The Lauren Light & Easy Long Sleeve Crochet Top is a made to measure, size inclusive crochet pattern that is written specifically for beginners. The entire crochet pattern is posted here below for you to view online for free.
Although we love intricate sweater designs with multiple colours and stitch changes, our life tends to gravitate towards the simple basics as we run out the door. If you have been following our blog for awhile, you may know that although our patterns are written for beginners, the truth is these simple easy tops are the ones we pull out on an everyday basis.
So yes…the Lauren Light & Easy Long Sleeve Crochet Top was another one of our designs that was created as a personal project. Simply put, we felt the need for a beautiful basic long sleeve top that feels incredible against the skin and drapes in all the right ways. Do we need another store bought long sleeve white t-shirt? Possibly not. But a beautiful, simple, soft boat neck top that fits perfectly and is hand made? Of course.
For our version, we selected a gorgeous soft cotton blend from Hobbii. You can find all the details including some suggested substitutions in the section “Crochet Materials”. It feels incredible. When a yarn feels this good, you know you are already half way there! The great thing about choosing something in a light weight yarn is that you can wear it across the seasons. We LOVE to layer crochet upon crochet and the Lauren Light & Easy Long Sleeve Crochet Top will make an amazing first layer to wear under warm sweaters and cardigans (crocheted of course).
If you are looking for other light long sleeve tops to wear as a first layer in the fall and winter, check out the Forest Walk Easy Crochet Top and The Campbell Everyday Crochet Sweater Top.
For the Lauren Light & Easy Long Sleeve Crochet Top we selected an easy to follow stitch that wasn’t dense. We wanted this design to have incredible drape and lightness. We also love this stitch because it’s fast to crochet and of course looks sooo pretty.
This is a classic Kiks and Jack crochet pattern at its simple best! Nothing too fussy or over engineered. Just a gorgeous modern top created by you, customized by you…and unique as you’re the only person who has one!
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.
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DESCRIPTION of the Lauren Light & Easy Long Sleeve Crochet Top
The Lauren Light & Easy Long Sleeve Crochet Top is a light long sleeve crochet top. It is perfect on it’s own in the warmer months or as a beautiful first layer under cardigans and coats in the colder months. It features a slightly oversized loose design and long sleeves with ribbing on the sleeve cuffs.
The neckline can be customized to be tighter and “on the shoulder” or customized to be off the shoulder. The stitches used to create the main panels are simple and beginner friendly and remain the same throughout the sleeves.
The Lauren Light & Easy Long Sleeve Crochet Top is a free and easy crochet pattern available as a size inclusive made to measure pattern. It is designed and written specifically for beginners.
CROCHET MEASUREMENTS & SIZES
The Lauren Light & Easy Long Sleeve Crochet Top pattern instructions are made to measure, based on your required measurements.
Kiks + Jack Crochet will always try to write patterns that are “made to measure” (versus graded sized patterns eg XS, S, M etc) so that crocheters can get the wonderful benefits of making a garment that fits perfectly. However we do appreciate taking measurements can be inconvenient for some and have also provided standard measurements for those who wish to use it.
To use this 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 just above your hips (or where you would like the top to end) up to the top of your shoulder.
Arm Length: With arm slightly bent, measure from armpit to wrist (or where you would like the sleeve to end)
Wrist Circumference: Measure from one point on your wrist all around your wrist.
Upper Arm: Measure around the widest section of the upper arm located above the elbow
Standard Sizing (For Reference)
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.
If you would like to use standard sizing for arm length – then for XS (S, M , L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL) use approximately 16.5 (17, 17, 17.5, 17.5, 18, 18, 18.5, 18.5) inches or 42 (43, 43, 44.5, 44.5, 45.5, 45.5, 47, 47) centimetres
If you would like to use standard sizing for upper arm – then for XS (S, M , L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL) use approximately 9.75 (10.25, 11, 12, 13.5, 15.5, 17, 18.5, 18.5) inches or 25 (26, 28, 30.5, 34.5, 39.5, 43, 47, 49.5) centimetres
Note: The Lauren Light & Easy Long Sleeve Crochet Top is designed as a loose fit with significant positive ease.
