Free Crochet Sweater Pattern PDF: Boho Crochet Top with Openwork Mesh for Summer
There is something deeply satisfying about wearing a garment you made with your own hands, and a boho crochet sweater top is one of those pieces that feels both personal and effortlessly stylish. Whether you are heading to a beach bonfire, a farmers market, or just layering over a sundress for a breezy summer afternoon, an openwork crochet pullover has a way of pulling any look together. This post walks you through everything you need to know to make your own boho crochet top, including pattern notes, stitch guidance, sizing tips, and a full written pattern you can save or print as a PDF.
This summer mesh sweater pattern is designed with the adventurous beginner and confident intermediate crocheter in mind. It uses simple stitches arranged in a way that creates beautiful openwork texture, so it looks far more complicated than it actually is. The result is a lightweight, breathable pullover with a relaxed boho silhouette that drapes beautifully and works up faster than you might expect.
Why You Will Love This Boho Crochet Top Pattern
Before diving into the materials and instructions, let us talk about what makes this particular openwork pullover pattern worth your time. There are thousands of crochet patterns out there, and not all of them live up to their photographs. This one is different for a few reasons.
First, the construction is simple and intuitive. The sweater is worked in two flat rectangular panels, a front and a back, which are then seamed at the shoulders and sides. No complex shaping, no confusing increases across a yoke, no counting stitches every single row. Once you understand the mesh stitch repeat, your hands will fall into a rhythm and the fabric will practically grow on its own.
Second, the design is genuinely versatile. Wear it over a bikini top at the beach, layer it with a linen camisole for coffee shop mornings, or pair it with wide-leg trousers and chunky sandals for an evening out. The open mesh structure means it works as a layering piece in three seasons, not just summer, making it one of the most wearable things you can add to your handmade wardrobe.
Third, the pattern is completely free and available to save as a PDF. At the end of this post, all the pattern information is consolidated so you can print it at home and take it with you anywhere.
Materials You Will Need
Getting the right yarn makes all the difference with a mesh-style sweater. Because the design relies on open spaces between stitches to create its airy, bohemian look, you want a yarn with good drape that will flow and move rather than stand stiff. Here is what works best.
Yarn: Choose a fingering weight, sport weight, or DK weight yarn in a natural fiber or natural fiber blend. Cotton is the most popular choice for summer crochet sweaters because it breathes well, has beautiful stitch definition, and softens with wear and washing. Bamboo or a cotton-bamboo blend adds an extra silky drape that looks incredible in openwork patterns. Linen yarn is another gorgeous option that creates a slightly more structured garment with a beautiful matte finish that screams boho. For a budget-friendly option, a quality acrylic with good drape works fine, though it will be warmer to wear in hot weather.
You will need approximately 600 to 900 yards of yarn depending on your size. Lighter colors show the openwork mesh detail most clearly, but deep terracottas, dusty mauves, and warm ochres look absolutely stunning in this style of sweater.
Hook: A 4.0mm to 5.0mm crochet hook works well for most of the yarn weights mentioned above. The larger hook creates more open mesh and a drapier fabric, while the smaller hook tightens the mesh slightly for more coverage. If you tend to crochet tightly, go up a hook size. Always work a gauge swatch before starting.
Notions: A yarn needle for seaming and weaving in ends, scissors, stitch markers, and a measuring tape. If you want to add fringe to the hem or sleeves, you will need a small amount of additional yarn or embroidery thread.
Gauge and Sizing
Gauge: 16 stitches and 8 rows = 4 inches in the mesh stitch pattern using a 4.5mm hook and DK weight cotton. Gauge is especially important in garments. A small difference in gauge adds up over a full sweater width and will affect the finished size significantly, so please take the time to make a swatch.
Sizes: This pattern is written for sizes XS through 2XL. The finished measurements given are for the garment itself, not body measurements. This is an oversized, relaxed fit, so the sweater is intended to have several inches of positive ease.
