The Buttercup Fan Lace Crop Top is a light summer top made of open fans and soft chain arches. Rows of fans stack in a staggered pattern, so each new fan sits between the two fans below it. The lace looks like overlapping seashells.
It is made in one butter-yellow cotton. The hem has deep rounded scallops, and the neckline has a small sweetheart dip at center front. Two straps made of stacked shells go over the shoulders. This pattern uses US crochet terms.
The finished top measures 33 in (83.8 cm) around and 11.75 in (29.8 cm) long, not counting the straps. It fits a bust of 32–34 in (81.3–86.4 cm).
You work the body bottom-up as one seamless tube in joined rounds, without turning. Next you add a scalloped border at the hem and a fan border at the top. The straps are worked straight off the front edge and sewn to the back. The whole top is one piece, so you do no motif joining.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 33 in (83.8 cm) around × 11.75 in (29.8 cm) long, plus straps
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: DK (#3) cotton
- Hook: 4.0 mm (G-6)
- Number of pieces: 1 (tube body with integrated straps)
- Layout: 12 fan repeats around; 6 on the front, 6 on the back
- Piece size (flat): 16.5 in (41.9 cm) wide
- Size before borders: 33 in (83.8 cm) around × 10.25 in (26.0 cm) tall
- Border depth: 0.75 in (1.9 cm) at the hem and 0.75 in (1.9 cm) at the top
- Straps: 12 in (30.5 cm) long × 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide
Materials
Yarn: Use a smooth, mercerized or combed cotton in DK weight. Cotton makes the fans sharp and the arches crisp. It also holds its shape in warm weather. Avoid fuzzy yarns, because they fill the openwork windows.
- Butter Yellow: 250 g (about 575 m / 629 yd), which is five 50 g balls
Tools:
– 4.0 mm (G-6) crochet hook
– 4 locking stitch markers
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Measuring tape
– Blocking mats and rust-proof pins
– Spray bottle
The yarn amount includes a margin of about 15 percent for your gauge swatch and small tension differences.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- dc: double crochet
- sk: skip
- sp: space
- rep: repeat
- RS: right side
- sc3tog: single crochet 3 together
Special stitches:
- Fan: 9 dc worked into the same stitch or space.
- V-st: (dc, ch 3, dc) in the same stitch.
- Shell (straps): (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the same space. When a shell starts with ch 3, the ch 3 counts as the first dc.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Test one piece first. Chain 38. Work 1 sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across, for 37 sc. On the next row, ch 1, then work sc in the first sc. Then work sk 5, fan in next sc, sk 5, sc in next sc 3 times. You now have 3 fans and 4 sc.
Gauge: One 12-stitch fan repeat = 2.75 in (7.0 cm) wide, so the 3-fan swatch should measure 8.25 in (21.0 cm) across. One fan round = 0.75 in (1.9 cm) tall, and one arch round = 0.5 in (1.3 cm) tall. A fan round plus an arch round = 1.25 in (3.2 cm).
Checkpoints:
– After Rnd 2, the tube measures 16.5 in (41.9 cm) wide when laid flat.
– After Rnd 5, the body measures 2.75 in (7.0 cm) tall.
– After Rnd 9, it measures 5.25 in (13.3 cm).
– After Rnd 17, it measures 10.25 in (26.0 cm).
If your work is too big, go down a hook size, to 3.75 mm. If it is too small, go up to 4.5 mm. Keep the chain arches loose, because tight arches pull the fans in and make the tube narrower.
Body
Ch 144 and join with a sl st to the first ch to form a ring. Do not twist the chain.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around, then join with a sl st to the first sc. (144 sc)
Rnd 2 (fan): Ch 1, sc in the same st as the join. Sk 5, fan in next sc, sk 5, sc in next sc. Rep from * 10 more times. On the last repeat, end with sk 5, fan, sk 5, then join to the first sc. (12 fans + 12 sc = 120 sts)
Each repeat uses exactly 12 stitches (1 + 5 + 1 + 5), and 12 × 12 = 144.
