If I could pack only one handmade layer for a summer holiday, it would be a crochet mesh top. Mesh is the hardest-working stitch family in my wardrobe: cool as a breeze over a camisole at the beach café, polished over a fitted tee in town, and light enough to roll into a tote without a single crease. The open grid does what solid crochet cannot — it turns whatever you layer underneath into part of the outfit.
So I have gathered twenty of my favourite mesh designs for you here, and every single one is a genuine top: breezy mesh tees, filet grids, honeycomb stitches, a fishing-net classic and even a two-hour beginner make. Each pattern is free, each one is linked to its designer's own page, and I have noted the yarn, the sizing and the honest little details as we go. Pick your mesh, pick your colour, and let's get one on your hook.
1. The Everyday Mesh Tee in Soft Cotton-Linen
This is the tee that proves mesh does not have to mean fiddly. Breann builds the fabric from extended single crochet and chain-one spaces — her moss-stitch take on mesh — so the grid is small, neat and covered enough to wear over a plain camisole without feeling exposed. Two simple panels are seamed at the shoulders and sides, the V-neck is shaped as you go, and sizes run from S to 3X with finished busts from 36 to 56 inches. The sample uses WeCrochet CotLin, a cotton-linen DK that keeps the tee crisp, on a 5.0 mm hook. The pattern is free on her blog, with an optional paid ad-free PDF if you prefer printing. In white or soft sage, this is the mesh tee you will reach for three days a week.
Pattern: Easy Mesh Tee by Breann Mauldin at Hooked on Homemade Happiness — Get the free pattern
2. X-Stitch Mesh With Classic Tee Shaping
For a mesh top with a proper, shop-bought silhouette, this Patons design is hard to beat. The fabric is an X-stitch mesh — crossed double crochets that make little X's across an open grid — with short sleeves and a classic round neck that sits exactly where a favourite tee sits. It is worked in Patons Grace, a smooth mercerised cotton that gives the mesh a gentle sheen and beautiful stitch definition. Sizes are wonderfully wide, from XS/S up to 4XL/5XL, so almost everyone can make the size they actually want. The pattern is a free download from Yarnspirations and needs no sign-up at all — just click and save the PDF. Wear it over a nude camisole with white jeans for the cleanest summer look.
Pattern: Mesh Stitch Crochet Top by Patons at Yarnspirations — Get the free pattern
3. Clover-Stitch Mesh, Edged in Single Crochet
Alnaar's mesh top has a secret in its stitch: little three-double-crochet clusters that she calls the clover stitch, which turn a plain chain-one grid into something that looks almost like lace from a distance. The top is two panels — a plain back and a front with gentle neckline shaping — joined and then finished with tidy single crochet edging around the neck, sleeves and hem. It is written for sizes XS to 2XL in Paintbox Yarns Cotton Mix DK on a 3.75 mm hook, so the mesh stays fine and drapey. A video tutorial walks alongside the written pattern, and there is an optional paid ad-free PDF if you like a printable copy. Try it in a dusty blue over a white vest and denim shorts.
Pattern: Crochet Mesh Top by Alnaar at Leelee Knits — Get the free pattern
4. Honeycomb Mesh, Crop It or Tunic It
Jennifer's honeycomb mesh is the one readers ask me about most, because the texture is so much richer than a plain grid. Two half double crochets worked into every chain space build little honeycomb cells, and the top is crocheted bottom-up in one piece, so there are no side seams to sew. The sample is in Lion Brand Coboo, a silky cotton and bamboo DK, and the pattern runs from XS all the way to 5XL. My favourite detail is the freedom with length: stop early for a crop, keep going for a tunic, or go long and call it a beach cover-up. The pattern is free on her blog, with an optional paid PDF on Ravelry and Etsy. Honey yellow is the obvious colour choice, but a soft coral is stunning too.
