Long-sleeve crochet tops tend to lean cozy or structured this one goes neither direction. The daisy lace motif keeps the fabric open and light, so the sleeves feel breezy rather than warm, and the off-shoulder neckline gives it an easy, slightly dressed-up feel that works from summer evenings into early fall. If you’ve been looking for something with more coverage that doesn’t sacrifice airiness, this is worth adding to your queue alongside the fan stitch triangle top and the flower motif top already on the site.
Off-shoulder Crochet Top Long Sleeve
The pattern works up in repeating daisy motif rounds each flower unit connects to the next as you go, so the lace fabric builds itself without any joining seams mid-project. The long bell sleeves are worked in the same motif, keeping the whole piece cohesive from neckline to cuff.
Skill Level
Intermediate
Finished Size
Adjustable based on your measurements, with a standard sample sizing using three flowers across creating a panel width based on seventy-five foundation stitches.
Materials
Worsted weight or DK weight yarn according to your drape preference
Crochet hook size recommended for your selected yarn weight
Tapestry needle for weaving in loose ends
Scissors
Stitch markers for counting repeats and securing layout positioning
Abbreviations
ch: Chain
dc: Double Crochet
tr: Treble Crochet
sc: Single Crochet
sk: Skip
V: The stitch or space from the row directly below
Helpful Notes Before Starting
Counting your baseline stitches accurately is critical because a single misplaced double crochet will shift the centering of your entire flower matrix.
Keep your tension completely consistent on the long chain loops so the negative space windows lay perfectly flat without bunching up the solid fabric.
Working into the actual chain spaces rather than the individual chain stitches saves time and creates a smoother, more organic edge along your open lace petals.
Mark your edge stitches with stitch markers if you struggle to see the turning chain spaces at the beginning and end of rows.
Construction Overview
The sweater is constructed using four distinct flat rectangular panels consisting of a front panel, a back panel, and two identical sleeve panels.
Each piece utilizes an openwork filet style lace technique where open chain windows and solid double crochet blocks combine to form a repetitive daisy motif.
Instead of working small motifs and sewing them together later, this continuous lace strategy builds the entire design directly into the fabric row by row.
Once the individual flat rectangles reach your preferred length, they are sewed together using single crochet seams on the wrong side before turning the garment right side out.
Stitch and Shaping Clarity
The flower shapes are defined by expanding and contracting negative space windows created with chains and tall stitches like the treble crochet.
Increases in your petal density are achieved by adding more single crochets into the open chain loops from the previous row.
Decreases that close the top sections of the blossoms are handled by skipping single crochets on the outer edges of the flower core.
The solid double crochet sections frame each motif horizontally and vertically, which provides structural integrity and keeps the overall garment from stretching out of shape.
Step by Step Pattern Instructions
The Foundation Base
Chain 75 or your chosen multiple of 25
Ch an additional 2, then work 1 dc into the 75th chain from your hook
Work 1 dc into every chain across until you have a full row of 75 double crochets
Establishing the Motif Layout (2 Gaps)
Ch 2 and turn your work which counts as your first dc
Dc in the next 9 stitches for a total of 10 dc at the beginning edge(
First Flower Sequence: Ch 2, sk 2, dc in the next 4 stitches, ch 2, sk 2, dc in the next 17 stitches
Repeat the sequence across
Your row will end with 7 dc after making the final two gaps
- If you’re a beginner and crochet patterns feel confusing, start with the video tutorial below, it’s the easiest way to learn as you go!
