Dragon Scale Halter Top

Designed by ​Earth Tricks

Materials Shown:
Worsted weight yarn (Swish Worsted Yarn in Jade from KnitPicks). Approx 350-400yds
F/3.75mm Hook
Gauge: 8dc x 3 rows = 2” x 2”
This pattern assumes a familiarity with the crocodile stitch. If you’re unfamiliar, check out this
tutorial on how it works: ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB9__oYOCEk
To apply your new crocodile stitch knowledge, you may also want to try this simple pattern, the
Dragon Egg Bag: ​http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-egg

This pattern modifies the traditional crocodile stitch in two ways: 1) The scale is worked “upside
down”, meaning instead of the scale pointing towards the previous row, it is worked away from
the previous row. 2) A picot (a ch 3) has been added to the tip of each scale, to give the scales
a sharper, more pointed effect.

Cups:
Written as ​A-B cup (C-D cup, DD cup)
Row 1:​ Ch 14 (15, 16), dc into 4th ch from hook
(counts as first two sts). Dc 9 (10, 11) more. In
last ch, 2dc, ch 2, 2dc. Dc 12 (13, 14) to end.
Row 2: ​ Ch 3 (counts as first dc). Dc 14 (15, 16).
In ch sp, 2dc, ch 2, 2dc. Dc 14 (15, 16)
Row 3:​ Repeat pattern, with dcs up the sides,
and 2dc, ch2, 2dc in the ch sp, and dc down the
next side.
For A-B cup, work total of 6 rows. For C-D
cup, work 7 rows. For DD Cup, for 8 rows.
At the end of the first cup, leave a 5ch tail before
fastening off. At the end of the second cup, ch 7
and do not fasten off. Continue working on Row 1
of bodice.
Bodice and Scaling:
Row 1:​ Continuing from the second cup,​ ​this row will be worked into the bottom of the cups. ​Dc
into the 3rd ch from hook and 4 dc across the remaining chs, and continuing along the bottom of
the cup. ​You need to work 2 dcs into each horizontal dc on the cup as you dc across​. By the last
st of the first cup, you should have 29 (33, 27) dcs. Dc2tog the last st of the first cup and the first
st of the second cup. Then continue to dc across the second cup, including the ch 5 at the end.
58 (66, 74) dcs.
Row 2​: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc 7 (8, 9). [Ch 1, dc, sk 1 stitch, dc]. (This makes our upside
down V-stitch for our crocodile stitch). Repeat [] 14 (16, 18) times. Dc 6 (7, 8). You should finish
this row with ​15 (17, 19) upside-down V-stitches​, with a border of dc at the ends. Fasten off.
Row 3:​ Reattach your yarn in the first sk st made by the first upside-down V-stitch of the
previous row.​ Because the crocodile stitch will be worked towards the top instead of towards the
bottom, your scales will show the right-side of your dc’s instead of the wrong side. 5 ​ dc around
the post of the first dc of the next of the V-stitch. Ch 3, sl st in first ch (this is called a picot, and
will be called such throughout). 5 dc around the second dc of the V-stitch. Sl st into the skipped
st of the next upside-down V-stitch. 5dc around first dc of next V-stitch, picot, and 5 dc around
the second dc of the V-stitch. Continue across, ​completing 7 (8, 9) scales.
Row 4:​ Turn your work over. Working into the dcs of Row 2, sl st to the center of the V-stitch
making up the previous scale. Ch 4 (this counts as first dc and ch 1). [In next ch sp, dc, ch 1,
dc.] Repeat 10 (12, 13) times. Ch 1, dc into the stitch at the center of the previous scale. End
with total of ​11 (13, 15) upside-down V-stitches, ​with a single dc on either end.
Row 5:​ Sl st up the dc towards the base of the last dc from row 4. 5 dc around the post of the
first V-stitch, picot, and 5 dc in the second dc of the V-stitch. Sl st into the skipped stitch of the
next upside-down V-stitch. 5dc around first dc of next V-stitch, picot, and 5 dc around the
second dc of the V-stitch. Continue across, completing 6 ​ (7, 8) scales.
Row 6: ​ Turn your work over. Working into the dcs of Row 2, sl st to the center of the V-stitch
making up the previous scale. Ch 4 (this counts as first dc and ch 1). [In next ch sp, dc, ch 1,
dc.] Repeat 8 (10, 11) times. Ch 1, dc into the stitch at the center of the previous scale. End with
total of ​9 (11, 13) upside-down V-stitches, ​with a single dc on either end.

Row 7: ​Sl st up the dc towards the base of the last dc from row 4. 5 dc around the post of the
first V-stitch, picot, and 5 dc in the second dc of the V-stitch. Sl st into the skipped stitch of the
next upside-down V-stitch. 5dc around first dc of next V-stitch, picot, and 5 dc around the
second dc of the V-stitch. Continue across, completing 5 ​ (6, 7) scales.

Row 8:​ Turn your work over. Working into the dcs of Row 2, sl st to the center of the V-stitch
making up the previous scale. Ch 4 (this counts as first dc and ch 1). [In next ch sp, dc, ch 1,
dc.] Repeat 6 (8, 10) times. Ch 1, dc into the stitch at the center of the previous scale. End with
total of ​7 (9, 11) upside-down V-stitches, ​with a single dc on either end.