CROCHET GAUGE
Note this pattern is made to measure and can accommodate for different crochet gauges. However we recommend you select a yarn with a similar gauge to this version.
We used a weight 2 yarn and a 4mm crochet hook, with a gauge of approximately 20 double crochets across and approximately 10 rows of double crochet in 4โณ x 4โณ (10 cm x 10 cm).
CROCHET MATERIALS for The Lauren Light & Easy Long Sleeve Crochet Top
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Yarn: Twister by Hobbii. Weight 2/Fine/Sport. 100g per skein and 437 yards (or 400m) per skein.
Approximately 2.5 skeins or 1092 yards (or 1000m) used for our garment (approximately S) with a finished width of 19 inches and a finished length of 22 inches.
Color used is Natural White.
This pattern would also look beautiful with Coboo by Lion Brand Yarn and this beautiful budget friendly yarn by Alize Diva.
We highly suggest you select a lower weight yarn for this pattern and one that is soft and drapes.
4 mm crochet hook (US size 8). 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 and the beautiful Furls 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 don’t skimp on the pins. We like T shaped stainless steel pins that don’t rust when they get wet. We love these blocking T pins from Amazon and the tin means the pins don’t 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 don’t). Don’t carry these without the case! After you use thread snippers you won’t want to snip with scissors.
CROCHET STITCHES & ABBREVIATIONS
The Lauren Light & Easy Long Sleeve Crochet Top pattern uses US terminology.
ch = chain (With one loop on your hook, yarn over and pull through the loop)
sc = single crochet (Insert hook into desired stitch. Yarn over and pull through the stitch. You now have two loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through all two loops)
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-2 sp = chain 2 space
BLO = back loop only
tch = turning chain
st = stitch
sk = skip stitch
* = repeat the instructions following the * as directed
Note unless stated otherwise in this pattern, 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 Lauren Light & Easy Long Sleeve Crochet Top
The Lauren Light & Easy Long Sleeve Crochet Top is made by first crocheting a back panel and then crocheting a front panel. We will crochet the two panels bottom up. We will then crochet the ribbing for the sleeves and then continue to crochet the sleeves panel on to the ribbing.
Next we will measure out the simple boat neckline, then seam the front panel and the back panels at the shoulder. We will then seam the sides and the sleeves directly on to the two main panels.
PERMISSIONS AND COPYRIGHT for The Lauren Light & Easy Long Sleeve Crochet Top
Please do not publish or share The Lauren Light & Easy Long Sleeve Crochet Top pattern as your own. You may crochet items to sell using this pattern upon permission by email at [email protected]. Please link back to this post in exchange.
Please do NOT use our photos as your own photos.
Pattern Instructions for The Lauren Light & Easy Long Sleeve Crochet Top
Crochet the Main Back Panel
Calculate the length of your foundation chain as follows:
| Halve your โChest/Bust Measurementโ | Our chest/bust measurement = 32 inches around Half our chest/bust measurement = 32/2 = 16 inches |
| Add additional 2-3 inches for positive ease and a slightly oversized look (it may also increase in width after a few rows) | 16 + 3 = 19 inches |
Chain a length as calculated above and count the stitches at the same time. Do not pull the chain too tight when you measure it.
We want your total foundation chain to be a multiple of 7 stitches (divides evenly into 7). If it is not, add more chains to ensure your total chain ends on a multiple of 7 stitches.
Kiks + Jack Crochet Example: Our chest/bust measurement = 32 inches around and we have to chain 19 inches as per our calculation above. We reached 19 inches after chaining 89 chains. However 89 chains is not a multiple of 7. So we add two more chains to give a total of 91 chains to achieve a multiple of 7.
