Coastal Waves Crochet Top for Kids: Free Pattern

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When the air gets warm and the sun shines bright, you know it’s time to break out those beachy handmade pieces. The Coastal Waves Crochet Top for Kids is the perfect mix of airy stitches, ocean vibes, and lightweight comfort. This adorable top is made for sunny adventures, family vacations, and everyday summer fun!


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Whether your little one is dipping her toes in the tide or running through the grass at a picnic, this crochet top for kids is a stylish and breathable layer that’s as comfortable as it is cute. Bonus? It’s totally customizable for size and color!


Crocheting for kids is especially rewarding because the pieces work up quickly and are always appreciated by tiny fashionistas. The Coastal Waves Crochet Top is the kind of piece your child will want to wear again and again—whether it’s for a day at the beach, a birthday party, or just hanging out at home.

So grab your hook, some colorful yarn, and get ready to bring those beachy vibes to life, one stitch at a time.




Why You’ll Love this Crochet Top for Kids

This crochet top brings a light, breezy feel thanks to the open stitch work on the lower half and a more structured stitch on top for full coverage. It’s a great balance of fashion and function – cool enough for hot days, with just enough coverage to keep your child comfortable and stylish.

Here are just a few reasons to love this design:

  • Perfect for Warm Weather: The open lacy stitchwork allows for airflow, making it ideal for summer.
  • Endless Color Options: Use solids, ombrés, or even stash-busting stripes.
  • Beginner-Friendly Stitches: If you’re comfortable with basic stitches, you’re ready to tackle this project.
  • Inspired by Coastal Life: The stitch pattern mimics gentle waves—totally on theme!
  • Machine-Washable (depending on your yarn): Parents, rejoice!


Stitch Details

The Coastal Waves Crochet Top for kids features two main stitch sections:

  1. The Solid Top – worked in rows of half double crochet or double crochet (depending on size) for that full-coverage look across the chest and shoulders.
  2. The Lacy Bottom – this section uses a beautiful open stitch pattern that looks like mini waves or shells. It adds texture, visual interest, and lots of breathability.

Don’t worry if you’re new to lacy stitch patterns—this one is super easy to memorize after a few repeats!


Sizing & Fit

These instructions for the Coastal Waves Crochet Top for Kids free pattern includes six sizes (2T-12Y). It’s slightly cropped, which is super trendy right now, but can easily be lengthened by adding extra rows at the bottom. The lacy section adds a little stretch, so it’s comfortable and forgiving.


Coastal Waves Crochet Top For Kids showing a Young girl wearing a bright aqua blue crocheted top with lacy wave-like stitches on the bottom half, sitting on a rock near the water on a breezy day.

How to Style It

This crochet top for kids is versatile enough for:

  • Beach cover-ups over a swimsuit
  • Layering with a tank or bralette underneath
  • Pairing with shorts, skirts, or jeans for casual outings
  • Dressing up with a sunhat and sandals for vacation photos

Want to match with your mini? Make one in adult sizes too! (You can adapt the design or look out for a grown-up version.)


Tips for Crocheting Success

  • Swatch it! Gauge matters, especially for wearables. A little swatch now saves a lot of frogging later.
  • Block it. Cotton sometimes curls—give your finished top a gentle blocking to help it lay flat and open up those gorgeous lacy stitches.
  • Try it on as you go. This is the best way to know if you’re getting the right fit.


Personalization Ideas

Want to make your top one-of-a-kind? Here are a few ways to personalize it:

  • Add appliqués or beads along the hemline.
  • Crochet a drawstring waist with tassels or shells.
  • Use gradient or ombré yarn for a cool fade effect.
  • Add a bit of shimmer thread for sparkle lovers.
  • Add fringe to the bottom for a boho vibe.

You can even let your child choose the yarn color—that always makes the finished piece extra special!


Coastal Waves Crochet Top For Kids showing a Young girl wearing a bright aqua blue crocheted top with lacy wave-like stitches on the bottom half, standing near the water on a breezy day.
how to get the

Coastal Waves Crochet Top
for Kids Pattern

Option 1: Continue scrolling for free pattern instructions on this site

Option 2: Get the PDF download FREE for a limited time!

Option 3: Purchase the ad-free PDF that includes tutorial photos from one of my shops



What Materials do I need?

The Coastal Waves Crochet Top for Kids was made using a sport weight cotton yarn, specifically Premier Yarns Cotton Fair in the colorway Turquoise. Some great substitutes are: Lion Brand Cotton Bamboo, Debbie Bliss Eco Baby, and KnitPicks Shine Sport.

The Crochet Top Pattern

Keep reading for a list of what you need to make the Coastal Waves Crochet Top for Kids, including the stitch pattern instructions!

Coastal Waves Crochet Top For Kids showing a Young girl wearing a bright aqua blue crocheted top with lacy wave-like stitches on the bottom half, standing near the water on a breezy day.



