Long-sleeve Crochet Top

And it's handmade!

Hey Besties! If you know me, you know I love a good music festival. In the spirit of collecting side-quests, I've started designing crochet items as badges of attendance. I may have spent 10 years in Johannesburg, I had never attended the In The City festival. According to my friends, it was the annual jol in their high-school days...bummer for me... Until Ayra Starr and Snoh Aalegra performed in October 2024. Afrobeats and R&B? Count me in! 10 minutes from my house? COUNT ME IN!

Here comes the kicker: what do I wear?

As a hoarder, I've accumulated a lot of yarn. Perhaps a little too much if you ask me. Yet I still went to the store to buy the exact shade I wanted for my top? Bienvenue chez les fous!

I wanted it green because this was the inspo:

Princess Ama by Or Noir Crochet

Princess Ama by Or Noir Crochet

Princess Ama by Or Noir Crochet

The Princess Ama crochet top by Or Noir Crochet

Unfortunately, because I have been crocheting for years, I sometimes design my pieces without a pattern. I've said it many times (perhaps not to you): Crochet is basically 3D drawing with yarn and a hook. Just think about it for a second. I don't have a free pattern today because it was freestyled with samples from multiple sources.

I used YouTube and my body measurements as guides.

Maddening creative process.

All I can give you is the order in which I worked:

1. Bra cups

2. diaphragm

3. Bust

4. Sleeves

5. Cotton lining

After about 3 all-nighters and a combination of single, stitch, double, and triple crochets, we were ready!

I have, if you're interested, found two tutorials that might be of great help if you'd like to re-create it:

1. Scarlet and Sam inspired crochet top by Nikita Nightingale

2. How to crochet corset top by Chenda DIY

Chenda has been my light in the dark because sometimes you don't even know where to start. There's something soothing about working with your hands in the middle of the night. Like time slows down and you're the last human left on earth, and Microsoft Teams never existed... You measure in peace while everyone else is sleeping, and you can hear your thoughts. Speaking about measuring: the amount of geometrical accuracy you need as a crafter/seamstress/crocheter is humbling.

Without further ado, let me show you the work of my hands, the long-sleeve crochet top:

From my gallery to you

From my gallery to you

From my gallery to you

If you look down at your keyboard, you'll notice the number between 7 and 9.

Don't forget to reach out for some crochet tips if you need any, I write back ;)

Until next time, besties!