This is my first try at a pattern from a YouTube video. It was not in English. It did have the translation in English for the video. It was challenging but understandable.

manualidadyreciclado.blogspot.com - 2015 Lemon Green Blouse (crochet)

YouTube link to work the sleeve for the Lemon Green Blouse (I chose not to do the sleeves because it was too hard for me to figure out the 2nd sleeve.)

Even though the translation says dc, she is making edc in the video.

Lady blouse any easy size with 330 grams of thread step by step in the color you prefer.

EGYPTIAN MERCERIZED COTTON 1200 YPP FINE

SPORT CONE YARN LIME GRASS.

ch 152 for 38 groups, ch 168 for 42 groups.

Sizing
I tried the ch 152, with sport yarn and G hook. My width was only 32 inches. Even though I am aiming for a small/medium, I think that’s too small.

My yarn is a cotton/linen/bamboo blend. I don’t know if it will grow. If I was using a cotton thread, it would grow when blocked.

So, what I did:
I used the H hook (5 mm) for the foundation chain. Because foundation chains tend to be tight. This gave me a 38 inch foundation chain.

Then I switched to the G hook for the rest of the body.

I did a chain 168 with 42 groups for a hip width of 37 inches. There is still some stretch so this should work out great.

ALTERNATIVE TO FOUNDATION CHAIN
It has been suggested to try an I-cord for an alternative. The I-cord should be stretchier. I am horrible and I detest foundation sc. But an I-cord sounds doable without a lot of headache. It’s the stretch that you need.

Division
I divided at 21 groups for front and back. I divided at 10 groups on the sides with the 11th group marked as center on each side.

Row 24 - I changed to a F hook (3.75 mm) because I could see that the top was going to be a lot bigger than small/medium. Row 34 is where you start the half ‘diamonds’ for the front and back. I wanted the chain spaces to match for the smaller hook.

I figured the easiest way to shrink the top part a bit was the smaller hook. You can’t tell by looking at the stitches. I could tell that it was smaller though, which was what I wanted.

I wanted the top to be large enough to fit down over the hips and a bit baggy to fit over another shirt. But I didn’t want the top part to be several sizes too large.

I am hoping that this all works! No gauge, no schematics, no measurements, no written pattern. This has been a challenge.

Round/Row Numbering
Round numbering goes to round 35. Then you fasten off and work the front and back sections. Starting your row numbers back at #1.

Mannequin Fitting
I am on Row 4 of the top. I finally tried this on my mannequin. Oddly enough, it’s a bit large on my mannequin. Makes me nervous. I am aiming for a small/medium which should fit my mannequin. The foundation chain/hips fit around the hips nicely without binding.

It was hard to get over the shoulders (no arms) on my mannequin. Which is odd.

Reduction in top size
Because I am using the larger size (only 2 sizes of foundation chain offered - neither attached to any size or schematic), I am going to reduce the number of crochet groups on Row 4 from 7 to 6. This might give me a bit more of an armhole but it will make the top part fit across the chest better.

Row 4 is where you start maintaining the 6/7 groups along each side of the center diamond. The number of groups depends on which foundation chain you started with.

With my reduction of crochet groups on Row 4 and the use of a smaller hook, my top fits nicely on my mannequin. I just had to be patient and wait until I finished the shoulder tabs.

I completed the shoulder tabs as the video said because it was for the smaller size. It works nicely. The armholes are not too big, they are just fine.

armhole size before sleeves - 10 inch diameter

Sleeves
Wow, the sleeves are tougher than I thought. I tried one sleeve while watching her video. It’s hard to watch the stitches and read the translation at the same time. She goes through the sleeves pretty fast.

I tried one sleeve but it’s not right. Fortunately, the sleeves are small and I can frog it and try again. I have the basics in my head. It’s her stitches attaching the sleeve to the armhole as you work the sleeve. I have to get that straightened out.

I have figured out that I need one extra row in my sleeve to compensate for the row that I decreased in the top. But that is easy to fix.

Nope! The sleeves are not happening. There just isn’t enough shown in the sleeve video for me to figure it out. I get the first sleeve in but it seems like it is not centered on the shoulder seem. I can’t get the 2nd sleeve to be a mirror image. She just talks about it for about 30 seconds.

I am sticking with a tank top. Enough stressing over sleeves.

DImensions
pre-launder
length - 23 inches
bust - 36 inches
bottom of top width (hip) - 36 inches
waist (center of diamond side -to-side) - 30 inches

post-launder
length - 20 inches
bust - 32 inches
bottom of top width (hip) - 32 inches
waist (center of diamond side -to-side) - 25 inches

Stretches to fit mannequin
bust - 36 inches
waist - 28 inches
hip (at bottom of top) - 37 inches