Easy V-Neck Crochet Tee — Free Pattern + Video | For The Frills

There is something quietly satisfying about wearing a garment you made yourself. Not a scarf, not a dishcloth, but an actual wearable piece of clothing that fits your body, matches your wardrobe, and earns compliments from strangers who would never guess it came off a hook. The Easy V-Neck Crochet Tee is exactly that kind of project. It is approachable enough for someone who has finished a few beginner patterns and is ready to take the next step, yet the finished result looks polished, thoughtful, and genuinely stylish. If you have been on the fence about crocheting clothing, this is the pattern that will finally push you over it.

This post walks you through everything you need to know — materials, gauge, sizing, stitch breakdowns, construction notes, and tips that will save you from the most common mistakes. A full free written pattern is included below, along with a companion video tutorial you can follow along with in real time. Bookmark this page, pour yourself something warm, and let’s get into it.

Why You’ll Love This Pattern

Before we dive into the actual instructions, it is worth talking about what makes this tee worth your time. There are a lot of crochet top patterns floating around the internet, and not all of them are created equal. Some are beautiful but technically demanding. Others are simple but the result looks homemade in a way that doesn’t feel intentional. This pattern sits in a sweet spot.

The construction is worked from the bottom up in two flat panels — a front and a back — which are then seamed together at the shoulders and sides. This approach is beginner-friendly because you never have to work in the round, manage complex shaping, or worry about your stitch count drifting over a long spiral. Each panel is a manageable rectangle with straightforward V-neck shaping on the front piece, and that is genuinely all the complexity involved.

The stitch pattern is a simple extended single crochet, which creates a fabric that is stretchy, breathable, and drapes beautifully in cotton yarn. The extended single crochet is essentially a regular single crochet with one extra step — you yarn over and pull up a loop, then pull through one loop before completing the stitch — and the result is a taller, airier stitch than traditional single crochet. If you have never tried it before, you will be surprised by how quickly it becomes automatic.

The V-neck opening adds a flattering neckline that works across body types, and the slight drop creates visual length without requiring any fussy construction. The hemline is finished with a simple row of slip stitches that give a clean, intentional edge without adding bulk.

Materials You’ll Need

Getting your materials right before you start saves significant frustration later. Here is what you need for this project.

Yarn: The pattern is designed for a DK or light worsted weight cotton or cotton-blend yarn. Cotton is the preferred fiber for wearable summer tops because it breathes, washes easily, and holds its shape over time. Acrylic blends can work but tend to feel warmer and less drapey. Good yarn choices include Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton, Paintbox Simply DK, Scheepjes Catona (held double), or any similar yarn that meets gauge. You will need approximately 400–800 yards depending on your size, so always check the yardage on your specific yarn rather than going by weight alone.

Hook: A 4.0mm or 4.5mm crochet hook is the standard starting point for this weight of yarn, but your gauge swatch will tell you exactly which size to use. More on that in a moment.

Additional supplies: A yarn needle for seaming and weaving in ends, stitch markers to mark the center of your V-neck shaping, a tape measure, and scissors. A row counter app on your phone is optional but genuinely helpful for tracking where you are in long stretches of plain fabric.

Gauge and Why It Matters Here

Gauge is one of those topics that beginners are tempted to skip and experienced crocheters sometimes still ignore. For a blanket or a bag, an off gauge rarely causes disaster. For a fitted garment, it is the difference between a tee that fits and one you donate to a sibling.

For this pattern, you are aiming for 16 extended single crochets and 18 rows to equal 4 inches (10 centimeters) in the main stitch pattern, using your chosen yarn and hook. To check your gauge, make a swatch of at least 20 stitches and 20 rows, block it by getting it wet and laying it flat to dry, and then measure it. Blocking cotton can change your gauge noticeably, so this step is not optional.

