Band of Colour Top - Free Crochet Pattern For Women in Paintbox Yarns Baby DK

Band of Colour Top – Free Crochet Pattern for Women by Paintbox Yarns

The Band of Colour Top is a free, intermediate-level crochet pattern for women designed by Paintbox Yarns. This stylish top is worked flat in panels and seamed together, featuring a bold colour-block stripe design that makes it a striking wardrobe addition. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and uses UK crochet terminology, with US equivalents provided throughout in round brackets, making it accessible to crocheters on both sides of the Atlantic.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a women's crocheted top with a relaxed, oversized silhouette. It is sized to fit a bust measurement of 81 to 117 cm (32 to 46 inches), with actual finished measurements ranging from 129 to 165 cm (50¾ to 65 inches) in circumference, giving a generous ease throughout. The finished length ranges from 47 to 51 cm (18½ to 20 inches) depending on size. The design is characterised by vibrant horizontal colour bands worked in contrasting shades against a crisp white main colour, creating a fresh, summery aesthetic.

Construction and Techniques

The Band of Colour Top is constructed using a seamed, worked-flat method. Individual panels are crocheted flat, meaning each row is turned rather than worked in the round, and the finished pieces are then joined together with seaming. This approach gives the fabric a neat, structured finish and allows for precise shaping and colour placement.

The colour work is a key feature of this pattern. The design uses a stripe technique, with the main colour (Paper White) forming the body of the top and five contrasting colours introduced as distinct horizontal bands. The pattern offers two options for colour placement, giving crocheters some creative flexibility in how they arrange the colour bands across the garment.

• Worked flat – panels are crocheted back and forth in rows
• Seamed construction – finished panels are joined together
• Stripe colourwork – horizontal bands of contrasting colour worked throughout
• Two colour placement options – allowing for personalised stripe arrangement

Stitches Used

This pattern uses a focused selection of crochet stitches that combine to create a textured yet rhythmic fabric. The primary stitch is the treble crochet (UK) — known as double crochet in US terminology — which forms the main body of the fabric and is used to measure tension. A key textural detail is introduced through the raised treble front (UK), referred to as front post double crochet in US terminology, which creates a raised, ribbed effect by working around the post of the stitch below rather than through the top loops. Additional stitches and techniques include:

• Double crochet / single crochet (dc/sc) – used for edging and finishing
• Chain (ch) – for turning chains and foundation rows
• Slip stitch (ss) – for joining and finishing
• Back loop only (blo) – working into only the back loop of a stitch to create a defined ridge or texture
• Raised treble front / front post double crochet (rtrf/fpdc) – for surface texture and ribbed detailing

The combination of treble crochet as the main fabric stitch with raised post stitches and back-loop-only variations gives the top a pleasingly tactile quality without requiring complex stitch patterns, making it well-suited to an intermediate-level crocheter who is comfortable with basic stitches and ready to explore post stitches and colourwork.

Tension and Hook

Achieving the correct tension is described as vitally important in the pattern. The stated tension is 20 stitches and 10 rows over 10 cm (4 inches) of treble crochet (US double crochet), worked with a 4mm crochet hook (UK size 8, US size G6). Crocheters are encouraged to adjust their hook size as needed to match this tension before beginning the main project, as the generous sizing of this top means even small deviations can have a significant impact on the finished dimensions.