The Ayers Desert Easy Granny Square Crochet Top is a free and easy crochet pattern that is made to measure, size inclusive and beginner friendly.
The best thing about the crochet granny square is that its fun and fast to finish one square. Every time you finish a square there is a sense of accomplishment and completion โ and it encourages you to pick up the yarn to start the next square. Before you know it, you have all the granny squares crocheted and completed, they are sewn together and your top is pretty much done!
Please support us: We are trying to keep all our crochet patterns free for everyone, when you access them online. We meet the costs of running this website through coffee donations at https://ko-fi.com/kiksandjackcrochet and ad revenue. When you buy us a cup of coffee, you buy us a cup of motivation. Thank you for keeping us motivated and inspired every day to keep designing free crochet patterns for you.
Granny squares are still trending and hopefully they are here to stay. Crochet them in cotton, acrylic, different weights and different colours โ they all look great and very different!
The Ayers Desert Easy Granny Square Crochet Top is made out of 10 -14 large squares. Once you get the hang of it, you can crochet each square when you have 20 minutes to spare.
Have you seen the back of this top? It can be laced up and not only does it look gorgeous but it allows for customization to size.
Itโs still summer so we still have crop and tank tops on our mind. However can you imagine this with a longer length and long sleeves for fall? The colours are amazing and the yarn would be perfect for the cooler but not yet cold weather!
We used one of our favourite super soft yarns from Lionbrand yarns. It is a weight 4/medium/worsted yarn and is 100% soft acrylic. This yarn range comes in beautiful earthy colours and itโs premium acrylic and incredibly soft. You can find all the details in the section โCrochet Materialsโ below.
Letโs get you started on this easy crochet pattern, The Ayers Desert Easy Granny Square Crochet Top. Tag us your work in progress on social media and we promise to cheer you on.
DESCRIPTION of The Ayers Desert Easy Granny Square Crochet Top
The Ayers Desert Easy Granny Square Crochet Top is a sleeveless slightly cropped top that is perfect for the warmer months. The top is made from approximately 10-14 large crochet granny squares (depending on size) and the straps are crocheted directly on to the top. The neckline is a simple square shape and the length is customizable. The back has an added corset design using a tie up crochet string.
The Ayers Desert Easy Granny Square Crochet Top is a free and easy crochet pattern designed as made to measure, size inclusive and written specifically for beginners.
CROCHET MEASUREMENT & SIZES
The Ayers Desert Easy Granny Square Crochet Top pattern instructions are made to measure, based on your required measurements.
Kiks + Jack Crochet aims to design patterns that are made to measure. This approach celebrates the individuality of your body, something we believe in every DIY handmade piece. Unlike standard sizing, which confines you to a standard range from XS to 5XL, made-to-measure patterns let you define the fit using your actual measurements. Every body is unique, and we shouldnโt have to conform to a size chart. We appreciate its needed for mass production, but preferably not for handmade clothing (we do appreciate sometimes we are crocheting for someone else, and have included some standard measurements for your convenience).
To use the Ayers Desert Easy Granny Square Crochet Top pattern you will need the following measurements and you should write them down for easy reference:
Chest/Bust: Measure around the fullest part of your chest/bust. Do not draw the tape too tightly.
Finished length: Measure from top of your chest/bust towards your waistline and stop where you would like the Ayers Desert Top to end.
If you would like to use standard sizing for the chest/bust โ then for XS (S, M , L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL) use approximately 28-30 (32-34, 36-38, 40-42, 44-46, 48-50, 52-54, 56-58, 60-62) inches or 71-76 (81-86, 91-96, 102-107, 112-117, 122-127, 132-137, 142-147, 152-158) centimetres.
CROCHET GAUGE
Note: The Ayers Desert Easy Granny Square Crochet Top pattern is made to measure and can accommodate for different crochet gauges. However you should try to select a yarn and hook with a similar gauge to this version, but you do not need to match it exactly or start swatching.
Approximately 12 stitches and 8 rows of double crochet stitch in 4โณ x 4โณ (10 cm x 10 cm).
CROCHET MATERIALS for Ayers Desert Easy Granny Square Crochet Top
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Yarn brand: Heartland yarn by Lionbrand. Weight 4/Worsted/Medium. 142g per skein and 251 yards (or 230 metres). Colours used Canyonlands and Dry Tortugas.
For a top using 10 granny squares based on the gauge above, we required 2 skeins of Dry Tortugas and 1 skein of Canyonland. It was approximately 250m of Dry Tortugas and 45m of Canyonland.
