Solomon’s Knot Summer Top: A Complete Crochet Tutorial for a Breezy, Boho-Chic Look

If you’ve been scrolling through crochet inspiration boards lately, chances are you’ve fallen in love with the airy, lacy texture of Solomon’s Knot stitch. It’s one of those techniques that looks incredibly complex from the outside but is surprisingly approachable once you understand the rhythm. And when you use it to create a flowy summer top? The result is nothing short of stunning. This tutorial will walk you through every step of crocheting your own Solomon’s Knot Summer Top, from the yarn you’ll need to the final finishing touches. Whether you’re an adventurous beginner or an experienced crocheter looking for a fresh project, this pattern is for you.

What Is Solomon’s Knot Stitch?

Before we dive into the pattern itself, let’s talk about the stitch that makes this top so special. Solomon’s Knot — also known as Lover’s Knot or Hail Stone stitch — is an ancient crochet technique that creates a loose, net-like fabric filled with beautiful elongated loops. Each “knot” is made by working a single crochet into a lengthened chain, which creates a delicate, almost knotted appearance when repeated across rows.

The fabric it produces is lightweight and open, which makes it absolutely perfect for summer wear. It drapes beautifully, allows airflow, and catches the light in a way that solid stitches simply can’t match. If you’ve ever wanted a top that looks like it belongs on a beach in Santorini, this is it.

One of the best things about Solomon’s Knot is that once you get the hang of the tension and the elongated loop, the stitch becomes meditative. Many crocheters find it faster than it looks because there’s no counting of multiple stitches across a row in the traditional sense — it’s all about feel and rhythm.

Materials You’ll Need

Getting your materials together before you start will make the whole process smoother. Here’s what you’ll need for a standard women’s small/medium top (adjustments for sizing will be covered later).

Yarn: Approximately 400–600 yards of a lightweight fingering or sport weight yarn. Cotton or a cotton-blend yarn works beautifully for this project because it has great stitch definition, holds its shape, and is naturally breathable. Some lovely options include mercerized cotton, bamboo-cotton blends, or any summer yarn labeled 1 (super fine) or 2 (fine) on the standard weight chart. Avoid anything too fuzzy or bulky — the whole magic of this top relies on that open, lacey look, and a fluffy yarn will close up the knots and hide the texture.

Hook: A 5mm (H/8) crochet hook works well for most fingering to sport weight yarns, but always swatch first (more on that below). Some crocheters naturally work tighter or looser, so you may want to go up or down half a size to match the gauge.

Additional supplies: A yarn needle for weaving in ends, scissors, measuring tape, stitch markers, and a few straight pins or blocking pins if you plan to block the finished top (highly recommended for this stitch).

Understanding Gauge and Sizing

Gauge matters more with wearable garments than with any other crochet project. Even a small difference in gauge across a few inches becomes a significant size difference when you’re working across the full width of a top.

For this pattern, aim for approximately 2 Solomon’s Knots (measured from the base of one knot to the base of the next) to equal about 1.5 inches, and 4 rows to equal about 3.5 inches. Crochet a small swatch of about 10 knots wide and 6 rows tall, then wash and lay it flat to dry before measuring. This will give you the most accurate picture of your finished fabric.

This pattern is written for a finished bust measurement of approximately 34–36 inches (small/medium). To size up, simply increase your starting chain by working additional Solomon’s Knots across your foundation. A general rule of thumb is that every two additional knots adds approximately 1.5 inches to the circumference. For a large/extra-large (38–42 inch bust), add 4–6 knots to your starting count. For plus sizes, continue scaling up accordingly and add extra yardage to your yarn estimate.

How to Make a Solomon’s Knot: Step-by-Step

Before working the full pattern, practice this stitch on its own until it feels natural. Here’s exactly how to make one Solomon’s Knot.

Start with a slip knot and a few chain stitches on your hook to give yourself something to hold onto. Then follow these steps.

