About This Pattern
This is an evening project that stretches into several evenings. Two flat panels, worked row by row, in lavender, lilac, mauve, and cream. The textures shift as you go: solid hdc, then shell lace, then open mesh. It needs a quiet stretch of time, a stripe sequence you can glance at, and patience for fifty-two small pompoms. Nothing here is rushed. It rewards steady hands and a kitchen table with good light.
In the basket
Recommended Yarn Options
Hooks
Notions
Abbreviations
- ch
- chain
- sl st
- slip stitch
- sc
- single crochet
- hdc
- half double crochet (yarn over, insert hook, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through all 3 loops)
- dc
- double crochet (yarn over, insert hook, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over, pull through remaining 2 loops)
- sk
- skip
- sp
- space
- st(s)
- stitch(es)
- ch-sp
- chain space
- rep
- repeat
- RS
- right side
- WS
- wrong side
- tch
- turning chain
- yo
- yarn over
- Shell Stitch
- Work 5 double crochets all into the same stitch or space. This creates a fan shape.
- Picot
- Chain 3, slip stitch into the first chain made. This creates a small decorative loop.
- hdc2tog (half double crochet decrease)
- Yarn over, insert hook into next stitch, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Yarn over, insert hook into following stitch, pull up a loop (5 loops on hook). Yarn over, draw through all 5 loops. One stitch decreased.
- sc2tog (single crochet decrease)
- Insert hook into next stitch, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook). Insert hook into following stitch, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Yarn over, draw through all 3 loops. One stitch decreased.
Lavender dream pompom tank top crochet pattern
The Stripe Sequence
This is your roadmap. Follow it exactly.
- Rounds 1–4Yarn A (lavender), solid hdc
- Rounds 5–6Yarn D (cream), shell lace
- Rounds 7–8Yarn B (lilac), solid hdc
Rows 9-10: Yarn D (cream), mesh
- Rounds 11–12Yarn C (mauve), solid hdc
- Rounds 13–14Yarn D (cream), shell lace
- Rounds 15–16Yarn A (lavender), solid hdc
Rows 17-18: Yarn D (cream), mesh
- Rounds 19–20Yarn B (lilac), solid hdc
- Rounds 21–22Yarn D (cream), shell lace
- Rounds 23–24Yarn A (lavender), solid hdc
- Rounds 25–26Yarn C (mauve), solid hdc
- Rounds 27–28Yarn D (cream), shell laceRows 29-32: Yarn A (lavender), armhole shaping begins Rows 33-36: Yarn B (lilac), shoulder section
Foundation and Body
Using Yarn A and G-6 hook, chain 79.
- Round 1RS, Yarn A Ch 2 (counts as first hdc here and throughout hdc rows), hdc into 3rd chain from hook and into each chain across. Turn. (78 hdc)
- Round 2WS, Yarn A Ch 2, hdc into each st across. Turn. (78 hdc)
- Round 3RS, Yarn A Ch 2, hdc into each st across. Turn. (78 hdc)
- Round 4WS, Yarn A Ch 2, hdc into each st across. Change to Yarn D on last yo. Turn. (78 hdc)
Checkpoint: Your piece should measure approximately 1.6 inches (4 cm) tall with straight, even edges.
Neckline Edging
Join Yarn D with sc at center back neck opening.
- Round 1Sc evenly around the entire neckline. Work approximately 14 sc across front neck, 7 sc along each strap inner edge, and 14 sc across back neck. Join with sl st. (approximately 42 sc)
- Round 2Ch 1, sc into each sc around. Join with sl st. Fasten off. (42 sc)
Armhole Edging (work on both armholes)
Join Yarn D with sc at the underarm point.
- Round 1Sc evenly around armhole opening. Work 18 sc across the bottom and approximately 8 sc up each strap side. Join with sl st. (approximately 34 sc)
- Round 2Ch 1, sc into each sc around. Join with sl st. Fasten off. (34 sc)
Hem Scallop Edging
Join Yarn D with sc at one side seam.
- Round 1Ch 1, sc into each st around the entire hem (front + back combined). Join with sl st. (156 sc)
- Round 2(Scallop Row): (Sc into next st, ch 3, sc into same st, skip 2 sts) 52 times. Join with sl st. (52 scallop points)
- Round 3Sl st into ch-3 sp, ch 1, (sc into ch-3 sp, ch 3, sl st into 3rd ch from hook for picot, sc into same ch-3 sp) around. Join with sl st. Fasten off. (52 picot scallops)
Making the Pompoms
This is the fun part. You will make 52 pompoms total. Make 13 in each color (Yarn A, B, C, and D).
Using F-5 hook: Make a magic ring, work 6 sc into ring, pull ring closed. (6 sc)
- Round 12 sc into each sc around. (12 sc)
- Round 2(Sc into next sc, 2 sc into next sc) 6 times. (18 sc)
- Round 3Sc into each sc around. (18 sc) Stuff lightly with yarn scraps or a small amount of polyfill.
- Round 4(Sc2tog, sc into next sc) 6 times. (12 sc)
- Round 5Sc2tog 6 times. (6 sc) Fasten off, leaving a 10-inch tail. Thread tail on yarn needle, run through remaining 6 stitches, pull tight to close.Attaching: Thread the tail through each scallop picot point and knot securely. Alternate colors as you go for that beautiful mixed effect. The pompoms should hang freely below the scallop edge.
Shell Lace Rows
- Round 5RS, Yarn D Ch 3 (counts as first dc), skip next 2 sts, Shell into next st, skip 2 sts, (ch 1, skip 2 sts, Shell into next st, skip 2 sts) across to last st, dc into last st. Turn. (8 shell repeats + 2 edge dc)
- Round 6WS, Yarn D Ch 1 (does NOT count as st), sc into first dc, (3 sc into ch-1 sp, sc into center dc of Shell, 3 sc into ch-1 sp after Shell) across, sc into top of tch. Change to Yarn B on last sc. Turn. (78 sc)If your count needs adjustment, work an sc2tog or an extra sc at the end to bring it back to 78.
Main Pattern
- Round 7RS, Yarn B Ch 2, hdc into each st across. Turn. (78 hdc)
- Round 8WS, Yarn B Ch 2, hdc into each st across. Change to Yarn D on last yo. Turn. (78 hdc)
Mesh Rows
- Round 9RS, Yarn D Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), skip 1 st, (dc into next st, ch 1, skip 1 st) across, dc into last st. Turn. (39 dc + 39 ch-1 sps)
- Round 10WS, Yarn D Ch 2, hdc into first ch-1 sp, (hdc into next dc, hdc into next ch-1 sp) across, hdc into top of tch. Change to Yarn C. Turn. (78 hdc)
Armhole Shaping
This is where you create the two shoulder straps. Take a breath. Read through this section once before starting.
- Round 29RS, Yarn A Ch 2, hdc into next 13 sts. (14 hdc including tch). Fasten off. Skip 18 sts for armhole. Rejoin Yarn A with sl st in next st. Ch 2, hdc into next 13 sts. (14 hdc). Turn.
You now have two separate strap sections. Work each one independently for Rows 30-36.
Right Strap (Rows 30-36)
- Round 30WS, Yarn A Ch 2, hdc into each st across. Turn. (14 hdc)
- Round 31RS, Yarn A Ch 2, hdc into each st across. Turn. (14 hdc)
- Round 32WS, Yarn A Ch 2, hdc into each st across. Change to Yarn B. Turn. (14 hdc)
- Rounds 33–36Yarn B Ch 2, hdc into each st across. Turn. (14 hdc) After Row 36, fasten off leaving a 12-inch tail for seaming.
Rows 11-28
Continue following the stripe sequence above. For solid rows, work hdc across. For shell lace rows, repeat the instructions from Rows 5-6. For mesh rows, repeat Rows 9-10.
Checkpoint after Row 28: Your piece should measure approximately 11 inches (28 cm) tall with 7 cream lace sections alternating with solid stripes. Width should be approximately 17 inches (43 cm).
Left Strap
Rejoin Yarn A to the left strap section and work Rows 30-36 identically to the right strap. Fasten off with a 12-inch tail.
Edging
Switch to your F-5 hook for all edging.
Before the first stitch
- Check your yardage against all four colors before you chain. Cream runs through three different sections, so it goes fastest.
- Work a gauge swatch: chain 28, twelve rows of hdc, block it. Eighteen stitches should measure four inches.
- Read the Stripe Sequence once, start to finish, before Row 1. It is your map for all fourteen rows.
Minutes per piece
- Two body panels about 6-8 hours, because each panel repeats the full stripe sequence twice over many short rows
- Edging and pompoms about 3-5 hours, because fifty-two pompoms and three edging types add up stitch by stitch
Other yarns that work
- Cotton, DK weight Gives more drape and less stretch. Buy one extra ball per color; cotton yardage runs shorter.
- Cotton-modal blend, DK weight Softer against skin, holds color well, similar hook size throughout.
Where it ends up
- Wear it over a slip dress for a soft layered look.
- Pair it with high-waisted jeans for a warm-weather outfit.
- Wear it alone on hot days, paired with simple sandals.
Joining up
- Step 1 Weave in all ends before blocking. Hand wash gently in cool water with a small amount of wool wash. Press out excess water by rolling in a clean towel. Never wring.
- Step 2 Lay flat on a blocking mat and pin to measurements: 17 inches wide, 15 inches from hem to shoulder. Pin each scallop point so it is defined. Pin the shell lace rows open so the openwork shows beautifully. Allow to dry completely before unpinning.
Small notes
- Carry cream loosely up the side when it returns for shell lace and mesh rows. Tight carries will pull your side seam.
- Count your foundation chain twice. Seventy-nine chains gives you seventy-eight hdc, and an off count will throw the whole stripe sequence.
Little questions
Can I make this in a different size?
The pattern is written for one size, 34 to 36 inches of bust. You could add stitch multiples to the foundation chain, but the stripe and shaping rows would need recalculating.
Do I really need fifty-two pompoms?
That is the count for the hem fringe as written. Fewer pompoms will shorten the finished length by that two extra inches.
Why does gauge matter so much here?
The whole fit depends on eighteen stitches per four inches in hdc. A looser gauge will make both panels wider and the top less fitted.
Can I skip the shell lace or mesh rows?
You could substitute solid hdc rows for a plainer fabric. You would lose the breathable, open texture that makes this top distinct.
Original pattern: https://bunnypatterns.com/lavender-dream-pompom-crochet-top-free-crochet-pattern/
About the Author
Tamsin Okoro Who writes the patterns at Yarn Gallery, how a pattern gets from the hook to the page, and what this site will never do.