If your swatch is too small (more stitches per inch than called for), go up a hook size. If it is too large (fewer stitches per inch), go down a hook size. Repeat until your swatch matches. It can feel tedious but it is genuinely the most important thing you do before starting a garment.

Sizing Information

This pattern is written to fit the following finished bust measurements:

Small: 32–34 inches finished bust
Medium: 36–38 inches finished bust
Large: 40–42 inches finished bust
XL: 44–46 inches finished bust
2XL: 48–50 inches finished bust

The tee is designed with approximately 2 inches of positive ease, meaning the finished garment measures 2 inches more than the actual body measurement. This gives a relaxed but not boxy fit. If you prefer a more fitted look, go down one size. If you prefer a more oversized silhouette, go up one size or add a couple of inches to your stitch count across the width.

The finished length from hem to shoulder (not including straps or neckband, if added) is approximately 22 inches for all sizes, with the V-neck beginning roughly 8 inches down from the shoulder. If you need a longer or shorter body, you can adjust the number of rows worked before beginning the armhole and neckline shaping.

Stitch Abbreviations

ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
exsc — extended single crochet
sk — skip
st(s) — stitch(es)
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
rep — repeat
rem — remaining

How to work an extended single crochet (exsc): Insert hook into indicated stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through the first loop only (still 2 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through both remaining loops. One exsc made.

Free Pattern: Easy V-Neck Crochet Tee

Back Panel

Make a foundation chain of the following number of chains depending on your size:

Small: 68 chains
Medium: 76 chains
Large: 84 chains
XL: 92 chains
2XL: 100 chains

Row 1 (WS): Exsc in 3rd chain from hook and in each chain across. Turn.

You should have the following number of stitches:

Small: 66 exsc
Medium: 74 exsc
Large: 82 exsc
XL: 90 exsc
2XL: 98 exsc

Rows 2 onward: Ch 2, turn. Exsc in each stitch across.

Continue working rows of exsc until the back panel measures 14 inches from the foundation edge, or your desired body length. The ch-2 at the beginning of each row does not count as a stitch. Always insert your hook into the first stitch at the base of the turning chain.

Armhole shaping: At this point you will shape the armholes by working a slip stitch across the first few stitches and stopping before the last few stitches of the row, effectively narrowing the working area.

Slip stitch across the first 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) stitches. Ch 2, exsc across until 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) stitches remain. Turn, leaving those stitches unworked.

You now have 58 (66, 72, 80, 86) stitches for the back yoke.

Continue even in exsc until the back panel measures 22 inches from the foundation edge, or your desired total length. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Front Panel

Work exactly as the back panel through the armhole shaping. You should have the same stitch count as the back after working the armhole rows.

V-neck shaping: Continue until the front panel is 3 inches shorter than the finished back panel. This is when you will begin the V-neck opening.

Find the center of your row. If you have an even stitch count, you will split it evenly. If odd, you will have one extra stitch — ignore it or add it to the right side, it won’t be visible in the finished garment. Place a stitch marker at the center point.

Left shoulder (as worn): Ch 2, exsc across to the center marker. Turn. You are now working only the left half of the front.

Continue in exsc, decreasing one stitch at the neckline edge every other row as follows: Work across until 2 stitches remain before the center edge. Exsc2tog. Turn.

Repeat this decrease every other row until you have worked approximately 3 inches of V-neck shaping and approximately 12 (14, 15, 17, 18) stitches remain on the shoulder.

Continue even if needed until the front panel matches the back panel in total length. Fasten off.

Right shoulder (as worn): Rejoin yarn at the center of the front panel on the opposite side. Work to mirror the left shoulder, decreasing at the inner neckline edge every other row in the same way. Fasten off.

Assembly

Lay both panels right sides together, aligning the edges carefully. Use your yarn needle and a length of matching yarn to seam the shoulder sections together using a mattress stitch or whip stitch. The back panel is wider at the top than the front (since the back has no neck opening), so the outer edges of the shoulders will align and the center of the back will form the back neckline naturally when the seam is completed.

