Show Your Pride: South African Proteas-Inspired Crochet Crop Top Pattern

Crochet Pattern: Show Your Pride: South African Proteas-Inspired Crochet Crop Top Pattern

Materials

• DK weight cotton yarn in Forest Green (Main Color – MC), Gold/Yellow, Black, Red, Blue, and White
• Size US E/4 (3.5mm) crochet hook
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors
• Stitch markers

Abbreviations

• ch – chain
• sc – single crochet
• dc – double crochet
• sl st – slip stitch
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• MC – Main Color (Green)
• CC – Contrast Colors (Gold, Black, Red, Blue, White)

Instructions

Sizing Note: This pattern is written for a standard Women’s Small/Medium. Adjust starting chain in multiples of 4 to customize the fit.

Front Panel:

Using MC (Forest Green), chain 74. Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (72 sts)

Rows 2-10: Work in single crochet, introducing tapestry crochet chevrons. Using Black, Gold, and Red yarn, carry the unused colors along the back. Follow a chevron graph (3 sts up, 1 peak, 3 sts down) to build the colorful triangular motifs at the waist.

Rows 11-30: Continue working in sc using MC. For the left chest, switch to White, Blue, Red, Yellow, and Green to crochet the mini South African flag emblem over a grid of 12 sts x 8 rows. On the right, use Gold and White to stitch the Protea blossom shape.

Rows 31-45: To shape the armholes, sl st across first 5 sts at the beginning of the row, work sc across to last 5 sts, leave remaining sts unworked. Continue decreasing 1 st at each end of every row until 52 sts remain. At Row 38, divide the work for the scoop neckline: leave center 20 sts unworked and work each shoulder separately.

Back Panel:

Repeat the same process as the Front Panel, but omit the flag and Protea emblem, continuing the chevron and striped geometric patterns across the entire back width. Keep the neckline higher by starting the neck division at Row 42.

Sleeves (Make 2):

Using MC, chain 40. Join with a sl st to form a ring. Round 1-5: Sc in each st around. Rounds 6-12: Work geometric tapestry design using Black, Gold, Blue, and Red to create the tribal pattern band on the arm. Rounds 13-18: Decrease 1 st at the underarm of each round to shape the sleeve cap. Fasten off.

Assembly and Neckline Border:

Sew the front and back panels together at the shoulders and sides using the mattress stitch. Sew the sleeves into the armholes.

Edging:

Attach Gold yarn to the scoop neckline. Round 1: Sc evenly around the neck opening. Join with sl st. Round 2: Change to Black. Sc in each st around. Round 3: Change to Gold. *Skip 1 st, 5 dc in next st, skip 1 st, sl st in next st* repeat around to create the lovely scalloped neckline. Repeat this scalloped stitch pattern along the bottom hem using MC and Gold to finish the crop top.