25 Crochet Summer Top & Overlay Outfits

With North American spring, summer and fall, the temperatures can be all over the place depending on your position from the equator. This round-up of 25 Crochet Summer Top and Overlay Outfits may spark some ideas.

Some of the tops are revealing while other tops can provide you personal privacy if that's your preference. For me, I am self-conscious about my body, so a bit of privacy for me is essential. From the overlays to existing tops, beach cover-ups and solid tops, there's something for most sizes.

The festival cardigan shown in the top cover in the feather gray colouring with the bralette is available up to size 5XL.

As a disclaimer, I'm not a clothing designer, so altering any of these patterns isn't my capable toolbox. 

So let's examine each idea. Some of them have matching tutorials as well.

Let's the Air Flow Through

Designed for the stroll across the beach or visiting an outdoor beach restaurant. The Crochet Beach Time Cover Up is using Aunt Lydia's Crochet Thread.

The top is made up of two pieces that are joined on the back and the shoulders naturally fall over the front.

The front remains open with a matching belt to hold the front closed when needed. Quick in and out top.

This is sized from small to 3XL.

Top that Lace Master

This is the Crochet Lace Top that beautifully drapes over in the most elegant way.

This is a one-piece top that is folded over for the shoulder line. There is a schematic in the free pattern to give you an indication of how this is done.

With repetitive stitches that form the vertical lace lines down. The beach day is over and now it's time for an evening summer as the night slightly cools and you are out enjoying time with family and friends.

This is sized for small to XL.

A Stroll On the Evening Boardwalk

The Crochet Lacy Shawl is perfect to throw over the beautiful summer outfit. Whether you decide to be casual or dress to impress.

This is crocheted in a triangle shawl that starts at the base of the bottom of your back and grows outward. This means the shawl can be any size.

The shawl is sized at 28" vertical depth by 54.5" inches across. Not big enough, not a problem.

Festival Time in Bralette and Cardigan

Pair it together or wear it together. The Crochet Festival Bralette and Crochet Festival Caridan is stunning too.

The bralette is designed to fit a B or C Cup however, they give advice if you need extra space in that area. The pattern is made by doing the band first and then doing the left side first, then move to the right side. The instructions look complicated because all 6 sizes are on the same pattern. Use the colour coding to help you follow along. Not all instructions are for your specific size.

Like the beach cover-up above, the cardigan is done in a two-piece structure with a back seam. The pattern is easy to repeat. Notice there are two diagrams for this as there are two main sizes for the width of each piece.

Throw this on and out the door you go.

Both patterns are available in small to 5XL.

Motif Top You Say?

The Crochet Lacy Motif Top is fantastic.

There is a total of 6 different crochet motifs that are used to puzzle this together. Thank gawd too! The shaping is best to be done when the motifs have different sizes versus one motif for everything.

Each size only uses 1 full motif and 1 half motif and you choose the size you are going to do. So you are NOT MAKING all 6 for one top.

There is a layout on the free pattern for assembly.

Grab your money, let's get ice cream.

The pattern is available in XS to 5XL.

Hit Up Summer

Whether you love variegated or solid colouring, you will see both options in this pattern. Using the latest new yarn called Bernat Softee Cotton. Designed for wearables, not dishcloths! This is the Let's Summer Crochet Top.

Slap on a tank top or sports bra under this top for your own privacy reasons.

For top construction, this is basic.

The pattern is available in XS to 5XL.

Ya'llow! Get it! Haha

The Hello Yellow Crochet Top is another basic tank top for adults. With peak a boo spacing and which means less stitching!

This is crocheted in two pieces and joined at the top shoulder line. The shoulders appear to be knitting but it's really just the crochet camel stitch. It's basically half double crochet on the back bar.

The pattern is available in XS to 5XL.

Let the Breeze In

Do you see the mistake in the model's example. This is rare but hey, it's not meant to embarrass but you can see it on the right-hand side of her body. The spaces misaligned and I say this because this can happen with this example.

Life isn't perfect and sometimes we misunderstand instructions. I can attest to that a lot for myself.

This is the Crochet Summer Breeze Top.

The tutorial filmed for this also addresses this so you know what to look for. Honestly, I have no life to have noticed it but during the tutorial making, I questioned it. You may as well.

Constructed as a two-piece and sewn together at the front and back.

This pattern has sizes XS to 5XL.

Crochet Sporty Tank Top

When I hear the word sporty, I cannot help but think of the Spice Girls. Did I just age myself. I'm a wannabe you know.

If you wanna be my lover, you better get with my friends... aka Jeanne, Wendy and Anita! haha 

The Crochet Sporty Tank Top is a multi colourful item with different components that are unique to the crochet world of tops.

There is a front and back panel. A band across the top section on the front and back size. Then a band on each side that goes all the way up and over the shoulders and back down.

This yarn has been discontinued but if you follow the gauge, you can substitute it.

Spice Girls forever! 

Like Icing Sugar

It uses Lily Sugar'n Cream Yarn. Remember, once you wash your project, it will soften off. Due to the top being cotton, you know you are fine for the summer. Cotton isn't hot to wear as it plays with your internal temperatures.

This is the Crochet Summer Top pattern.

Both the back and front panels are the same design. So you will make both panels and simply sew them together. There are tons of fabulous colours by Lily Sugar'n Cream or you could use Bernat Handicrafter Yarn which is also 100% cotton if you prefer.

The yarn suggested is Lily Sugar'n Cream which will relax and soften in time as it feels a bit rough to crochet with. There is a tutorial to assist you if you need it.

Sized in S to XL.

Colour Me Bad

Introducing a beginner top pattern and tutorial called the Crochet Color Block Top. For this project, you will need to know how to do chains, double crochet and a very simple Double Crochet 2 Together Stitch. It’s all made very simple with the help of our crochet tutorial that is provided.

I crocheted mine in a completely different colour and you can see it in the free pattern link.

Caribbean Baby!

When I think of the Caribbean, I think of the steel drums. There is no mistaking when I hear those drums I am on vacation.

The Crochet Caribbean Skirt is nice to slide into to keep your personal privacy as you souvenir shop or strut your magic.

A bit of mesh stitching to let the air pass-through for your own temperature control.

This pattern is sized in Small to 2XL.

Chemo Caps

For those struggling through treatment during the summer months, a hat is vital. The Crochet Chemo Cap is done in cotton yarn.

Skin sensitivity during chemo treatments heightens up during this emotionally difficult time. Cotton stays cool in the summer and keeps warm in the winter as its natural cotton properties regulate temperature naturally.

For those struggling this summer, know you are not alone.

Eyes of The Tiger

This Crochet Eyelet Stitch Bralette pairs with the Crochet Eyelet Stitch Cardigan too.

There is a complex schematic diagram available in the free pattern for this one. The back is tied shut to allow room for flexibility.

Sized from XS to 5XL. The yarn choice is Red Heart It's A Wrap Sprinkles.

Using the same yarn as the bralette the Crochet Eyelet Stitch Cardigan. It's light-weight.

The main structure of the cardigan is a one-piece that leaves room for the sleeves to be attached.

The natural colour is coming out of the yarn ball directly.

It's a really lovely design.

Happy Days are Here Again

Classic design from the Double Stitch Twins, Erika and Monika Simmons.

This Happy Days Halter Top is wrapped around the body and there are ties at the back to do up.

The halter top is round and once the straps at added, it will hug the body. Intended as an overlay.

The pattern is sized in Small to Large.

Waterpark Sunburn?

I will never forget the time as a kid we went to a waterpark. In the era where baby oil is used to enhance the sun to basically bast your body like a turkey in the oven!

My mother was warned several times throughout the day she was getting burnt but you know, she wasn't crispy enough!

In the evening, the sun kicked her ass. We went to look at the waterfalls in Niagara, my mother shivered in a blanket from the bed of this sketchy motel. My dad paid extra for TV for the room. Turns out, it was the hollow shell of a TV with nothing inside it! Good times. 

My mother really could have used something better than a stained hotel blanket. This the Crochet Just Beachy Throw.

We were scheduled for another water park the next day. My mother was dressed as a Tusken Raider from Star Wars. I don't blame her one bit!

Welcome to Miami, Bienvenido a Miami!

You know the weather is hot and you may want to look the look. This is the Crochet Miami Beach Skirt.

It's meant as an overlay to put over something else for an artisan look and feel.

You can basically have yarn colours as your playground to dictate the colouring that you most prefer.

Also designed by the Double Stitch Twins. Sized for small to 2XL.

Painted Wool Top

Not all summery days at hot and sometimes we need something to create the layers without dressing for the winter.

Slip this vest over top of an existing outfit to make the crochet stitches radiate your love for beautiful stitchwork and creativity.

This is the Crochet Painted Wool Vest.

They say a true artist in this industry is one that isn't shy to wear what they make.

It's a Shore Thang You Know!

This is a stunning example of crochet creativity. It's the Crochet Shore Thang Beach Dress.

I'm not going to deny, this is beyond the easy level and you can see the structuring in the pattern itself.

There is schematic and also crochet diagrams available to assist you further.

Crochet Summer Rules Top

A request from Yarnspirations to film up something. It’s the Crochet Summer Rules Top that is sized from XS – 5 XL using Red Heart Croquette yarn.

This is pretty much a tunic-style top. Red Heart Croquette is a size #1 yarn. Pretty much thread level. As interest, I did try the pattern using a 2.25 mm (B) Hook with Caron Cotton Cakes and the sizing is the same if you pretty to work with something thicker.

The pattern includes crochet diagrams to help you. The bottom section, which is completed first is a generic lattice stitch. The top part is shelling with floating picots. It’s really pretty.

A tutorial is available to assist you. The pattern is available in extra small to 5XL.

Stripe It Up, Baby

The Crochet Summer Striped Top is a classic design. The top goes all the way around and the front has the chains that are tied together behind the neck.

The yarn suggested I believe is discontinued of Bamboo Ewe.

This is a great project to try.

This pattern is in small to 2XL sizes. 

It's Trendy Outside

The Crochet Trendy Top is designed to overlay an existing top.

There are front and back panels that are joined together at the top of the shoulders.

Accessorize this with a belt and have colours overlay that contrast or match.

A schematic is available in this design.

This is sized for small to 3XL.

Zig and Zag

Like the Marty (the zebra) from Madagascar in zigging and zagging.

The Crochet Adult Zig Zag Top is an intermediate pattern with an easy repeat concept. Sized XS to 5 XL. Using Red Heart Croquette yarn.

All 5 sizes are indicated on the one pattern. So you will start off the beginning chain in the size you want to complete. Each time there is a decision to be made on the pattern, you will follow the colour coding.

Technically speaking, there are only 4 repeating rounds. In round 17, that’s when the top stops growing so it can start to drape the shoulders. The constructions like a baby sweater where the yoke is a one-piece unit and the sleeves naturally form as a result of folding the circle.

The tutorial gives tips on how to fold for the sleeves in advance before crocheting to avoid obsessive counting.

The tutorial will take you completely through the top half of the project and then get you to the repeat of the body which you will finish on your own. There is no trimming at the base of the top or in the sleeves.

Recapping The Patterns Above

You can click any picture and it will go directly to the pattern landing page.