Rnd 3 (arch): Ch 6 (counts as dc + ch 3), then dc in the same st (this is the beginning V-st). Ch 4, sk 4 dc, sc in the next dc (the 5th, center dc of the fan), ch 4. V-st in next sc, ch 4, sk 4 dc, sc in next dc, ch 4. Rep from * 10 more times. Join to the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-6. (12 V-sts, 12 sc, 24 ch-4 arches)
Rnd 4 (fan): Sl st into the ch-3 sp. Ch 3 (counts as dc), then 8 dc in the same sp. Sk the ch-4 arch, sc in the next sc, and sk the next arch. Fan in next ch-3 sp, sk arch, sc in next sc, sk arch. Rep from * 10 more times. Join to the top of the ch-3. (12 fans + 12 sc = 120 sts)
The new fans sit above the V-sts, between the old fans. Each old fan stays framed under its pair of arches, and this is what creates the seashell windows.
Rnd 5 (arch): Sl st in the next 4 dc to reach the 5th dc. Ch 1, sc in the same dc, ch 4, V-st in the next sc, ch 4. Sk 4 dc, sc in next dc, ch 4, V-st in next sc, ch 4. Rep from * 10 more times. Join to the first sc. (12 sc, 12 V-sts, 24 arches)
Rnd 6 (fan): Sl st in each of the next 4 ch, sl st in the next dc, then sl st into the ch-3 sp. Ch 3, 8 dc in the same sp, then sc in the next sc. Fan in next ch-3 sp, sc in next sc. Rep from * 10 more times and join. (12 fans + 12 sc = 120 sts)
Rnd 7: Work as Rnd 5.
Rnds 8–17: Rep Rnds 6–7 five more times. You end on an arch round.
Checkpoint: The body measures 10.25 in (26.0 cm) tall. That is 0.25 in (0.6 cm) for Rnd 1, plus 8 fan rounds at 0.75 in, plus 8 arch rounds at 0.5 in. Do not fasten off.
Top Border
Border gauge: One fan = 2.75 in (7.0 cm) wide × 0.75 in (1.9 cm) tall.
Rnd T1 (fan): Work as Rnd 6. (12 fans + 12 sc = 120 sts)
Lay the tube flat with the round join at the left side fold. Number the fans from the start of the round. Fans 1–6 are the front and fans 7–12 are the back. The sc between fans 3 and 4 marks center front, so place a marker there.
Rnd T2 (edge and sweetheart dip): Do not turn.
1. Ch 1. Over fans 1 and 2, work [sc in each of the 9 dc, sl st in the next sc]. This gives 18 sc and 2 sl st.
2. In fan 3, sc in the first 8 dc.
3. Work sc3tog over the 9th dc of fan 3, the marked sc, and the 1st dc of fan 4.
4. In fan 4, sc in the remaining 8 dc, then sl st in the next sc.
5. Over fans 5–12, work [sc in each of the 9 dc, sl st in the next sc]. This gives 72 sc and 8 sl st.
6. Join to the first sc. The joining sl st is not counted.
(106 sc + 11 sl st + 1 sc3tog = 118 sts)
Why the math works: A normal fan round gives 12 × 9 = 108 sc and 12 sl st. The sc3tog uses 3 stitches (2 that would have been sc and 1 that would have been a sl st) and turns them into 1. So you get 108 − 2 = 106 sc, 12 − 1 = 11 sl st, and a total of 118. Pulling those 3 stitches into 1 draws the center front down. The two fans on either side rise as peaks, and this forms the sweetheart shape.
Fasten off and weave in the end.
Bottom Border
Turn the tube upside down so the hem faces you, with the RS facing. Join the yarn in the free loop of the foundation ch at the join.