XS: 32–34 inch bust / Finished chest: 38 inches
S: 34–36 inch bust / Finished chest: 40 inches
M: 36–38 inch bust / Finished chest: 44 inches
L: 40–42 inch bust / Finished chest: 48 inches
XL: 44–46 inch bust / Finished chest: 52 inches
2XL: 48–50 inch bust / Finished chest: 56 inches
Understanding the Mesh Stitch
The entire body of this boho crochet top is worked in a simple mesh stitch made of chains and double crochet or treble crochet stitches. If you have ever worked a granny square or a shell stitch pattern, you already understand the basic concept. The mesh creates those beautiful open holes that give the sweater its lightweight, summery, openwork character.
The basic mesh stitch repeat used in this pattern is as follows: chain 2, skip 2 stitches or spaces, work 1 double crochet into the next stitch or space. This creates an evenly spaced diagonal grid of open squares across the fabric. It is deeply rhythmic once you get going, and the fact that you are skipping stitches means the fabric grows quite quickly across the hook.
For the border and hem, a simple shell stitch edging in single or double crochet gives the sweater a finished, decorative edge that ties the boho aesthetic together. You can also add a row of reverse single crochet, also called the crab stitch, around the neckline for a neat, polished look that lies flat without rolling.
Full Written Pattern: Boho Openwork Crochet Sweater
Abbreviations Used:
ch = chain
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet
sp = space
st = stitch
rep = repeat
RS = right side
WS = wrong side
sk = skip
Foundation and Body Panel (Make Two)
The sweater is constructed as two identical rectangular panels. One serves as the front and one as the back. The panels are seamed at the shoulders, leaving an opening for the neck, and seamed along the sides, leaving openings for the armholes.
To begin:
Chain a foundation chain that is a multiple of 3 plus 2. Use the following stitch counts for your size:
XS: chain 98
S: chain 104
M: chain 116
L: chain 128
XL: chain 140
2XL: chain 152
Row 1 (WS): Dc in 5th chain from hook (the skipped chains count as dc and ch-2 sp). Ch 2, sk 2 ch, dc in next ch. Rep from across. Turn.
Row 2 (RS): Ch 4 (counts as dc and ch-2). Sk first ch-2 sp. Dc in next dc, ch 2, sk ch-2 sp. Rep from across, ending with dc in 3rd ch of turning chain. Turn.
Repeat Row 2 until the panel measures the following length from the foundation chain edge:
XS/S/M: 20 inches
L/XL: 21 inches
2XL: 22 inches
Do not fasten off. Proceed to the edging.
Hem Edging
With right side facing, work 1 row of sc evenly across the bottom edge of the panel, working 1 sc into each ch or dc space across. Join if working in the round, or turn.
Shell Row: Ch 3, sk 2 sc, 5 dc in next sc (shell made), sk 2 sc, sc in next sc, sk 2 sc. Rep from across, ending with a shell in the last viable stitch. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Repeat hem edging on both panels.
Seaming the Sweater
Lay both panels on a flat surface with right sides facing each other and edges aligned. Using a yarn needle and a length of your project yarn, seam the shoulder sections.
For the shoulder seam, leave the center open for the neckline. The neckline opening should measure:
XS/S: 8 inches centered
M/L: 9 inches centered
XL/2XL: 10 inches centered
Seam approximately 4 to 5 inches in from each outer edge on both the left and right shoulders. This creates the shoulder seam while leaving the neck opening.
Next, fold the seamed panels so the side edges are aligned. Measure up from the hem and mark the point where you want the side seam to begin. The armhole opening at the top of the side seam should measure:
XS/S: 8 inches from shoulder seam
M/L: 9 inches from shoulder seam
XL/2XL: 10 inches from shoulder seam
Seam from the hem upward, stopping when you reach the armhole opening marker. Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Neckline Edging
With RS facing and starting at any point around the neckline opening, join yarn. Work 1 round of sc evenly around the entire neckline. Join with a slip stitch to first sc.
Work 1 round of reverse sc (crab stitch) around the neckline for a finished edge. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Armhole Edging
With RS facing, join yarn at the underarm seam point at either armhole. Work 1 round of sc evenly around the entire armhole opening. Join.
Work 1 round of reverse sc around the armhole. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Repeat on the second armhole.
