Selene Shell Stitch Top Free Crochet Pattern

The Selene Top is the perfect lightweight crochet summer top featuring a beautiful shell stitch design, seamless top-down construction, and an effortlessly wearable fit you’ll reach for all season long. This free crochet top pattern is worked from the top down in one seamless piece, making it easy to customize the length and fit as you crochet.

Whether you’re looking for a modern crochet sweater tee, a breathable crochet summer top, or an easy crochet garment pattern you’ll actually wear, the Selene Top combines comfort, style, and timeless texture into one must-have design.

Mexico

The Selene Top was part of a special collection we photographed during our trip to Mexico.

I wanted this design to feel lightweight, effortless, and truly wearable for summer. The breezy shell stitch texture, relaxed fit, and seamless top-down construction came together exactly how I envisioned, especially styled against the warm coastal setting.

This top is one of those pieces that feels both comfortable and elevated at the same time, perfect for beach days, summer evenings, layering, or everyday wear. The Selene Top is part of a larger collection sharing the same relaxed, timeless style, with more coordinating designs coming soon. Check out the Solea Cardigan!

Why You’ll Love the Selene Top

• free crochet top pattern
• crochet summer top
• top-down crochet top
• seamless crochet garment
• crochet sweater tee
• easy crochet garment pattern

Selene Top Styling Ideas

One thing I love about this crochet top is how versatile it is.

You can wear it:

• Casual with denim
• Over dresses or tanks
• As a beach cover-up
• Layered in spring and fall
• Dressed up with jewellery and sandals
• Relaxed and oversized for cozy summer evenings

It’s one of those handmade pieces that doesn’t just sit in your closet waiting for the “right occasion.”

You’ll actually wear it.

Free Crochet Top Pattern with Video Tutorial

I know so many of you love having both written instructions and visual support, so I’ve included a full step-by-step crochet video tutorial to help guide you through the pattern.

Whether you’re new to crochet garments or already love making seamless crochet tops, the tutorial makes the process easy to follow.

Watch the full tutorial on YouTube

Yarn Requirements

Willow Yarns Farmhouse Cotton

DK weight #3 (similar to weight #1), 360 yds / 100 g, 100% Cotton, shown in dusk

Lion Brand Mandala String or Buy from Amazon

Fingering weight #1, 350 yds / 100 g, 100% Acrylic, shown in Jazz

See the size chart for sizing and yarn requirements

Size Chart

	XS	S	M	L	XL	2X	3X	4X	5X
To Fit Bust (IN)	28–30	32–34	36–38	40–42	44–46	48–50	52–54	56–58	60–62
Finished Bust (IN)	36.5	40	43.5	47.25	50.75	54.25	57.75	61.5	65

Short Sleeve

	XS	S	M	L	XL	2X	3X	4X	5X
Balls	2	2	3	3	3	4	4	4	5
Yards	575	650	750	850	950	1075	1175	1325	1450

Long Sleeve

	XS	S	M	L	XL	2X	3X	4X	5X
Balls	3	3	4	5	5	6	6	7	8
Yards	1050	1200	1375	1550	1725	1900	2100	2300	2500

Fit and Ease

The top is designed for a relaxed, comfortable fit at the bust, with approximately 3 to 8.5 inches of positive ease, depending on the size chosen and where you fall within the size range. Choose your size based on your preferred finished bust measurement. For a closer fit, consider sizing down. The model shown is wearing a size Small with a 35-inch bust.

Yarn Quantity Note

Yarn amounts are approximate and based on the sample size shown. Additional yarn may be required if adjusting the body or sleeve length.

If using a self-striping or colour-fade yarn, extra yarn may be helpful for maintaining colour continuity when joining sleeves or matching colour placement.

Yarn Substitutes

When substituting the recommended yarn, choose one that meets the pattern gauge and has a similar yardage-to-weight ratio.

Willow Yarns Farmhouse Cotton has a yardage-to-weight ratio of approximately 3.60 yards per gram, while Lion Brand Mandala String measures 3.50 yards per gram. Yarns within a similar range will produce a comparable fabric.

