Materials

• 3-ply fine silk
• #5 Crochet hook
•  (or any combination of thread and hook that gives the correct gauge)

Gauge: 7dc = 1 inch; 3 rows = 1 inch; diameter of motif = 8.5 inches

Instructions

Motif A: Make 1

Ch 7 and join 1st ch to last ch with sl st.

Rnd 1: Ch 3 (count as a dc), 3 dc into ring, ch 3, *4 dc in ring, ch 3*. Repeat from * to * 2x. Sl st in top of ch-3. Turn

Rnd 2: Ch 3, (3 dc, ch 3, 4 dc) in ch-3 sp, *ch 2, (4 dc, ch 3, 4 dc) in ch-3 sp*. Rep. from * to * 2x. Sl st in top of ch-3. Turn.

Rnd 3: Ch 3, 3 dc in ch 2 sp, *ch 2, (4 dc, ch 3, 4 dc) in ch-3 sp*. Rep from * to * 2x. Sl st in top of ch-3.

Motif B: Make 6

Pattern stitch: Shell- (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch sp.

Ch 7. Join 1st ch to last ch with sl st.

Rnd 1: Ch 5, *dc, ch 2 in ring*. Rep. from * to * 12x. Join with sl st in 3rd ch of ch 5. (13 st)

Rnd 2: Ch 3, 2 dc in 1st ch sp, *3 dc in next ch-2 sp*. Rep from * to * around. Join with sl st in top of ch-3.

Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc in next 2 dc, ch 2, *dc in next 3 dc, ch 2*. Rep from * to * around. Join with sl st in top of ch-3.

Rnd 4: Ch 3, dc in 1st dc, dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 3, * shell in ch-3 sp. ch 3.* Rep from * to * around.

Rnd 5: Ch 3, dc in 1st dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc, 2 dc each in next 2 dc, ch 3, *shell in ch-3 sp, ch 5* Rep from * to * around. At the end of rnd, ch 3 instead of ch 5. Join with sl st in top of ch-3.

Rnd 6: Ch 3, dc in 1st dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 7, 2 dc each in next 2 dc, ch 3, * shell in ch-5 sp, ch 4, sc around ch-5 & ch-3 of Rnds 5 & 6, ch 4*. Rep from * to * around. At end of rnd, ch 3 instead of ch 4. Join with sl st in top of ch-3.

Rnd 7: Ch 3, dc in 1st dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 7, ch 3, *sc in ch-2 sp of shell, ch 4, tr in sc, ch 4*. Rep from * to * around. At the end of rnd, ch 3 instead of ch 4. Join with sl st in top of ch-3.

Rnd 8: Ch 3, dc in 1st dc, dc in next 13 dc, 2 dc in next, ch 3, *6 dc in ch-4 sp*. Rep from * to * around. Join with sl st in top of ch-3.

Rnd 9: Ch 3, dc in 1st dc, 2 dc in next, dc in next 13 dc, 2 dc each in next 2 dc, ch 3, * dc in next 3 dc, ch 3, sk 2 dc*. Rep from * to * around. Join with sl st in top of ch-3.

Rnd 10: Ch 3, dc in 1st dc, dc in next 19 dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 3 *shell in ch-3 sp, ch 3*. Rep from * to * around. Sl st in top of ch-3 sp.

Rnd 11: Ch 3, dc in 1st dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 19 dc, 2 dc each in next 2 dc, * shell in ch-2 sp of shell, ch 5*. Rep from * to * around. At the end of rnd, ch 3 instead of ch 5. Join with sl st in top of ch-3.

Rnd 12: Ch 3, dc in 1st dc, dc in next 25 dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 3, *sc in ch-2 sp of shell, picot, sc in same sp, ch 4, sl st around ch-5 & ch 3 of rnds 10 & 11, ch 4*. Rep from * to * around. At the end of rnd, ch 3 instead of ch 4. Join with sl st in top of ch-3. Fasten off.

Connecting Motifs: See Diagrams

Note: The Lacy Top is worked from top to bottom.

Front: Connect 3 Motif B’s to Motif A. See diagram below. Connect Side 1 (Triangle Side) of B to Motif A. Note: One side of Motif A will be left untouched. This will be the neck opening side.

After connecting the motifs, see diagram. Connect the picots # 1, 2, and 3 of Motif B to picots # 1, 2, and 3 of Motif B1. Rep on the other side of Motif B1.

Back: The back is worked the same as the front, but there is no Motif A design. The B Motifs are connected at points. 3 Motifs will be sewn to one another at the corners.

Work the body of the Top. (Front and Back)

Body of this Top is worked in dc stitches. Work left side and then right side.

Row 1: For (small size) See diagram. Start in picot #6. Work 24 dc evenly into the stitches between picots #6 and # 3. For medium size start in Picot #7 and work 30 dc. For large size start in Picot # 8 and work 36 dc. Sl st in picot # 3 of Motif B1. Turn. Ch 5 and sl st in sc between picots.

Row 2: 2 dc in ch-5 and dc in each dc across. Turn.

Row 3: Ch 3, dc in each dc across. Do not dc in last 3 dc. Sl st in picot. Ch 5. Sl st in sc between picots.

Rows 4-5: Rep Rows 2-3.

Row 6: Repeat Row 2. At end of row, ch 8 (for armhole)

Row 7: Dc in 4th ch from hook. Dc in each of the next 4 chs. Dc in each dc across. Do not dc in last 3 dc. Sl st in picot. Ch 5. Sl st in sc between picots.

Rows 8-13: Alternate repeating rows 2 & 3.

Row 14: Repeat Row 2.

After completing Row 14, repeat rows 1-15 on right side. This will bring you even with Motif B1.

Row 15: Starting on right side dc in each dc across. Place a sc in each ch and picot. Ch 3. Turn.

Row 16: Ch 3. Dc in each dc and sc across. Turn.

Row 17: Dc in each dc across. Ch 3. Turn.

Rows 18-40: Repeat Row 17.

Row 41: Ch 1. Sc in next 4 dc, *picot, sc in next 4 dc*. Repeat from * to * to the end.

Fasten off.

Assembly:

Shoulders: For small/medium: connect picots (#a-e). For large: Connect picots (#a-d). See diagram.

Sides: Sew from armholes (see row 6) to bottom. Fasten off.