How to Crochet a Top: Your Complete Guide to Making the Belina Bellwood Top
If you’ve been searching for a crochet top that looks stunning, fits beautifully, and is actually achievable whether you’re an intermediate crocheter or someone ready to level up their skills, you’ve landed in exactly the right place. Today I’m walking you through everything you need to know about making the Belina Bellwood crochet top, inspired by the full video tutorial now live on my YouTube channel. Whether you prefer to watch and follow along visually or you like having written notes to reference while you work, this post has you covered.
Let’s dive in.
Why Crochet Tops Are Having a Major Moment
Crochet fashion has been making waves for years now, and it’s not going anywhere. From runways to street style to beachside outfits, handmade crochet tops have become one of the most coveted wardrobe pieces you can own — and the best part is that you can make one yourself. There’s something deeply satisfying about wearing a garment you created stitch by stitch, and crochet tops in particular have this effortless, bohemian beauty that’s incredibly hard to replicate with anything store-bought.
The Belina Bellwood top was designed with wearability in mind. It’s the kind of piece you can style casually over high-waisted jeans, layer over a bralette for a festival-ready look, or dress up with wide-leg trousers and your favorite accessories. It’s versatile, it’s feminine, and it photographs beautifully — which, let’s be honest, is always a bonus.
What You’ll Need Before You Start
Before you get your hook in hand, let’s talk supplies. Having everything ready before you begin makes the whole process so much smoother, and it also helps you avoid that frustrating mid-project realization that you’re one skein short.
Yarn: For this top, you’ll want a yarn that has some drape to it. Cotton yarn is an incredibly popular choice for crochet tops because it’s breathable, holds its shape well, and washes easily. A DK weight or light worsted weight cotton (or cotton blend) works beautifully here. If you want a slightly more elevated, flowy look, a cotton-bamboo blend gives the garment wonderful movement. I recommend choosing a color you absolutely love — you’re going to be spending time with this project, so pick something that makes you happy every time you look at it.
Hook Size: Always check your gauge before starting a garment. The hook size will depend on your yarn choice, but for most DK to light worsted weight cottons, you’ll typically be working with a 4mm to 5mm hook. That said, everyone crochets differently — some people naturally crochet tighter, others looser — so make a small gauge swatch before committing to the full project. I promise it’s worth the extra twenty minutes.
Stitch Markers: These are your best friends when working a garment. Use them to mark the beginning of rounds, to track increases and decreases, and to hold stitches when you need to set your work down.
Measuring Tape: You’ll want to measure your bust, waist, and length preferences before and during the project. Garments require a little more attention to sizing than blankets or bags, but once you understand your measurements, customizing the fit becomes second nature.
Scissors and a Tapestry Needle: For weaving in ends and any finishing work.
Buttons or Closure (Optional): Depending on how you style your version of this top, you may want to add closures, decorative buttons, or other embellishments.
Understanding Gauge and Why It Actually Matters for Garments
I know, I know — gauge swatching feels like the homework of crochet. Nobody wants to do it, and it’s tempting to skip straight to the good stuff. But for a top, gauge genuinely makes the difference between a garment that fits you perfectly and one that ends up three sizes too large or so snug you can barely breathe.
Here’s the simple way to think about it: gauge tells you how many stitches and rows fit into a specific measurement (usually four inches by four inches). If your gauge matches the pattern, your finished garment will be the right size. If your gauge is off, the size will be off too — and no amount of blocking will fully fix a top that’s fundamentally the wrong dimensions.
To make a gauge swatch, chain enough stitches to create a square slightly larger than four inches, work in the stitch pattern used in the top, and then measure. If you have too many stitches per four inches, go up a hook size. If you have too few, go down a hook size. Simple as that.
Stitch Breakdown: What You’ll Be Working With
The Belina Bellwood top uses a combination of stitches that create a beautiful, textured fabric with just enough openwork to keep things interesting without being overly revealing. Here’s a general overview of the stitches featured in the design.
Single Crochet (sc): The foundation of so many garments, single crochet creates a tight, sturdy fabric. In this top, single crochet appears in structural sections where you want the fabric to hold its shape.
Half Double Crochet (hdc): Half double crochet sits in that sweet spot between single and double crochet. It’s slightly taller, slightly airier, and creates a wonderfully soft fabric that’s flattering against the body.
Double Crochet (dc): Used in sections where you want more height and openness, double crochet contributes to the flow and drape of the garment.
Chain Spaces: Chains worked between stitches create lacy, open sections that give this top its signature look. These chain spaces are part of what makes the design feel so light and summery.
Shell Stitches or Fan Stitches: Clusters of stitches worked into the same stitch or space create a fan or shell effect that adds elegant detail without being overly complicated to execute.
All of these stitches are beginner-to-intermediate level, which means that even if you’re relatively new to garment-making, the individual techniques involved won’t feel overwhelming. The challenge with tops isn’t usually the stitches themselves — it’s the construction, the shaping, and making sure everything comes together correctly. That’s exactly why the video tutorial on my YouTube channel is such a valuable companion to these written notes.
Construction Overview: How This Top is Built
The Belina Bellwood top is worked in a way that minimizes seaming and makes the construction process feel intuitive. Here’s a general roadmap of how the top comes together.
Starting Point: The top begins at the bottom hem. Working from the bottom up is a great approach for tops because it allows you to easily adjust the length before you get to the more complex shaping sections.
Body: The body of the top is worked in joined rounds (or rows, depending on the style of top and your preference). As you build up the body, you’ll be maintaining the stitch pattern consistently, creating that lovely textured fabric.
Waist Shaping: One of the things that elevates a crochet top from “nice” to “absolutely beautiful” is thoughtful shaping. The Belina Bellwood top includes subtle waist shaping through strategic increases and decreases that create a silhouette that flatters a wide range of body types.