Always check your gauge.

• Comfy Fingering – 218 yds / 50 g (75% Pima cotton, 25% acrylic) = 4.36 yds/g
• Hawthorne Fingering – 357 yds / 100 g (80% superwash wool, 20% nylon) = 3.57 yds/g
• Lindy Chain – 218 yds / 50 g (70% linen, 30% cotton) = 4.36 yds/g
• Premier Cotton Fair – 317 yds / 100 g (52% cotton, 48% acrylic) = 3.17 yds/g
• Curio #3 – 295 yds / 100 g (100% mercerized cotton) = 2.95 yds/g

Crochet Hooks Needed

US G/6 (4 mm) or sizes needed to obtain gauge

Hook Tray

Not sure what gauge is? Check out our guide to gauge.

Materials

Yarn Needle

Scissors

Measuring Tape

Stitch Markers

Gauge

4.5 shells and 9 rows equal to 4″ in pattern with 4 mm hook blocked

Abbrevations

Blo – Back Loop Only

Ch – Chain

Dc – Double Crochet

Pm – Place Marker

Rep – Repeat

RS – Right Side

Sc – Single Crochet

Sk – Skip

Sl St – Slip Stitch

Sp(s) – Space(s)

St(s) – Stitch(es)

Tr – Treble Crochet

WS – Wrong Side

( ) – Work step in parentheses in the indicated stitch

[ ] – Work step in brackets the number of times indicated

Special Stitches

Shell Stitch (shell st): Work 5 dc in the indicated stitch or space.

V Stitch (v st): Work dc, ch 1, dc in the same stitch or space.

Practise the stitch first in our Shells and V-Stitch tutorial.

Construction

This top is worked seamlessly from the top down. The yoke is worked flat in rows, alternating V-stitch and shell-stitch rows to create the lace pattern. Once the yoke reaches the desired depth, it is joined at the V neck and the body is worked in the round to the desired length. Sleeves are joined at the underarm and worked in the round. A shell stitch edging is added to finish the neckline.

FAQ & Terms

Pattern

XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X)

The pattern is written for the smallest size, with the larger sizes in parentheses ( ). If there is only 1 number, it applies to all sizes—a step-by-step video tutorial is provided on YouTube for size medium.

Yoke

Notes: Use four stitch markers to track your increase sections. Place each marker in the v stitch of each increase section and move it up each row.

On shell rows, when you reach a marked v stitch, work:

ch 1, v st in marked v st, ch 1, then continue with shells across.

On the following row, work a v stitch into each ch-1 space on either side of the marked v stitch and in the v stitch. These create your increases and must not be skipped.

Setup Row (RS):

Ch 62, 1 sc in the 2nd ch from hook, and in each ch across, turn—61 sts. *PM to the RS of work for a helpful reminder.

Row 1 (WS):

Ch 4, work 1 dc in same first st (beg v st), *ch 1, sk next 3 sts, v st in next st; rep from * across, turn—16 v sts. Pm in first v st, sk 2 v sts (sleeve), pm in next v st, sk 8 v sts (back), pm in next v st, sk next 2 v sts (sleeve), pm in last v st.

Row 2:

Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc, ch 1, here and throughout), v st in first v st, pm in v st, ch 1, *shell in each v st to next marker, ch 1, v st in marked v st, pm in v st, ch 1; rep from * across to end, 1 dc in same last v st, turn—4 v sts, 12 shells.

Row 3 (incr.):

Ch 4, v st in ch-1 sp, ch 1, v st in v st, ch 1, v st in ch-1 sp, ch 1, *(v st in 3rd dc of shell st, ch 1) in each shell across, v st in ch-1 sp, ch 1, v st in v st, ch 1, v st in ch-1 sp, ch 1; rep from * across, 1 dc in turning ch, turn—24 v sts.

Row 4:

Ch 4, shell st in each v st to marker, ch 1, *v st in v st, ch 1, shell st in each v st across to marker, ch 1; rep from * across, 1 dc in turning ch, turn—4 v sts, 20 shells.

