.
You can make the top using one colour of if you prefer you can use 2 colours. Use a contrasting colour to crochet the yoke or part of it and work the next rounds/rows to finish the yoke and body using a main colour, as worked for the green and cream top.

START HERE

YOKE

Using 5.5 mm hook and colour A, chain 109 (109, 113, 113, 121, 121).

Set up row: Starting in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in each ch available. 108 (108, 112, 112, 120, 120) sc in total.

Join with sl st to work in the round, being careful not to twist. This method will leave a little open to the neck. You can sew it now or at the end of your work.

Rounds are given per size, so please only follow the instructions for your size.

ONLY XS AND S

Rnd 1: 1 ch (does not count as a stitch here and throughout), 3 sc in 1st ch (inc made- place a stitch marker in 2nd sc), *3 ch, miss 3 ch, [1 sc in each of next 3 ch, 3 ch, miss 3 ch] repeat the section between brackets [...] 5 times, 3 sc in next ch (inc made place a stitch marker in 2nd sc), 3 ch, miss 3 ch, 1 sc in each of next 3 ch, 3 ch, miss 3 ch, 3 sc in next ch, 3 ch, miss 3 ch, 1 sc in each of next 3 ch, 3 ch, miss 3 ch**, 3 sc in next ch (inc made- put a stitch marker in 2nd sc), repeat from * to ** one more time, join with sl st to 1st sc from beg of the round. 20 arches, back 6 arches, first sleeve 4 arches, front 6 arches, second sleeve 4 arches; 4 corners.

ONLY M AND L

Rnd 1: 1 ch (does not count as a stitch here and throughout), 3 sc in 1st ch (inc made place a stitch marker in 2nd sc), *3 ch, miss 3 ch, [1 sc in each of next 3 ch, 3 ch, miss 3 ch] repeat the instructions between brackets [..] (5, 6) times, 3 sc in next ch (inc made place a stitch marker in 2nd sc), 3 ch, miss 3 ch, [1 sc in each of next 3 ch, 3 ch, miss 3 ch] repeat the instructions between brackets [...] (3, 2) times**, 3 sc in next ch (inc made place a stitch marker in 2nd sc), repeat from * to ** once more, join with sl st to 1st sc from beg of the round. 20 arches, back (6, 7) arches, first sleeve (4, 3) arches, front (6, 7) arches, second sleeve (4, 3) arches; 4 corners.

ONLY XL AND 2XL

Rnd 1: 1 ch (does not count as a stitch here and throughout), 1 sc in each of next 3 ch (place a stitch marker in 2nd sc), *3 ch, miss 3 ch, [1 sc in each of next 3 ch, 3 ch, miss 3 ch] repeat the instructions between brackets [...] 6 times, 1 sc in each of next 3 ch (place a stitch marker in 2nd sc), 3 ch, miss 3 ch, [1 sc in each of next 3 ch, 3 ch, miss 3 ch] repeat the instructions between brackets [...] 2 times**, 1 sc in each of next 3 ch (place a stitch marker in 2nd sc), repeat from * to ** once more, join with sl st to 1st sc from beg of the round. 20 arches, back 7 arches, first sleeve 3 arches, front 7 arches, second sleeve 3 arches; 4 corners.

ALL SIZES

Rnd 2: Sl st to marked sc, 1 ch, 1 sc in same st (mark this stitch), miss next sc *1 shell, miss next sc, 1 sc in next sc, miss next sc * repeat from * to one 3ch-sp before marked stitch at beginning of the round, (move each marker up to sc made in marked sc), 1 shell, join with sl st to marked sc from beg of round. 6 (6, 6, 7, 7, 7) shell groups for front and back, 4 (4, 4, 3, 3, 3) shell groups for each sleeve, 20 shell groups in total.

