Bucket and Twine
For all things crochet
Japanese Pattern No. 19
Click on the link above to download the pattern. There’s a fair amount of scrolling involved, but the chart is in there … I promise.
I absolutely have fallen in love with this pattern, but I did make a few alterations to make it a bit more romantic, and I’m working on a version that has a square neck rather than the “V”.
Here are my notes on the pattern, and a few things I realized I should have done along the way:
- I used a 2.75 mm hook and size 5 Artiste crochet thread from Hobby Lobby. I know that the Japanese tend to be much slimmer and smaller, so I assumed the pattern was written for a size 0. I’m glad I did, because the fit turned out perfectly roomy for me. I generally buy a size L shirt, and my bust is a 36 C, so plan accordingly. If you are smaller than me, maybe try size 10 thread and a 2 mm hook.
- You begin by making three pieces (back panel, front right, front left)
1 = back panel 2 = front left 3 = front right and then join them together where the V neck connects. The rest of the top can be worked in the round (turning after every round). Starting with the back panel also allows you to gauge size a bit better. You want the length across the top to just tip over your shoulders, so if it’s running short after you’ve completed one pattern rotation, maybe go up a hook size.
- Start with the back panel. I started with the front panels, and realized afterward that starting with the back would have eliminated the need to do three starting chains. I don’t know how you feel about starting chains, but I hate them … especially with thread. I always seem to get a hand cramp. After you have worked the back panel all the way to the bottom of the arm pit, you can simply use that starting chain to continue working the front panels.
- Work the front two panels until they connect at the V, and then continue working back and forth until the front reaches the base of the arm pit. Now you have a front and a back you can join to work in the round.
- Turn after each round. This keeps your pattern from “leaning” to one side, and helps the bottom match the back and forth bits from the top.
- Now you can work in pattern for as long or as short as you’d like.
ALTERATIONS!
I did two things completely different than the chart. Neckline and sleeves.
Neckline
- I tried a few things before I finally decided on repeating three rows of *skip 1 stitch, 3dc in next, skip 1 st, sc in next* repeat, which is the foundation for the chart pattern. I ended with picots at the top of the 2nd double crochet. I also made sure to decrease at the V so it wouldn’t flare out. Fool around with it until it looks right :).
- I began the first round the same way the back panel begins, with a chain 4, sc repeat around. I wasn’t precise, but I did make sure the V was symmetrical before continuing around the neck.
Sleeves
- For the sleeves I did the same thing as I did for the neck, except I added three pineapple drops to each side. I looked at the base of the chart (picture below), and counted how many {chain 4, sc} I needed to get a pineapple and then did that around the arm hole. I didn’t care about drape too much, because I wanted it flouncy, flirty and a bit romantic. For the arm pit area, I just repeated the nested shell stitch.
And, there you have it. Hope you try it out.
Bucket and Twine 