The Cancer Cami
Work with multiple colors, but just one at a time.
#MyZodiacSweater
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Detailed PDF pattern
♋︎ Step-by-step instructions and tutorial photos
♋︎ Stitch chart, row trackers to help you keep track of the neckline and armhole shaping
Difficulty level
♋︎ Intermediate
Size-inclusive
♋︎ Pattern written for 18 sizes with instructions on customization
♋︎ Fits busts from 27.5″ to 72.5″
What you'll need
♋︎ The Fibre Co. Amble yarn or any fingering or sock weight yarn you can meet gauge with, in the amounts shown below.
♋︎ Your 3.5 mm hook; I like to use my Clover Amours.
♋︎ Tape measure, scissors, darning needle, 2 stitch markers.
Pattern support
♋︎ For pattern related questions, please join my Facebook support group or contact me at thecrochethighway [at] gmail.com.
Join my Facebook support Group
I proud myself with writing ultra-detailed patterns for you, so that your crocheting experience is as smooth and seamless as possible. But whenever you have a pattern related question, my Facebook support group is the place to ask. There you can also share your WIPs and brag about your FOs with the community!
The Zodiac Collection
The Cancer Cami is the fifth crochet garment pattern published in the Zodiac Crochet Collection – a series of crochet garments and accessories that follow a common theme: colorwork made easy. Use hashtag #MyZodiacSweater when posting your makes on social media!
The designs in this collection use multiple colors for a contrasting effect, but the stitch patterns are carefully selected, so that you only have to work with one color at a time. The inspiration behind this collection is my original colorwork design, the Starry Yoke. Check out the other designs in the #MyZodiacSweater collection:
The story
One day I stumbled upon this stitch pattern and I instantly knew it was the perfect fit for the Cancer design, with its shell stitches resembling tiny crabs 
So off I went to modify the stitch pattern: the first order of business was to come up with a shaping sequence for the neckline and armholes – I didn’t want it to be square around the edges!
After that part was done, it was time to find a way to work this stitch in the round, with a round joining method which creates an invisible seam.
Last but not least, it was only fitting to finish the design off with a beautiful crab stitch edging around the hem, neckline and armholes!
In short, the Cancer Cami is a seamless camisole worked from the top down, using a beautiful two-colored stitch pattern where you only work with one color at a time, and you carry the inactive color vertically on the wrong side of your work.
Wear it by itself during summer, or layer it on top of a shirt to turn it into a stylish vest for the cold season!
Shop the same yarn on LoveCrafts
Like most CrochetHighway patterns, the Cancer Cami comes with step-by-step instructions and tutorial photos including on how to check for gauge and how to move from section to section in the top-down yoke.
The pattern calls for fingering weight yarn (category 1) in at least 1 main color (MC), and 1 contrast color (CC). My testers used a variety of yarns and colors to show off this design. Check out the tester photo gallery below to find all the details on yarns and yardages from my testers!
Quick metrics from my testers:
Difficulty rating: 2.4 / 5
Average completion time: 28 hours
Designer sample
My sample uses The Fibre Co. Amble in White Heather as MC and Walk Me Home as CC.
The WPI of this yarn is 14. Learn how to measure the WPI of your yarn.
This beautiful merino, alpaca and nylon blend makes for a perfect summer top due to the amazing properties of merino wool, such as temperature regulation, breathability, and odor resistance. In addition, this fiber will make for the perfect snuggly vest for layering during winter, keeping you toasty warm!
I have a 38″ (96.5 cm) bust and I’m wearing size 5 with 0.5″ (1.25 cm) of negative ease.
Tester highlights
Scroll down for the complete tester lookbook, where you can find photos, yarn & yardage info from all my testers, as well as certain modifications they made to their sweaters for the perfect, customized fit.
Materials and yardage
Hooks: 3.5 mm hk or size needed to obtain gauge. I’m a tight crocheter, so you may have to go down in hook sizes.
Notions: Tape measure, scissors, darning needle, 2 stitch markers.
