Empire Crop
The 90s are back and I'm psyched about the velvet yarn trend that's been hitting the shelves lately. I'm definitely reliving my Delia's, Merry-Go-Round, and Contempo Casuals days! With this in mind I pulled inspo from my own high school wardrobe and the cult classic film Empire Records for this latest design. The Empire Crop is a super wearable slightly cropped sweater with a mock turtleneck that pairs beautifully with pants and skirts (particularly the plaid schoolgirl types à la Cher Horowitz and Corey Mason). Thankfully the low-rider trend has been left in the 20th century so we can pair all these crop top styles with high waisted pants, haha!
Admittedly I haven't tested all of the new velvets out there, but I can definitely vouch for Lion Brand's Vel-Luxe. This yarn is SO soft and buttery smooth and so, so, so enjoyable to work with. I literally did not want this project to end because the yarn felt so good. But now I get to live in this sweater, so I guess it's a good trade off ;) Get this kit for yourself before noon EST on 12/21 and you'll get 30% off! If you already have yarn ready to go, you can find the free pattern below or purchase a printable, ad-free PDF here.
I am also in love with the color palette of this yarn - just look at these beauties! Because I am a neutral lover I went with the charcoal for my sweater, but I am planning a few smaller projects in some of the other colors because they're just too good to let them go to waste.
The Empire Crop is insanely quick and easy to make, and I guarantee you're going to want to whip one up in every color. This is an easy level crochet pattern and the techniques involved are half double crochet, hdc2tog, single crochet, slip stitches, skipping stitches, and seaming.
MATERIALS:
5 (6, 7) skeins Lion Brand Vel-Luxe in Charcoal (536-150)
Size US L/11 (8mm) crochet hook
Stitch markers
Tapestry needle
FINISHED SIZE:
Waist: 33”/84cm (XS/S), 39.5”/100cm (M/L), 47”119cm (XL/XXL)
Bust: 41”/104cm (XS/S), 49”/124cm (M/L), 56.5”/144cm (XL/XXL)
Length: 18”/46cm (XS/S), 19.5”/50cm (M/L), 21”/53cm (XL/XXL)
*Sweater pictured in size XS/S
GAUGE:
8.5 sts + 7 rows = 4”/10cm in half double crochet
ABBREVIATIONS:
*All Two of Wands patterns are written in standard US terms
Ch – chain
Hdc – half double crochet
Hdc2tog – half double crochet 2 together
Rep – repeat
Sc – single crochet
Sk – skip
Sl st – slip stitch
St(s) – stitch(es)
Note: Body is worked flat in back and forth rows from the bottom up for the back and then is continuously worked from the top down for the front. Sleeves are crocheted onto the body from the top down. Mock turtleneck is crocheted in the round from the neckline after construction. The ch 2 at the beginning of each row does NOT count as a stitch unless otherwise stated. Two strands of yarn are held together throughout – to do so, hold the inner end of the skein together with the outer end. Follow instructions for the size you are working: XS/S (M/L, XL/XXL).
Back + Front:
With two strands held together, ch 38 (44, 52).
Row 1: Starting in 3rd ch from hook, hdc across row. (36, 42, 50 sts)
Rows 2 and 3: Ch 2 (does not count as st here and throughout unless otherwise stated), hdc across row.
Row 4: Ch 2, hdc 1, 2 hdc in next st, hdc to last 2 sts, 2 hdc in next st, hdc in last st. (38, 44, 52 sts)
Rows 5-7: Ch 2, hdc across row.
Rows 8-19: Rep rows 4-7. (44, 50, 58 sts)
Sizes M/L and XL/XXL only:
Row 20: Rep row 4. (52, 60 sts)
All sizes:
Place marker on last increase row.
Next row: Ch 2, hdc across row.
Rep last row until work measures 18”/46cm (19.5”/50cm, 21”/53cm).
