A modesty panel lets you wear the low-cut top you love without a camisole underneath. This one is a small triangle of cotton lace that attaches to your bra and fills the V of the neckline, so the lace reads as a pretty detail instead of an extra layer. The Crochet Modesty Panel Pattern is by Cristina Popescu, and it is a free download on Ravelry.
It is a small, quick piece: worked flat in one piece from the point up, in fine cotton on a 2.0 mm hook, so one ball of thread is enough for several panels. Below you will find how to check it will fit your neckline before you start, how to make it bigger, and four ways to attach it.
| Pattern facts | |
|---|---|
| Designer | Cristina Popescu, free Ravelry download |
| Yarn | Light fingering cotton or cotton crochet thread. The designer used Romanofir Flavia (100% cotton, 433 m / 100 g). |
| Hook | 2.0 mm |
| Gauge | 15 double crochet and 7 rows = 5 cm (2 in) |
| Size as written | 16.5 cm wide × 14 cm high (6.5 × 5.5 in), plus 6 cm (2.4 in) straps. Fits XS–S. |
| Construction | One piece, worked flat from the point up, with a small loop at the point and at the end of each strap |
| Terms | US. If you read UK patterns, a US double crochet is your treble (see the US and UK abbreviations list). |
What You’ll Need
The designer used light fingering cotton and a 2.0 mm hook, at 15 double crochet and 7 rows to 5 cm. For a bigger panel, see the sizing table further down.
You’ll also need: a tapestry needle, scissors, rust-proof pins for blocking, and small safety pins or sew-on snaps to attach the panel.
Shop the supplies: cotton crochet thread · 2 mm crochet hook · small sew-on snaps · blocking mats and pins · tapestry needles
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
The crochet journal I call my magic tool
My best seller: a vintage-look printable journal that’s inspiring, a little funny, and nothing like a plain planner. Inside: hook conversion chart, stitch symbol guide, yarn stash inventory, row counter, pattern notes, and more.
Love blanket stitches too? 50+ easy-yet-unique blanket stitches – $27
Modesty Panel Free Crochet Pattern
Save this pattern for later and PIN IT to PINTEREST
Will it fit your neckline? Check before you start
As written, the panel is 16.5 cm wide and 14 cm high (6.5 × 5.5 in). That covers most V-necks on an XS–S frame. To check yours:
- Put on the top and the bra you will wear with it.
- Measure straight across the V at the height where you want the lace to begin. That is the width to cover.
- Measure from that line down to where the V meets your bra. That is the depth.
- Add about 2 cm (¾ in) to the width, so the lace tucks under the fabric on both sides instead of stopping at the edge.
Worked example. The V measures 14 cm across and 11 cm deep. Add 2 cm to the width and you need a panel about 16 cm × 11 cm. The pattern gives 16.5 × 14 cm, so it covers the V as written, and the extra 3 cm of height sits down inside the bra at the point.
The two-minute paper test. Cut a paper triangle 16.5 cm across the top and 14 cm from the top edge to the point. Pin it inside the neckline and look in the mirror. If paper shows where you did not want lace, or skin shows at the sides, you know before you work a single stitch.
How to make it bigger
Cristina Popescu’s own advice for a larger panel is a thicker thread, or a thin yarn, with a bigger hook. You do not need to change the pattern. Every row stays the same and the whole triangle grows in proportion with your stitches.
Work a small swatch in double crochet with the thread and hook you want to use, and count the stitches and rows in 5 cm (2 in). Then:
New width = 16.5 cm × 15 ÷ your stitches in 5 cm
New height = 14 cm × 7 ÷ your rows in 5 cm
| Swatch per 5 cm | Width | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 15 dc and 7 rows (as written) | 16.5 cm (6.5 in) | 14 cm (5.5 in) |
| 13 dc and 6 rows | 19 cm (7.5 in) | 16.3 cm (6.4 in) |
| 12 dc and 6 rows | 20.6 cm (8.1 in) | 16.3 cm (6.4 in) |
| 10 dc and 5 rows | 24.8 cm (9.7 in) | 19.6 cm (7.7 in) |
So if your V needs about 20 cm across, look for a thread and hook that give you around 12 double crochet in 5 cm. The straps grow by the same proportion, which is what a larger frame needs anyway. One caution from the designer: she has not tested larger sizes herself, so make the swatch and repeat the paper test at the new size first.
