Hi everyone! I'm so excited to share a new free crochet pattern with you!
The Thea Off the Shoulder Crop Top is elegant and stylish crochet crop top that is perfect for summer!

This crochet crop top pattern is also accompanied by a step-by-step video tutorial.
This post may contain affiliate links, view our disclosure policy for details.

Design Inspiration
If you know me (or have seen any of my crochet designs) I LOVE crop tops :). Crop tops, cropped sweaters, cropped cardigans, cropped anything! I wanted to create a simple, clean silhouette that could be draped off one shoulder but not be in danger of falling down. This design can also be worn as boat neck top.
Summer is officially over in New Zealand but this design can easily be worn year-round. I’m planning on making this design in merino wool which will make this design the perfect sweater top over long sleeves or turtlenecks in the winter!
In general, I think cropped lengths are super flattering and fit a wide variety of body types. But if you prefer longer tops don’t worry, I’ve included alteration instructions letting you know where you can extend the top to create the perfect length for you 🙂
Pin me for later!

Looking for more free crochet patterns?

1. Sea Breeze Tank Top / 2. Sagebrush Ribbed Tank Top / 3. Leila Tie Strap Top

Yarn
I used Lion Brand’s 24/7 Cotton Yarn in the colour White (100). (In New Zealand, you can easily find it at Spotlight). I love how crisp and fresh the white cotton stitches look, especially when complemented with a summer tan! This cotton yarn is great for warmer temperatures as it creates a breezy and airy top that isn’t too heavy. 24/7 Cotton is classified as a medium category 4 yarn (aran/worsted/10 ply) however, I find its closer to a DK weight yarn. If you're substituting this yarn make sure to look for a yarn that's suitable for a 4mm (US G) crochet hook.
Add the Thea Off the Shoulder Crop Top to your Ravelry queue!
Purchase the ad-free, printable version of the Thea Crop Top on Etsy!
Video Tutorial
LEVEL: Easy
Pattern notes:
*The sample in the video for this pattern is size XS.
*The sizing guide follows size XS/S(M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL). E.g. “Ch 112(128, 144, 160, 176, 192) means Ch 112 for XS/S, Ch 128 for M, Ch 144 for L, Ch 160 for XL, Ch 176 for 2XL, Ch 192 for 3XL.”
*HDC 10 means ‘HDC into the next 10 stitches”, HDC 47 = ‘HDC into the next 47 stitches’ etc.
*2HDC = ‘Place 2HDC into the same stitch’
*Ch 2 always counts as a stitch
*Cotton yarn can stretch a lot, depending from yarn to yarn. For the best fit results, I suggest trying on your top multiple times throughout creating this garment.
*The yoke on this garment is not symmetrical as this design is intended to be worn off the shoulder.
*Measurements are taken from the garment lying flat on the ground. Please note that measurements can easily change due to gauge, tension and yarn.
*This pattern uses US crochet terms
Materials
Yarn – Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton – Aran/Worsted (10 ply), 170m/100g, 100% Mercerised Cotton in White (100)
XS/S = 2.5 skeins, M = 3, L = 4, XL = 5, 2XL = 6, 3 XL = 7
Stitches & Abbreviations
Ch = Chain
Sl st = Slip Stitch
HDC = Half Double Crochet
HDC2tog = Half Double Crochet 2 stitches together
SC = Single Crochet
MEASUREMENTS: cm
Bust: 86(96, 106, 116, 126, 136)
Waist: 68(77, 85, 93, 101.5, 109.5)
Armhole: 34(40.5, 45.5, 50.5, 55.5, 60.5)
Length: 34(39, 41, 43, 45, 48)
MEASUREMENTS: inches
Bust: 34(38, 42, 45.5 49.5, 53.5)
Waist: 27(30, 33.5, 36.5, 40, 43)
Armhole: 13.5(16, 18, 20, 22, 34)
Length: 13.5 (15.5, 16, 17, 18, 19)
GAUGE:
10cm/4” square = 16 stitches wide x 12 rows tall in half double crochet

