Olana Top Crochet Pattern

Olana Top in Berroco

What is Being Made

The Olana Top is a women's crocheted pullover garment designed by Amy Palmer and featured in Berroco Book #415. This intermediate-level project creates a fitted top with a decorative ribbed lower edge. The garment is available in 12 different sizes, ranging from 35 inches to 62½ inches in bust measurement, with finished lengths between 22 and 24 inches including the ribbing. The piece shown in the pattern is size 37½ inches, and the design accommodates 2–4 inches of positive ease for a comfortable fit.

Construction Technique

The Olana Top is constructed using a practical in-the-round method that maximizes efficiency and creates a seamless garment. The body is worked in continuous rounds from the lower edge up to the underarms, at which point the piece is divided to work the back and front sections separately. This approach eliminates the need for side seams in the main body. The ribbing at the bottom is worked downward during the finishing phase, creating a polished, professional edge. Throughout construction, the unused color is carried loosely up the side of the work to minimize weaving in ends later. To prevent unsightly long loops, yarns must be twisted at the beginning of every right-side row.

Stitches and Pattern Details

The Olana Top utilizes several fundamental crochet stitches to create its textured appearance. The primary stitch pattern is a shell motif, which is constructed as follows: [3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc] all worked into a single stitch. This creates an elegant, fan-like element that repeats throughout the garment. The pattern stitch works over a multiple of 8 stitches and combines shells with single crochet stitches and chain spaces to create visual interest and drape.

Additional stitches employed in the design include:

• Double crochet (dc) – the primary structural stitch
• Single crochet (sc) – used as accent stitches between shells
• Chain stitches (ch) – create the open spaces within and between pattern repeats
• Back post double crochet (bpdc) – adds textural variation
• Front post double crochet (fpdc) – provides dimensional detail

The lower ribbing section employs a different stitch pattern, worked at a gauge of 22 double crochets over 6 rounds measuring 4 inches, creating a snug, elastic finish.

Materials Required

The Olana Top is designed to be worked with Berroco Farro yarn, a premium fiber available from Berroco, Inc. This yarn is supplied in 50-gram balls. The pattern calls for two coordinating colors throughout the garment. The yardage requirements vary by size but range from 3 to 6 balls of the primary color (shown in #6433 Turquoise) and 4 to 8 balls of the secondary color (shown in #6422 Golden). A 3.25 mm (size D) crochet hook is recommended, though any hook size that achieves the specified gauge may be substituted. Achieving proper gauge is essential for accurate finished measurements and proper fit; crocheters are strongly advised to work a gauge swatch before beginning the project.

The pattern is provided as a downloadable PDF and represents an intermediate-level project suitable for crocheters with foundational skills in working in the round and managing color changes.