Step 1: Chain 1, then pull the loop on your hook up to your desired length — for this top, aim for about three-quarters of an inch. This elongated loop is the “knot.”

Step 2: Yarn over and pull through the elongated loop, leaving two loops on your hook. You’ve just secured the elongated chain.

Step 3: Insert your hook under the single back thread of the elongated loop (the thread running along the left side of the tall loop), yarn over, and pull up a loop. You now have three loops on your hook.

Step 4: Yarn over and pull through all three loops on your hook. This completes one single crochet worked into the knot — this is the “joint” of the Solomon’s Knot.

That’s it! One Solomon’s Knot is the elongated loop plus the single crochet that secures it. When you repeat this across your work, you’ll see the beautiful netting begin to form.

Practice until your knots are consistent in height. Consistency is the key to a polished finished fabric. If your knots vary in length, the fabric will look uneven. If you’re finding it hard to keep them uniform, try wrapping the yarn around your finger once before pulling up the loop, or use a larger hook to gauge the length.

The Pattern: Solomon’s Knot Summer Top

This top is worked in the round, starting at the hem and working upward toward the shoulders. It is designed as a simple pullover with a slightly open neckline and optional short sleeves or cap sleeves that you can add at the end.

Foundation Row (Hem)

Make a foundation chain of 90 chains (or adjust for your size as described above). Join with a slip stitch to form a ring, being careful not to twist your chain.

Round 1: Work Solomon’s Knots all the way around the ring. To begin each round, make 2 Solomon’s Knots before joining into the first knot of the previous round. Continue working Solomon’s Knots, joining each new knot into the top of a knot from the round below (into the single crochet joint). Work all the way around and join with a slip stitch to the first joint of the round.

A good rule is to work around 44–48 knots per round for the small/medium size. The number matters less than the measurement — hold your work up and measure the circumference against your body or your measurements as you go.

Rounds 2 through 15: Continue working in rounds, following the same pattern of Solomon’s Knots joined at the tops of the previous round’s knots. The fabric will grow quickly once you’re in the rhythm. Measure the length after every few rounds. You’re aiming for the body of the top (from hem to underarm) to measure about 13–14 inches before you divide for the front and back.

Dividing for Front and Back

At the underarm point, you’ll split your work into two flat panels — one for the front and one for the back. This is simpler than it sounds.

At the underarm: Work across half of your round (approximately 22–24 knots for small/medium). Chain 4 and turn your work. You’ll now work back and forth in rows on just this half, creating the back panel. Set a stitch marker at the end of your working panel so you know where the other half begins.

Rows for the back panel: Continue working rows of Solomon’s Knots back and forth, turning with 2 knots at the start of each row (these act as your turning chain equivalent). Work the back panel until it measures approximately 8–9 inches from the underarm division, or until it reaches your desired shoulder height.

Shoulder shaping: For a simple, relaxed fit, you can leave the top edge open and simply leave both shoulder sections the same width, then join at the shoulders after completing the front panel. For a more fitted look, decrease slightly at the shoulder by working fewer knots across the last 2–3 rows.

Front panel: Reattach your yarn at the other underarm point and work the front panel exactly as the back, except that you’ll stop about 1.5–2 inches before the final shoulder row to create the front neckline drop. At that point, divide the front panel in half, work each shoulder section independently for 2 more rows, then seam the shoulders together (or join them using a slip stitch seam) so the neckline forms a gentle open scoop.

Finishing the Neckline and Armholes

The raw edges of a Solomon’s Knot fabric can look slightly unfinished, and adding a simple border makes all the difference in the final appearance.

Neckline: Work one round of single crochet all the way around the neckline opening, working approximately one single crochet into each joint of the top row and each side-row edge stitch. This creates a clean, stable edge. If you want a more decorative finish, follow the single crochet round with a round of reverse single crochet (also called “crab stitch”) for a beautiful corded edge. Alternatively, a shell stitch border or a simple picot edging both complement Solomon’s Knot fabric beautifully.

