The Marilyn Crop Top

The Marilyn Crop Top by Antiquesledcouture

What is Being Made

The Marilyn Crop Top is a women's cropped crochet garment designed for sizes small to medium. This beginner-friendly project creates a fitted top with decorative stitch patterning that forms a front motif design, making it an ideal piece for those new to crochet who want to learn fundamental techniques while creating a wearable fashion item.

Techniques Used

This crochet pattern employs foundational techniques suitable for beginners. The construction begins with a foundation chain and builds upward using basic stitch work. The pattern incorporates textural variation by alternating between different stitch heights and working into the back loop only on select rows, which creates visual depth and dimension. The front motif design is formed through strategic stitch placement and pattern repetition, allowing crafters to develop consistency and rhythm in their work.

Stitches Used

• Half Double Crochet (HDC) - Used for the foundation rows and base structure of the garment
• Single Crochet (SC) - Incorporated in groups of five stitches to create textural contrast within the pattern
• Double Crochet (DC) - Used in groups of five stitches to add height and openness to the design

The stitch pattern alternates between single crochet and double crochet groups across rows, creating a rhythmic visual pattern. This combination of stitch heights produces a fabric with varied texture that becomes more pronounced as the front motif design develops at row sixteen.

Materials

This project requires two skeins of Caron brand one pound worsted weight yarn, providing a total of 812 yards per skein for ample yardage to complete the garment. The sample shown is worked in Lavender colorway. A size H crochet hook is used throughout the pattern. The gauge is established at 4 stitches and 2 rows equaling 4 inches, which is important for achieving the correct finished size. The pattern is worked using a single strand of yarn throughout.