Simple Halter Top

[Harvestar]

(edited to change title - pictures of finished product a few posts down)

So I made About.com's Easy Halter Top:
http://crochet.about.com/library/nhaltertopsc.htm

My top (http://thorn.as.arizona.edu/%7Ekak/Pictures/misc/Crocheting/DSCN2971-sm.JPG) (though with a shirt over it to hide the gaps)

It worked up really quickly and I used the Lion Brand Chenille (nice and soft!), but when I put it on, it gapped really bad around the bust area. My fiance fixed it the first day I wore it by putting the lowest ties through the belt loops of my jeans, but that kind of makes going to the bathroom difficult! (or at least more time consuming)

The second day I wore it, we played with the ties and got it a little better, but if I don't sit right, it still gaps. It looks like if I fold and pin it around the bust area, I may be able to fix it, but can you really put a dart into a crochet piece? And how would you secure it? Thread? Yarn?

[crochet smartcat]

I made a skirt in which I had to enlarge the pattern, but I enlarged it too much, so after it was made I just took a couple of pleats in the front. It came out looking great and you wouldn't know it wasn't part of the original pattern. Just be sure to do the same on both sides to keep it balanced and I think you'll be fine. I just used the same yarn to secure the pleats front and back so it blends in and you actually have to be close to see them at all.

[klouised]

I've seen this pattern before, and I wondered then how the top would lay. I couldn't see how it would look right. It's too wide across at the top for the type of straps it has. The top outside straps go around the neck and pull the top in to bunch in the center. There are top center straps that hold that area in place, BUT makes it bunch in on each side. Hmmm.

If the darts don't work you may want to take the outside straps and make them go down and attach them to where the middle straps at the back meet the top. It sounds confusing, but it's pretty simple. You can just sew the straps on the inside of the top there, so the ends don't show. That makes the pull go in another direction and hopefully takes out the gather. When you put the top on, you just slip your arms through the holes that the sewn straps made, and tie the ties that are for behind the neck, center back and waist.

Good Luck!
Kristina

http://kristinaskrochet.50webs.com

[Harvestar]

I finished this a while ago but hadn't gotten the pictures up. Thanks so much for the advice! :)

The halter top with darts:
http://thorn.as.arizona.edu/~kak/Pictures/misc/Crocheting/DSCN4134-sm.JPG

Where the dart is (hard to tell)
http://thorn.as.arizona.edu/~kak/Pictures/misc/Crocheting/DSCN4135-sm.JPG
An overview:
http://thorn.as.arizona.edu/~kak/Pictures/misc/Crocheting/DSCN4136-sm.JPG

I've been having fun wearing it to belly dance class. :)

[carrieanne]

Its a nice top!