Materials

Sport Weight Yarn (#2)

  • (3,3.5,4,5,6,7)oz // (270,315,360,450,540,630)yds

G/6/4.00mm Crochet Hook

Yarn Needle

Scissors


Gauge

Bottom: 20 sts  x 14 rows = 4”

Top: 17.5 sts x 12 rows = 4”


Sizes

Child’s (Chest)

2T (21”[53cm])

4T (23”[58cm])

6Y (25”[63.5cm])

8Y (26.5”[67cm])

10Y (28”[71cm])

12Y (30”[76cm])


Stitch Guide

arnd = around

ch = chain

dc = double crochet

dec = single crochet decrease

Fsc = Foundation Single Crochet

sc = single crochet

sk = skip

sl st(s) = slip stitch(es)

st(s) = stitch(es)

YO = yarn over


Skill Level

Intermediate


Written in U.S. Terms





Notes
  • Beginning ch-1 (sc rows) does not count as a stitch; Beginning ch-2 (dc rows) does count as a stitch.
  • Where asterisks appear, repeat the instructions between them.
  • This pattern is worked from the bottom-up.
  • Instructions are written for size 2T with larger sizes in parenthesis
  • Row count is written with 2T in parenthesis with larger sizes in brackets
  • This pattern is written for hip length. For a crop top, reduce the amount of row 2-7 repeats in half. For a longer top, continue repeating steps 2-7 of the bottom portion until desired length is reached (add half or more). 
  • Yarn amounts listed are for hip length finish.


Crochet Pattern Instructions

BOTTOM

R1. Fsc 110(120,130,140,150,160), sl st to join (do not twist), turn  

OR Ch 111(121,131,141,151,161), sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, sl st to join (do not twist) (110)[120,130,140,150,160]

R2. Ch 1, *sc x 3, ch 3, skip 3, dc, ch 3, skip 3* across, sl st to join in 1st sc, turn [for repeating rows finish: sl st to join in 1st sc, sl st in next sc, turn] 

R3. *Ch 3, skip ch, dc in dc, ch 3, skip ch, sc x 3* across, sl st to join in 1st ch of beginning ch-3, turn

R4. Ch 1, sc in each st and 3 sc in each ch-3 space (working arnd ch, not in it), across, sl st to join in 1st sc, sl st in next sc, turn (110)[120,130,140,150,160]

R5. Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 3), skip 3, sc x 3, ch 3, skip 3, *dc, ch 3, skip 3, sc x 3, ch 3, skip 3* across, sl st to join in 2nd ch of beginning ch 5, turn 

R6. Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 3), skip ch, sc x 3, ch 3, skip ch, *dc in dc, ch 3, skip ch, sc x 3, ch 3, skip ch* across, sl st to join in 2nd ch of beginning ch 5, turn 

R7. Ch 1, sc in same sp as join and in each st and 3 sc in each ch 3 space (working arnd ch, not in it), across, sl st to join in 1st sc, sl st in next sc, turn (110)[120,130,140,150,160]

R8-21(27,27,33,33,39). Repeat R2-7

R22(28,28,34,34,40). Ch 1, *sc x 7(7,7,6,5,6), skip 1* across, sc in last 5(7,1,6,5,5) sts, sl st to join, turn (95)[105,115,120,125,135]

R23(29,29,35,35,41). Ch 2 (counts as 1st dc), dc across, sl st to join, turn (96)[105,113,120,125,137]

R24(30,30,36,36,42). Repeat R23(29,29,35,35,41).

R25(31,31,37,37,43). Ch 1, sc across, sl st to join, turn (96)[105,113,120,125,137]


FRONT PANEL

R1. Ch 2 (counts as 1st dc), dc x 47(51,55,59,61,67), turn (48)[52,56,60,62,68]

R2. Ch 2 (counts as 1st dc), dc across, turn (48)[52,56,60,62,68]

R3. Ch 1, sc across, turn (48)[52,56,60,62,68]

R4-6(9,12,15,18,21). Repeat R1-3

R7(10,13,16,19,22). Ch 2 (counts as 1st dc), dc x 13(15,16,18,18,21), turn (leave rest of the sts unworked for now) (14)[16,17,19,19,22]

R8(11,14,17,20,23). Ch 2 (counts as 1st dc), dc x 13(15,16,18,18,21), Fasten. (14)[16,17,19,19,22]Break yarn, sk 20(20,22,22,23,24), sts, attach to next unworked st; Repeat steps 7(10,13,16,19,22). & 8(11,14,17,20,23).


BACK PANEL

Attach to 1st unworked st of row 25(31,31,37,37,43) of body;

R1. Ch 2 (counts as 1st dc), dc x 47(52,56,59,62,68), turn (48)[53,57,60,63,69]

R2. Ch 2 (counts as 1st dc), dc across, turn (48)[53,57,60,63,69]

R3. Ch 1, sc across, turn (48)[53,57,60,63,69]

R4-8(11,14,17,20,23). Repeat R1-3; Fasten at the end of row 8(11,14,17,20,23).
(48)[53,57,60,63,69]


Finishing
  • Sew shoulders together: Matching the outside corners together, skip 12(14,15,17,17,22) stitches and sew last stitch together (working through both layers: front panel and back panel)
  • Optional: sc around the outside of the armhole for a more polished finish.
  • Optional: Add fringe to every other stitch across the bottom.
  • Optional: Attach the fringe to the adjacent fringe and add beads to the bottom.



And that’s how you make a coastal waves crochet top for kids!

Coastal Waves Crochet Top For Kids showing a Young girl wearing a bright aqua blue crocheted top with lacy wave-like stitches on the bottom half, sitting on a rock near the water on a breezy day.

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Happy Crocheting!

Written pattern and photographs ©2017 Sonya Blackstone of Blackstone Designs. All Rights Reserved. Please do not sell, share, or modify this pattern, but instead share the link to where the pattern can be found. You may sell items you make with this pattern. This pattern, as with all Blackstone Designs/Sonya Blackstone patterns, are not for educational use without written permission from the designer.  

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