Created by: Crochet With Cookie 🙂
Another free crochet pattern is here – and this time it is the Rainbow Raina Tee! I am so excited to share this with you because as soon as you make one of these yourself, you are going to want to make one in every color!
The Rainbow Raina Tee is a made-to-measure crochet pattern, and therefore can be adjusted to ANY size. It is also very simple, and with my photo instructions is definitely beginner friendly.
This pattern is also very quick to make – mine took ONE SINGLE DAY! (Which is just amazing honestly). Therefore, whip out your favorite yarn, and join me in creating this cute, simple yet stylish little top!
Yarn Recommendations:
For this pattern any kind of yarn will work!! For best results I recommend using anywhere from light (3) – chunky (5) weight yarn.
I am personally using the Yarnspirations Caron Cotton Cakes Yarn (Amazon) – which is 60% cotton and 40% acrylic, and is a medium (4) weight yarn. I really enjoyed this yarn for this project in particular, because it worked up quickly, was light weight and super easy to work with!
I am using the color “Peach Blossom“!
Yarn Requirements:
The amount of yarn that you will require will vary greatly because of the fact that this is a made-to-measure pattern and because length and width are both adjustable!
Here are some estimates that I have come up with for what you might need depending on size 🙂
XS – 100 g
S – 150 g
M – 200 g
L – 250 g
XL – 300 g
XXL – 350 g
3XL – 400 g
4XL – 450 g
5XL – 500 g
XS – 3.5 oz
S – 5.25 oz
M – 7 oz
L – 8.75 oz
XL – 10.5 oz
XXL – 12.25 oz
3XL – 14 oz
4XL – 15.75 oz
5XL – 17. 5 oz
Other Materials Needed:
- Yarn (described above)
- Hook (size to match your yarn, or a little bit bigger to make sure the garment has good drape – I am using a 4.5 mm hook)
- Tapestry Needle
- Measuring Tape
- Scissors
Crochet Skills Required:
To create this cute and simple pattern, you do need to know a few basic skills. It is required to know how to do some simple stitches (listed below), and it is also required that you know how to fasten off, weave in ends, and attach crochet panels that are made separately – together (can be done using slip stitching, or sewing with a tapestry needle).
Abbreviations/Stitches (US Terms):
- ch – Chain
- sc – Single Crochet
- tr – Treble Crochet
- sk – Skip the next stitch
- sl st – Slip Stitch
- st – Stitch
- * – * Anything in between stars is repeated until stated otherwise
If you are a beginner – here are a few videos that you may find helpful to watch before starting the pattern 🙂
Copyright Information:
Please note that this pattern is created by, and is property of Crochet With Cookie and Crochet with Cookie reserves all rights to this pattern. This pattern cannot be resold, shared, reposted, saved to a shared google drive, modified or distributed in any other way or form with anyone else. No video tutorials can be made using this pattern, or for this pattern.
This pattern is for personal use only.
Please give credit to the pattern designer when posting, or sharing or selling products created using this pattern.
Important Notes Before You Begin:
- Due to this being a made-to-measure pattern you will be required to take measurements of your body to determine stitch counts
- The top is worked in two identical pieces – a front and a back piece. Then attached at the shoulder and on both sides.
- There is no relevant gauge, due to this being a made-to-measure pattern
Before we Begin:
- Please note, that the foundation chain counts as a stitch. Never crochet into the same stich as where the chains are at the start of each row.
Free Crochet Pattern Begins Here:
To figure out how wide to make the front and back pieces of the garment, you will need to take your body measurements.
Taking Measurements:
Measure around the fullest part of your chest, let this number be “A”.
(mine was 38 inches)
Then you can decide how many inches to add for ease – this is designed to be a loose fitting garment, so I recommend adding 2 – 6 inches (depending on how loose you would like it to be on your body.
I added 4 inches total.
Add this ease to your “A”. The result of this addition will be a new number called “B”.
A + ease = “B”
(For me: 38 + 2 = 40)
Now, divide “B” by 2, to get number “C”.
B / 2 = C
(For me: 40 / 2 = 20)
“C” is how long you are going to need to make your chain. Make sure that the number of chains you use is odd.