Add 3 more chains.
Kiks + Jack Crochet Example: After we chained 91 chains, we added 3 more chains, so the total number of chains in our foundation = 94 chains.
Row 1: dc into 4th ch from hook, dc in next ch, *ch2, sk 2, 1dc in next 5 ch, rep from * across row, ending with 1dc in last 3ch. Turn
Row 2: ch3, dc in 2nd st, dc in next st, *ch2, sk ch-2 sp, 1dc in next 5 ch, rep from * across row, ending with 1dc in last 2 st and 1dc in top of tch. Turn
Row 3-4: repeat row 2
Kiks + Jack Crochet Tip: All your double crochets should be lined up on top of each other for each row, as are your ch-2 spaces.
It’s a great time to do an intuitive check to see if you are completely happy with the width of the top before you crochet any further. You may want to hold it up against you after 4 rows of crochet to check the width of the top. If it’s perfect keep going. If you would like to make changes to the width, it is best to start again increasing or decreasing the number of chains that you originally used remembering to follow all the stitch multiple rules. Sometimes our yarn is more stretchy than we realize…and sometimes we just change our minds on how oversized or tight we want our top.
Repeat row 2 until the back panel reaches a length equal to your “Finished length measurement“.
Kiks + Jack Crochet Example: Our โFinished length measurement โ is 22 inches so we repeat row 2 until the length of the back panel reaches 22 inches.
Crochet the Main Front Panel
Repeat all the instructions in the Main Back Panel so that you end up with two identical panels.
Crochet the Sleeve Panel (Make 2)
Crochet the Sleeve Panel Ribbing
ch 12
Kiks + Jack Crochet Tip: The height of our ribbing is approximately 1.8 inches using an initial chain of 12. You may be using a yarn with a different gauge so feel free to adjust the number of chains to give you the ribbing height that is perfect for you.
Row 1: hdc in 3rd ch from hook, hdc in each ch across until end. Turn
Row 2: ch2, hdc BLO in each st across, hdc in the entire st on the last st. Turn
Repeat row 2 until the total length of the ribbing is equal to your “Wrist Circumference Measurement” + 2 inches. Make sure it fits comfortably and is not too tight.
Count the number of rows (we crocheted 26 rows).
Do not fasten off.
Crochet the Main Sleeve Panel
You will now crochet down the long side of the ribbing using the working yarn.
To calculate the number of single crochets you will crochet down the long side of the ribbing calculate as follows:
| Calculation | Kiks + Jack Crochet Example |
| Count the number of rows in your ribbing | We crocheted 26 rows in our ribbing |
| Multiply this by 2 | 26 X 2 = 52 stitches |
| Round to the closest multiple of 7 | We round to 49 (the closest multiple of 7) |
Row 1: Using the working yarn, ch1, sc into the first st, sc across the ribbing the number of stitches you calculated above in total. Turn
In Kiks + Jack Crochet example above we will crochet 49 single crochets across the long side ribbing. You may want to divide your ribbing into 4 quarters using stitch markers and ensure you are crocheting approximately 25% of your total stitches in each quarter. This will help you ensure you are crocheting evenly across your ribbing.
Row 1: ch3, dc into 1st st, dc in next ch, *ch2, sk 2, 1dc in next 5 ch, rep from * across row, ending with 1dc in last 3ch. Turn
Row 2: ch3, dc in 2nd st, dc in next st, *ch2, sk ch-2 sp, 1dc in next 5 ch, rep from * across row, ending with 1dc in last 2 st and 1dc in top of tch. Turn
Row 3: repeat row 2
Optional Sleeve Width Increase: After you have crocheted row 2 for approximately halfway up your forearm check the width of your sleeve panel. If it is less than the widest part of your arm (usually the bicep and called the upper arm measurement) you will need to start increasing the width of the sleeve panel by adding 2 stitches in every other row. You would do this as follows:
Row 2 (expand): ch3, dc in 1st st, 1dc in next 2 st, *ch2, sk ch-2 sp, 1dc in next 5 ch, rep from * across row, ending with 1dc in last 2 st and 2dc in top of tch. Turn
You should crochet one row of “regular” Row 2 and one row of Row 2 (expand) and repeat, until the width of your sleeve panel increases to your “Upper Arm Measurement” + 1 inch. Note this is optional and we did not need to do this for Kiks and Jack’s versions. It will depend on individual measurements and your yarn.