Yarn: You’ll need at least two colors. A main color (MC), and a contrasting color (CC) of any fingering or sock weight yarn (CYC 1) you can meet gauge with. The approximate yardages required for all 18 sizes are:
Main color:
(490, 530, 575, 605, 645, 670) (715, 755, 800, 825, 870, 895) (920, 945, 975, 1025, 1075, 1125) yds, or
(450, 485, 525, 555, 590, 615) (655, 690, 730, 755, 795, 820) (840, 865, 890, 935, 985, 1030) m
Contrast color:
(325, 355, 380, 400, 430, 445) (475, 505, 530, 545, 575, 590) (605, 625, 640, 670, 700, 735) yds, or
(295, 325, 345, 365, 395, 405) (435, 460, 485, 500, 525, 540) (555, 570, 585, 615, 640, 670) m
These yardages are estimate and reflect a full-length camisole. See the exact yardages from my testers in the lookbook below.
Sizing
All my garment patterns are #sizeinclusive up to at least a 60” bust circumference.
Cancer Cami bust sizing:
Size 1: 27.5″ (69.75 cm) bust | Size 10: 50″ (127 cm) bust |
Size 2: 30″ (76.25 cm) bust | Size 11: 52.5″ (133.25 cm) bust |
Size 3: 32.5″ (82.5 cm) bust | Size 12: 55″ (139.75 cm) bust |
Size 4: 35″ (89 cm) bust | Size 13: 57.5″ (146 cm) bust |
Size 5: 37.5″ (95.25 cm) bust | Size 14: 60″ (152.5 cm) bust |
Size 6: 40″ (101.5 cm) bust | Size 15: 62.5″ (158.75 cm) bust |
Size 7: 42.5″ (108 cm) bust | Size 16: 65″ (165 cm) bust |
Size 8: 45″ (114.25 cm) bust | Size 17: 67.5″ (171.5 cm) bust |
Size 9: 47.5″ (120.75 cm) bust | Size 18: 70″ (177.75 cm) bust |
The measurements above reflect finished bust measurements.
This top is designed to be worn with 0-2.5″ (0-6 cm) of negative ease around the bust. When choosing a size, find the bust measurement in this table that is closest to 2.5″ (6 cm) smaller than your actual bust measurement and make this size.
Tried & tested substitution yarns
My testers used a variety of yarns for their tops, in a truly amazing variety of color combinations. Here’s a list of yarns recommended by them. The list is sorted alphabetically. If you’re looking for inspiration or a quick yarn substitution idea, this is the place to start!
- Alize Bella
- Arcane Fibre Works Creamy Coffee
- Ashley’s Crochet Combed Cotton
- Bellissimo 4 Ply Merino Extra Fine
- Cotton Kings Cone, Cotton Kings Sultan
- Hobbii Dahlia, Hobbii Sultan, Hobbii Twister Solid
- Hobby Store Kotton 4 Ply
- Ice Yarn Linen Viscose
- KnitPicks Comfy Fingering
- Magic Needles Kotton 4 Ply
- Schachenmayr Catania
- Scheepjes Whirl, Scheepjes Whirlette, Scheepjes Skies Light
- Stitchcraft and Wizardry House Elf Liberty
- The Frosted Stitch Snowflake Sock
- The Knitting Loft Boots
- We Love Yarn Simple Cotton 8/4
- WeCrochet Stroll Fingering
- The Yarn Addict Co. Feathery Fingering
- Yarnart Flowers
- Yonkey Monkey Bamboo, Yonkey Monkey Bamboo Cotton
Tester lookbook
My patterns would not be so smooth without the input of my team of talented testers. Swipe left & right for more photos of your favorite versions!
Want to test my future patterns? Check out how you can become a pattern tester for CrochetHighway!
Size 3, using 600 yds (MC) and 380 yds (CC) of Skein Sisters Fabulous Sock
Mods: None.
Size 2, using 520 yds of Ice Yarn Linen Viscose (MC) and 340 yds of Loop and Craft Soft Cake (CC)
Mods: None.
Size 2, using 390 yds of Scheepjes Skies Light (MC) and 218 yds of Scheepjes Whirlette (CC)
Mods: None.
Size 4, using 530 yds (MC) and 376 yds (CC) of Hobbii Twister Solid
Mods: None.
Size 7, using 1070 yds (MC) and 540 yds (CC) of Pradhan Embroidery Stores Softy 3ply Cotton Multi
Mods: None.