Rnd B1: Ch 1, sc in the same loop. Sk 5 loops, fan in next loop, sk 5 loops, sc in next loop. Rep from * 10 more times. On the last repeat, end with sk 5, fan, sk 5, then join to the first sc. (12 scallops + 12 sc = 120 sts)
Why the math works: Each scallop uses 12 loops, and 12 × 12 = 144, which is every foundation loop. Each scallop falls on loop 7 of its repeat, the same position as the Rnd 2 fans. So every hem scallop sits right under a fan.
Fasten off.
Straps (Make 2)
Each strap starts at the peak of a front fan. Place the first strap on fan 2 and the second on fan 5. Mark the 5th sc of each fan in Rnd T2.
Row 1: With the RS facing, join the yarn with a sl st in the marked sc. Ch 3, then (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the same st. (1 shell)
Row 2: Turn. Sl st in the next 2 dc and into the ch-2 sp. Ch 3, then (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the same sp. (1 shell)
Rows 3–24: Rep Row 2. Strap gauge: 2 rows = 1 in (2.5 cm), so 24 rows = 12 in (30.5 cm), and the strap is 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide.
Try the top on before you fasten off. Add or remove rows in pairs to adjust the length. Sew the fan-2 strap to the 5th sc of fan 11, and the fan-5 strap to the 5th sc of fan 8. These back fans mirror the front positions, so the straps hang straight.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends along the dc posts. Do not weave them through the arches.
- Soak the top in cool water for 15 minutes, then press out the water gently. Do not wring it.
- Lay it flat with the round join at the side fold.
- Pin the width to 16.5 in (41.9 cm) and the length to 11.75 in (29.8 cm).
- Pin each of the 12 hem scallops into a round curve.
- Open each arch window with a pin at its center.
- Pin the sweetheart dip and the two front peaks.
- Pin the straps to 12 in (30.5 cm).
- Let everything dry completely, then flip the top and check the back.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- [ ] Every fan round has 12 fans and 12 sc (120 sts).
- [ ] Every arch round has 12 V-sts, 12 sc, and 24 arches.
- [ ] Each fan has exactly 9 dc.
- [ ] The tube measures 16.5 in (41.9 cm) flat.
- [ ] The body measures 10.25 in (26.0 cm) before the borders.
- [ ] Rnd T2 has 118 sts, with a centered sweetheart dip.
- [ ] Rnd B1 has 12 scallops, each sitting under a fan.
- [ ] The finished length is 11.75 in (29.8 cm).
- [ ] Both straps have the same number of rows.
Troubleshooting
The tube is twisted: Before you work Rnd 1, check that the foundation chain lies flat all the way around.
The fans cup or ruffle: Your dc are too loose compared with your arches. Tighten the dc or go down half a hook size.
The arches pull the fans flat: Your ch-4s are too tight. Loosen your chains or work ch 5 instead.
Your count is off by one fan: You probably missed a V-st. Each fan round needs exactly one fan in each ch-3 sp.
The round join leans sideways: That is normal for unturned rounds. Blocking straightens it, and you can hide the seam line at a side fold.
The sweetheart dip is shallow: Pull the sc3tog firmly, and pin the dip lower when you block.
The straps stretch: Work them half a hook size smaller, or remove 2 rows.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with a mild detergent, press out the water gently, and dry the top flat in shape. Do not hang it wet, because the straps will stretch.
Final Notes
The measurements build on each other. One 12-stitch repeat is 2.75 in (7.0 cm), so 12 repeats make a 33 in (83.8 cm) tube, or 16.5 in (41.9 cm) flat. The body is 10.25 in (26.0 cm) tall. Each border adds 0.75 in (1.9 cm), for a finished length of 11.75 in (29.8 cm). The straps are 12 in (30.5 cm) long. If your gauge matches at each checkpoint, the finished top will match these sizes.
For a larger size, add repeats in pairs so the front and back stay equal. Fourteen repeats (ch 168) make a top 38.5 in (97.8 cm) around.
Happy crocheting!