Rnd 3: 1 ch, 3 sc in same space (inc made- move marker up to 2nd sc made in marked sc), *3 ch, miss 2 dc from previous rnd, [1 sc in each of next 3 dc, 3 ch, miss next (2 dc, sc, 2 dc)] repeat the instructions between brackets [...] to last shell before next marker **, 1 sc in next 3 dc, 3 ch, miss 2 dc, 3 sc in next marked sc (inc made move marker up to 2nd sc made in marked sc), repeat from * to last shell before marked stitch at beginning of round ending last repeat at **, 1 sc in each of next 3 dc from last shell, 3 ch, miss 2 dc, join with sl st to 1st sc from beg of round. 7 (7, 7, 8, 8, 8) arches for front and back, 5 (5, 5, 4, 4, 4) arches for each sleeve, 24 arches in total.

ONLY XS

Rnd 4 -15: Repeat rounds 2 and 3 six times. Rnd 16: Sl st to marked sc, 1 ch, 1 sc in same st (mark this stitch),miss next sc *3 dc in next 3ch-sp, miss next sc, 1 sc in next sc, miss next sc, [1 shell, miss next sc, 1 sc in next sc, miss next sc] repeat the instructions between brackets [...] to 3ch-sp before next marked st, 3 dc in next 3ch-sp, miss next sc, 1 sc in marked sc (mark this stitch),miss next sc, 4 dc in next 3ch-sp, miss next sc, 1 sc in next st, miss next sc [1 shell, miss next sc, 1 sc in next sc, miss next sc] repeat the instructions between [...] to one 3ch-sp before next marked stitch, 4 dc in next 3ch-sp, miss next sc**, 1 sc in marked st (mark this stitch),miss next sc, repeat from * to end of round, ending last repeat at **, join with sl st to marked sc from beg of round.13 shell groups for front and back, 11 shell groups for each sleeve, 48 shell groups in total. (This is the end of the yoke. Go to sleeve separation and body)

ONLY S

Rnd 4 -15: Repeat rounds 2 and 3 six times. Go to round 16 after this repeat.

ONLY M

Rnd 4 -17: Repeat rounds 2 and 3 seven times.

Rnd 18: Sl st to marked sc, 1 ch, 1 sc in same st (mark this stitch),*[miss next sc, 1 shell, miss next sc, 1 sc in next sc] repeat the steps between brackets[...] to 3ch-sp before next marked stitch, miss next sc, 1 shell, miss next sc, 1 sc in marked st (mark this stitch), miss next sc, 5 dc in next 3ch-sp, miss next sc, 1 sc in next st, [miss next sc, [1 shell, miss next sc, 1 sc in next sc] repeat the steps between brackets [...] to one 3ch-sp before next marked stitch, miss next sc, 5 dc in next 3ch-sp, miss next sc**, 1 sc in marked st (mark this stitch), repeat from * to to end of round, ending last repeat at **, join with sl st to marked sc from beg of round. 14 shell groups for front and back, 12 shell groups for each sleeve, 52 shell groups in total.

ONLY L

Rnd 4 -19: Repeat rounds 2 and 3 eight times.

Go to round 20 after this repeat.

ONLY XL

Rnd 4 -21: Repeat rounds 2 and 3 nine times.

Go to round 22 after this repeat.

ONLY 2XL

Rnd 4 -23: Repeat rounds 2 and 3 ten times. Go to round 24 after this repeat.

ONLY S, L, XL AND 2XL

Rnd - (16, -, 20, 22, 24): Repeat round 2. - (13, -, 16, 17, 18) shell groups for front and back, - (11, -, 12, 13, 14) shell groups for each sleeve, - (48, -, 56, 60, 64) shell groups in total. This is the end of the yoke. Go to sleeve separation and body.

