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25 Free Crochet T-Shirt Patterns

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A crochet summer top or t-shirt is such a great project to try if you are looking to make your first garment. Many crochet top patterns feature a very simple construction, often as easy as making two rectangles and then seaming them together!

A t-shirt is a staple in pretty much every wardrobe thanks to its versatility and comfort; a crochet tee can be dressed up or down and worn in any season! And the best thing about making your own t-shirt is that you can customize it to fit your own size and shape. A crochet top really is a great project for crocheters of all levels.

In the list below you’ll find some of my favorite crochet t-shirt patterns with free and easy-to-follow instructions. You’re guaranteed to find something to suit your own personal style and skill level – there really is something for everyone.

So without further ado, let’s get crocheting!

How to Crochet a T-Shirt

There are several ways to make a crochet top, the easiest being to crochet two rectangles and sew them together, leaving space for the neck and armholes. 

Top-down construction is another popular method for creating a crochet top. WIth this method, you will start at the neckline with a round or square yoke and then work outwards until your top reaches the required circumference for your bust measurement. After this you will “split” the yoke to create the armholes and work the rest of the top in even rounds. 

While this method does require a little more concentration in terms of keeping track of stitch counts and increases, it’s still very accessible even for newer crocheters.

And one of the major benefits of top-down construction is that you can try on your crochet tee as you go, so there won’t be any surprises with an ill-fitting top after you have put in all the hard work.

What do you need to crochet a t-shirt?

To crochet a summer top, you’ll need basic crochet skills (single crochet, half double crochet and double crochet should do it!) and the ability to follow a written crochet pattern. (It is true that there are plenty of YouTube videos which show you how to crochet a tee, but it’s very hard to find a video that will cater for ALL sizes so this is where written patterns really do offer an advantage over video alone.)

You’ll also require the materials listed in your chosen pattern  – yarn, hook and stitch markers.

What to look for in a crochet top pattern?

When it comes to choosing a crochet pattern for a t-shirt (or any garment), you will want to take into account your skill level as well as the size that you want to make.

Many modern crochet patterns are written for sizes XS-5X, which I think is essential as we really are all different shapes and sizes.

In addition, you might like to select a pattern that offers tips on adjustments e.g. lengthening the torso or sleeves for example.

What is the best yarn for a crochet summer top?

Crochet tops can be made from a variety of yarn weights, but in general for a summer tee or tank you will probably want to go for a thinner yarn e.g. #1/Fingering or #2/Sport. 

It’s also common to find a crochet top pattern that calls for a #3/DK/Light weight yarn and you might even find the occasional one that uses a #4/worsted weight yarn!

Remember, the thinner the yarn the longer it will take to work up, but don’t let this put you off as the breathability and comfort that come with using a thinner yarn will be absolutely worth it.

In terms of yarn fiber, the possibilities are also endless here! For a top that will be worn in warmer weather a cotton or cotton blend yarn is ideal, as is any yarn that contains a bamboo or linen fiber. 

Merino wool is also surprisingly good at keeping you cool in warm weather (and warm in cold weather!) so you may also find this yarn in many of your favorite crochet summer top patterns.

Here are some of the my favorite yarns for crochet top patterns in a variety of different weights:

#1/Fingering weight yarn#2/Sport weight yarn#3/DK weight yarn
WeCrochet Comfy Fingering (75% Pima Cotton, 25% Acrylic)MillaMia Naturally Baby Soft (50% cotton, 50% soy)Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo Cotton (60% Bamboo 40% Cotton)
Scheepjes Catona (100% Cotton)Debbie Bliss Eco Baby (100% Cotton)WeCrochet CotLin (70% Tanguis Cotton, 30% Linen)
Scheepjes Bamboo Soft (50% Cotton 50% Bamboo)WeCrochet Shine Sport (60% Pima Cotton, 40% Modal natural beech wood fiber)Lion Brand Coboo (50% Cotton 50% Bamboo)
Paintbox Yarns Cotton 4 ply (100% Cotton)WeCrochet Comfy Sport (75% Pima Cotton, 25% Acrylic)WeCrochet Capra DK (85% Fine Merino Wool, 15% Cashmere)

Crochet Gauge Swatches

Before you get started on your crochet top, it is absolutely essential that you take the time to make a gauge swatch, even if you are using the exact same yarn and hook as recommended in the pattern!

We all crochet differently and the only way to be sure that your top will turn out the size you expect is to match the gauge that the designer has listed in the pattern.

This may mean that you use a different hook size (whether larger or smaller) depending on how tightly or loosely you crochet.

All About Crochet Gauge

I have created an entire mini-course dedicated to teaching you everything you need to know about gauge (it’s that important!).

In the course I cover the following gauge essentials:

1)    What exactly is gauge?
2)    Why gauge is so important
3)    How to make and measure your gauge swatch (correctly!)
4)    Gauge troubleshooting – what to do if you can’t match the gauge in a pattern

25 Free Crochet T-Shirt Patterns

Your search for a free crochet t-shirt pattern is over! This list of 25 free crochet top patterns has something for crocheters of all levels, from beginners to experienced crocheters and everyone in between.


I hope you have taken some inspiration from these projects, happy crocheting!

Sarah

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