How to Crochet a Japan Soccer Jersey Crop Top with Cherry Blossoms

Crochet Pattern: How to Crochet a Japan Soccer Jersey Crop Top with Cherry Blossoms

Materials

• Medium weight (Category 4) acrylic or cotton yarn in Royal Blue, White, Red, Soft Pink, Light Green, and Brown
• 4.0mm (G) crochet hook for the main top
• 3.25mm (D) crochet hook for the appliques
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors
• Japan JFA-style embroidered patch (optional)

Abbreviations

• ch – chain
• sc – single crochet
• hdc – half double crochet
• dc – double crochet
• sl st – slip stitch
• BLO – back loop only
• st – stitch
• dec – decrease

Instructions

Main Body Panels (Make 1 Front, 1 Back):

For the back panel: Start with the bottom ribbing. Using Royal Blue yarn and the 4.0mm hook, ch 11. Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook and each ch across. Rows 2-70 (or to desired waist width): Sc in BLO of each st, ch 1, turn. Turn ribbing sideways to work the body. Row 1: Work 70 sc evenly along the edge of the ribbing. Work in hdc for 30 rows. Fasten off.

For the front panel: Repeat the ribbing and work hdc for the first 15 rows of the body. To divide for the V-neck: Work 35 hdc, turn. Decrease 1 st at the neckline edge every row until 15 sts remain. Work even until total rows match the back panel. Fasten off. Repeat on the opposite side of the neck, reversing the decreases.

Sleeves (Make 2):

Using Royal Blue, ch 40. Work 12 rows of hdc. Change to Red and work 2 rows of sc. Change to White and work 2 rows of sc. Change back to Royal Blue and work 2 rows of sc to create the sporty striped cuff. Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Cherry Blossom Appliques:

Using the 3.25mm hook and Soft Pink or White yarn: Magic ring, *ch 2, 2 dc, ch 2, sl st into ring* repeat from * to * 5 times to form 5 petals. Fasten off. Make 10-15 blossoms. For the branches: Use Brown yarn to chain varying lengths (ch 15-40), then sl st back down the chain, adding off-shoot branches as desired.

Soccer Ball & Number Appliques:

For the soccer ball: With White yarn, magic ring, 6 sc. Rd 2: 2 sc in each st (12). Rd 3: [sc, inc] around (18). Rd 4: [2 sc, inc] around (24). Fasten off. Use Black yarn to embroider the classic pentagonal soccer ball panels. For the number ’10’: Crochet the numbers in White using basic chain and sc rows to form the shapes, then border them with a row of Red sc.

Assembly & Finishing:

Sew the front and back panels together at the shoulders. Attach the sleeves to the armholes, then sew the side seams. For the V-neck ribbing: Join Royal Blue yarn at the back neck, work sc evenly around the neck opening, decreasing at the center front point of the V to keep it sharp. Finally, sew the branches, flowers, soccer ball, and number 10 appliques securely to the front of the top.