Island Top

The name of this top is more sentimental than literal— I finished my sample just before a special anniversary trip and planned to photograph it on a tropical island, so in my mind, it’s always been “the island top.”  I designed this piece as a lightweight layer that I would like to wear over sleeveless dresses during hot weather, offering a bit of coverage without adding warmth. It also makes a great swimsuit cover-up. 

Light and geometric, the sample shown is made with Scheepjes Bamboo Soft in Blue Opal and Rich Cream. The pattern also works beautifully with Scheepjes Organicon or other lightweight yarns. The pattern is written for sizes XS-5X and I’ve included instructions for customizing the dimensions, so you don’t have to rely on matching gauge exactly.

Important Links

• Purchase the pattern on Ravelry
• Buy the pattern on Etsy

Yarn and Tools

I made my top out of Scheepjes Bamboo Soft in Blue Opal and Rich Cream. I also make a gauge swatch with Scheepjes Organicon and Cotton Create, and they matched gauge perfectly.

Scheepjes Bamboo Soft (50% Bamboo, 50% Cotton; 50g/150m)

• Yarn A 253 Blue Opal x 3,3,3,(4,4,4),5,5,5 balls
• Yarn B 265 Rich Cream x 3,3,3,(4,4,4),5,5,5 balls

Or

Scheepjes Organicon (100% Organic Soft Cotton; 50g/170m)

• Yarn A 251 Aegean Blue x 3,3,3,(4,4,4),5,5,5 balls
• Yarn B 202 Soft Cloud x 3,3,3,(4,4,4),5,5,5 balls

Using the made to measure option will also allow you to use just about any gauge you want.

You will also need:

• 3mm crochet hook, or hook needed to achieve gauge  
• 4 stitch markers for marking sides of neck hole and arm holes
• scissors or something to cut yarn
• tapestry needle for weaving in ends and optional embroidery

You can check for a Scheepjes Retailer in your area, or you can use my affiliate link below. Shopping through this link earns me a small commission to support my design work at no additional cost to you. Thank You!

Link to Scheepjes Yarn at Jimmy Bean’s Wool

Link to Scheepjes Yarn on Amazon

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Construction and Sizing

The Island Top is a simple rectangle with slight neck shaping, designed for a generous, relaxed fit. It’s worked in two panels: the back panel is a plain rectangle, while the front panel includes neck shaping (I find that two identical rectangles tend to bunch uncomfortably at my neck). The panels are joined at the shoulders as you work the last row of the front panel, and the sides are crocheted together at the end.

The pattern includes instructions for sizes XS through 5X, as well as a Made-to-Measure option. I recommend the Made-to-Measure method for the best fit, since personal preference and body shape can vary, and “standard” sizes don’t always match how you want your garment to look and feel. The Made-to-Measure instructions also use your own gauge swatch to calculate dimensions, so even if your gauge is different from mine, or you’re using a different yarn weight, the pattern will still work perfectly.

Single Color Option and Scarf or wrap

The pattern is written primarily with the striped pattern but can also be made with a single color. You can also make a scarf or a wrap of any size by simply making a long rectangle.

Here is my single-color scarf option made with my hand dyed Scheepjes Nakid Yarn. I also added a little bit of beads for some extra weight and sparkle.

Tester Images

I had at least one tester for every size [XS, S, M, (L, 1X, 2X), 3X, 4X, 5X]. Thank you too all my testers, I was really nervous about making a sized garment. And thank you to those who have allowed me to share photos of their work.