Chain:
Ch enough st so that your chain is the length of “C”, choose an odd number of chains (the number of chains used will be number “D” – for me it was 57 ch)
Row 1:
ch 2, sc in the 3rd ch from the hook, sc across, ch 4, turn
Row 2:
*sk, tr in the next st, tr in the skipped st* repeat until 2 st left, tr in the next st, then tr in the 2nd ch from the previous row, ch 4, turn
Row 3:
*sk, tr in the next st, tr in the skipped st* repeat until 2 st left, tr in the next st, then tr in the 4th ch from the previous row, ch 4, turn
Row 4 – ?:
Continue repeating row 3 until your top when held up to just below the chest, reaches your desired length. Decide this by debating where you would like the more solid pattern in the top to begin (for coverage).
(I repeated row 3, 2 more times before starting the next part)
On your very last repetition of row 3, instead of ch 4 at the end, ch 2.
Row 6:
(or whatever row number it works out to be for you)
Start of the second stitch (the less sheer stitch).
*sk, sc in the next st, ch 1* repeat until 2 st left, sk, sc in the last one (into the 4th ch from the previous row), ch 2, turn
Row 7:
*sk, sc in the next st, ch 1* repeat until 2 st left, sk, sc in the last one (into the 2nd ch from the previous row), ch 2, turn
Row 8 – ? :
Continue repeating row 7 until you have reached the desired length of this part of the top – in order to cover the chest.
Once you are ready for the top mesh part once again, go on to the next instruction (row 25).
- On your last rotation of row 7, ch 4 at the end instead of ch 2
(I repeated row 7, 18 more times)
(It’s a little bit hard to count afterwards how many rows have been done, so I suggest doing tally marks or keeping track of how many you do along the way – instead of counting after at the end)
Row 25:
(or which ever row number you end up at)
Returning to the criss-cross mesh stitch:
(work in ch st the same way you would work into regular sc st)
*sk, tr in the next st, tr in the skipped st* repeat until 2 st left, tr in the next st, then tr in the 2nd ch from the previous row, ch 4, turn
Row 26:
*sk, tr in the next st, tr in the skipped st* repeat until 2 st left, tr in the next st, then tr in the 4th ch from the previous row, ch 4, turn
Row 27 – ?:
Continue repeating Row 26 until you have almost reached the full desired length of your top (you should be two rows away from the desired length of your top)
While determining when to stop – make sure that after two more rows, your center part of the top will line up perfectly with the chest.
(I repeated row 26, two more times)
Shoulders:
To determine how wide to make the shoulder “straps”, take the number of chains that you used – “D” and divide it by 3.
D / 3 = then you can add or subtract a few stitches depending on the width that you would like, and the new number after you subtract or add extra stitches will be “E”.
(I subtracted 2 chains)
(For me: 57 / 3 = 19, 19 – 2 = 17, E = 17)
Row 29 :
(Or which ever row number you end up at)
Continue the pattern of Row 26, for “E” number of stitches.
On the last stitch, sk then tr in the next st, ch 4 turn,
Row 30:
sk, *sk, tr in the next st, tr in the skipped st* repeat until 2 st left, tr in the next st, then tr in the 4th ch from the previous row, cut yarn fasten off
Other Shoulder:
Insert hook at the other end of row 28, pull through a piece of yarn, then repeat row 29 and row 30 on the other side.
Create a back piece using the exact same instructions as above for the front.
Assembly:
Now to attach the pieces, sl st along the shoulders.
Then try on the garment to decide how far up to stitch along the sides, place stitch markers. Remove the top, then sl st along the sides in between your stitch markers.
Weave in your ends and your Crochet Rainbow Raina Tee Pattern is complete!!
If you enjoyed this pattern please check out my other free patterns below!!
Or if you are interested in checking out my paid pattern click the links below to be directed to my Etsy shop 🙂
Please reach out if you have any questions or need any help!!
Check back again for new patterns soon!
S. Lynn Easler-Weald says
In your photos of you stitching the top/straps together and the sides. Is this on the inside of the garment? Then you turn it out to the right side of garment?
Thanks
naoumtch says
Hi! Thank you so much for your question! Both the inside and the outside are the same for the panels, however I did stitch on the inside and then turned it inside out (but they look the same on both sides). I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions!