I think that this is the last of the 2019 makes to get onto my blog.  I strongly suspect that there are a couple of others that somehow have missed being photographed and reviewed, but I have to draw a line in the sand somewhere, and we’re now well into 2020!

I crocheted this little top for Clare while we were away on a long weekend holiday last June. I am not sure whether she initiated this project or whether I did! I do remember that I wanted something to crochet that wouldn’t take long – this fit the bill.

The pattern is the Pineapple Lace summer halter neck top by Melissa Bjerregaard, and it’s a free Ravelry download. It’s designed for 8 ply yarn, and can be customised to fit. We did add elastic to the underbust, as suggested, and really did need it in order to have the top fit snugly around Clare. I simply zig-zagged it in place on the sewing machine.

Clare has a very small underbust measurement – just 65cm – so we set the bra cups directly beside one another. She’s also around my height, with a short torso, so the finished top on Clare covers more skin than some of the other examples I’ve seen. We found a fancy button in my stash that has worked well as a closure on the back.

We found the yarn at a stall at the Preston Market (I don’t think that it’s there now). It’s a cotton/acrylic blend. I avoid wool when sewing or crocheting for Clare as she finds it irritating when in direct contact with her skin. This yarn was pleasant to work with and it blocked nicely, using steam from the iron.

I found the instructions quite clear, and it was fast to work up – maybe because there are components, so you can easily measure your progress. Pineapple lace is one of my favourite motifs – I crocheted an entire shawl in it once – because it’s so enjoyable to watch it come together row by row.

Clare has put in an order for some other little crocheted tops, but at the rate I haven’t been crocheting in recent years she could be waiting for a while! This should keep her happy in the meantime if she has a music festival to attend….