Pattern: Honeycomb Crochet Mesh Top by Jennifer Renaud at A Crocheted Simplicity — Get the free pattern
5. The Fishnet V-Neck You Size Yourself
Jenny's Sassy top is the fishnet classic every mesh wardrobe needs — double crochet and chain-one spaces, nothing more, worked into two easy rectangles. The back is a single panel while the front is made in two halves, which is how the flattering V-neck appears, and short sleeves are added at the end. It is made to measure rather than graded, and her sample is a cropped S/M for a 30 to 34 inch bust, about 16 inches long, in roughly 500 yards of Caron Cotton Cakes worsted on a 4.0 mm hook. She walks you through adjusting the fit to your own body as you go. Over a camisole and a swishy midi skirt it is pure holiday energy.
Pattern: Sassy Mesh Crochet Summer Top by Jenny and Teddy — Get the free pattern
6. Top-Down Mesh With a Picot Edge
Carrie's crop top is the construction I wish every beginner would try once: it starts at the neckline and grows downwards in the round, so you can try it on as you crochet and stop exactly where you want it to end. Mesh rows of double crochet and chain-one alternate with calm single crochet rows, a picot edging pretties up the neckline, and a ribbed back-loop hem on a smaller hook pulls the bottom in neatly. It uses a light fingering yarn — her sample is Scheepjes Organicon — on 3 mm and 2.5 mm hooks, in sizes S to 3XL. The pattern is free on her blog, with an optional paid PDF in her Etsy shop. Layer it over a plain white tee and jeans, or over a simple summer dress.
Pattern: Crochet Mesh Crop Top by Carrie Chambers at Crochet With Carrie — Get the free pattern
7. A Cropped Tee Built From Tidy Squares
Despite the name, Tasha's Honeycomb Mesh Tee is really a filet lover's grid: double crochets and chain-two spaces stacked into tidy open squares. The two panels are worked from the top down, and instead of counting stitches you count squares, which makes the whole project feel wonderfully calm. Her sample is in Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton, a hard-wearing worsted cotton, on a 4.5 mm hook, and the sizing is generous — youth XS through to adult 3X. The cropped length is made for high-waisted everything. It is a brilliant first mesh garment, because the grid shows mistakes early, when they are easy to fix. I love it in a warm terracotta over a cream camisole.
Pattern: Honeycomb Mesh Tee by Tasha Margetts at Stardust Gold Crochet — Get the free pattern
8. Six Rainbow Stripes of Pure Joy
Same designer, completely different mood: this is the joyful one, a cropped mesh tee worked in six happy stripes of colour. Tasha alternates the open mesh rows with single crochet rows worked in the front or back loop only, which keeps the stripes crisp and gives the little top real structure. Unusually and wonderfully, every size from XS to XL is written out in full, so there is no bracket-counting at all. It uses Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton on a 4.5 mm hook, just like its honeycomb sister above. Wear it over a white camisole with denim cut-offs and let the rainbow do the talking. Stash-busting six part-balls of cotton has never looked this cheerful.
Pattern: Rainbow Mesh Tee by Tasha Margetts at Stardust Gold Crochet — Get the free pattern
9. Mesh Sleeves on a Top-Down Body
The Chloe is the clever in-between option: a solid, top-down treble crochet top whose long sleeves are worked entirely in open treble-and-chain mesh, so you get the breezy look with a little more coverage. Ashlea grades it from XS to 2XL in sport or DK yarn on a 5.0 mm hook, and because it is top-down you can try it on as you go. And here is the trick I love most: keep crocheting the mesh downwards and it turns into a full mesh-sleeved sweater, so one pattern gives you two garments. There is a video tutorial alongside the written pattern, plus an optional paid PDF. Over a plain long-sleeved tee in a contrast colour, those mesh sleeves look fantastic.
Pattern: The Chloe Mesh Sleeves Top by Ashlea Konecny at Heart Hook Home — Get the free pattern
10. One Big Square of Mesh, Sleeve to Sleeve
This is the most satisfying construction on the whole list: one enormous rectangle of square treble-and-chain mesh, worked from wrist to wrist in a single piece. Halfway across, you simply leave a gap in the middle of the row for your head, then finish the second sleeve, fold, and seam under the arms — a whole top with almost no shaping at all. Lisa sizes it by your own wingspan measurement, roughly S to XL, in DK yarn on a 4.5 mm hook, and the written instructions on her page are wonderfully step by step. Work more rows before seaming and it becomes a longer, tunic-style top. Over a camisole and leggings it has that relaxed artist-studio feel I adore.