Row 5 (incr.):

Ch 4, v st in ch-1 sp, ch 1, (v st in 3rd dc of shell st, ch 1) in each shell across, v st in ch-1 sp, *ch 1, v st in v st, ch 1, v st in ch-1 sp, ch 1, (v st in 3rd dc of shell st, ch 1) in each shell across, v st in ch-1 sp; rep from * across, ch 1, 1 dc in turning ch, turn—34 v sts.

Row 6:

Rep Row 4—4 v sts, 30 shells.

Row 7 (incr.):

Rep Row 5—44 v sts.

Row 8:

Rep Row 4—4 v sts, 40 shells.

Row 9 (incr.):

Rep Row 5—54 v sts.

Row 10:

Rep Row 4—4 v sts, 50 shells.

Row 11 (incr.):

Rep Row 5—64 v sts.

Row 12:

Rep Row 4—4 v sts, 60 shells.

Row 13:

Ch 4,sk ch-1 sp, (v st in 3rd dc of shell st, ch 1) in each shell across, v st in ch-1 sp, *ch 1, v st in v st, ch 1, v st in ch-1 sp, ch 1, (v st in 3rd dc of shell st, ch 1) in each shell across, v st in ch-1 sp; rep from * across,omit last v st in ch-1 sp, sk ch-1 sp, 1 dc in turning ch, turn—72 v sts.

At the end of Row 13, ch 1, sl st to the starting ch of the left front panel to join the V-neck. Do not weave in the tail yet. Try on the top to confirm you are satisfied with the V-neck depth before continuing. Once the fit is confirmed, fasten off and weave in the tail.

Notes: The yoke will now be worked in the round. Place a slip knot on your hook and join the yarn to the right side of the yoke at the back right corner marked v-st.

Round 1 (RS):

Ch 4, 1 dc in v st, shell st in each v st to marker, ch 1, *v st in v st, ch 1, shell st in each v st across to marker, ch 1; rep from * around, sl st in starting v st to join, turn—4 v sts, 69 shells. Make sure to add a shell st in ch-1 sp of the V-neck join. XS Proceed to Separate Body and Sleeves

Round 2 (Incr.):

Ch 4, 1 dc in v st, v st in ch-1 sp, ch 1, *(v st in 3rd dc of shell st, ch 1) in each shell across, v st in ch-1 sp, ch 1, v st in v st, ch 1, v st in ch-1 sp, ch 1; rep from * around, sl st in starting v st to join, turn—81 v sts. Tip: At the neckline join, work the V stitch into the shell stitch, using (tr, ch 1, tr) instead of (dc, ch 1, dc).

Rounds 3- – (3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17):

Rep Rounds 1 & 2 ending with— – (77, 85, 93, 101, 109, 117, 125, 133) shells and 4 v sts.

Fit Check Before Separating

Before separating the body and sleeves, try on your yoke.

Using the stitch markers in the

marked v sts; temporarily join the front and back at each armhole, then assess the sleeve depth.

• For a snugger sleeve, separate closer to the underarm.
• For a looser sleeve, work additional rounds before separating.

If you have a smaller arm with a fuller bust, separate once the sleeve depth feels comfortable and add additional stitches to the body as needed.

Blocking Note:

This fabric relaxes with blocking and will gain slight ease.

Before blocking: 5 shells and 9.5 rows = 4 inches

After blocking: 4.5 shells and 9 rows = 4 inches

Do not size up based solely on unblocked measurements.

Separating Body and Sleeves – Adjustment Option

No increases are worked on this round. Work the same number of v sts as shells from the previous row. Skip the chain one spaces at each marked corner. This maintains your current stitch count.

Optional Bust Adjustment:

If additional bust ease is needed but sleeve depth is correct, work a v st into each of the four chain one spaces at the former increase points when separating. This adds 4 v sts around the body.

Note: Do not turn the last round of the body, sk over sleeve section and sl st in next marked v st (underarm is now joined), turn. The opposite sleeve will be joined at the sleeve section.