Begin neckline and shoulder shaping:
Next row: Sl st 5 (6, 7), sc 5 (6, 7), hdc 24 (28, 32), sc 5 (6, 7), sl st 5 (6, 7).
Next row: Sl st 5 (6, 7), sc 5 (6, 7), hdc 4 (5, 6), cut yarn, sk 16 (18, 20) sts and rejoin in the next st, ch 2 (counts as a st), hdc in next 3 (4, 5) sts, sc 5 (6, 7), sl st 5 (6, 7).
The back neckline has just been created. The following rows will create the front of the sweater.
Next row: Sl st 5 (6, 7), sc 5 (6, 7), hdc 4 (5, 6) [4th (5th, 6th) hdc will go in top of ch 2 from previous row], ch 16 (18, 20), hdc into top of hdc at neckline of other shoulder, hdc in next 3 (4, 5) sts, sc 5 (6, 7), sl st 5 (6, 7).
Next row: Sl st 5 (6, 7), sc 5 (6, 7), hdc 24 (28, 32), sc 5 (6, 7), sl st 5 (6, 7). (44, 52, 60 sts)
Next row: Ch 2, hdc across row.
Rep last row until front is the same length as back at the last increase row (where you placed the marker).
Next row: Ch 2, hdc 1, hdc2tog, hdc to last 3 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in last st. (42, 50, 58 sts)
Next 3 rows: Ch 2, hdc across row.
Rep last 4 rows 3 (4, 4) more times. (36, 42, 50 sts)
Sleeves:
Place markers on either side of front and back 8”/20cm (9”/23cm, 10”/25cm) from the shoulder lines to mark underarms. With front + back unfolded and open, crochet sleeves from the top down, working from the fabric of the body of the sweater as follows:
Row 1: Join yarn at one underarm marker, ch 2, and hdc 34 (38, 42) sts evenly to underarm marker on other side.
Size XS/S only:
Rows 2 and 3: Ch 2, hdc across row.
Row 4: Ch 2, hdc 1, hdc2tog, hdc to last 3 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in last st. (32 sts)
Rows 5-7: Ch 2, hdc across row.
Rows 8-31: Rep rows 4-7. (20 sts)
Row 32: Rep row 4. (18 sts)
Next row: Ch 2, hdc across row.
Rep last row until work measures 19”/48cm.
Sizes M/L and XL/XXL only:
Row 2: Ch 2, hdc across row.
Row 3: Ch 2, hdc 1, hdc2tog, hdc to last 3 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in last st. (36, 40 sts)
Rows 4 and 5: Ch 2, hdc across row.
Rows 6-26: Rep rows 3-5. (22, 26 sts)
Row 27: Rep row 3. (20, 24 sts)
Next row: Ch 2, hdc across row.
Rep last row until work measures 19.5”/50cm (20”/51cm).
Construction:
Fold sweater at shoulders and seam each side from bottom edge up to underarm and down underside of sleeve.
Mock Turtleneck:
Crochet turtleneck in the round, working from the fabric of the body of the sweater as follows:
Round 1: Join yarn at back right neckline, ch 2, hdc 16 (18, 20) across back neckline, hdc 4 (4, 4) into left side of neckline, hdc 16 (18, 20) across front neckline, and hdc 4 (4, 4) into right side of neckline, sl st to 1st hdc to join.
Rounds 2-4: Ch 2, hdc around, sl st to join.
Secure and weave in all ends.
Purchase the printable, ad-free pattern here.
Purchase the kit from Lion Brand Yarn here.
Don't forget to share your projects made using Two of Wands patterns on Instagram with the hashtag #crewofwands so your post will get featured on my site and you'll be in the running for monthly pattern giveaways!
Check out the #crewofwands community page here.
The pattern and photographs of this design are the property of Two of Wands. This pattern and design are subject to copyright, and are for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not distribute or sell this pattern or any items created using the directions in this pattern without consent. Please visit my policies for more information.