Pattern: Square Mesh Sleeve Top by Lisa Auch — Get the free pattern
11. A Grid-Mesh Pullover With Proper Ribbing
Jess's Lattice Luxe is the mesh top for people who also love a sweater: a modern grid of half double and treble clusters with proper ribbed hems, cuffs and neckline to finish it like a bought pullover. The body is worked in turned rounds up to the armholes, then split for front and back, which means almost no seaming at the end. It is written for nine sizes, XS to 5X, in Lion Brand's squishy Lazy Days chainette yarn on a 6.0 mm hook, so it grows faster than you would expect. The pattern is free on the Make and Do Crew blog — a free subscriber unlock reveals the full text — with an optional paid PDF if you prefer. In a soft grey over a white tee and black jeans, it is capsule-wardrobe gold.
Pattern: Lattice Luxe Pullover by Jess Coppom at Make and Do Crew — Get the free pattern
12. Classic Filet Mesh, Generously Sized
If filet crochet is your first love, this Lion Brand top is your summer staple: a clean chain-one and double crochet grid, the true filet mesh, worked into a proper short-sleeved sweater shape. The finished bust runs from 40 up to 51 inches across six sizes, with the length finishing between about 21 and 27 inches before its neckband and lower trim. Lion Brand rates it Level 2, Easy, and it uses a medium weight yarn most of us already have in the stash. The pattern costs nothing — it is a $0.00 download on the Lion Brand site, and you just need a free Lion Brand account to save it. Over a camisole in the same colour family it looks soft and tonal; over a contrast, the grid really pops.
Pattern: Filet Mesh Top by Lion Brand Yarn — Get the free pattern
13. The Dressier Raglan in Open Mesh
For confident crocheters, this raglan is the dressiest mesh on the list. The yoke is shaped with true raglan lines into an open mesh body, giving a smooth, tailored fit across the shoulders that panel-made tops cannot match. Lion Brand rates it Level 4, Intermediate-plus, and the finished chest runs from 33 to 45 and a half inches in five sizes, in a worsted acrylic-cotton yarn. Like the filet top above, it is a $0.00 download with a free Lion Brand account. The closer fit makes it a beautiful layer over a silky camisole with tailored trousers, or under a blazer with the mesh just peeking out. Choose a deep plum or forest green and it carries straight into autumn evenings.
Pattern: Mesh Raglan Pullover (L0168) by Lion Brand Yarn — Get the free pattern
14. Mesh With Playful Solid Patches
Kiks + Jack call this one quick and easy, and they are right — but the delightful twist is the option to scatter random solid double crochet patches across the mesh, like little windows of calm in the grid. You start with ribbed bands, work two panels bottom-up in simple chain-one mesh, shape a raw-edged V-neck, seam, and crochet the mid-length sleeves straight onto the body. It is made to measure with standard size guidance from XS to 5XL, in Lion Brand Pima Cotton worsted on a 4.5 mm hook. Leave the patches out and it is a clean classic; add them and it is a design-it-yourself original. Either way, over a vest top and linen trousers it looks effortlessly put together.
Pattern: Quick Easy Summer Mesh Crochet Top by Kiks + Jack Crochet — Get the free pattern
15. A Square-Neck Mesh Tee With Cap Sleeves
The Jasper is the mesh tee for square-neckline lovers. Its small, tidy mesh alternates double crochet grid rows with half double crochet rows, which keeps the fabric a touch more covered than most mesh — you can wear this one over a simple camisole anywhere. Two panels are worked bottom-up, the square neckline is measured and marked with stitch markers so it lands exactly right, and little cap sleeves are crocheted on after seaming. Kiks + Jack's sample is in Premier Cotton Fair, a cotton-acrylic sport weight, on a 4 mm hook, and the pattern is fully made to measure. Their sea-glass blue shade over white jeans is exactly how I would style it.