Size 4, using 550 yds (MC) and 372 yds (CC) of Alize Bella
Mods: I made a slightly shorter body length, omitting 2 repeats.
Size 7, using 513 yds (MC) and 343 yds (CC) of We Love Yarn Simple Cotton 8/4
Mods: I made a shorter body length, omitting 3 repeats.
Size 1, using 323 yds (MC) and 253 yds (CC) of KnitPicks Comfy Fingering
Mods: I reduced the body length to hit my model’s hip, and I reduced the stitch count on the neckline edging.
Size 10, using 820 yds of Hobby Lobby Comfy Fingering Gradient Cake (MC) and 607 yds of WeCrochet Stroll Fingering (CC)
Mods: None.
Size 5, using 600 yds (MC) and 472 yds (CC) of Hobbii Twister Solid
Mods: None.
Size 2, using 458 yds of Ski Neige (MC) and 346 yds of Bellissimo 4 Ply Merino Extra Fine (CC)
Mods: None.
Size 6, using 631 yds of Hobbii Sultan (MC) and 420 yds of Schachenmayr Catania (CC)
Mods: None.
Size 6, using 589 yds of Hobbii Cotton Kings Sultan (MC) and 406 yds of Walnuttree Cotton Bamboo (CC)
Mods: I made a slightly tighter edging, omitting a few stitches here and there.
Size 5, using 565 yds of Ashley’s Crochet Combed Cotton (MC) and 395 yds of Monaco Natural Cotton Yarn (CC)
Mods: None.
Size 6, using 524 yds of The Frosted Stitch Snowflake Sock (MC) and 446 yds of The Knitting Loft Boots (CC)
Mods: I just skipped a few stitches on the neckline edging to make it more fitted.
Size 5, using 515 yds of Crochet Treasures Cotton Gradient (MC) and 312 yds of Yonkey Monkey Bamboo Cotton (CC)
Mods: I made a slightly shorter body length, omitting one repeat.
Size 3, using 510 yds of Yarn Addict Co. Featery Fingering (MC) and 398 yds of Pigment and Ply 100% Blue-faced Leicester (CC)
Mods: I made a cropped length.
Size 5, using 625 yds of Cotton Kings Cone (MC) and 440 yds of Dyeing Wishes Yarn Spooky Sock (CC)
Mods: I reduced the stitch count on the neckline edging, skipping 1 in 4 stitches.
Size 4, using 485 yds of The Frosted Stitch Key Lime Pie (MC) and 415 yds of Arcane Fibre Works Creamy Coffee (CC)
Mods: None.
Size 8, using 650 yds (MC) and 441 yds (CC) of Yonkey Monkey Bamboo
Mods: I made it shorter because I ran out of yarn.
Size 7, using 605 yds (MC) and 430 yds (CC) of Hobbii Twister Solid
Mods: I made a slightly shorter body length, omitting one repeat.
Size 8, using 750 yds (MC) and 500 yds (CC) of Hobbii Dahlia
Mods: The armholes where initially too small for me, so I added 8 rows to the straight rows after the neckline, before the underarm shaping rows.
Size 4, using 578 yds (MC) and 429 yds (CC) of Stitchcraft and Wizardry House Elf Liberty
Mods: The neck and armhole edging was initially too loose, but I followed the suggested modification, and the fit was great. My final neckline stitch count was 134, and the armhole count was 94.
Size 5, using 560 yds (MC) and 448 yds (CC) of Hobby Store Kotton 4 Ply
Mods: I reduced the stitch count on the neckline edging, skipping 1 in 4 stitches.
Size 6, using 458 yds (MC) and 349 yds (CC) of KnitPicks Comfy Fingering
Mods: I made a slightly shorter body length, omitting 4 repeats.
Size 4, using 450 yds (MC) and 345 yds (CC) of Magic Needles Kotton 4 Ply
Mods: I made a slightly shorter body length, omitting 3 repeats.
Size 10, using 700 yds of Cotton Kings Sultan (MC) and 525 yds of Tessiland Bravissimo (CC)
Mods: None.
Size 1, using 480 yds of Scheepjes Whirl (MC) and 300 yds of Scheepjes Whirlette (CC)
Mods: None.
Size 7, using 623 yds (MC) and 450 yds (CC) of Magic Needles Kotton 4 Ply
Mods: None.
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