Repeat regular row 2 until the total length of your sleeve, including the cuff, is equal to your “Arm Length Measurement”
Fasten off.
We will show you how to check the sleeve length again under “Assembly” below so that you can ensure you have the perfect fit.
Remember you need to crochet two identical sleeve panels.
Assembling The Lauren Light & Easy Long Sleeve Crochet Top
Kiks + Jack Crochet highly recommends blocking all your panels before assembling the Lauren Light & Easy Long Sleeve Crochet Top. Blocking your panels will set your panels to the shape and size you want and give it a professional look.
Step 1: Measure Out the Neckline
Measure approximately 4 inches in from the left edge of the back panel and place a locking stitch marker (we will be adjusting the exact inches that is right for you shortly). This will be the start of your neck opening.
Repeat the same on the right side of the back panel.
Repeat the same on the front panel on both sides.
Attach the two panels right side together, lining up the 4 stitch markers and securing the panels together with the locking stitch markers. Place the panels over your head and do an intuitive check to see if you are happy with the neck opening. If you would like the neckline to be tighter, then move the stitch markers closer to your neck. If you would like the neckline to be wider, then move the stitch markers away from your neck. Make sure it is the same distance (use a measuring tape) on either side and on the front and back panel.
Kiks + Jack’s version: Our width is 19 inches in total and we measured 6 inches from each side. This gave us a moderately tighter neckline.
Step 2: Seam the Front and Back Panel at the shoulder.
Double check the right sides are facing together. With a yarn needle, seam the two panels together across the shoulders starting from the edge and across up to the stitch markers. Remember to do this on both sides.
Fasten off.
Step 2: Line up your sleeves at the midway point to the shoulder and seam. Open up the two panels (now seamed at the shoulders) so that the right side is facing the floor and the wrong side is facing upwards. Take one of your crocheted sleeves and fold it in half lengthways. Place a stitch marker at the top of your sleeve at the centre point. With the wrong side of the sleeve facing up, attach this stitch marker to the left edge of the left shoulder seam.
Kiks + Jack Crochet Tip: It is a good time to do another intuitive check on the length of your sleeve. You can “seam” it with a few locking stitch markers to the main panel. Try it on. If you would like the sleeve to be longer (eg. some like the cuff to be almost at the knuckles vs the wrist), you can remove the knot on your sleeve panel (where you fastened off) then add a few more rows on to your sleeve. Or you can reduce rows if you like your sleeves shorter by removing the knot first and pulling out (frogging) a few rows. Make sure you do the same on the second sleeve so they are identical.
When everything is perfect, using a yarn needle and matching yarn, seam the sleeves to the main panels (wrong side facing up) – see first diagram below (for illustrative purposes only).
Do the same on the right side with the other sleeve.
Step 3: Seam the sides of the sweater and the bottom of the sleeve together. Fold the two panels and sleeve panels at the seamed shoulders so that your sweater is facing wrong side out. With a yarn needle and matching yarn, seam the sides of the two panels together up to the armpit and along the bottom of the sleeve. See second diagram below (for illustrative purposes only)
Finish & Celebrate The Lauren Light & Easy Long Sleeve Crochet Top
Weave in all your ends.
Congratulations you have finished The Lauren Light & Easy Long Sleeve Crochet Top and we hope you enjoyed this free crochet pattern.
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.
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