Empire waist top

[Yarn Bag]

:think My daughter is away in university and she said she saw a lovely top that had short cap sleeves and an empire waist and buttoned up front in an open mesh or lacey pattern all over in a boutique in Toronto. She said it cost $120.....I would love to try and make her one. I have looked for such a pattern and can't find anything like it. Does anyone here know of one? My daughter would like to have it made with a fine mohair wool to wear over a camisole or tank top or tee shirt. I think it is called a baby-doll top...but not sure about that. Thanks for any help in finding a pattern.

[Empress Busy Bee]

Off hand I can't think of any.
You might try looking through CPC:

http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/women.php

Don't discount the dresses. There's a few that might work.

There's this issue of Interweave Crochet:

http://www.interweavecrochet.com/2007/toc-spring07.asp

It has the Empress Baby Doll top in it. You'll have to hurry as it's about to go off the shelf and be switched with the new issue, if it hasn't already. If you miss it, you can order from thier site that I linked you with.

Be sure to check books at the book store and library to see what they have. You never know.

:)

[sherryzzz]

These types of tops have been really popular in the crochet magazines. Here's a link to the pattern for Lily Chin's dress from 2004 that could be made into a top by just making it shorter.
http://www.interweavecrochet.com/projects/crochet_LaceDress.pdf

Also the Tuscany Tank dress from the spring 2006 edition of Interweave Crochet
(picture only) http://www.interweavecrochet.com/2006/materials.asp

The Lacy Days of Summer dress/top from the July 2007 Crochet Today
http://www.crochettoday.com/issue.aspx?issueid=15
http://www.crochettoday.com/articlepage.aspx?articleid=131

The Trellis Tunic from the April 2007 issue
http://www.crochettoday.com/articlepage.aspx?articleid=114

here's a pattern - you can do the top following the pattern, then do the skirt part in your favorite shell stitch
http://www.fjsmjs.com/Mary/gown.htm

Katherine Lee has two tops in her Fabulous & Flirty Crochet book - accurate directions, wonderful diagrams
http://www.sweaterbabe.com/FabandFlirtybook.htm

there's a pattern on this page for $1.95
http://patterns2go.com/crochet.htm

kimono sleeve empire waist cardi
http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/visoppskrift.php?d_nr=99&d_id=16&lang=en

Diane Langan has a lot of patterns on her website
http://www.dianelangan.com/

Orchid top pattern
http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=48110&highlight=orchid
http://lilygo.blogspot.com/

[Yarn Bag]

Thanks Empress Busy Bee! I shall check out those sites and keep checking the bookstores too. Thanks for your help.

[Yarn Bag]

Wow Sherryzzz! That lace dress is beautiful! Thanks so much for the site. I really appreciate your help.

[yarn_monkey]

When I first started reading your post, I immediately thought of SweaterBabe's book, link here (http://sweaterbabe.com/FabandFlirtybook.htm). The particular top I was thinking of is in the top lefthand corner of the cover, larger picture farther down, the light purple one. It doesn't button up the front, but sounds sort of similar anyway. And it looks like Amazon has copies starting at about $3, so that's always a plus! :D I hope I helped a little, the top sounds absolutely lovely.

On a side note: I just looked at Alibris.com (a great site to find crochet books on the cheap, imo) and somebody actually wants $220 for that SweaterBabe book. Good grief!!!

[snugsmontreal]

i totally thought of the sweaterbabe sweater too!! i love that book such some cute little tops in there. someone here made that top here http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=54718&highlight=flutter+sleeve+top

[Yarn Bag]

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions. It will be so much fun to make one of these tops for my daughter. I hope to get started asap. Thanks again!

[dbosblondie]

Hi,

Did you make the Trellis Tunic? I need some help with the sleeves. Any advice you can give me would be appreciated.

Thanks!