Thea Off The Shoulder Crop Top Pattern
Neckline
FOUNDATION CHAIN: Ch 112(128, 144, 160, 176, 192). Sl st into the first chain. Make sure your chain is not twisted!
*Note: in the video stitch markers were placed in the foundation chain. This actually makes it more difficult to stitch into the chains so I recommend placing the stitch markers in ROUND 1.
ROUND 1: Ch 2, HDC 34(38, 42, 46, 50, 54), *HDC, Ch1, HDC* into the same stitch – place a stitch marker in the chain space.
HDC 19(23, 27, 31, 35, 39), *HDC, Ch1, HDC* into the same stitch – place a stitch marker in the chain space.
HDC 35(39, 43, 47, 51, 55), *HDC, Ch1, HDC* into the same stitch – place a stitch marker in the chain space.
HDC 19(23, 27, 31, 35, 39) *HDC, Ch1, HDC* into the same stitch – place a stitch marker in the chain space. Sl st into the 2nd chain at the start of the round.
<Total stitches: 116(132, 148, 164, 180, 196) + 4 chains.>
Every time you stitch in the chain space remove the stitch marker and place it in the new chain space.
ROUND 2: Ch 2, HDC 36(40, 44, 48, 52, 56), *HDC, Ch1, HDC* into the chain space – Remove the stitch marker and place it in the new chain space.
HDC 21(25, 29, 33, 37, 41), *HDC, Ch1, HDC* into the chain space.
HDC 37(41, 45, 49, 53, 57), *HDC, Ch1, HDC* into the chain space.
HDC 21(25, 29, 33, 37, 41), *HDC, Ch1, HDC* into the chain space. Sl st into the 2nd chain at the start of the round.
<Total stitches: 124(140, 156, 172, 188, 204) + 4 chains.>
ROUND 3: Ch 2, HDC in every stitch until the first chain space, *HDC, Ch1, HDC* into the chain space.
HDC in every stitch until the next chain space, *HDC, Ch1, HDC* into the chain space.
HDC in every stitch until the 3rd chain space *HDC, Ch1, HDC* into the chain space.
HDC in every stitch until the last chain space. *HDC, Ch1, HDC* into the chain space. Sl st into the 2nd chain at the start of the round.
<Total stitches: 132(148, 164, 180, 196, 212) + 4 chains.>
Repeat ROUND 3 until you finish ROUND 17(19, 21, 23, 25, 27).
<Total stitches: 244(276, 308, 340, 372, 404) + 4 chains>
*Your total stitch count will increase by 8 after each round.
Body
BODY ROUND 1: Ch 2, HDC in every stitch until you reach the first stitch marker/chain space. HDC in the chain space with a stitch marker then HDC into the next chain space with a stitch marker. HDC in every stitch until you reach the next stitch marker. HDC in the chain space with a stitch marker then HDC into the next chain space with a stitch marker. Sl st into the 2nd chain at the start of the round.
BODY ROUND 2: Ch 2, HDC in every stitch in the round. Sl st into the 2nd chain at the start of the round.
Repeat ROUND 2 until you reach the correct round for your size.
XS/S: Work to ROUND 4
M: Work to ROUND 6
L: Work to ROUND 6
XL: Work to ROUND 8
2XL: Work to ROUND 8
3XL: Work to ROUND 10
*You can add or remove rows to achieve your desired length minus the waist decrease. Keep in mind that the Waist Decrease adds 9cm/3.5”
*If you want your top to have a loose, boxy fit (with no waist decrease) you can repeat BODY ROUND 2 until you reach your desired length and then proceed to ‘DECREASE ROUND 13’.
Waist Decrease
DECREASE ROUND 1: Ch 2, *HDC2tog, HDC 10(13, 14, 16, 18, 19)*. )*. Repeat *-* until the end of the round. (You can end with a HDC2tog or an HDC. E.g. if you’ve placed a HDC2tog and have 7 stitches left, just HDC in the last 7 stitches).
Sl st into the 2nd chain at the start of the round.
ALL SIZES: Repeat DECREASE ROUND 1 until ROUND 6
*If you find that the decrease is too tight, decrease fewer rounds of DECREASE ROUND 1
*If you want the top to be tighter, add more rounds of DECREASE ROUND 1 until you achieve your desired fit
