Light and lacy, this oversized top with cropped sleeves is perfect to toss on over a swimsuit or tank top at the beach. This variation on a traditional butterfly stitch makes a fabric that’s chic and reversible.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: Finished Bust Size 40 (44, 48, 52, 56)” to fit bust 36 (40, 44, 48, 52)”
There is 4” of positive ease in this pattern. For a closer fit, go down a size.
Note: Sample shown in size 40”

Gauge: 20 sts = 4” [10 cm] and 8 rows = 3” [7.5 cm] in pattern stitch after light blocking

Materials

Yarn: Nazli Gelin Garden 3 (100% egyptian giza mercerized cotton; 136 yards [125 meters]/50 grams): #02 Natural (MC, 5 (7, 7, 8, 9) balls), #03 Coral (CC, 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) balls)
Hook: US size F/5 (3.75 mm) hook or size needed to obtain gauge
Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle, sewing needle and thread for buttons, 3 coordinating buttons (1 1/8” each.)

Pattern Notes

Top is worked in one piece from the bottom up, then split for Back and Fronts, so there are no side seams.
While fabric is reversible, rows are marked RS/WS for ease of pattern writing.
Ch-3 counts as 1 dc.
Shell = (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in specified st.
When placing a shell in another shell, work in the ch-1 sp.

Pattern

Body

With MC, ch 205 (225, 245, 265, 285).
Row 1 (WS): Shell in 7th ch from hook, *sk 4 ch, shell in next ch. Rep from * across until 3 ch remain, sk 2 ch, dc in last ch. Ch 3, turn. (40 (44, 48, 52, 56) shells)
Row 2 (RS): * Shell in next shell. Rep from* across, dc in last dc. Change to CC, ch 5, turn.
Row 3: Sc in first ch-1 sp, *ch 2, tr between 2nd and 3rd dc from hook (between the shells) 2 rows below (see diagram for additional guidance), ch 2, sc in next ch-1 sp. Rep from * across, ch 2, dc in last dc. Ch 1, turn.
Row 4: Sc in first dc, * ch 4, sc in next tr. Rep from * across, ch 4, sc in 3rd ch of beg-ch-5. Change to MC, ch 3, turn.
Row 5: 2 dc in first sc, *shell in next sc. Rep from * across until 1 sc remains, 3 dc in last sc. Ch 3, turn.
Row 6: 2 dc in first dc, *shell in next shell. Rep from * across, 3 dc in last dc. Change to CC, ch 1, turn.
Row 7: Sc in first dc, *ch 2, tr between 2nd and 3rd dc from hook (between the shells) 2 rows below, ch 2, sc in next ch-1 sp. Rep from * across, ch 2, sk 2 dc, sc in last dc. Ch 5, turn.
Row 8: Sc in first tr, * ch 4, sc in next tr. Rep from * across, ch 2, dc in last sc. Change to MC, ch 3, turn.
Row 9: *Shell in next sc. Rep from * across, dc in 3rd ch of beg-ch-5. Ch 3, turn.

Sizes 40 (44, 48)”
Rows 10-15: Rep Rows 2-7.

Sizes 52 (56)”
Rows 10-23: Rep Rows 2-9, then Rows 2-7 once more.

Split Back and Fronts: All Sizes

Right Front

Row 1 (RS): Continuing on with CC, sc in first tr, (ch 4, sc in next tr) 9 (10, 11, 11, 11) times, place stitch marker in next sc. Change to MC, ch 3, turn, leaving remaining sts unworked for now. (10 (11, 12, 12, 12) sc)
Row 2: 2 dc in first sc, *shell in next sc. Rep from * across dc in 3rd ch of beg-ch-5. Ch 3, turn.
Row 3: *Shell in next shell. Rep from * across, 3 dc in last dc. Change to CC, ch 1, turn.
Row 4: Sc in first dc, *ch 2, tr between 3rd and 4th dc from hook (between the shells) 2 rows below, ch 2, sc in next ch-1 sp. Rep from * across, ch 2, sk 2 dc, sc in last dc. Ch 5, turn.
Row 5: Sc in first tr, * ch 4, sc in next tr. Rep from * across, ch 2, dc in last sc. Change to MC, ch 3, turn.
Row 6: *Shell in next sc. Rep from * across, dc in 3rd ch of beg-ch-5. Ch 3, turn.
Rows 7-22: Rep Rows 2-9 of Body twice including color changes. (9 (10, 11, 11, 11) shells + 3-dc shell)

Sizes 40 (44, 48)” Only End Off
Rows 23-25: Rep Rows 2-4 of Body. End off.