Armholes: Repeat the same edging around each armhole opening. If you’d like to add small cap sleeves, work 3–4 rounds of Solomon’s Knots around the armhole opening before finishing with your chosen edging. The open structure of the stitch makes cap sleeves airy and flattering without adding bulk.

Hem edge: If your hem feels like it needs stabilizing, add one row of single crochet along the bottom edge. Many crocheters skip this step because the foundation chain naturally creates a finished edge, but if yours feels loose or uneven, a single crochet border tidies it up.

Blocking Your Finished Top

Blocking is one step that many crocheters skip, but for Solomon’s Knot fabric, it’s genuinely transformative. The open lacy stitches benefit enormously from being washed, gently stretched into shape, and allowed to dry flat.

To block your finished top, fill a clean sink or basin with cool water and a small amount of gentle wool wash or baby shampoo. Submerge your top and gently press the water through — never wring or twist. Let it soak for about 10–15 minutes.

Lift the top out of the water supporting its full weight (wet yarn is heavier than you think and can stretch unevenly if you just grab one edge). Press out the excess water by rolling the top in a clean dry towel. Then lay it flat on a blocking mat or a couple of dry towels, pin it gently into the shape and dimensions you want, and let it air dry completely.

You’ll be amazed at how the stitches open up, the fabric softens, and the whole top takes on that professional, polished look you see in boutique pieces.

Tips for Success

A few extra notes to help your project go smoothly from start to finish.

Tension is everything with this stitch. Work with a relaxed hand and don’t pull your elongated loops tighter than your target length just because it feels more secure. The openness is the point.

Work in good lighting. The long loops of Solomon’s Knot can be tricky to identify in dim light, especially when you’re first learning where to insert your hook for the next join.

Don’t panic if the first few rounds look messy. Solomon’s Knot fabric often looks a bit chaotic until you have several rounds completed. Trust the stitch and keep going — it comes together beautifully.

Use stitch markers liberally. Mark the beginning of each round, and consider marking every 10th knot when working your foundation rows so you can easily count across.

If your fabric is puckering or gathering when you join rounds, your knots may be slightly too short. Try making them just a touch longer on your next round and see if that eases the tension.

Styling Your Solomon’s Knot Summer Top

One of the most exciting parts of making your own garment is the styling possibilities. This top pairs effortlessly with high-waisted linen trousers for a resort-ready look, or over a flowy midi skirt for a boho-chic vibe. Because the fabric is open, wearing a camisole or a simple bralette underneath is both practical and stylish — it creates a beautiful layered effect and lets you wear the top in settings where you want a bit more coverage.

Experiment with yarn color, too. Classic white or cream cotton gives the top an effortlessly elegant feel. Warm terracotta or dusty sage read as very on-trend. A deep navy or indigo creates a more dramatic, structured look. And if you’re adventurous, a hand-dyed or gradient yarn will make each row a little surprise as the colors shift through the knots.

A Note on Customizing the Pattern

The beauty of a simple, repetitive stitch like Solomon’s Knot is how easy it is to customize once you understand the foundation of the pattern. Want a longer tunic-length top? Just keep working rounds past the 13-inch body mark until you reach your desired length. Want a cropped version? Stop the body at around 10 inches and you’ll have a breezy crop top perfect for high-waisted everything. Want to add fringe along the hem? Just cut lengths of yarn and loop them through the bottom edge joints for a festival-ready finish.

You can also adjust the strap style if you prefer something more structured. Instead of leaving the top open at the shoulders, work the front and back panels slightly narrower and add crocheted straps that tie or button at the shoulder — a great option if you want an adjustable fit or a more secure feel.

This Solomon’s Knot Summer Top is one of those projects that earns compliments every single time you wear it, and even more so when you tell people you made it yourself. The stitch may feel unfamiliar at first, but give it a few practice rounds and it becomes second nature — and the result is a genuinely wearable, gorgeous piece that feels handmade in the very best sense of the word. Clear some time, pour yourself something cold, and enjoy the process. Happy crocheting!