DECREASE ROUND 7: Ch 2, HDC in each stitch in the round. Sl st into the 2nd chain at the start of the round.
ALL SIZES: Repeat DECREASE ROUND 7 until ROUND 12
DECREASE ROUND 13: Ch 1 (counts as a stitch), SC in every stitch in the round. Sl st into the first chain. Fasten off.
Sleeves
Insert your hook in any stitch along the armhole, secure your yarn and pull through a loop.
SLEEVE ROUND 1: Ch 2, *HDC2tog, HDC2tog, HDC*, repeat * - * until the end of the round. (You can end with a HDC2tog or HDC e.g. If you only have 1 stitch left over, HDC into the last stitch). Sl st into the 2nd chain at the start of the round.
SLEEVE ROUND 2: Ch 2, 2HDC in every stitch in the round. Sl st into the 2nd chain at the start of the round.
SLEEVE ROUND 3-4: Ch 2, HDC in every stitch in the round. Sl st into the 2nd chain at the start of the round. Fasten off.
Repeat SLEEVE instructions for the other side.
Weave in all of your ends.
Congratulations! You've finished your Thea Off the Shoulder top!
Hi! Would it be okay to use 100% acrylic yarn instead of cotton yarn for this design/pattern? Is there actually a difference if I were to use acrylic instead?
Hi Lee,
Sure you can use an acrylic yarn - the top will just be more drapey and have less structure.
Grace 🙂
Hi Grace,
Thanks for this great pattern! I'm wondering whether you have alterations for someone wishing to make the top symmetrical (I love this design but off-the-shoulder tops don't suit me).
Thanks!
Hi Elise,
Since this is a top down pattern, if you want the top to be symmetrical you'd have to recalculate all of the yoke increases! I'd recommend checking out the Magnolia Sweetheart Top (it has a more symmetrical yoke) and don't add the sweetheart details. 🙂
Grace
Hello! I love your blogs. I have tried to make 2 of your top patterns and everything is so easy to understand especially for a beginner like me.
Thank you for the written instructions and the video instructions.
Hope you are well!
Hello! Do you have an approximate amount for the number of yards you used per size? Thank you!
Hi Anna,
For this project I have the skein amounts under 'Materials' - sorry but I can't find the gram amounts in my notes!
Grace
Hey! I am currently trying to do this pattern, but I dont get how you come to the number of 308 stitches for round 21 (size L) in the neckline, because you say after round 3 it increases 8 stitches per round. And I have 164 stitches in round 3 so I have the 308 stitches in round 12. Did I do sth worn? Thanks for your help 🙂 love ur patterns though.
Hi Maria,
I think you've increased by a lot more than 8 stitches per round 308 - 164 = 144. So between rows 3 and 12 you've increased by 144 which works out to be 16 stitches per round? I think you might've increased to quickly!
Grace
Dear Grace,
Thank you for the patter.
May I ask you something.
Do I always crochet 1 HDC+1CH+1 HDC into the 1CH of the round below?
Maybe I don't understand correctly, but if I count from round 1 to round 2 to the first 1 HDC+1CH+1 HDC I only get 36 stitches including the 2 CH at the beginning.
Thanks in advance.
Best regards Sarah
I'm trying to make this top, but I've never made a crochet top with armholes before. In round 1 of the body instructions, you say "HDC in the chain space with a stitch marker then HDC into the next chain space with a stitch marker". What do I do to the stitches between the armholes? Do I skip then, slip stitch them, chain a line and connect it to the other side of the armhole? Please let me know, as this is really confusing
For the xs it says to chain 112 but looking at the first round it’s 35, 19, 35, 19 which only equals 108.
Are there 4 extra stitches at the end?
Thank you!!