Once the shoulders are seamed, seam the sides from the hem up to the armhole, leaving the armhole open. You can add a simple single crochet edging around the armhole if you like a more finished look, or leave it as is for a more minimal style.

Work a single row of slip stitches around the entire neckline (back neck edge and both sides of the V) to stabilize and finish the edge. You can also work a row of single crochet here if you prefer a slightly more structured neckline.

Finishing

Weave in all ends securely. Fill your sink with cool water, submerge the finished tee, and let it soak for 10–15 minutes. Do not wring or twist. Gently press out the water, then lay the tee flat on a clean towel and shape it to your measurements. Allow it to dry completely before wearing or storing. Blocking a cotton tee makes an enormous difference in how the fabric looks and drapes, so please do not skip this step.

Helpful Tips for Making This Tee

Tension consistency is everything. Because you are working long rows of a single stitch, any changes in your tension become visible in the finished fabric. Try to crochet at the same time of day, in the same position, and with the same level of distraction — seriously, it makes a difference for some people. If you notice your tension tightening toward the end of a session when you are tired, stop and pick it up fresh the next day.

Mark your right side. It sounds small, but place a stitch marker or safety pin on the right side of both panels as soon as you start them. Working back and forth can make it easy to lose track, and you want to be sure you are seaming right sides together.

The turning chain is not a stitch. This is one of the most common beginner mistakes with extended single crochet. Your ch-2 turn is just a turning chain. Always insert your hook into the first actual stitch at the base of the chain. If you treat the turning chain as a stitch, you will gradually gain stitches across the row.

Seaming matters as much as the crochet. A mattress stitch creates a nearly invisible seam that lies flat. Take your time with assembly. Rushing the seam when you are excited to try on the finished tee is one of the most common reasons the final garment looks uneven or puckered.

Adjust the length before you start the armholes. Once you have reached the armhole shaping point, shortening the body becomes significantly harder. Measure carefully against a top that fits you well, or simply try on the panel before beginning the shaping rows.

Yarn Substitutions and Variations

While this pattern is designed for cotton DK weight, it is quite forgiving with substitutions. A linen-cotton blend adds a slightly stiffer, more structured drape that some people prefer. A bamboo blend is incredibly soft and adds a subtle sheen. Whatever you choose, confirm your gauge before committing.

For a different aesthetic, you can work the entire tee in a mesh or shell stitch pattern instead of extended single crochet. The construction remains the same — two flat panels seamed together — but the fabric becomes lacier and more open. This works especially well for a beach coverup or a layered summer top.

You can also add short cap sleeves by picking up stitches around the armhole and working outward for 2–3 inches before finishing with a slip stitch edge. This requires minimal extra yarn and adds sun protection without much extra effort.

Video Tutorial

A full step-by-step video tutorial accompanies this written pattern. The video walks through the extended single crochet stitch, the V-neck shaping in real time, and the assembly process, so you can see exactly what each step should look like before attempting it yourself. If you are the kind of crocheter who learns better by watching than reading, start with the video and come back to the written pattern for reference when you need specific stitch counts.

The video is embedded at the top of this post and is also available on the For The Frills YouTube channel. If you run into questions that neither the written pattern nor the video answers, drop a comment below and the community is genuinely wonderful about helping.

Share Your Finished Tee

If you make this tee, I would absolutely love to see it. Share your finished project on Instagram using the hashtag #ForTheFrillsTee so it appears in the community gallery, or tag the For The Frills account directly. Seeing the variety of yarn colors and sizes people choose is one of the best parts of sharing a pattern, and your photos might just inspire the next person who is hesitating to start.

This pattern is free and always will be. If you find it helpful, the best way to support For The Frills is to share the link with a friend, leave a comment, or save the pattern on Ravelry, where it is also listed under the same name.

Happy crocheting, and I genuinely hope this becomes one of those patterns you return to in a dozen different colorways.