Feb
The Basic Setup and Why I Even Started This Thing
So last summer I was sitting on my porch trying to avoid going back inside where my roommate was blasting some reality show about people buying storage units or something, and I just started making granny squares because that’s what I do when I’m bored. I had this bag of Red Heart Super Saver in like four different colors that I’d picked up at Walmart for probably three dollars each, and I figured I might as well make something wearable instead of another blanket that would sit in my closet.
The thing about a granny square tank top is you’re basically just making a bunch of squares and stitching them together, but you gotta actually think about where they go. I made mine with about twelve squares total – four for the front, four for the back, and then some half-squares for the sides because otherwise you get this weird boxy shape that doesn’t fit right.
Making the Actual Squares
Each square starts the same way. Chain four, slip stitch to make a ring. Then you’re doing three chains for your first double crochet, two more double crochets into the ring, chain two, and repeat that three more times. That gives you four cluster groups with chain spaces in the corners. It’s pretty straightforward and you can watch TV while doing it which is why I like granny squares in general.
For the second round you slip stitch into the corner space, do your three chains again, then two double crochets, chain two, three double crochets all in that same corner space. Then chain one and move to the next corner. Keep going around. Third round is the same idea but now you’re putting three double crochets in the chain-one spaces between corners too.
I made mine about five inches square which meant doing like four or five rounds per square. You want them all the same size obviously or you’re gonna have a weird lumpy shirt situation.
The Annoying Part Nobody Warns You About
Here’s what drove me absolutely insane – weaving in all those ends. Every single square has at least two ends to weave in, and if you’re changing colors like I was (I did white, yellow, coral, and this turquoise color) you’ve got even more. I probably spent as much time weaving in ends as I did actually crocheting the squares. My cat kept trying to attack the yarn tails hanging off everything which didn’t help.
Also the joining process is just tedious. Some people whipstitch their squares together, some people do a slip stitch seam, I ended up using single crochet to join mine because I wanted a visible seam as part of the design. But you have to be really careful about tension or some seams end up tighter than others and the whole thing pulls weird.
Layout and Construction
I laid out my squares on my bed first to figure out the color pattern. Front had four squares in a two-by-two arrangement. Back was the same. Then for the sides I did these half squares which are basically – okay so you make a triangle by only working back and forth on half the square pattern instead of going in rounds, if that makes sense.
The straps were just chains with a row of double crochet. I made them about twelve inches long and maybe two inches wide. You could do them thinner but I wanted something substantial that wouldn’t dig into my shoulders. I attached them by sewing them onto the top corners of the front and back panels.
The armholes are just the natural gaps between where your front and back panels meet on the sides. I didn’t do any special edging at first but then it looked unfinished so I went back and did a round of single crochet around all the openings – the neckline, armholes, and bottom hem.
Sizing and Fit Issues
This is where I messed up initially and had to remake part of it. Granny squares don’t have any stretch unless you’re using a really specific stitch pattern with them, which I wasn’t. So you need to make sure your measurement is actually bigger than your bust measurement or it’s not gonna fit over your body.
I wear a medium in most shirts and my bust is about 36 inches. I made my front and back panels about 18 inches wide each, which seems like it should work (18 times two is 36) but you need ease. Like at least two inches of ease, maybe more. So really you want each panel to be about 19 or 20 inches wide.
The length is easier to figure out. I made mine about 16 inches from shoulder to hem because I wanted it cropped. If you want it longer just add more squares vertically or make your squares bigger to start with.
Yarn Choices and Why They Matter
I used Red Heart Super Saver which is acrylic and cheap and honestly fine for a summer top. It’s not gonna be as breathable as cotton but it’s easier to care for. You could definitely use Lily Sugar’n Cream cotton yarn which is what I’d probably use if I made another one. The cotton would be cooler to wear and it has a nicer drape.
Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton would also work really well. It’s a worsted weight cotton that comes in good colors. I haven’t personally used it for a tank top but I made dishcloths with it once and it held up nice.
The problem with going too lightweight with your yarn is that the squares end up flimsy and you can see through them. Unless that’s the look you want, which like, fine, but I wanted something I could actually wear over a bralette without my entire bra showing through the gaps.
Color Planning or Lack Thereof
I didn’t have a set color plan when I started. I just grabbed colors that seemed summery and started rotating through them. Each square had three colors – I’d do two rounds in one color, two rounds in another, then one round in the third color. This made them all cohesive even though the color order was different on different squares.
If you’re more organized than me you could map out exactly which colors go where but honestly the randomness looked pretty good. The single crochet joining in white tied everything together anyway.
The Edging That Makes It Look Finished
After I had everything assembled I did that single crochet border I mentioned around all the openings. For the neckline I did two rounds of single crochet to make it sturdier. The armholes just got one round. The bottom hem I did three rounds and on the last round I added some picot edging which is just chain three and slip stitch back into the same stitch – it makes little bumps that look kinda decorative.
You could skip all the edging if you want a more raw look but I think it needs at least one round or the whole thing looks unfinished and like you just gave up halfway through.
Wearing It and Practical Stuff
The tank top is definitely casual. I wear it over a black bralette or bandeau and it’s cute for like farmers market trips or hanging out in the backyard. It’s not something I’d wear to work or anything but that wasn’t the point.
Washing is easy – I just throw it in a mesh bag and wash it with my regular clothes in cold water, then lay it flat to dry. The acrylic doesn’t shrink or stretch out. If you make yours with cotton it might shrink a tiny bit the first time you wash it so maybe make it slightly bigger than you think you need.
The weight of it is nice actually. It has some substance to it because of all the layers of crochet but it’s not heavy. I wore it on a 85 degree day and wasn’t dying of heat or anything.
What I’d Do Differently Next Time
I’d probably make the armholes slightly smaller. Mine are a bit big and gape open when I move around. You could fix this by making your side panels wider or by adding an extra square to each side.
I might also try doing hexagons instead of squares just for variety. Or I’ve seen people do granny square tops where the squares are positioned diamond-wise instead of straight on, which looks interesting but seems like it would be harder to construct.
The other thing is I wish I’d used stitch markers when I was joining everything because I kept losing track of where I was supposed to be stitching into and had to rip out seams multiple times. Just use the markers, it saves time even though it feels fussy.
Overall it took me maybe two weeks working on it here and there in the evenings. If you sat down and really focused you could probably finish one in like three or four days. The actual crochet skill level is beginner – if you can make a basic granny square you can make this top. It’s just the assembly that takes patience and attention.
