Coastline Crop Top

It’s summertime! I have been looking forward to this time of year. I cannot wait for beach trips, lounging at the pool, and spending time outdoors. This latest pattern is the perfect top to wear to any summer event!

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About the design

Last year I bought the yarn for this project and I immediately knew I wanted to make myself a top with it. The last year or so for Sun Sand Stitch I have been focusing on being a sustainable maker. To do so I have switched to using only natural and plant based fiber yarns, I have focused more on functionality and wearability of my designs, and I have begun educating others on being more sustainable as makers. One of the things I have previously spoken about on my Instagram is the fast fashion industry and trends. As a designer, I do not want to create a pattern solely because of a trend. Trends don’t always stick around and, to me, that isn’t sustainable. You could buy a top because it is trendy, wear it once or twice, and then be over it because it no longer is “in style” or “trendy”. Now it just takes up room in your closet and isn’t being used. Over the last few years, I have downsized my closet to only the items I actually wear. I accumulated many items that I bought because they were trendy or they just no longer work with my style. I have kept only the things I wear and will wear multiple times and I’ve donated the rest.

Now that I have been designing garments and wearable items I do not want to just accumulate pieces that I’ll only wear a few times. I want pieces that I will wear again and again. I want pieces that work with my current wardrobe so there are many styling opportunities. I know that this will encourage me to wear the item multiple times if I can create multiple different outfits with it. Another thing that encourages me to wear items again and again is if I’ve made them. I know I am way more likely to wear something I personally made versus an item I’ve bought in a store. It is so fun to wear something you’ve made and show it off. Especially because you’ve spent all that time making it! This past year in designing I have looked for inspiration based on my style and my current wardrobe. I create pieces that I can pair with things I already own. When I got the idea to make this crop top I wanted something I could pair easily with jeans and shorts. I wanted to be able to wear it to the beach or dress it up a bit if I was going out with friends. I kid you not, before even blocking this top I wore it 4 or 5 times! I just love it and I know this is something I will wear over and over again.

Matierials

This design uses DK weight #3 yarn. The yarn I used is from Kenyarn’s 2020 Camp Kenyarn Collection. I used a solid color as the main color (MC) and a variegated color for the contrasting color (CC). Some of my testers did the same and others did variations. It is so fun to see everyone’s variations of this design! (You can see my testers photos towards the end of this blog post).

This pattern is written in sizes XS (Small, Medium, Large, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL). Yardage for each size is as follows:
555 (625, 695, 762, 831, 900, 970, 1,038, 1,110) yards DK weight #3 yarn for MC (the body) and 130 (146, 162, 232, 248, 264, 280, 296, 312) yards DK weight #3 yarn for CC (the edging)