Mesh tops can be worked in one piece, as two seamed panels, or with a stitch pattern that creates open honeycomb texture. These eight original patterns make their construction and size range clear before you choose a project.
Stitch markers help track the mesh repeat across a whole garment, especially on the two panel versions where you’re seaming afterward.
Mesh top patterns to explore
1. Peek-A-Boo V Neck Mesh Top
Michelle Moore’s Peek-A-Boo V Neck Top is rated easy and worked in one piece from the bottom up in Comfy sport weight yarn. It uses a G/6 (4 mm) hook for the ribbed bands and a G+/7 (4.5 mm) hook for the mesh body, in sizes XS to 5X, and the free pattern includes a step-by-step video. The page shows it as a trendy mesh design worn over a tank or with a skirt. Working it flat in one piece keeps the shaping simple to follow.
2. Honeycomb Crochet Mesh Top
Jennifer Renaud’s honeycomb mesh top uses a variation of the double honeycomb mesh stitch: instead of a double crochet, you work two half double crochets into each chain space. She explains that many honeycomb stitches have a row of single crochet worked into the chain spaces, which she thinks would be too heavy for a summer top unless you use fingering weight yarn. It uses DK weight yarn, an H/5 mm hook for the chain setup and a G/4 mm hook for the mesh, in XS through 5XL.
3. Crochet Mesh Top
Alnaar Harnish’s mesh top is made from two clover stitch panels, whipped together with a whip stitch, in Paintbox Yarns Cotton Mix DK on an F/3.75 mm hook, in sizes XS through 2XL. She says the clover stitch, which alternates groups of three double crochets with a chain, is one of the easiest mesh stitches, forming clusters that look like small clovers. She suggests layering it over a tank for the office or pairing it with a bralette for a night out.
4. Sassy Crochet Mesh Summer Top
Jenny and Teddy’s Sassy Mesh Summer Top is made with the open mesh (or fishnet) stitch, alternating double crochet and chain-1 spaces, on a 4 mm hook, and the free pattern comes with a full video tutorial for beginners. The size is set by your bust measurement, and you make it bigger or smaller by adding chains to the foundation; the sample fits a 30 to 34 inch bust and is about 16 inches long. She says you can use any yarn weight or fiber, and add more rows to the sleeves to turn it into a mesh sweater.
5. The Chloe Mesh Sleeves Top
Ashlea’s Chloe is a sleeves-only mesh top worked top down in treble crochet separated by chain-2 spaces, in sizes XS through 2XL with size 2 or 3 yarn and an H/5 mm hook. One of her testers made the 2XL with just shy of one skein of Lion Brand Mandala. She says these mesh tops work up so fast you won’t believe it and are surprisingly warm. An ad-free printable is on Ravelry, Etsy and her blog shop.
6. Easy Crochet Mesh Top
Lisa Auch’s Cam Crochet Mesh Top is a free written pattern, a top down raglan in DK yarn (about 400 g) on a 5.5 mm hook, sized S through 3XL for a 34 to 54 inch chest. She says not to be put off by how difficult the mesh looks, and suggests confident crocheters can skip straight to the pattern while beginners should read the preface first. It uses an open chain-2 and skip-2 treble mesh with V stitch shoulder increases.
7. Circle Leaf Lace Summer Top
Briana Kepner’s Circle Leaf summer top is worked seamlessly from the top down in the Circle Leaf stitch, in sport weight yarn on 3.5 mm and 4 mm hooks, sized XS through 5X for a 32 to 64 inch bust. It has flutter sleeves and an optional ribbed hem, and it is rated advanced beginner. Yarn amounts are given by size, with Cascade 220 and cotton listed as substitutes, and a note to check gauge since cotton can run larger than wool.
8. Honeycomb Mesh Crop Top
Tasha Margette’s Honeycomb Mesh Tee is a crop top in Lion Brand 24/7 cotton, chosen for the lovely colors and durability (sweat, to be exact), which is cool, breathable and has a great stretch. It uses two panels worked in a honeycomb mesh stitch on a 4.5 mm hook, counting squares rather than stitches to track rows, then you join the panels with a marked neck opening and sleeve depth. She says thanks to everyone who tagged her photos of finished tops.