My Favorite Jeans Top Crochet Pattern

My love for Lion Brand Jeans Yarn knows no bounds. It is incredibly soft and the tonal changes and true jeans coloring make it a delight to work with. I have a few designs in the works with it. At the same time I was having a love affair with this yarn, I was working with Natalie of Detroit Knots on a collaboration for the blog. That is when the magic of fiber love and community happens and here we are. Read more about Natalie and this increbile design here.

Natalie has outdone herself. This pattern is just so good and it is so nice to see a pattern for a woman of any shape! This somehow flatters EVERY woman!!!! Make one for yourself and see what we mean.

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MATERIALS
Yarn: Lion Brand Jeans® OR Jeans Colors
COLOR A 210 (250, 290, 320, 370, 400, 430, 490) yards
COLOR B 260 (320, 350, 390, 450, 490, 540, 600) yards
COLOR C 340 (410, 470, 520, 600, 650, 710, 800) yards
I/5.5mm AND H/5.00mm Crochet Hook
Yarn Needle
Tape Measure
Stitch Markers

ABBREVIATIONS:
ch= chain
sc = single crochet
blo= back loop only
ea=each
hdc= Half double crochet  
rem = remain(ing)   
rep= repeat             
sk= skip
sl st= slip stich
sp= space
st(s)= stich(es)
tog= together

PATTERN NOTES:
SIZES: XS (Small, Medium, Large, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X)
BUST:  29.75 (34.25, 38.5, 42.75, 47, 51.25, 55.5, 59.75)”               
LENGTH:  20 (21, 21, 21, 22, 22, 22, 23)”

Choose a size with approximately 1-2” of positive ease. If you are in between sizes, choose the next size up.
This pattern is worked in panels and seamed together. 
Changing colors:  On the last stitch, yo insert the hook into the st, pull up a loop. Yo with the current color and the new color. Pull through all colors.
Leave at least a 6” tail on all color changes. You will use them for seaming later. 0

COLOR GUIDE

Body Stripes (any number of stitches)
Work in pattern with A for 8 rows.
Work in pattern with B for 8 rows.
Work in pattern with C for 8 rows.
Work in pattern with B for 8 rows.
Work in pattern with A for 8 rows.
Work in pattern with B for 8 rows.
*** Note: Not all sizes will complete all rows as described above.

Sleeve Stripes (any number of stitches)
Rows 1-8: Work in pattern with B.
Rows 9-16: Work in pattern with A.
Rows 17-24: Work in pattern with B.

PATTERN
Body (Make 2) Using the 5.5mm hook
Note: Begin with A and work in Body Stripes throughout Body. 

Increase Section
Row 1: Begin with Magic loop. Ch3 (counts as 1 st) hdc 1, ch1, hdc 2, turn. (4 sts)

Row 2: Ch3, hdc in the same st. Hdc in the next st. (hdc, ch1, hdc) in the ch1 sp. Hdc in the next st. 2hdc in the last st, turn. (8 sts)

Row 3: Ch3, hdc in the same st. Hdc in ea st until the ch1 sp, (hdc, ch1, hdc) in the ch1 sp. Hdc in ea st until the last st. 2hdc in the last st, turn. (12 sts)

Row 4-14 (16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28): Rep row 3.  (56 (64, 72, 80, 88, 96, 104, 112) sts)

Even Section
Row 15 (17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29):  Ch3, sk the first st, hdc2tog, hdc in ea st until the ch1 sp, (hdc, ch1, hdc) in the ch1 sp. Hdc in ea st until 3 sts rem, hdc2tog, hdc in the last st, turn. (56 (64, 72, 80, 88, 96, 104, 112) sts)

Rows 16 (18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) – 30 (32, 32, 32, 34, 34, 34, 36): Rep Row 1, 15 (15, 13, 11, 11, 9, 7, 7) more times.

Optional Back Mesh (if you do not want back mesh, move on to Shaping)
Row 17-24 (25-32, 25-32, 25-32, 25-32, 25-32, 25-32, 25-32):  Ch3, sk the first st, hdc2tog, *ch1, sk1*, rep * to* until the ch1 sp, (hdc, ch1, hdc) in the ch1 sp. *ch1, sk1*, rep *to * until 3 sts rem, hdc2tog, hdc in the last st, turn.

Shaping Side 1
Note: Continue Body Stripes as established, changing colors every 8 rows.

Row 1: Ch3, sk the first st, hdc2tog, hdc in ea st until the ch1 sp, hdc in the ch 1 sp, turn. (28 (32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56) sts)

Row 2: Ch3, sk the firs st, hdc2tog, hdc in the next 2 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in ea st until 3 sts rem, hdc2tog, hdc in the last st, turn. 3 sts dec’d, (25 (29, 33, 37, 41, 45, 49, 53) sts)

Row 3: Ch3, sk the first st, hdc2tog, hdc until 6 sts rem, hdc2tog, hdc in the next 2 sts, hdc2tog, turn. 3 sts dec’d, (22 (26, 30, 34, 38, 42, 46, 50) sts)

Rows 4-6 (7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10): Repeat rows 2 and 3. (13 (14, 18, 19, 23, 24, 28, 29) sts) Cut and tie off yarn. Place a stitch marker in the first and last sts of the row.