Building the Window (3 Gaps)
Ch 2 and turn
Dc across until you are 3 stitches away from the first gap
Sequence: Ch 2, dc into the stitch right before the space, work 2 dc directly into the gap, dc into the next stitch. Ch 2, dc into the stitch before the next gap, 2 dc into the gap, dc into the post after. Ch 2, sk 2, dc into the 3rd stitch
Dc across the solid sections and repeat this sequence over every flower section. End with 7 dc
The Bottom Petals
Ch 2 and turn. Dc across until you are 3 stitches away from the first square window which makes 4 dc total at the edge
Ch 2, sk 2, dc into the 3rd stitch, 2 dc into the square window, 1 dc into the next stitch
First Petal: Ch 4. Work 1 treble crochet directly into the center square window below. Ch 4
Dc into the space just before the final square, 2 dc inside the square, 1 dc after it
Ch 2, sk 2, dc into the 3rd stitch. Repeat this petal layout across the row. You will finish on 1 dc after your final square
Expanding the Center
Ch 2 and turn. Work 2 dc into the first square window, then 1 dc after it for 4 dc total
Sequence: Ch 5. Work 1 sc into the first chain-4 petal space, 1 sc into the top V of the treble crochet, and 1 sc into the next chain-4 petal space for 3 sc total
Ch 5, dc into the space before your next square, 2 dc into the square, 1 dc after
Ch 3, dc directly into the space before the next flower’s square to create a large dividing window Repeat across
The Full Blossom Center
Ch 2 and turn. Work 2 dc into the square window, 1 dc after it for 4 dc total
Sequence: Ch 6. Work 1 sc into the previous row’s chain-5 petal space, 3 sc into the existing 3 sc stitches, and 1 sc into the next chain-5 space for 5 sc total
Ch 6, dc into the space before the center dividing square
Work 3 dc into the ch-3 window space, plus 1 dc after it for 5 dc total in this divider. Repeat across the row
Closing the Top Petals (First Decrease)
Ch 2 and turn. Work 3 dc directly into the first large ch-6 petal loop for 4 dc total
Sequence: Ch 5. Sk the first sc from below, and work 1 sc into each of the next 3 stitches while skipping the last sc
Ch 5, work 3 dc into the following large ch-6 petal loop, and 1 dc into the next solid stitch
Ch 3, dc into the stitch right before the next petal loop to recreate a divider window. Repeat across
The Top Petal Points
Ch 2 and turn. Work 2 dc into the ch-3 square, 1 dc after it. Ch 2, sk 2, dc into the 3rd stitch right before the petal space
Work 3 dc into the petal loop space
Sequence: Ch 4. Work 1 treble crochet directly into the middle single crochet of the flower core. Ch 4
Work 3 dc into the next petal loop, and 1 dc into the solid stitch following it
Ch 2, sk 2, dc into the 3rd stitch. Work 3 dc inside the dividing square window, and 1 dc after it for 5 dc total. Repeat across
Closing the Flower Windows (3 Squares)
Ch 2 and turn. Work 2 dc into the first square, 1 dc after. Ch 2, sk 2, dc into the 3rd stitch
Work 3 dc into the petal loop space. Ch 2, sk the treble crochet, and dc right into the next petal loop
Work 2 more dc in that loop, and 1 dc into the stitch following it
Ch 2, dc into the stitch before the square window, 2 dc into the window, and 1 dc after. Continue working solid dc across until you are 3 stitches away from the next flower’s petal to repeat
Final Framing (2 Squares)
Ch 2 and turn. Dc across all solid sections until you cross your first square window where you work 2 dc inside the window and 1 dc after it
Ch 2, sk 2, dc into the 3rd stitch right before the center flower gap, 2 dc inside the gap, 1 dc after
Ch 2, sk 2, dc into the 3rd stitch. Dc across all solid sections until you reach the next flower area
Repeat Sequence
To continue extending your panels, repeat Rows 3 through 10 for as long as needed to reach your desired height
Finish your panels with a final structural row of pure double crochets
Assembly Guidance
Laying the panels perfectly flat and squaring up your edges prior to stitching prevents skewed seams along the shoulders and underarms.
Use removable stitch markers to pin your sleeve centers directly onto your shoulder seams before crocheting them down so the fabric transfers weight evenly.
Keep your seaming tension matches the overall tension of your sweater panels so your joins do not pucker or pull tightly against the lace layout.
Crochet your single crochet seam rows slowly through both layers of fabric to ensure you are catching corresponding stitches on each matching panel.
Eye and Facial Feature Placement
Because this pattern creates an openwork lace wearable sweater layout rather than a stuffed toy animal, traditional safety eye and embroidered facial feature placements are not utilized in this project.
Stuffing Tips
This continuous garment design remains completely un-stuffed to allow the lace framework to drape beautifully and comfortably over the body.
Finishing Notes
Weave your yarn tails thoroughly along the dense double crochet boundary sections rather than the open lace loops to keep the yarn ends completely hidden.
Wet blocking your completed pieces prior to assembling can expand the daisy window spaces beautifully and showcase the stitch definition clearly.
Take time to gently tug the treble crochet points outward during the drying process to emphasize the natural shape of the flower silhouettes.
Beginner Notes
If your flower shapes look crooked, review your foundation row count because skipping a single background stitch throws off the vertical alignment of the windows.
Practice making a small swatch of one single flower repeat over twenty-five stitches to become comfortable with the shifting chain loops before starting a full sweater panel.
Rely on the solid double crochet border rows to stabilize your stitch width when navigating the open chains.
Troubleshooting
When your edges begin turning wavy or bowing outward, check that you are not accidentally adding extra stitches into your edge turning chains.
If the chain loop windows are pulling inward tightly, your tension is likely too firm on the chain-four and chain-five segments, so try relaxing your grip or sizing up your hook for those open rows.
If your stitch counts are wrong at the end of a row, retrace your steps to verify you worked the proper number of double crochets directly inside the window gaps.
Customization Ideas
You can easily widen the sweater layout by increasing your starting base chains by additional increments of twenty-five stitches per flower repeat.
Introduce a fresh color story by changing your yarn color at the start of each row eight repeat to give every daisy section its own unique colored background frame.
Change the look of the cuffs by dropping the final seaming stitches to let the wrist openings billow out into beautiful open statement slits.