Optional: Fringe or Tassel Hem Trim
If you want to give your boho crochet top an extra free-spirited finish, add fringe along the hem after completing the shell edging. Cut lengths of yarn approximately 10 to 12 inches long. Fold each length in half, insert the folded end through a stitch along the hem with your hook, draw the cut ends through the loop, and pull firmly to secure. Space fringe every 2 to 3 stitches along the hem for a full, lush look. Trim the ends to an even length if desired, or leave them intentionally uneven for a more organic boho feel.
You can also add a few small tassels at the shoulder seams or tie a length of ribbon, jute cord, or leather lacing through the mesh at the waist to create a gathered, belted silhouette.
Tips for Getting the Best Results
The mesh stitch can feel a little fiddly in the first few rows as you establish the pattern, but once you are a few inches in, it becomes second nature. Here are a few things that will help you along the way.
Count your stitches at the end of every row for the first several rows. It is very easy to accidentally add or lose a stitch in a chain-and-skip mesh pattern, and catching it early saves a lot of frogging later. Place a stitch marker at the beginning of every row if you find yourself losing track.
Block your finished panels before seaming. Wet blocking cotton or linen crochet completely transforms the fabric. Soak the panels in cool water, gently press out the excess moisture in a towel, lay them flat on a blocking mat, and pin them to the correct measurements. Let them dry fully before assembling. Blocked mesh crochet opens up beautifully and the stitches settle into a much more even, professional-looking fabric.
When seaming, use a mattress stitch or a slip stitch seam rather than a simple whip stitch. The mattress stitch in particular creates an almost invisible join and keeps the seam flexible, which is important in a garment that needs to stretch and move with the body.
If you are new to garment crochet, this sweater is genuinely one of the best starter projects out there. The two-panel rectangular construction removes almost all the stress of garment shaping, and the mesh stitch is forgiving of minor inconsistencies in tension because the open structure visually absorbs small variations.
Yarn Substitution Ideas
If you want to play with the look and feel of this openwork pullover pattern, yarn substitution opens up a world of possibilities.
A mercerized cotton in a jewel tone creates a sweater that feels more polished and saturated, ideal for transitional fall layering. An undyed or naturally dyed linen gives the sweater an earthy, artisan quality that pairs beautifully with linen trousers and leather accessories. A silk-cotton blend makes the drape absolutely luxurious and gives the mesh an almost luminous quality in the light. For a cozy winter interpretation of the mesh stitch, try a fine merino held double, which fills in the mesh slightly while keeping the openwork texture visible. Layered over a turtleneck or a long-sleeved linen top, this becomes a year-round piece rather than a summer-only sweater.
Styling Your Boho Crochet Sweater
One of the reasons boho crochet tops have remained such a beloved staple of summer fashion is their extraordinary styling range. This mesh pullover works as a beach cover-up worn over a swimsuit with a wide-brimmed hat and sandals. It works as a festival top layered over a floral slip dress with ankle boots. It works as a relaxed weekend layer over a white linen tee with vintage jeans and woven mules. In cooler weather, try it over a long-sleeve fitted turtleneck in a contrasting color, which lets the mesh pattern frame the color beneath it in a beautiful way.
The boho aesthetic is fundamentally about effortless layering and natural textures, and a handmade crochet top embodies both of those things. The fact that you made it yourself adds a dimension of personal meaning that no mass-produced garment can replicate.
Saving This Pattern as a PDF
To save this boho crochet sweater pattern as a PDF, use your browser’s print function and select “Save as PDF” as the destination. This gives you a clean, printable version of the full pattern that you can keep in your pattern binder, take to your local yarn shop, or reference offline whenever you like. You can also copy the pattern section into a document app of your choice and format it however suits your personal note-taking style.
A Note on Pattern Modifications
Patterns are starting points, not rules. Once you understand the basic mesh stitch and rectangular panel construction used here, you can modify this sweater endlessly. Make the panels longer for a tunic-length version. Work the panels narrower and seam them fully along the sides and shoulders for a tighter, more fitted silhouette. Add a sleeve by picking up stitches around the armhole opening and working downward in rounds of mesh stitch. Try a color block effect by changing yarn colors halfway through each panel. The structure is simple enough that your creativity can run freely within it.
Crochet is one of the few crafts where you truly are the designer as much as the maker, and this openwork summer sweater pattern is built to grow and change with you. Whether this is your first garment or your fiftieth, there is real joy waiting in every stitch.