Row 9: ​Sl st up the dc towards the base of the last dc from row 4. 5 dc around the post of the
first V-stitch, picot, and 5 dc in the second dc of the V-stitch. Sl st into the skipped stitch of the
next upside-down V-stitch. 5dc around first dc of next V-stitch, picot, and 5 dc around the
second dc of the V-stitch. Continue across, completing 4 ​ (5, 6) scales.

Row 10:​ Turn your work over. Working into the dcs of Row 2, sl st to the center of the V-stitch
making up the previous scale. Ch 4 (this counts as first dc and ch 1). [In next ch sp, dc, ch 1,
dc.] Repeat 4 (6, 8) times. Ch 1, dc into the stitch at the center of the previous scale. End with
total of ​5 (7, 9) upside-down V-stitches, ​with a single dc on either end.

Row 11: ​Sl st up the dc towards the base of the last dc from row 4. 5 dc around the post of the
first V-stitch, picot, and 5 dc in the second dc of the V-stitch. Sl st into the skipped stitch of the
next upside-down V-stitch. 5dc around first dc of next V-stitch, picot, and 5 dc around the
second dc of the V-stitch. Continue across, completing 3 ​ (4, 5) scales.

Row 12:​ Turn your work over. Working into the dcs of Row 2, sl st to the center of the V-stitch
making up the previous scale. Ch 4 (this counts as first dc and ch 1). [In next ch sp, dc, ch 1,
dc.] Repeat 2 (4, 6) times. Ch 1, dc into the stitch at the center of the previous scale. End with
total of ​3 (5, 7) upside-down V-stitches, ​with a single dc on either end.

Row 13: ​Sl st up the dc towards the base of the last dc from row 4. 5 dc around the post of the
first V-stitch, picot, and 5 dc in the second dc of the V-stitch. Sl st into the skipped stitch of the
next upside-down V-stitch. 5dc around first dc of next V-stitch, picot, and 5 dc around the
second dc of the V-stitch. Continue across, completing 2 ​ (3, 4) scales.

Row 14:​ Turn your work over. Working into the dcs of Row 2, sl st to the center of the V-stitch
making up the previous scale. Ch 4 (this counts as first dc and ch 1). [In next ch sp, dc, ch 1,
dc.] Repeat 0 (2, 4) times. Ch 1, dc into the stitch at the center of the previous scale. End with
total of ​1 (3, 5) upside-down V-stitches, ​with a single dc on either end.

Row 15:​Sl st up the dc towards the base of the last dc from row 4. 5 dc around the post of the
first V-stitch, picot, and 5 dc in the second dc of the V-stitch. ​For size small: Complete one
scale. Sl st into last dc, and fasten off. ​For medium and large, continue: Sl st into the skipped
stitch of the next upside-down V-stitch. 5dc around first dc of next V-stitch, picot, and 5 dc
around the second dc of the V-stitch. Continue across, completing​ (2, 3) scales.

Row 16: ​Turn your work over. Working into the dcs of Row 2, sl st to the center of the V-stitch
making up the previous scale. Ch 4 (this counts as first dc and ch 1). [In next ch sp, dc, ch 1,
dc.] Repeat (0, 2) times. Ch 1, dc into the stitch at the center of the previous scale. End with
total of ​ (1, 3) upside-down V-stitches, ​with a single dc on either end.

Row 17: ​Sl st up the dc towards the base of the last dc from row 4. 5 dc around the post of the
first V-stitch, picot, and 5 dc in the second dc of the V-stitch. ​For size medium: Complete one
scale. Sl st into last dc, and fasten off. ​For arge, continue: Sl st into the skipped stitch of the
next upside-down V-stitch. 5dc around first dc of next V-stitch, picot, and 5 dc around the
second dc of the V-stitch. Continue across, completing​ 2 scales.

Row 18: ​Turn your work over. Working into the dcs of Row 2, sl st to the center of the V-stitch
making up the previous scale. Ch 4 (this counts as first dc and ch 1). [In next ch sp, dc, ch 1,
dc.] Ch 1, dc into the stitch at the center of the previous scale. End with total of ​1 upside-down
V-stitches, ​with a single dc on either end.

Row 19: ​Sl st up the dc towards the base of the last dc from row 4. 5 dc around the post of the
first V-stitch, picot, and 5 dc in the second dc of the V-stitch. ​For size large: Complete one
scale. Sl st into last dc, and fasten off.
Create 4 chains approximately 30 inches long. Each chain will be folded in half, and will serve
as the ties at the neck and around the back. Slip the ties into the ch sps at the tip of each cup,
loop around and pull. Similarly, pull a folded loop through each side and pull.

Finishing (Optional):
You may like your piece the way it is now! If so, create your ties and you’re done!
This last row of crocodile stitches are worked along the neckline of the cups. These scales are
worked towards the cups, pointing inward. Thus, they are worked like traditional crocodile
stitches, facing the previous row worked instead of away.

Row 1:​ Attach yarn to first stitch following ch 2 space at the point of the cup. Ch 4, sk stitch, dc
in next stitch. [Ch 1, dc, sk stitch, dc in next stitch.] Repeat [] 6 times. Sk a stitch, dc in the stitch
that marks the middle between the cups. Sk next stitch, dc. [Ch 1, dc, sk stitch, dc in next stitch.]
Repeat [] six more times. Ch 1, dc in last stitch.

Row 2: ​Ch 1, [5dc in first stitch of V-stitch, ch 3, sl st in first ch, 5dc in second stitch of V-stitch.
Sl st into ch1 space of next V-stitch.] Repeat, creating 4 scales on each cup, for a total of 8
scales. On the last scale, sl st into the first dc, and fasten off.