Pattern: The Jasper Mesh Top by Kiks + Jack Crochet — Get the free pattern
16. An Oversized Long-Sleeve Mesh for Every Season
This oversized beauty is the transitional piece I live in from March to October. The body mesh is decorative — shell clusters and chain loops worked in a two-row repeat — while the long, wide sleeve panels switch to a second, simpler mesh, so the project never gets boring. There is no ribbing anywhere; the wide neckline has a raw patterned edge and can be worn square on the shoulders or slipped off one shoulder, and the whole top is made to measure. The sample is in budget-friendly Red Heart Soft worsted, in the prettiest blush pink, on a 4.5 mm hook. Layer it over a long-sleeved tee in spring, over a camisole in summer, and under a slouchy cardigan in autumn.
Pattern: Spring to Summer Light Mesh Crochet Top by Kiks + Jack Crochet — Get the free pattern
17. Vertical Stripes and Mini Bean Texture
The Borlotto Tee does something I have never seen another mesh top do: the panels are crocheted in horizontal stripes, then turned ninety degrees, so the stripes run vertically down your body — the most flattering direction there is. Its mesh alternates double crochet and chain-one rows with mini bean stitch rows, which give the fabric a soft, pebbly texture between the open grid. The pattern is free on the Off The Hook For You blog in sizes XS to 5XL with two length options, and there is an optional paid ad-free PDF. The sample uses WeCrochet Lindy Chain, a linen and cotton fingering yarn, on an oversized 5.5 mm hook for maximum drape. In deep teal over a white vest and jeans, it is simply gorgeous.
Pattern: Borlotto Tee Mesh Top by Off The Hook For You — Get the free pattern
18. The Two-Hour Beginner Mesh Top
Short on time but want the mesh look this weekend? Crochet By Mags designed this little top to take about two hours, in roughly 150 yards of worsted yarn on a 5 mm hook. It lives on Ribblr as a free interactive ePattern — you will need a free Ribblr account — which tracks your row, switches between US and UK terms, and even includes her video tutorial inside the pattern. Sizes run from XS/S through to XL, and hundreds of makers have finished it, which is always a good sign for a beginner pattern. Because it is an ePattern rather than a printout, your phone becomes your pattern book. Over a camisole and a denim skirt, it is the fastest handmade outfit upgrade I know.
Pattern: Crochet Mesh Top by Crochet By Mags on Ribblr — Get the free pattern
19. A True Fishing-Net Top in Shiny Cotton
We are going full fishing net for this one, and it is glorious. DROPS 81-22 works the widest, airiest chain-space net of the whole collection into a sleeveless summer top — the same Garnstudio page also carries a matching buttoned jacket version if you fall for the stitch. The sample is in DROPS Cotton Viscose, which has a soft shine that makes the net look almost like evening wear, on a 3.5 mm hook, in sizes XS to XXL. As always with DROPS, the complete pattern and diagrams are free on the Garnstudio site. This is a layering piece pure and simple: over a camisole and shorts at the beach, or over a black slip dress after dark.
Pattern: Fishing Net Top (DROPS 81-22) by DROPS Design — Get the free pattern
20. A Romantic Mesh Tunic With Picot Lace Trim
We finish with the romantic one: a long, floaty mesh tunic worked in a simple net stitch and finished with bands of picot lace edging sewn around the hem and sleeves. The pattern on Hilando Ideas is chart-guided with full written step-by-step instructions, measurements and diagrams, so if you have ever wanted to try working from a crochet chart, this is a gentle place to start. It is crocheted with two strands of yarn held together on a 3.0 mm hook, finishing about 49 centimetres wide and 67 long, with little side slits for movement. The coral sample is made for holidays, worn over a plain camisole dress or a swimsuit. In cream or white it becomes the prettiest beach cover-up top on this whole list.
Pattern: Crochet Mesh Tunic by Hilando Ideas — Get the free pattern
Conclusion
And that is twenty mesh tops, my friend — moss stitch and filet, honeycomb and fishing net, rainbow stripes and two-hour makes, every single one free and every single one ready to layer. If you are new to mesh, start with the Jasper, the Sassy fishnet or the two-hour Ribblr top; if you want a project to savour, the Lattice Luxe or the raglan will reward your patience. My one practical tip: crochet your mesh top in cotton or a cotton blend, because the open grid behaves best — and drapes most beautifully — in a yarn with a little body.
Now tell me — which mesh are you making first, the neat little grid or the full fishing-net drama? And what will you layer underneath it? I read every comment, and I cannot wait to see your makes!