Sleeve separation and body

ONLY XS

Rnd 1: 1 ch, 1 sc in same space (mark this stitch), 1 sc in next dc, 3 ch, miss next (2 dc, sc, 2 dc), [1 sc in each of next 3 dc, 3 ch, miss next (2 dc, sc, 2 dc)] repeat the steps between brackets [...] to last shell before next marker, 1 sc in next 2 sts (1 dc left from last shell of 3 dc and marked sc), miss next 11 shell groups (these will be the first sleeve), 1 sc in next marked sc, 1 sc in next c, 3 ch, miss next (2 dc, sc, 2 dc), [1 sc in each of next 3 dc, 3 ch, miss next (2 dc, sc, 2 dc)] repeat the steps between brackets [..] to last shell before next marker, 1 sc in each of next 2 sts, miss next 11 shell groups, join with sl st to 1st sc from beg of rnd. Back 12 arches, front 12 arches, sleeves 11 shells each.

ONLY S, M, L, XL AND 2XL

Rnd 1: 1 ch, 1 sc in same space (mark this stitch),3 ch, miss 2 dc, [1 sc in each of next 3 dc, 3 ch, miss next (2 dc, sc, 2 dc)] repeat the steps between brackets [...] to last shell before next marker, 1 sc in next 3 dc, miss 2 dc, 3 ch, 1 sc in marked sc, miss next - (11, 12, 12, 13, 14) shell groups (these will be the first sleeve), 1 sc in next marked sc, 1 sl st in each of next 2 dc, [1 sc in each of next 3 dc, 3 ch, miss next (2 dc, sc, 2 dc)] repeat the steps between brackets [...] to last shell before marker, 1 sc in next 3 dc, 1 sl st in next 2 dc, 1 sc in marked sc, miss next - (11, 12, 12, 13, 14) shell groups, join with sl st to 1st sc from beg of rnd. Back - (12, 13, 15, 16, 17) arches, front - (14, 15, 17, 18, 19) arches, sleeves - (11, 12, 12, 13, 14) shells each.

ALL SIZES

Row 2: 1 ch, 1 sc in same space (mark this stitch), [miss next sc, 1 shell, miss next sc, 1 sc in next sc] repeat the steps between brackets [...] to last arch before next marked sc,miss next sc, 1 shell, miss 2 sc, 0 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2) sl st, 1 sc, 0 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1) sc in next sc, [miss next sc, 1 shell, miss next sc, 1 sc in next sc] repeat to last 3ch-sp,miss next sc, 1 shell, miss 1 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2) sts, 1 sc, turn your work. You will be working in rows now, turning your work at the end of each row. (24 (26, 28, 32, 34, 36) shells (12 (12, 13, 15, 16, 17) for back, 12 (14, 15, 17, 18, 19) for front).

Row 3: 4 ch (counts as 1st dc and 1 ch), miss next 2 dc, *1 sc in each of next 3 dc**, 3 ch, miss next (2 dc, sc, 2 dc), repeat from * across ending last repeat at **, 1 ch, miss last 2 dc, 1 dc in last sc, turn.

Row 4: 3 ch (counts as 1st dc), 3 dc in 1st 1ch-sp, *miss next sc, 1 sc in next sc, miss next sc**, 1 shell*, repeat from * across, ending last repeat at ** 4 dc in beg 4 ch from previous row, turn.

Row 5: 1 ch, 1 sc in 1st dc, 1 sc in next dc, *3 ch, miss next (2dc, sc, 2 dc)**, 1 sc in each of next 3 dc, * repeat from * across, ending last repeat at **, 1 sc in each of last 2 sts, turn.

Row 6: 1 ch, 1 sc in 1st sc, *1 shell, miss next sc, 1 sc in next sc, repeat from * across to end of the row, turn.

Row 7: As row 3.

Row 8: As row 4.

Row 9: As row 5.

Repeat rows 6-9 four more times or until desired length.

Cut yarn leaving approx. 50 cm. Turn your top inside out so the wrong side is facing you, with a yarn needle sew up the side using the whip stitch technique. Fasten off and hide all the threads.

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a young woman wearing a crochet top by the beach