Floral Crochet Top Pattern: Daisy Granny Square Boat Neck PDF with Bell Sleeves for a Dreamy Cottagecore Look

There is something endlessly satisfying about creating a wearable garment from nothing more than a skein of yarn and a hook. If you have been searching for a crochet top pattern that captures the soft, romantic energy of cottagecore while remaining practical enough to wear to a farmers market, a garden party, or a lazy afternoon in a sun-drenched field, then you have arrived at exactly the right place. This floral crochet top pattern combines the timeless beauty of the daisy granny square with a graceful boat neckline and dreamy bell sleeves to create a finished piece that feels like it was made for living slowly and beautifully.

In this post, you will find everything you need to understand the design, prepare your materials, and feel confident tackling this project — whether you are an intermediate crocheter looking for your next meaningful make or an advanced stitcher wanting to add a feminine statement piece to your handmade wardrobe.

Why the Daisy Granny Square Is the Heart of This Design

The granny square is one of the most iconic motifs in all of crochet, but the daisy variation takes it somewhere truly special. Instead of the classic cluster-and-chain construction, the daisy granny square centers around a raised, petal-shaped flower worked in the round. Each petal is defined by front post double crochet or elongated stitches, depending on the version you prefer, and the result is a motif that reads as three-dimensional even when lying flat.

What makes the daisy granny square such a perfect centerpiece for a wearable top is its versatility. The motif is structured enough to hold its shape when joined into a fabric, but it also has an organic, slightly irregular quality that gives the finished garment that handcrafted feel people genuinely love about handmade clothing. When you wear a top covered in daisy squares, you are not just wearing a crochet garment — you are wearing a small field of flowers.

For this pattern, the daisy motifs serve as the primary building blocks of both the front and back panels. They are worked individually and then joined using the join-as-you-go method, which eliminates the need for extensive seaming after the fact and keeps the finished fabric smooth and even. The joining chain spaces between motifs create a delicate lattice effect that lets light pass through slightly, giving the top that airy, cottage-in-the-countryside quality that makes it so wearable in warmer months.

Materials You Will Need

Before casting on — or rather, before making your first slip knot — gather everything you need so the process flows without interruption.

For yarn, this pattern is designed for a light DK weight or a heavy fingering weight cotton or cotton-blend yarn. Cotton is the ideal choice for a wearable top because it is breathable, has beautiful stitch definition, and washes well. A mercerized cotton will give you slightly more sheen and crispness, which helps the daisy petal details pop. If you prefer a softer drape, a cotton-linen blend or a bamboo-cotton blend works beautifully and gives the bell sleeves an especially lovely movement.

You will need approximately 800 to 1,000 yards for a finished size small to medium, and closer to 1,100 to 1,300 yards for a medium to large. The exact yardage will depend on your gauge and your chosen size. Always buy one extra skein if you are unsure — running out of a dye lot mid-project is one of the most frustrating experiences in crafting.

For the hook, a size 3.5 mm (US E/4) or 4 mm (US G/6) hook works well with most DK cotton yarns. The exact hook size matters less than achieving the correct gauge, so always swatch before beginning the body of the garment.

Other supplies you will need include a yarn needle for weaving in ends, locking stitch markers to track the beginning of rounds, sharp fabric scissors, and a tape measure. If you plan to block the finished motifs before joining — which is highly recommended for a polished, professional result — you will also want blocking mats, rust-proof pins, and a spray bottle or a bowl for wet blocking.

Understanding the Gauge and Sizing

Gauge is the single most important factor in getting a crochet garment to fit correctly. Because this top is constructed from modular daisy granny squares, the key measurement is the size of each finished, blocked motif.

Each daisy granny square in this pattern should measure approximately 4 inches by 4 inches after blocking. If your motifs are coming out larger, try a smaller hook. If they are coming out smaller, move up a hook size. Even a quarter-inch difference in motif size adds up significantly when you are joining twelve or more squares across the width of the garment.

The pattern is designed to accommodate the following finished bust measurements: Small (32 to 34 inches), Medium (35 to 37 inches), Large (38 to 40 inches), and Extra Large (41 to 43 inches). Because the construction is based on whole motifs, the sizing adjustments are made by adding or removing columns and rows of squares in the layout. A full grid layout for each size is included in the downloadable PDF, which makes it easy to visualize the finished garment before you begin joining.

The Construction Method: Modular Motif Building

One of the greatest joys of a granny square garment is the way it comes together piece by piece. Rather than working in one long continuous slab of fabric, you are building a mosaic. Each daisy motif is its own small finished object, and when you join them, something magical happens — the individual flowers become a unified textile.

The top is constructed in four main sections: the front panel, the back panel, and two sleeves. The front and back panels are identical in motif count for most sizes, which means once you have made and joined one panel, you essentially know how to make the second. The panels are then joined at the shoulders and sides, and the sleeves are worked either in the round from picked-up stitches at the armhole opening or as flat pieces that are seamed in.

The boat neckline is one of the most flattering design features of this top. Because the shoulder seams are positioned wide — sitting close to the natural edge of the shoulder rather than directly on top of it — the neckline opens into a wide, horizontal line that shows off your collarbones and drapes beautifully without requiring any separate neckband or edging. The natural edge of the outermost joined motifs creates the boat neck shape organically, with just a simple single crochet border worked around the opening to stabilize it and give it a clean finish.

How to Work the Daisy Granny Square

The daisy granny square is worked in rounds from the center out, and the number of rounds determines its final size. For this pattern, each square is worked over five rounds.

Round one establishes the center ring of the flower. You will use a magic ring or chain four and join to form a small loop, then work a series of single crochet stitches into the ring to create the base of the flower center.

