How To Crochet Indian Blouse – Chevron blouse

It’s no hidden fact that I absolutely love sarees. Women in our family spend hours, if not months, selecting, reselecting, shortlisting and finally buying the saree, which they keep hidden in their closet for indefinite amount of time until that perfect occasion comes. Plus choosing a blouse design to wear on saree involves multiple brainstorming sessions.

My obsession with crochet has made me amalgamate the two. Even the first pattern for wearable I worked on was that of a simple black blouse.

Thought process

In the quest for my next crochet blouse I wanted to work with chevron pattern with V-neck and open back. I am fond of sambhalpuri sarees and tried to make the design look like one.

Here is how I went about it. I worked top down, front two panels first and then back two panels. Joined them together and continued working to and fro till the required height was attained.

Materials used

I used 3mm hook. Two types of yarn were used. One cotton yarn in light grey colour by GulEra softy 3ply and other cake yarn in twin shade of pink and red. I used them alternately to make chevron pattern.This used 300g of 100 % cotton yarn.

I made the button closure at back with cords tied at the back of the neck for proper fit.

This pattern described here is how I made my own crochet blouse. It includes basic structure and crochet charts for each segment of the blouse and is not a detailed step by step pattern. Since I basically winged it as I went along. I have used US crochet terms. And made it in size S.

Symbols for reading the pattern instructions–

• Sl st- Slip stitch
• St – Stitch
• Ch= chain stitch
• Sc= single crochet in stitch
• Dc= double crochet in stitch

Instructions

The chart below depicts the stitch work I used for chevron pattern on the blouse. Use this chart while working the colour change in the pattern instructions below.

Left side of front piece

1. Ch 18
2. Row 1- Turn, dc in the 4th ch from hook, dc in every ch st there after. Total dc – 16
3. Row 2- Turn, ch3, dc in each st.
4. Row 3 to 16 -Repeat step no. 3 fourteen (14) times more.
5. Row 17 – Turn, ch3, dc in same st, dc in every dc st, 2dc in last st. Total dc – 18 (2dc increased)
6. Row 18 to 27 – Repeat step no. 5 ten(10) times more. Total dc at the end of row 27 – 38dc
7. Row 28- Ch9, turn, dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in each ch sp, continue to make dc in each st, 2dc in last st. Total dc-45
8. Row 29 – Turn, ch3, dc in same st, dc in every st till end of row. Total dc – 46.
9. Row 30 to 45 – Repeat step no. 8. Total dc at the end of row 42- 62dc

Right side of front panel

• Like left front piece, but mirrored. That is while working Row 29 – attach yarn on other side (not the working side of row) , ch10, cut the yarn and pull out.
• Increase single dc on each row on the opposite side.
• No increases on the side where ch10 was done.

Back panel (make two mirror images)

1. Ch 18
2. Row 1- Turn, dc in the 4th ch from hook, dc in every ch st there after. Total dc – 16
3. Row 2- Turn, ch3, dc in each st.
4. Row 3 to 16 -Repeat step no. 3 fourteen (14) times more.
5. Row 17 – Turn, ch3, dc in same st, dc in every dc st. Total dc – 17 (1dc increased)
6. Row 18 to 27 – Repeat step no. 5 ten(10) times more. Total dc at the end of row 27 – 27dc
7. Row 28- Ch9, turn, dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in each ch sp, continue to make dc in each st. Total dc- 34
8. Row 29 – Turn, ch3, dc in every st till end of row. Total dc – 34.
9. Row 30 to 45 – Repeat step no. 8. Total dc at the end of row 42- 34dc
10. Other back panel – Work the second piece like first, but mirrored. That is while working Row 29 – attach yarn on other side (not the working side of row) , ch10, cut the yarn and pull out. Rest work the same without any increase on both sides.

Neck edging

• Attach grey colour yarn on the wrong side for working the neck edge.
• Ch3, work dc in each st till the end.
• Turn, ch1, *skip 2 st, 6 dc in next st, skip 2 st, school in next st**. Work * to ** till the end of the row. Cut the yarn.
• Work same way for other side.

Assembly

1. Sew shoulder seams, edge to edge, and sew side seams in the same way.
2. Place the front panels such that they overlap by 10 stitches. Sew the front panels over these 10 stitches.

Bottom of the blouse

1. With grey yarn, Ch10, attach it the one side. Cut the yarn.
2. Row 1 – Attach grey yarn on the other side, ch12, turn, dc in the 4th st from hook, work 1dc in every dc st till end of the row. Total dc – 202
3. Row 2 to 4 – Work next three rows in following way. Turn, *1dc in grey colour, next two dc in red colour**. Repeat * to ** till end.
4. Row 5 – Work the entire row in grey colour. Turn, ch3, dc in every dc st. Cut the yarn and fasten off.

Edge around armhole and bottom

1. Attach yarn, ch1, sc in same st, sc in every st around armhole. Sl st to join.
2. Ch1, sc in same st, sc in next 4st,* ch3, sl st in the first ch, sc in next 5 st**
3. Repeat *to ** till the end.
4. Repeat the same for the other armhole and bottom edge.

Fastening cords (make two)

1. Attach two stands of yarn to the back side 5cm below the joining. Ch150. Cut the yarn.
2. Make one more on other side.
3. Make four cones, two of each colour. You will find multiple YouTube videos on how to crochet a cone.
4. Attach two to each cord like in the picture.

Attach buttons

I used tik-tok buttons here. Sew 4 bottom parts of these buttons on to the top of the right back piece. And top parts below the left back panel.

Wash care- Handwash in cold water and dry flat.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions.