Front-tie tops are easy to get wrong — too much fabric and the tie looks lost, too little and the fit doesn’t work. This grey lace version finds the balance, with the v-stitch lace keeping the fabric light enough that the front cord closure reads as a deliberate detail rather than an afterthought. Short sleeves add coverage without weight, making it a solid layering piece over a black crop top the way it’s styled here. For another lace crop top with a similar open, airy quality, the diamond lace top sits naturally in the same family.
Crochet Summer Top Front Tie
The body is worked flat in a repeating v-stitch lace pattern — each row builds on the previous chain spaces, so the rhythm becomes intuitive quickly. The front edges are left open and finished with a tie cord rather than a button band, which simplifies the construction considerably. The v-stitch tutorial is worth reading through before starting if the stitch is new to you.
Materials Needed
Yarn: Light-weight (Category 3) cotton or acrylic yarn (Cotton blends work best for summer drape).
Hook: 3.5 mm (US E-4) crochet hook.
Notions: Scissors, yarn needle, measuring tape, and 4 stitch markers.
Sizing & Measurements
This pattern is completely custom-made to your measurements and is easily adjustable from sizes XS to XL.
Width: Measure your full bust and divide by 2. This will be the baseline for your Back Panel.
Length: Measure from the top of your shoulder down to your desired waistline (cropped or full length).
Step By Step Pattern
Part 1: The Back Panel
The back panel is a straight rectangle that alternates between solid support and breathable lace.
Row 1 (Foundation): Make a slip knot and chain a length that matches your personal back width measurement (make sure it is an even number of chains).
Row 2 (Solid Row): Work 1 double crochet into the fourth chain from your hook (the skipped chains count as your first double crochet). Work 1 double crochet into each remaining chain across the row.
Row 3 (Solid Row): Chain 3 (counts as a double crochet here and throughout), turn your work. Work 1 double crochet into the second stitch and into each stitch across the row.
Row 4 (Lace Mesh Row): Chain 4 (counts as 1 double crochet plus a chain-1 space), turn your work. Skip the first two stitches. Work 1 double crochet into the next stitch, chain 1, skip 1 stitch. Repeat from * to * across the row until you reach the final stitch. Work 1 double crochet into the top of the turning chain.
Row 5 (Solid Row): Chain 3, turn your work. Work 1 double crochet into the chain-1 space, then 1 double crochet into the next double crochet stitch. Repeat this pattern across, placing 1 double crochet in every space and every stitch.
Repeat Rows 3 through 5: Alternate between your solid double crochet rows and lace mesh rows until the panel reaches your desired length from shoulder to waist. Fasten off.
Part 2: The Front Panels (Make Two)
You will create two identical panels that cover the front of the body, leaving room for the tie closure.
Foundation Chain: Chain a foundation that measures exactly half the width of your back panel, minus 1 to 2 inches (this gap creates space for the front-tie design). Ensure your chain is an even number.
Body Rows: Work the exact same alternating pattern as the Back Panel (repeating the solid and lace rows) until your front panel is approximately 2 inches shorter than your desired total length.
- Never read a crochet pattern before? No problem! The video tutorial below is perfect for beginners, or give the written pattern below a try!
Shaping the Neckline:
To create a flattering V-neck, you will decrease on the inner edge of each front panel (the edges that will meet in the center of your chest).
Decrease Row: On the inner edge side, work a Double Crochet Two Together (DC2tog) across the last two stitches of the row.
Normal Row: Work the returning row normally without any decreases.
Repeat: Continue decreasing 1 stitch every other row on the inner edge until a soft V-shape is formed and the panel matches the exact row count and length of the Back Panel. Fasten off.
Part 3: Assembly & Finishing
1. Seaming the Body
Place your two Front Panels on top of the Back Panel with the right sides facing together (inside out).
Using your yarn needle and a mattress stitch (or your hook to slip stitch), sew the shoulder seams securely.
Lay the piece flat and measure 7 to 8 inches down from the shoulders on both sides; mark these spots with stitch markers to create your armholes.
Sew the side seams together from the bottom edge up to the stitch markers. Turn the top right-side out.
2. Edging & Front Ties
Armhole Trim: Attach your yarn to the bottom of an armhole opening. Work single crochet stitches evenly all the way around the raw edge. Join with a slip stitch, fasten off, and repeat on the other armhole.
Neckline Trim: Attach your yarn to the bottom corner of the left front panel. Work single crochet stitches evenly up the front edge, around the back of the neck, and down the right front panel for a clean, professional finish. Do not fasten off.
Creating the Ties: Once you reach the bottom inner corner of a front panel, chain 50 to 60 stitches (or until you reach your preferred tie length). Fasten off securely. Attach yarn to the opposite front panel’s bottom inner corner and repeat the chain to create the second tie.
Finishing: Weave in all loose ends securely with your yarn needle.
Pro-Tips & Technique Explainers
Pro-Tip: Perfecting the Mesh Placement
When transitioning from a Lace Mesh Row to a Solid Row, make sure you are stitching into the chain spaces rather than through the chain loops themselves. This speeds up your crocheting and gives the mesh holes a perfectly rounded, clean definition.
Technique Explainer: How to DC2tog (Double Crochet Two Together)
This decrease stitch is what gives your neckline that beautiful V-shape angle:
- Yarn over, insert your hook into the first stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook).
- Yarn over and pull through the first 2 loops (2 loops on hook).
- Yarn over, insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop (4 loops on hook).
- Yarn over and pull through the first 2 loops (3 loops on hook).
- Yarn over and pull through all remaining 3 loops. You have successfully turned two stitches into one!