Round two creates the petals. Each petal is formed by chaining a set number of stitches, skipping a stitch in the ring, and slip stitching into the next stitch. This creates the characteristic rounded petal shapes. Depending on how many petals you want in your daisy, you will repeat this step four, five, or six times. The pattern uses five petals per flower for a slightly more organic, asymmetric look that feels true to a real daisy.

Round three and round four build out the granny square shape from the petal cluster. You will work the classic corner clusters of double crochets with chain-two spaces at each corner, and chain-one spaces along the sides. This is where the motif transitions from a free-form flower into a structured square, which is what makes it so easy to join.

Round five is the finishing round, where you work a final round of stitches in your main color or in a contrast color to unify the motif and prepare the edges for joining. For a classic daisy look, the petals are worked in white or cream, the flower center is worked in yellow, and the granny square border rounds are worked in green, dusty sage, or whatever background color you have chosen for your top.

The contrast-color options here are part of what makes this pattern so personal. You could do all-white daisies on a terracotta background for a sun-baked, earthy aesthetic. You could do lavender daisies on an ivory background for something soft and romantic. You could do bold yellow daisies on a deep forest green for a more graphic, statement-making top. The motif construction stays the same — only the colors change.

Working the Bell Sleeves

The bell sleeves are what elevate this top from a simple granny square crop top into something truly special. The sleeve begins at the armhole with a fitted upper arm circumference and gradually increases in width as it extends toward the hem, creating that characteristic flared bell shape that is so closely associated with the cottagecore and boho aesthetics.

The sleeves can be worked in two ways. The first option is to work them as flat rectangles of joined daisy squares that are seamed into a tube and attached to the armhole opening. This is the easier method and works well if you prefer to avoid picking up stitches. The second option is to pick up stitches around the armhole edge and work the sleeve in the round, using increases at regular intervals to create the flare. The in-the-round method gives a cleaner armhole join but requires a bit more confidence with working in the round on a small circumference.

The PDF pattern includes instructions for both methods so you can choose whichever suits your skill level and preference. For beginners to garment construction, the flat-and-seam method is recommended. For those comfortable with in-the-round garment construction, the picked-up sleeve gives a more polished, seamless finish.

The bell shape is created by the motif placement itself. In the upper section of the sleeve, the squares are arranged in a simple two-column strip. As the sleeve extends toward the cuff, additional squares are added at each side, widening the tube. The final round of the sleeve uses a shell stitch or picot edge to frame the flared hem and give it a delicate, romantic finish that echoes the petal shapes in the daisy motifs above.

Finishing and Blocking for a Professional Result

The difference between a crochet garment that looks handmade and one that looks artisan-crafted almost always comes down to finishing and blocking. This is especially true for a motif-based garment where the individual squares need to sit flat and align cleanly at their joining points.

Begin by blocking each finished motif before joining. Wet the squares thoroughly, gently squeeze out the excess water, and pin them to your blocking mats to the specified finished dimensions — 4 inches by 4 inches for this pattern. Allow them to dry completely, which usually takes 12 to 24 hours depending on the humidity in your space. Blocked motifs join far more evenly than unblocked ones, and the finished fabric will be smoother and more professional-looking.

Once the top is fully assembled, give it a final blocking as a complete garment. Lay it flat, ease it into shape, and pin the hem and sleeve edges into clean, even lines. This final blocking session is especially important for the bell sleeves, whose hem edges benefit from being pinned into a smooth, even curve so they hang correctly when worn.

Weave in all ends securely but not too tightly — yarn ends woven in too aggressively can cause small puckers in the fabric. Use your yarn needle to weave the ends in two different directions for security, then trim close to the fabric.

Styling Your Daisy Granny Square Top

Part of the appeal of making your own clothing is the opportunity to style it in a way that feels authentic to you. This top was designed with the cottagecore aesthetic in mind, but its clean lines and classic silhouette mean it works across a wider range of styles than you might expect.

For a full cottagecore look, pair it with a long flowy skirt in a botanical print, wooden-bead jewelry, and strappy sandals. Add a wide-brimmed straw hat and a wicker basket bag and you have an outfit that looks like it was lifted directly from a dreamy lifestyle photograph.

For a more modern, relaxed look, wear it tucked into high-waisted wide-leg jeans with simple white sneakers and gold hoop earrings. The daisy motifs add enough visual interest that the rest of the outfit can stay clean and minimal.

For a beachy, resort-inspired look, layer it over a solid-color swimsuit or bandeau top and wear it with linen shorts or a white midi skirt. The airy cotton construction and open-lattice joining make it a perfect cover-up that is elegant enough to wear well past the beach.

Downloading the PDF Pattern

The full written pattern with all instructions, a stitch diagram, motif layout grids for all four sizes, and step-by-step photos is available as an instant-download PDF. The PDF is formatted for easy reading on both screen and print, with a clean layout and clear section headings so you can navigate between the daisy motif instructions, the joining method, the sleeve construction, and the finishing steps without losing your place.

The pattern is written for intermediate crocheters and assumes familiarity with basic crochet stitches, working in the round, and reading a simple stitch diagram. If you are newer to crochet garments but comfortable with granny squares, you will find the construction method approachable, especially if you follow the blocking and joining steps carefully.

Whether you make this top in soft white cotton for a bridal shower, in bright summer colors for a festival, or in muted natural tones for everyday wear, the result will be something you are genuinely proud to have made with your own hands. There is a particular kind of joy that comes from wearing something you built stitch by stitch, petal by petal — and this daisy granny square boat neck top is exactly that kind of make.

Pick up your hook. Make your first daisy. You are going to love where this goes.