Not Your Granny's Tee- Free Pattern - A Purpose and A Stitch

Last year I had the most fantastic opportunity to be featured on the Joy of Motion blog, sharing the Not Your Granny’s Tee (you can read all about it here) and I was so overwhelmed with all the positive feedback we received!

So you can imagine how excited I am to share this updated version today! Since releasing the pattern last year, I had had a vision of making a version more colorful, and adding some sizes to the original which was only available in adult female XS-2XL sizes.

So I purchased a few fun colors of the ZZ Twist yarn used to make my first and added a bit of pizzaz by making the flowers in the granny square colored. I’ll instruct you on when to change colors in the pattern below, but the video tutorial over on our Petal Perfect Granny Square page will walk you through the step-by-step from start to finish on making the granny square, including the color changes.

I have also included a video tutorial on this page of joining the squares as you go, as well as working the mesh stitch and assembly. If you prefer a higher quality version of that video, you can also view it on our Youtube page here.

All in all, I hope you guys enjoy this updated version of this tee and if you make one, please don’t forget to share with us on social media, nothing brings us more joy than seeing your versions of our patterns.

What You Need

5.0 mm (US H-8) crochet hook (or hook to meet gauge)
2 (2,3,3,4,5,5,6) skeins of Lion Brand’s ZZ Twist or alternate aran weight (4) acrylic or cotton based yarn (in 1-3 colors per square) (approximately 265, 448, 603, 700, 880, 1055, 1230, 1460 yards)
Embroidery or darning needle
Scissors
Stitch Markers

8923AE88-89DE-4EBC-86A7-CAAACFB90F72_4_5005_c

Gauge Pattern

Granny squares

1 granny square= 3.5” x 3.5”

(dc, sc), ch 2, sk 2 pattern crocheted in rows

18 Stitches= 4”

10 rows= 4”

Abbreviations Used

ch= chain

sl st= slip stitchsc= single crochetdc= double crochetsk= skip [stitch]ch sp= chain spacefo= fasten off

Special Stitches

Shell Stitch= dc 5 into designated stitch

V Stitch= dc, ch 1, dc

Pattern Notes

This pattern is written in US standard sizes and abbreviations
This top is designed to fit over a tank top, with an approximate 1-3” positive ease. For some of the child sizes, the bust may have a negative ease according to US standards. It is for this reason that I recommend double checking the bust of the person wearing this top to ensure the best fit before making it.
I recommend going through and highlighting your size before beginning.
The pattern is written in child size 18month-4T size with (Child 6-10, child 12-16, adult XS/S, M/L, XL/2XL, 3XL, and 4XL/5XL) sizes to follow in parentheses.
The final stitch count for each row is listed in parentheses following the instructions.
The top mesh and back mesh panel patterns are worked back and forth in rows with turning chs at the beginning of each row. These ch sts DO NOT count as a stitch.
Completed pieces will include: granny squares joined together to make a large square, a top panel seamed to the top of the granny squares vertically (as opposed to horizontally) and a back panel which will be seamed in place vertically (as opposed to typical horizontal-fashion) leaving holes for the arms and neck.
I highly recommend checking out our Petal Perfect Granny Square page for a step-by-step picture and video tutorial on making this granny square before you begin.
When joining the granny squares, I recommend the join as you go method. You will complete one full square, and then add each additional square as you go after working the 5th round of the pattern. The 6th round will be added as you go, attaching it to the previous squares in the corners and sc spaces from round 5. We have a video of this method linked on this page, as well as on our Youtube channel here.
If you choose to join completed individual squares, I recommend joining every square in one row first (so 3, 4, 5, etc… across at once), then joined the rows together (as opposed to only joining 2 squares at a time)

Completed Back Panels (before assembly) should measure approximately:

18m-4T= 12.5” wide X 10.5” tall
Child 6-10= 16.5” wide X 14” tall
Child 12-16= 18.5” wide X 17.5” tall
XS/S= 20” wide X 17.5” tall
M/L= 21” wide X 21” tall
XL/2XL=21.5” wide X 24.5” tall
3XL= 22” wide X 28” tall
4XL/5XL= 22.5” wide X 31.5” tall

For Comprehensive Sizing

Due to the make up of this pattern consisting of granny squares sewn together, comprehensive sizing between sizes listed is difficult to achieve unless you change gauge.

Therefore, if you are looking to make a size measuring between two sizes, the easiest thing to adjust would be your hook size, and perhaps the weight yarn you are using. To make a top that is slightly larger than a size listed, you will need to increase your hook size to make larger squares and stitches. To decrease, you will need to go down in hook size to make smaller squares and tighter stitches.

Granny Square Pattern (make 9, 16, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45)

Foundation: Ch 6, sl st into your 1st ch (farthest from your hook)

Round 1: ch 1, sc 12 into the loop created (rather then into stitches), sl st into 1st sc

Round 2: ch 2, dc into 1st sc, *ch 1, sk 1, dc 2 into next, repeat from * around, ch 1, sl st into top of ch 2, p/u second color if using.

Round 3 [in second color, if using]: ch 2, *dc 5 into “v” created by your 2 dc from previous round, sc into the ch 1 space from previous round (located right after your “v”), repeat from * around, sl st into 1st dc

Round 4: sl st 2 (to get to the top of your “petal”), p/u 3rd color (if using), *ch 7, sk 5, sc, repeat from * around, ss into 2nd sl st of this round (at the top of your 1st “petal”)

Round 5 [cont in 3rd color, if using]: *ch 3, sk 3, sc (into 4th st of ch 7 from previous round), ch 3, sk 3, sc, repeat from * around, sc into 1st st

Round 6: ch 2,* dc 5 into ch 3 sp from previous round, ch 4, dc 5 into same ch 3 sp, ch 2, sk 3, sc, ch 2, sk 3, sc, repeat from * around right before corner, then sc into base of ch 2, fo

Back Panel Pattern

Row 1: ch 55 (67, 73, 91, 94, 97, 100, 103), starting in 4th ch from your hook *(dc, sc), ch 2, sk 2, rep from * across, turn (54, 66, 72, 90, 93, 96, 99, 102)

Row 2: ch 3, sk first sc, work (dc, sc) in first dc; *ch 2, sk 3, repeat from * across (54, 66, 72, 90, 93, 96, 99, 102)

Row 3- 27( 35, 43, 43, 53, 62, 70, 79) : repeat row 2, fo

Top Mesh Panel

Row 1: ch 10 (13, 22, 10, 16, 19, 22, 7), starting in 4th ch from your hook *(dc, sc), ch 2, sk 2, rep from * across, turn (9, 12, 21, 9, 15, 18, 21, 6)

Row 2: ch 3, sk first sc, work (dc, sc) in first dc; *ch 2, sk 3, repeat from * across. (9, 12, 21, 9, 15, 18, 21, 6)

Row 3- 27( 35, 43, 43, 53, 62, 70, 79): repeat row 2, fo leaving long tail for assembly

Assembly

Join the granny squares together to create a large square panel. Follow the chart here for assembly of how many squares wide and tall you’ll need for your size:

Weave in the ends of the granny square panel.

The Top and Back Panels will be joined with the rows as your width and the stitches (foundation row) as the length. Using the mattress stitch, seam the top panel to the 3 (4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) granny squares running width-wise.

Blue Lines indicate stitch markers

Line up the front and back, placing stitch markers in the 4 corners. Measure approximately 2” (3”, 4”, 4”, 5.5”, 6.5”, 7”, 7.5”) in on either side of the top and place stitch markers.