Lace-Inspired Crocheted Top

TORSO
Loosely ch 52. Working even on 51 sts, work 14 (16, 18) reps of Petal pat -- 112 (128, 144) rows. With WS tog, join foundation ch edge with last row by working sl st in each st across, working through both pieces at once -- tube and back seam formed.

DRAWSTRING BAND
Rnd 1: With RS facing, join thread with sl st at back seam on one end of Torso tube; work 14 sc along each 8-row rep of Petal pat as foll; 2 sc along Rows 1-2; 5 sc along Rows 3-4; 2 sc along Rows 5-6; 5 sc along Rows 7-8; join with sl st to first sc -- 196 (224, 252) sts. Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc, and at the same time dec 4 (2, 0) sc evenly spaced by working sc2tog, join with sl st to first sc -- 192 (222, 252) sc. Rnd 3: Ch 5 -- counts as first dc and ch-2; sk first 3 sc, *dc in next sc, ch 2, sk next 2 sc; rep from * around, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-5 -- 64 (74, 84) ch-2 sps. Rnd 4: Ch 1, work sc in each dc and 2 sc in each ch-2 sp, join with sl st to first sc -- 192 (222, 252) sc. Rnd 5: Ch 1, sc in each sc and at the same time dec (sc2tog) 23 (29, 41) sc evenly spaced around, join with sl st to first sc -- 169 (193, 211) sts.

BODICE
Work back and forth in Scallop pat for 17 (19, 21) rows--28 (32, 35) scallops at end of Row 1. Fasten off. (A back opening will be formed.)

LOWER BORDER
Rnd 1: Work as for Rnd 1 of Drawstring Band, except work in hdc instead of sc -- 196 (224, 252) sts. Rnd 2: Ch 2 -- counts as first hdc; sk first hdc, hdc in each hdc around, join with sl st to first sc. Rnd 3: Ch 4 -- counts as first dc and ch-1 sp; sk first 2 hdc, *dc in next hdc, ch 1, sk next hdc; rep from * around, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-4 -- 98 (112, 126) ch-1 sps. Rnd 4: Ch 4, sk first dc, *dc in next dc, ch 1; rep from * around, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-4. Rnds 5-7: Work as for Rnd 4. Rnd 8: Ch 2 -- counts as first hdc; sk first dc, hdc in each ch-1 sp and dc around, skipping 4 (0, 4) hdc evenly spaced around; join with sl st to 2nd ch of beg ch-2--192 (224, 248) hdc. Rnd 9: Ch 1, sc in first hdc, *sk next 2 hdc, 3 dc in next hdc, (ch 5, sl st in 5th ch from hook) 3 times -- triple picot formed; sk next hdc, 3 dc in next hdc, sk next 2 hdc**, sc in next hdc; rep from * around, end last rep at **; join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.