Shaping Side 2
Join the yarn to the ch 1 sp at the point of row 30 (32, 32, 32, 34, 34, 34, 36) from Even Section.

Row 1: Ch3, hdc in ea st until 3 sts rem, hdc2tog, hdc in the last st, turn. (28 (32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56) sts)

Row 2: Ch3, sk the first st, hdc2tog, hdc until 6 sts rem, hdc2tog, hdc in the next 2 sts, hdc2tog, turn. 3 sts dec’d, (25 (29, 33, 37, 41, 45, 49, 53) sts)

Row 3: Ch3, sk the firs st, hdc2tog, hdc in the next 2 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in ea st until 3 sts rem, hdc2tog, hdc in the last st, turn. 3 sts dec’d, (22 (26, 30, 34, 38, 42, 46, 50) sts)

Rows 4-6 (7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10): Repeat rows 2 and 3. (13 (14, 18, 19, 23, 24, 28, 29) sts) Cut and tie off yarn. Place a stitch marker in the first and last sts of the row.

Sleeve (Make 2) Using the 5.5mm hook
Note: Begin with B and work in Sleeves Stripes throughout Body.

Row 1: Begin with Magic loop, Ch3 (counts as 1 st) hdc 1, ch1, hdc 2, turn. (4 sts)

Row 2: Ch3, hdc in the same st. Hdc in the next st. (hdc, ch1, hdc) in the ch1 sp. Hdc in the next st. 2hdc in the last st, turn. (8 sts)

Row 3: Ch3, hdc in the same st. Hdc in ea st until the ch1 sp, (hdc, ch1, hdc) in the ch1 sp. Hdc in ea st until the last st. 2hdc in the last st, turn. (12 sts)

Row 4-9 (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16): Rep row 3.  (36 (40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64) sts)

Even Section
Row 10 (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17): Ch3, sk the first st, hdc2tog, hdc in ea st until the ch1 sp, (hdc, ch1, hdc) in the ch 1 sp. Hdc in ea st until 3 sts rem, hdc2tog, hdc in the last st, turn. (36 (40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64) sts)

Row 11 (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) - 23: Repeat row 10 (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17). (36 (40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64) sts)

Row 24: Ch3, sk the first st, hdc2tog, hdc in ea st until the ch1 sp, hdc in the ch1 sp. Hdc in ea st until 3 sts rem, hdc2tog, hdc in the last st. Cut the yarn and tie off. (36 (40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64) sts) Place st markers at the top of the first and last sts. Place st markers on either side of center 4 (6, 4, 4, 4, 4, 2, 4) sts.

Fold the sleeve in half, matching the rows on the short side at the stitch markers. Using the matching color tails, seam the sleeve together. Weave in all ends.

Finishing  
Using the 5.0mm hook - Body Ribbing (front and back)

Foundation row: Right side facing you. Using color C, sc 52 (60, 68, 74, 82, 90, 98, 106) across the bottom.

Row 1: Ch 17, hdc in the 3rd ch from the hook, sc in the next 14 chs, sk 1 sc, sl st in the next 2 sc, turn.

Row 2:  Sk 2 sl sts, hdc blo in the next 15 sts, turn.

Row 3: Ch 1, hdc blo in ea st, sk 1 sc, sl st in the next 2 sc, turn.

Rep rows 2 and 3 until all sts have been worked. Cut the yarn and leave a long tail. Transfer st markers from bottom of the body to the bottom of ribbing. 

Sleeve Ribbing (Using the 5.0mm hook)

Foundation row: Right side facing you. Using color C, sc 34 (38, 42, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60) around the bottom of the sleeve, sl st to the first sc.

Row 1: Ch 12, hdc in the 3rd ch from the hook, sc in the next 9 chs, sk 1 sc, sl st in the next 2 sc, turn.

Row 2: Sk 2 sl sts, hdc blo in the next 10 st, turn.

Row 3: Ch 1, hdc blo in ea st, sk 1 sc, sl st in the next 2 sc, turn.

Rep rows 2 and 3 until all sts have been worked. Cut the yarn leaving a long tail.

Using the long tail whip st the ends of the ribbing together, weave in the ends.

Body Seaming
Right sides facing, line up the rows, matching the st markers. Starting from the bottom st markers on either side, whip st the sides together using the coordinating colored tails until you reach the st markers on row 6 (7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10) of Shaping section.

Attaching Sleeves
With the body and the sleeves still right sides facing, insert the sleeve into the armhole opening. Match the st markers on the front and back to the st markers on either side of the sleeve. Using color B, join to the st at the top of the front panel, sl st in ea st around until you reach the st marker on the back panel. Cut the yarn, weave in the ends.   

Neckline - Using 5mm hook
Round 1: Right side facing you.  With color C, sc approximately 76 (80, 86, 96, 102, 108, 110, 118) evenly around, sl st to the first sc.

Round 2-4: Ch1, hdc in ea st around.

Cut yarn and weave in all ends.