Isa Catepillán For Purl Soho: Terra-Madre Top
Hand-stitched sweaters grow like a garden, from the seed of an idea, then stitch by stitch, slowly blossoming into the light of day. Isa Catepillán discovered the connection last year when she watched her first garden grow at the same time she hooked up her wonderfully earthy Terra-Madre Top.

Meaning “Mother Earth,” Isa’s Terra-Madre Top leans into bucolic details while keeping an eye on the overall elegance of the garden. A swingy loose fit and a fluted texture is punctuated by eyelets in the yoke and classic ribbing along the edges. Balloon sleeves with drawstring tassels ensure the whole thing skews charming!

Worked from top down, you’ll start your Terra-Madre Top with a ribbed strip that you sew into loop for the neckline. You then pick up around its edge and crochet in one piece down to the bottom, using a simple double crochet into the back loop pattern. You make another ribbed strip for the hem, then work the sleeves, finishing them off with drawstrings woven into the ends.

While Isa’s garden planted the idea for her Terra-Madre Top, our Spectrum Silk inspired its easy-going whimsy. A wonderfully down-to-earth silk, it has a very gentle shine, a lovely hand, and a simple, rustic beauty.

We love the warm Ginger Brown and tangy Spicy Mustard colors we used to hook up our versions, but we can imagine every single color bringing its personality to the party… Pick your favorite and watch your garden grow!

Designed for Purl Soho by Isa Catepillán.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoTerraMadreTop and #PurlSohoSpectrumSilk. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 45 thoughtfully designed yarns in nearly every natural fiber and in every spectacular color you can imagine. Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn store, where every skein is created with care and your creativity in mind!
UPDATE: NOW IN PICNIC COTTON
JULY 2022

Our beautiful Picnic Cotton creates a fabric with just the right amount of earthy charm for Isa’s design. Made in Peru from 100% organically grown Pima cotton, this yarn features a colored thread (in this case, a pearly gray) wrapped around a fluffy white core, which is reminiscent of the cotton bolls that started it all and a beautiful reminder with each stitch of the many gifts of “Terra-Madre”!
Materials

- 6 (7, 8, 9, 10, 11) (11, 12, 13, 15) skeins of Purl Soho’s Spectrum Silk, 100% silk. Each skein is approximately 153 yards/ 50grams; approximately 910 (980, 1150, 1300, 1420, 1570) (1660, 1830, 1920, 2060, 2450) yards required. We used the color Spicy Mustard for sample on model and Ginger Brown for other.
- A size D (3.25 mm) crochet hook
- 2 removeable stitch markers
- A Terra-Madre Top pattern
Gauge
23 dcs and 9 rounds = 4 inches in double crochet in back loop only, after blocking
Sizes
31 (32½, 36, 38¾, 42½, 45) (47¼, 49¾, 52, 55¾, 61)
To fit actual high hip circumference of approximately 27–29 (28–31, 32–34, 34–37, 38–40, 41–43) (43–45, 46–48, 48–50, 51–54, 55–59) inches with 2–4 inches of ease
NOTE: This design is very roomy through chest. Choose size based on high hip measurement (below waist, about level with tops of jeans’ back pockets).
Finished High Hip Circumference: 31 (32½, 36, 38¾, 42½, 45) (47¼, 49¾, 52, 55¾, 61) inches
Finished Length From Shoulder To Bottom Edge: 15½ (15½, 16¼, 17, 17¾, 18½) (18½, 19¼, 19¼, 19½, 20) inches
Sample: The sweaters shown here are size 36, worn with 4 inches of ease at the high hip.
Pattern

The Terra-Madre Top pattern is available for purchase exclusively as a PDF download.



Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
This beautiful! I wish it came as a knitted pattern since I don’t crochet.
This is stunning! The Spectrum Silk is very expensive, though. Could Burnish be a good substitute?
Hi Dakota,
Thanks for reaching out! Burnish would be an excellent option for this pattern! I would just recommend double-checking your gauge before you begin to ensure that you are consistent with the pattern!
Warmly,
Gianna
This is just gorgeous! I’m a knitter but beauties like this make me want to trade my needles for a hook 💛
Hello Purl Soho team! I wanted to ask for help interpreting the size/skein indications in the pattern, since the numbers in the brackets confused me. Thank you!
Hi Camila,
Thanks for writing in! For the sizes and skeins, we use the brackets to keep things organized! The sizes go from smallest to largest, for this pattern the smallest size is the 31 and the largest size is the 61. So depending on the size you plan on making, you will follow that space in the bracket for the entire pattern! For example, if you are making the size 32½, which is the 2nd number in the first bracket, you will use that as your guide! So for the 32½ size, you would need 7 skeins, or if you are making the size 36 you would then need 8 skeins!
I hope this clears things up and please let me know if you have any more questions!
Gianna
Very exciting to have new crochet patterns in the mix!
Hi Alicia,
We’re so glad you’re enjoying these new crochet patterns! We love them, and are excited to see all the different versions that people create. Keep your eye out for more new patterns in the future!
All the best,
Kelsey
I’m not so sure this would work for me since “roomy through the chest” sounds like the opposite of me! But I love crochet patterns!! I would really love to see more crocheted garment patterns! Good ones are so hard to come by.
Hi Allie,
Thank you so much for your kind words! We love this top as well, and we’re definitely hoping to offer more crocheted garment patterns in the future.
All the best,
Lili
Can you advise me on which size to crochet? I got gauge with a size larger hook and am using summer silk by Berocco. Am an experienced knitter, but crochet is a challenge. My bust is 32″ and my hips are 34″ – which size would you suggest I make? I don’t need the sweater to be very loose.
Thank you for so many beautiful patterns!
Hi Cassie!
Thank you for your question! Since you are getting gauge, I suggest making your true size, however size 36 and 38 3/4 both fit your measurements, so it is up to you to decide if you would like a looser fit (size 38 3/4) or a tighter fit (size 36). Since you said you wouldn’t like the sweater to be very loose, I suggest choosing size 36!
I hope this helps, and happy crocheting!
All the best,
Margaret
Hello, I need help! When a crochet pattern states to increase let’s say, every 2”, since a crochet row can be sometimes 1/2” more or less, is my starting place (0”) from the bottom of the row or the top of the row? Not sure where the starting point is to measure fir repeating increases. Any help would be appreciated as there are no yarn stores near to me. to ask for help. Thank you!
Hi Cathie,
Thanks for reaching out. Generally, you would start measuring from the bottom of the first row of increases and then work the next row once you hit 2 inches! But I’d recommend double checking the pattern you’re working from. Oftentimes, a pattern will give an indication of the finished length of a section, and you can compare that to the row gauge of the pattern to figure out how many total rows you would have to work to reach that length. I hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Any progress on a knitted version of this top?
Hi Veronica,
It doesn’t look like our design team is actively working on a knit version of this pattern, but I can absolutely pass along your interest in seeing this! Thanks for sharing your idea!
All the best,
Lili
I would also love to see a knit version of this pattern. Thanks for considering!
I have a pattern question. I am working on the neckband and where it says “row 2: Ch 2 (counts as HDC)” is the Ch 2 included in the number at the end of row 2 where it says [12 hdcs] or am do 12 hdc AFTER the Ch 2.
Hi Laura,
Since the HDC counts as a stitch here, you will include it with your stitch count. I hope this helps!
Happy making,
Gavriella
I’m a bit lost. I’m onto the body and it seems there is a missing step on the instructions. In joking the round for the body. Is this possible?
Hi Sarah,
Thank you for writing in although we are sorry to hear you are running into issues here. I’m afraid we have not had any reports of issues in this section. Could you please send a photo of your project to [email protected] so we can have a deeper look? We’ll be able to better visualize what’s going on that way!
All the best,
Gavriella
Hi,
I am crocheting this pattern as we speak and I love it! It makes me thinking about crocheting another one with long sleeves, to make it into a sweater for winter. Is there a yarn (with wool in it) you would recommend for this?! And how much extra yarn do you think I need for longer sleeves?!
Thank you in advance!
With love,
Willeke
Hi Willeke,
Since this pattern was designed for a fingering weight yarn, I’d recommend using a different fingering weight yarn so that you can achieve the right gauge! In particular, I think that Quartz would be a great choice. This yarn is made from a mix of merino wool and alpaca fiber, so it’s super soft!
The amount of extra yardage you’ll need will depend on the size you’re making. If you choose to try Quartz, then I think you’ll only need one additional skein since each skein comes with so much yardage!
All the best,
Lili