How to Wear a Crochet Top?

A sweater and a crocheted top both seem to be items that can keep you warm in the cold autumns and winters, so are there some differences between them? Among them, the concept of crochet tops may be more unfamiliar to you. What is a crochet top? How can we wear a crochet top? What other garments can be worn with a crochet top? You can regard today's blog as a guide to matching crochet tops. After reading it, you will definitely become the most fashionable and eye-catching lady wearing crochet tops!

What Is a Crochet Top?

The word crochet comes from French and means “little hook”. The technique of crochet dates back to the early 1800s, or even earlier. It is said that crochet was first popular in Ireland. During the Great Famine in Ireland in the 19th century, many Irish people engaged in crochet to relieve economic pressure. Later, as a large amount of Irish immigrated to North America, crochet also became popular in the United States. Initially, crochet technique was mostly used to produce some simple home textile products, such as bedspreads, etc. But later, with the improvement of crochet, this technique was also often used in the production of clothing.

Crochet tops are usually hand-woven by craftsmen using crochet hooks and wool. Through different stitches and crochet methods, a variety of exquisite textures and patterns can be created, such as openwork and lace patterns. Openwork is one of the most commonly seen elements on crochet tops due to the natural holes and gaps formed during the weaving process. Of course, in addition to wool, there are also many other types of fabrics that can be used for crochet. For example, cotton yarn is more suitable for making crochet tops in the hot summer.

Since the 1960s and 1970s, women's crocheted clothing has become a fashion trend that attracts a lot of attention. Crocheted tops, dresses, pants and accessories have all been popular. Today, crocheted clothing still occupies an important position in the fashion industry. In addition, crocheting technology has begun to be combined with more fashion style such as backless and one-shoulder.

Even in the summer, a crochet top can be a stylish choice. First, it won’t be a stuffy piece as long as you choose the right fabric. Avoid wool in the summer and choose a crochet top made of polyester or linen. Also, since the crochet process creates holes, you don’t have to worry about the breathability of the crochet top. You can also choose crochet tops that expose more skin, such as crop crochet tops, tank crochet tops, and other styles.

Crocheting is not only a way to create beautiful things, but also a great way to relax and deal with stress. Many people find this activity calming and a way to escape from everyday worries. Crocheting also develops fine motor skills, improves concentration and stimulates creative thinking. This is probably why crochet tops are becoming more popular these days. If you have enough time and energy, you can actually try to crochet a top yourself. But if you don't have the time, there are many different styles of crochet tops that you can choose from.

The Differences between a Crochet Top and a Sweater

🕸️From the perspective of producing techniques, crocheted tops are mainly woven stitch by stitch with a single crochet hook through the “hook loop - pull line” method. Due to the relatively sophisticated technique, it needs to be handmade by craftsmen in most cases, and machine production has not yet achieved the same effect as manual production. Because hand-crocheting takes too long, most crocheted tops are thin and short, otherwise the work would take too long. However, the machine production of sweaters is relatively mature. Handmade sweaters are usually knitted with two or more knitting needles, and the loops are interwoven to form a fabric with a tighter structure.

🕸️In terms of the characteristics of the finished product, generally speaking, crocheted tops have poor elasticity and the hollow patterns are easily deformed, so special care should be taken during washing and maintenance to avoid excessive pulling. Sweaters, on the other hand, have better elasticity, but the main problem is that they are prone to shrinkage and pilling. Due to the large areas of holes and openwork, crocheted tops are less warm than sweaters made of the same fabric. However, the better breathability means that crocheted tops can be worn all year round, rather than just in autumn and winter like sweaters.

🕸️In terms of the wearing experience, the fabrics and manufacturing methods commonly used in crochet tops determine that they are not very skin-friendly. Therefore, most of the time, crochet tops need to be worn with an inner layer. On the contrary, except for some types of wool sweaters, most sweaters are relatively soft and skin-friendly and can be worn next to the body directly.

🕸️Crocheted tops often have a stronger sense of design. Various three-dimensional openwork patterns add a more high-end texture to the crochet tops. Sweaters are mainly in basic styles, with patterns such as twisted, ribbed, and jacquard that are not very obvious, and they focus more on practicality.

What Bottoms to Wear with a Crochet Top?

Which bottoms to pair with a crochet top depends on many factors, including but not limited to the setting, the style of the crochet top, and the look you're hoping to create.

Since short crocheted tops are more commonly seen, they are very suitable for pairing with high waist pants to raise the waistline and optimize the figure proportions. For example, a pair of high waist jeans or a pair of high waist cargo pants are both very good choices. These combinations are very suitable for creating styles such as hot girl style and vacation style.

For the outfits with sense of relaxation, a pair of wide leg pants is a great tool. In particular, the combination of a pair of wide-leg pants made of soft fabrics such as tencel with a strong flowing effect, and a crocheted top is enough to make you stand out in various casual and daily scenes.

The crocheted top with hollow elements is also very suitable for creating a Bohemian style outfit. To match it, you can choose a printed long skirt to create a free and uninhibited fashion style.

Generally speaking, most people think that a crochet top is only suitable for creating a tender style. However, you can also choose some cooler or unisex styled garments to create a contrast. For example, choose a black leather skirt which forms a sense of contrast with the crochet top through its toughness. This outfit will be perfect for a party or an evening event.

There are also several items that you need to pay attention to:

🕸️Since your crocheted top already has the openwork elements, to avoid excessive stacking of the same elements, don't choose openwork pants or skirts as the bottom.

🕸️There is no doubt that crochet tops are not suitable for formal occasions. Therefore, they are not very compatible with some formal bottoms such as suit pants.

What Accessories Can Be Worn with a Crochet Top?

Choosing accessories for a crochet top is not an easy task. Because the crochet top itself has a very unique style and is well-designed. Therefore, when choosing accessories, ordinary ones will be overwhelmed by the crochet top and can not play the role of complement and decoration. The equally eye-catching accessories will conflict with the style of the crochet top to a large extent, causing a disharmony to the overall outfit. Since crochet tops are very tolerant of seasons and weather, we need to consider the temperature when choosing accessories. On the other hand, the style you would like to create also matters.

If you’re going for a bohemian look, tassel earrings and wooden bracelets are perfect for complementing this rustic style. If you like a sweet style, you can choose to wear a flower or a lace headband on your head for decoration. For vacation styled looks, shell necklaces and bracelets are more suitable for expressing a sense of leisure and relaxation.

A straw hat is definitely the most suitable choice for the summer vacation outfit. Otherwise, a bucket hat is also very suitable for the beach scene. While in winter, you can choose a beret to pair with the crochet top to create an elegant styled look.

For a sweet styled crochet top outfit, you can choose a pair of Mary Janes to complement this kind of sweet outfit. For the vacation style, a pair of sandals, even a pair of flip-flops, will not look sloppy. On the contrary, these two types of shoes are more suitable for walking on the beach and are also very conducive to creating a look full of sense of comfort and relaxation.

In addition, for your crochet outfits in autumn and winter, you can also wear a scarf or a pair of gloves to keep warm and add extra highlights.