5mm crochet hook. We use many different crochet hooks and if you are looking for some great budget friendly ergonomic crochet hooks try these from Amazon. It comes in a set and the grip and the shape is amazing for beginner crocheters. We also love the slightly more pricey crochet hooks from clover crochet hooks. For this version we used the stunning Metal Furls Crochet Hooks. They have them in the most beautiful shades of pink blush, red, golden and silver in their streamline metal crochet hooks!
Measuring Tape. We use a super budget friendly measuring tape. Make sure it has cm and inches (not all patterns are written with both). We are always crocheting on the go so we like our tapes small and compact and we put one in our design area, one in our bag and one in our car. Retractable works best! We use these super cheap mini measuring tapes from Amazon.
Stitch Markers. We use these locking crochet stitch markers from Amazon and these stitch markers that do not lock. They are cheap and colourful.
Blocking Pins. You should buy more pins than you think you need. If you are going to take the time to block donโt skimp on the pins. We like T shaped stainless steel pins that donโt rust when they get wet. We love these blocking T pins from Amazon and the tin means the pins donโt fall out on the floor.
Yarn Needle. Buy blunt needles with large eyes for yarn. We use these Yarn Needles because we like the convenient bottle, they are budget friendly and we get lots of them!
Scissors. We love these thread snippers because they are cheap, we get two of them AND they come with a case (some donโt). Donโt carry these without the case! After you use thread snippers you wonโt want to snip with scissors.
CROCHET STITCHES & ABBREVIATIONS
The Ayers Desert Easy Granny Square Crochet Top pattern uses US terminology.
ch = chain (With one loop on your hook, yarn over and pull through the loopโโ)
dc = double crochet (Yarn over and insert hook into desired stitch. Yarn over and pull through the stitch. You now have three loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through the first two loops. You now have two loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through all two loops)
ch-sp = chain space
tch = turning chain
sl st = slip stitch
st = stitch
* = repeat the instructions following the * as directed
Note unless stated otherwise turning chains do not count as a stitch if there are 1 or 2 chains and the turning chain does count as a stitch if there are 3 or 4 chains.
SUMMARY OF CONSTRUCTION for The Ayers Desert Easy Granny Square Crochet Top
The Ayers Desert Easy Granny Square Crochet Top is made by first crocheting a number of granny squares. When we have crocheted sufficient granny squares, we will seam the granny squares together in rows of 2. We will crochet the straps directly on to the top and then crochet a chain. The crochet chain will be used to tie the back of the top together allowing additional customization for sizing.
PERMISSIONS & COPYRIGHT for The Ayers Desert Easy Granny Square Crochet Top
You may not publish or share any pattern on this website www.kiksandjackcrochet as your own including this pattern The Ayers Desert Easy Granny Square Crochet Top. Except as permitted by the copyright law applicable to you, you may not reproduce or communicate any of the content on this website, including files downloadable from this website, without the permission of the copyright owner, Kiks + Jack Crochet.
You may not use any Kiks and Jack Crochet photo as your own photo.
You may crochet items to sell using The Ayers Desert Easy Granny Square Crochet Top pattern upon permission by email at [email protected]. Please link back to this post in exchange.
CROCHET PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS for The Ayers Desert Easy Granny Square Crochet Top
Use the larger hook size.
Crochet the Granny Squares
Using colour 1 (eg. Canyonlands/Gold)
ch 5, sl st into first ch to create a ring
Round 1: ch 3, 2dc in ring, ch 2, (3 dc in ring, ch 2) 3 times, sl st into top of tch at beginning of round.
You should have 4 groups of 3dc in the ring.
Round 2: ch 3, (2 dc) in same ch-2 sp, *ch 1, (3dc, ch2, 3dc) in next ch-2 sp, rep from * 2 more times, ch 1, 3dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2, sl st top of tch
Fasten off colour 1.
Change to colour 2 (eg. Dry Tortugas).
Round 3: ch3, 2dc in same ch-sp, *ch1, (3dc, ch1) in middle ch-1 sp, (3dc, ch2, 3dc) in ch-2 sp at corner, repeat from * 2 more times, ch1, (3dc, ch1) in middle ch-1 sp, 3dc in final ch-2 sp, ch2, sl st in top of tch at beginning of round.