Bust Section: As you work through the bust, the pattern accounts for the additional fabric needed to fit comfortably across the chest. This is where following the size guide becomes especially important, so make sure you’ve selected the right size for your measurements before you get here.
Neckline and Straps: The neckline design is one of the most striking elements of this top. Whether you’re making the version with a sweetheart neckline, a straight-across neckline, or a V-neck variation, this section gives the garment its personality. Straps are worked separately and attached, or in some versions, they grow directly out of the body of the top.
Finishing: Once the main body is done, you’ll work any edging around the hem, neckline, armholes, and straps. A simple single crochet edging tidies everything up beautifully, or you can go for a picot edging if you want something with a little more decorative detail.
Sizing and Fit: Making It Work for Your Body
One of the most empowering things about making your own clothes is that you have complete control over the fit. The Belina Bellwood top pattern is designed to be adaptable across multiple sizes, and the video tutorial walks you through exactly how to adjust for your measurements.
Here’s a general guide for thinking about sizing in crochet garments:
Take Your Measurements First: Measure your bust at the fullest point, your waist at the narrowest point, and your high hip. Also measure from your shoulder to wherever you’d like the hem to fall.
Ease: In garment-making, “ease” refers to the extra space built into a design beyond your actual body measurements. A top with negative ease fits snugly (and works especially well with stretchy yarns or open-work designs). A top with positive ease has a relaxed, flowy fit. Most crochet tops are designed with a small amount of positive ease for comfort.
Adjusting Length: Adding or removing length is as simple as working more or fewer rounds in the body section before you begin the bust shaping. This is one of the joys of crochet — adjustments like this are genuinely easy.
Adjusting Width: Adding more stitches in the foundation chain or first round will make the top wider. Just make sure to adjust in increments that align with the stitch pattern repeat so the design stays consistent.
Tips for Crocheting a Top That Looks Professional
Making a wearable garment is a skill that develops over time, and there are a few habits that will take your finished pieces from homemade to handcrafted.
Weave in ends as you go. Rather than leaving a pile of loose ends to deal with at the end, weave them in as you finish each skein. It makes the finishing process so much less daunting.
Block your finished garment. Blocking — wetting the piece and laying it flat to dry in its intended shape — makes an enormous difference in how professional a crochet garment looks. Cotton yarns especially respond beautifully to wet blocking and will even out your stitches significantly.
Count your stitches regularly. It’s easy for a stitch count to drift over many rows without you noticing. Getting in the habit of counting your stitches at the end of each round keeps you on track and prevents frustrating surprises later.
Don’t skip the edging. A clean, well-worked edging is the difference between a finished garment and one that looks like it’s missing its final step. Even a single round of single crochet worked evenly around all edges makes a huge visual difference.
Take breaks. This sounds simple, but crocheting with tired hands leads to inconsistent tension. If you feel your tension getting erratic, put it down and come back fresh.
Styling the Belina Bellwood Top
Once your top is finished, the really fun part begins: wearing it. Here are some of my favorite ways to style this piece.
With high-waisted wide-leg jeans and chunky sandals, the Belina Bellwood top gives off relaxed, effortless summer energy. Add a straw bag and a pair of oversized sunglasses and you’ve got an outfit that looks completely put together without trying too hard.
For something a little more polished, try it tucked into a high-waisted midi skirt in a flowing fabric like chiffon or satin. The contrast between the texture of the crochet and the smoothness of the skirt is gorgeous.
Layered over a simple slip dress or a fitted tank, this top works beautifully as a cover-up piece — especially in the warmer months. It’s also perfect over a swimsuit for beach or pool days.
For a more editorial look, try it with structured tailored trousers, a sleek belt, and block-heeled mules. Crochet can absolutely hold its own in more elevated styling contexts, and this top proves it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crocheting Tops
Can I make this top if I’m a beginner? If you’re comfortable with basic stitches and you’ve completed at least a few smaller projects, you can absolutely try this top. It’s on the intermediate side, but working through the video tutorial step by step makes it very accessible.
How long does it take to crochet a top like this? It depends on your speed and how much time you have each day to work on it. For most intermediate crocheters working in the evenings, a project like this typically comes together over one to three weeks.
What if I run out of yarn? Plan ahead by buying a little more yarn than the pattern calls for, especially if you’re working in a dye lot. Different dye lots can have subtle color variations that show up in the finished piece. Always buy extra — leftover yarn never goes to waste.
Can I make this top in a different yarn weight? Yes, but you’ll need to adjust your hook size and gauge accordingly. Going up in yarn weight will make the garment thicker and warmer; going down will make it more delicate and lightweight. Either can work, but always check your gauge.
Is this top machine washable? That depends entirely on your yarn choice. Many cotton yarns are machine washable on a gentle cycle, but always check the label. Hand washing and laying flat to dry is the safest approach for preserving the shape of any crochet garment.
Watch the Full Tutorial on YouTube
Everything I’ve covered in this post is expanded on in full in the video tutorial over on my YouTube channel. Watching the tutorial alongside these written notes gives you the best of both worlds — you can see exactly how each section is worked in real time, and then come back here whenever you need a quick reference.
If you make the Belina Bellwood top, I would absolutely love to see it. Share your finished pieces in the comments, tag me on social media, and let me know what yarn and color you chose. Seeing your versions of this design genuinely makes my day, and your posts help other crocheters discover the pattern too.
Don’t forget to subscribe to the channel if you haven’t already, and hit the notification bell so you never miss a new tutorial. There are so many more designs coming, and I can’t wait to share them with you.
Happy crocheting — you’ve got this. 🤍