Sizes 52 (56)” Only
Rows 23-28: Rep Rows 2-7 of Body. End off.

Back

Row 1: With RS facing and CC, sc in first (first, first, 4th, 6th) tr after marked sc, (ch 4, sc in next tr) 19 (21, 23, 23, 23) times. Change to MC, ch 3, turn. (20 (22, 24, 24, 24) sc)
Rows 2-22: Rep Rows 5-9 of Body including color changes, then Rows 2-9 of Body twice.

Sizes 40 (44, 48)” Only End Off
Rows 23-25: Rep Rows 2-4 of Body. End off.

Sizes 52 (56)” Only
Rows 23-28: Rep Rows 2-7 of Body. End off.

Left Front

Row 1: With RS facing and CC, sc in first tr after marked sc, * ch 4, sc in next tr. Rep from * across, ch 4, sc in 3rd ch of beg-ch-5. Change to MC, ch 3, turn. (10 (11, 12, 12, 12) sc)
Rep all instructions for Right Front in your size, beginning with Row 2.

Sleeves: Make 2

With MC ch 95 (95, 95, 110, 110).
Rep Rows 2-9 of Body Twice, then Rows 2-6 once more; do not change color, ch 1, turn at end of final Row 6.

Sizes 40 (44, 48)” Only
Move on to Sleeve Cap Shaping. Sizes 53 (56)” end off, then move on to Sleeve Cap Shaping.

Sleeve Cap Shaping

Sizes 40 (44, 48)” Only
Row 1: Sl st in each of first 3 dc and in first ch-1 sp, ch 1, change to CC, sc in same sp as sl st, *ch 2, tr between 2nd and 3rd dc from hook (between the shells) 2 rows below, ch 2, sc in next ch-1 sp. Rep from * across until sc has been made in last ch-1 sp. Ch 5, turn.
Rows 2-6: Rep Rows 8-9, then Rows 2 – 4 of Body. End off.

Sizes 52 (56)” Only
Row 1: Sk first (first 3) ch-1 sp(s), join CC with sc in next ch-1 sp, *ch 2, tr between 2nd and 3rd dc from hook (between the shells) 2 rows below, ch 2, sc in next ch-1 sp. Rep from * across until 1 93) ch-1 sps remain unworked, ending with an sc in ch-1 sp. Ch 2, turn.
Rows 2-10: Rep Rows 8-9, then Rows 2- 8 of Body. End off.

Finishing

Block each piece to measurements shown on schematics.

Shoulder Seams – Right Shoulder

With RS of fabric facing you, align Right Front so it is opposite right side of Back.
Prepare to work from sleeve edge towards neck edge, join B with sl st in top of dc on Front, sl st in 3rd ch of beg-ch on Back, (ch 2, sl st in next sc of Front, sl st in next sc of Back, ch 2, sl st in next tr of Front, sl st in next tr of Back) 4 (4, 5, 5, 5) times, ch 2, sl st in next sc of Front, sl st in next sc of Back. End off.

Left Shoulder

With RS of fabric facing you, align Left Front so it is opposite left side of Back.
Prepare to work from sleeve edge towards neck edge, join B with sl st in top of dc on Back, sl st in 3rd ch of beg-ch on Front, (ch 2, sl st in next sc of Back, sl st in next sc of Front, ch 2, sl st in next tr of Back, sl st in next tr of Front) 4 (4, 5, 5, 5) times, ch 2, sl st in next sc of Back, sl st in next sc of Front. End off.
Fold each sleeve in half with right sides facing and sc seam with A.
Pin sleeves into armhole opening and sc into place with B.

Sleeve Edgings

Rnd 1: With B, sc around edge of each sleeve, join rnd with sl st in first sc. Ch 1, do not turn.
Rnd 2: Work one rnd crab st. Join rnd with sl st in first sc. End off.

Garment Edging

Rnd 1: With CC, around entire garment, beginning and ending at the center back hem, and working up Front, around neck opening, down next Front and back to center back hem. Join rnd with sl st in first sc, ch 1, do not turn.
Rnd 2: Work one rnd crab st. Join rnd with sl st in first sc. End off.

Sew buttons onto Left Front, as shown in photo or at desired height. Openings in the lace stitch opposite will serve as buttonholes, and collar will fold back naturally when top is buttoned.

Weave in all ends.