Round 4: ch3, 2dc in same ch-sp, * ch1, (3dc, ch1) in middle ch-1 sp, (3dc, ch1) in next middle ch-1 sp, (3dc, ch2, 3dc) in ch-2 sp at corner, repeat from * 2 more times, ch1, (3dc, ch1) in middle ch-1 sp, (3dc, ch1) in next middle ch-1 sp, 3dc in final ch-2 sp, ch2, sl st in top of tch at beginning of round.
Round 5: ch3, 2dc in same ch-sp, * ch1, (3dc, ch1) in middle ch-1 sp, (3dc, ch1) in next middle ch-1 sp, (3dc, ch1) in next middle ch-1 sp, (3dc, ch2, 3dc) in ch-2 sp at corner, repeat from * 2 more times, ch1, (3dc, ch1) in middle ch-1 sp, (3dc, ch1) in next middle ch-1 sp, (3dc, ch1) in next middle ch-1 sp, 3dc in final ch-2 sp, ch2, sl st in top of tch at beginning of round.
Fasten off colour 2.
You have just completed one granny square.
To calculate how many granny squares you need do the following:
1. Measure the size of your granny square.
Based on our yarn used, our granny squares measured approximately 6 x 6 inches
2. Measure your chest/bust size.
We are crocheting for a chest/bust size of 32 inches.
3. Calculate approximately how many granny squares you will require for the width by dividing the chest/bust size by the width of your granny square
32 inches/6 inches = 5.3
4. Round down if you would like a closer fit and you will use the cross tie back to secure the squares in closer. Round up if you would like a looser fit and your top will be held secure primarily by the straps.
We wanted a tighter fit and so we round down to 5 granny squares.
5. Calculate the number of rows of granny squares required by taking the desired length and dividing it by the length of your granny square
Our desired length (12 inches)/length of granny square (6 inches) = 2 rows
6. Calculate the total number of granny squares required
5 granny squares (width) x 2 rows (length) = 10 granny squares in total required
We will check this all again later and if you need to make adjustments you can always crochet another granny square.
Assemble the Main Panel
Kiks + Jack Crochet highly recommends blocking all your squares before assembly. We block our panels by pinning all the pieces on to an old yoga mat and manipulating the shape and edges. We then spray it with water focusing on the edges and ensuring it is well saturated. Do not remove the pins until the panels are completely dry.
Using a yarn needle and colour 2 yarn, seam all your granny squares together in one large rectangle.
In our example, we would seam 5 granny squares together side by side making up row 1. We would then seam another row of 5 granny squares together side by side making row 2. Then we would seam the two rows together making a large rectangle of 2 rows of 5 granny squares.
At this point you can wrap it around the main part of your body and if you think you need a larger top you can add more granny squares. However remember that we are adding a tie back that will allow you to cinch the top in at the back.
You should also check you are happy with the length. If you think the top should be longer, you could crochet another row of granny squares and attach.
Crochet the Cross Tie Back
ch 100
Starting from the bottom, thread the two ends of the chain back and forth from side to side like a shoelace ie. tying up the two ends of your large rectangular panel.
At the top tie together in a bow.
Crochet the Straps
Place the bandeau in front of you.
Place two stitch markers at the front of the top where you would like the straps. You can put the bandeau on to see where it would be most comfortable.
Attach a yarn to the first stitch marker. We used Colour 1 yarn.
Row 1: ch1, sc across the next 4st. Turn
Row 2: ch1, sc across until the end of the row. Turn
Repeat row 2 until the strap is long enough to reach over your shoulder and be seamed to the back right side of your top.
Fasten off.
Do the same for the second strap crocheting into the second stitch marker.
Crochet Assembly and Finishing
Try your top on. Using stitch markers, attach the two straps to the back side of your top so that the top and straps feel secure.
Using a yarn needle and identical yarn, sew the two straps to the inside back of the top.
Weave in all your ends.
FINISH & CELEBRATE The Ayers Desert Easy Granny Square Crochet Top
Congratulations you have finished for the Ayers Desert Easy Granny Square Crochet Top and we hope you enjoyed this free crochet pattern.
Please support us: We are trying to keep all our crochet patterns free for everyone, when you access them online. We meet the costs of running this website through coffee donations at https://ko-fi.com/kiksandjackcrochet and ad revenue. When you buy us a cup of coffee, you buy us a cup of motivation. Thank you for keeping us motivated and inspired every day to keep designing free crochet patterns for you.
It would be amazing to see a photo of your completed work on instagram. Tag us @kiksandjackcrochet.
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