A step-by-step guide to crocheting the super-chic Luna Top
Ever gotten halfway through a project and thought “Hang on, am I even doing this right?” We have 🙋♀️
That’s why we’ve created these step-by-step guides to walk you through the crocheting process.
Even if you've never crocheted before, we'll take you from zero to crochet hero in no time 🦸♀️
When it comes to learning to crochet, practice makes perfect.
Before we get started on the pattern we suggest you spend a bit of time learning the basic stitches you’ll need to complete your top.
The Luna Tie Top is sure to turn heads. She's a special little number, combining half double crochet, single crochet and a few other fancy little things.
You'll want to be confident with the double crochet and single crochet stitches before you start 🧶 You'll also want to get a hang of tying a slip knot and chaining which is the first step in any crochet project.
You can use the yarn that came in your kit to practice these stitches. Once you've got these mastered you'll find the pattern a cinch!
Total beginner? 👩🏫
For a more comprehensive lesson on the basics of crochet visit our Learn How To Crochet page.
Onto the top 🌈🕺
⚡️What you'll need
Your kit comes with everything you'll need to make your masterpiece. In your kit you'll find;
- 8mm hook
- 4-6 balls Cardigang Chunky Cotton in colour 1
- 1-2 balls in Cardigang Chunky Cotton in colour 2
- 1-2 balls in Cardigang Chunky Cotton in colour 3
- Stitch markers
- A darning needle
- Made by me tag
You also want to have a pair of scissors and a tape measure handy.
📏 Sizing and measurements
You can make your Luna Top in 5 sizes.
| SIZE |
MEASUREMENTS (laying flat) |
| 6-8 |
47cm wide x 45cm high |
| 10-12 |
52cm wide x 49cm high |
| 14-16 |
57cm wide x 53cm high |
| 18-20 |
62cm wide x 57cm high |
| 22-24 | 67cm wide x 57cm high |
Your pattern is read like this; 6-8, 10-12, 14-16, 18-20, 22-24 Make sure you're following the correct instructions for your size.
⚡️Test your tension
Before you start your project, make sure your tension (how tightly or loosely your crocheting is) is juuuust right 🥣 We do this by making a “tension swatch”. It's a bit like goldilocks, if the tension is too tight, your piece will be too small, and if it's too loose it may not hold its shape and might be too big.
Gauge: If done correctly, your 10x10cm swatch should be 8 stitches wide x 6 rows high when made in double crochet on your 8mm hook.
To test this, chain 10 + 3 stitches (the +3 makes your turning chain), then work in double crochet for 8 rows. Then measure a 10x10cm square and count your stitches and rows within that space to make sure you're crocheting at the correct tension.
If you've got more stitches or rows than the instructions say you should have, your work is a little too tight, and if you've got less your work is too loose. Adjust your tension by holding the yarn a little more tightly/loosely as you crochet.
💪 Remember learning a new skill can be a little challenging at first, and you’re bound to find yourself making some mistakes along the way. But as with learning anything, your brain and your hands slowly start to get the hang of it, muscle memory is created, and soon the thing you found tricky/daunting/scary is like second nature!
🧶 Happy hooker, let's crochet!
Time to switch off. Stitch on. And whip up your drool-worthy top!
BACK AND FRONT PIECES
STEP 1
Let's start with our foundation chain.
💭 Try to make your chain stitches as evenly sized as possible. Don't pull the loops too tight because you'll struggle to work into these loops in your first row.
Chain 101: Make sure all the ‘V’s line up and are roughly the same size.
STEP 2
In our first row we're working into the chain, so you're going to insert your hook into the 4th chain from the hook. We only skip some stitches like this when we're working into the chain. So this is the only time in this pattern that you'll go into the 4th chain.
🫣 Good news, this is the hardest row to complete because working into the chain isn't as easy as working into a row. So persist and things will get easier!
💭 Your turning chain is what gives us the height to work the next row - they are very important! Without them, we'd be making a triangle!
STEP 3
Time to complete the second row - this row becomes the foundation for all other rows. Do a double crochet stitch into every stitch in the row (note: your turning chain at the end does not count as a stitch so don't do a double crochet into it).
💭 Make sure your hook is going in under both bars of the stitch. Your stitches will look like ‘V’s when looking at your work from the top down.
STEP 4
Work the allocated number of rows in double crochet.
STEP 5 to 13
Continue working in double crochet and slip stitch as the pattern instructs.
Here's what your finished front and back pieces will look like once finished.
SEWING TOGETHER
Seam your pieces together using the techniques featured in the below videos.
🎬 Watch how to join vertical seams
🎬 Watch how to join horizontal seams
This is what your top will look like when your pieces are seamed together.
SCALLOPED EDGING
You'll use your second colour to crochet a scalloped edge around the arm holes and then around the edges of our top.
This is what your piece will look like when you've completed the edging around the arm holes.
TRIM
Finally, you'll use your third colour to crochet a trim of single crochet all the way around your edges.
D.O.N.E! You've finished your top, well done! Epic work 🤩 If this was your first-ever crochet project or one of many, we hope you had a blast. Don't forget to share your masterpiece with us on Instagram and TikTok @cardigang_knits 💥❤️
In a bind and need a little more help?
Email us at stitchup@cardigang.com.au and we'll be able to help! Whether you're just starting out, or you've got a specific question or problem (dropped a stitch, no stress!), we're here to get you out of a bind.