I am using 3 different colors of sport weight yarn to make crocheted tops. The idea is that she will be able to layer them together or not.

The colors are purple (purple haze), green(sage) and off white (shale). This is the green one.

I am targeting a size Small. Finished bust of 37 inches.

Not Print Friendly
This pattern is not print friendly with great big swaths of footer colors that look 2 inches deep. This is part of why this pattern gets a lower rating.

Foundation length around hips (bottom up)
I am trying a foundation cord instead of a foundation chain. To be stretchier. But I have a dilemma.

G hook (4.25 mm)
Length foundation cord - 48 inches
Length foundation chain - 60 inches.

Sigh. I like the feel of the foundation cord. So, I am going to go ahead with it. I can always frog.

I used an H hook (5 mm) for the foundation cord.
Length foundation cord - 49.5 inches

I ended up using a G hook for the foundation cord. In this case, you don’t want to use the larger hook, it looks too sloppy when you start working the body.

Spider body
I used a G hook (4.25 mm) for the body. I tried a smaller F hook (3.75 mm) but the diameter of the body shrank to 38 inches which is too small. I am aiming for around 40ish inches as a final measurement.

I have 6 rows of spider blocks. The length is 13 inches. Since my yarn does not grow, I am going to stop here with the body of the garment and move on to the top part.

I didn’t like how the spider block rows started in the center of the bosom. Plus it makes the front/back look too skimpy.

I am adding 6 rounds of open blocks (equivalent of one spider block round) before starting the armholes. This should drop the spider block rounds down to the bottom of the bosom. (hoping!)

Counting error when working on back or front of top - inserted above the back and front comments for readability (hindsite)
I noticed that when the instructions say to skip # of dc and then start in the NEXT dc, this is not always correct. What I did was to start exactly the way the instructions said to start for placing the back. And the first of the curved neck up to the shoulder.

On the 2nd curved neck up to the shoulder, it is best to mirror it with the other side.

Same with starting the front. Count your blocks that are going to be needed for the front (includes half blocks on ends) and then center that from the sides of the back. This way your top will be symmetrical.

The curved neck up to the shoulder is started exactly as the instructions said, then on the 2nd front curved neck up to the shoulder, make sure you are mirroring the other side.

Back of top
It was a bit confusing to start the back only 3 dc away from the seam that you created up (what I assumed) the center back. Then I realized that the seam is going to be turned onto the side. That way it will not be visible in front or back.

I am adding one extra row at the top of the shoulder tabs on the back. This is because my yarn does not grow.

Front of top
I added 2 extra rows at the top of the shoulder tabs. This drops the neckline just a bit so that you can tell which is the front and which is the back.

Even with the extra rounds of open blocks on the body, the spider block rounds just barely start at the bottom of the bosom. I am glad I added the extra rounds and the extra rows on all the shoulder tabs.

Finishing
I did 2 rounds of sc around the armholes and neckline. # rounds of sc around the hemline.

I think the sc edging really finished off the top nicely.

Over all - This is a pretty easy top to make and it turns out very nice.

Dimensions
pre-wash
length (shoulder to hem) - 23 inches
diameter of hem - 20.5 inches
diameter of bosom - 19.5 inches
armhole - 11 inches

post-wash
length (shoulder to hem) - 19.5 inches
diameter of hem - 16 inches
diameter of bosom - 15 inches
armhole - 8 inches

After washing and drying (washer/dryer) it seems like it shrunk. But I know this yarn. Now I am going to go and put the top on my mannequin. It should stretch back to it’s pre-launder measurements. This would be stretching from the crochet stitches, not the yarn.

Yep - It stretches right out again where it is pulled over the body.

Hindsite - I should have added a total of 4 rows to the front shoulder tabs. I think it still pulls up a bit. I will have to ask my daughter how it feels when she wears it.