How to attach a modesty panel
The panel has three small loops: one at the end of each strap and one at the point. Those are your three attachment points. Pick the method that suits how often you will wear it.
| Method | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Small safety pins | Pass a pin through each loop and pin it to the inside of the bra: the strap loops to the top of the cups or to the straps, the point loop to the centre between the cups. | Trying it on, and occasional wear |
| Sew-on snaps | Sew one half of a small snap behind each loop and the other halves to your bra. Sew the bra halves onto a second bra too, and the panel moves between them. | A panel you wear every week |
| Tiny buttons | Sew three small buttons (6–8 mm) to the bra where the loops land, then button the loops over them. | A heavier panel in yarn, where snaps can pull |
| Stitched to the garment | Tack the three loops to the inside of the neckline with matching sewing thread. | One dress you always wear it with, such as a wedding or occasion dress |
Whichever you choose, anchor the point as well as the straps. A panel held only at the top corners tips forward when you lean down.
Choosing a colour
White or ivory reads as lace trim and suits almost any print, which is why the designer’s white panel looks so fresh under a red floral top. To make the panel disappear instead, match it to the top. For a wedding or occasion dress, match the dress fabric exactly: ivory and white look very different side by side in daylight.
Block it before you wear it
Lace straight off the hook looks crumpled. Blocking opens the holes and sets the scallops along the top edge. Pin the panel out flat to its finished size, 16.5 × 14 cm if you made it as written, with a pin in every scallop. Mist it with water, leave it until it is completely dry, then unpin it. Cotton holds a block well, so you will only need to repeat it after washing. Our photo tutorial on blocking shows the method step by step.
If something looks wrong
| You see | Why | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The panel comes out smaller or bigger than 16.5 × 14 cm | Your tension differs from the pattern’s 15 dc and 7 rows in 5 cm | Change the hook: a smaller hook makes the panel smaller, a bigger hook makes it bigger. Check your swatch against the sizing table. |
| The top edge curls toward you | The panel has not been blocked, or the last row was worked tightly | Block it pinned flat. If it still curls, work the last row again with a hook one size up. |
| Fabric or skin shows at the sides of the lace | The panel is too narrow for your V | Size up with a thicker thread and a bigger hook (see the table), and repeat the paper test. |
| The point tips forward when you lean down | Only the strap loops are attached | Fix the point loop to the centre of the bra with a pin, snap or button. |
| The straps pull the scallops out of shape | The straps are too short for where they meet your bra | Move the snaps or buttons further out on the bra, or add a few stitches to each strap before the loop. |
Get the free pattern
The full written pattern, with the instructions for the lace, the straps and the loops, is on Cristina Popescu’s Ravelry page, as a free download.
Get the Modesty Panel Free Crochet Pattern via Cristina Popescu.
Thanks to Cristina Popescu for the pattern, the article inspiration and the featured image.
Modesty panel questions
What is a modesty panel?
A small insert that fills the V of a low neckline. It attaches to your bra or to the inside of the garment, so you can wear a deep V-neck top or dress without a camisole underneath.
Is this crochet modesty panel pattern free?
Yes. Cristina Popescu offers it as a free download on Ravelry.
What yarn and hook do I need?
Light fingering cotton or cotton crochet thread, and a 2.0 mm hook. The gauge is 15 double crochet and 7 rows to 5 cm (2 in). Our yarn weight chart shows where light fingering sits among the other weights.
What size is it?
16.5 cm wide and 14 cm high (6.5 × 5.5 in), with 6 cm straps, which fits XS–S. For a larger panel, use a thicker thread and a bigger hook, and work out the new size with the formula above.
How do you attach a crochet modesty panel?
Through its three loops. Pin, snap or button the two strap loops to the bra cups or straps, and the point loop to the centre of the bra. For a garment you always wear it with, stitch the loops to the inside of the neckline.
Can I make one for a wedding dress?
Yes. Choose a cotton thread that matches the dress fabric, do the paper test while wearing the dress, and stitch the panel to the inside of the bodice so it stays put all day.
You May Also Like
Elegant Crochet Hat Pattern For Summer
Seriously Easy And Superb Summer Sweater
Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter to receive awesome free crochet patterns, just like this, delivered straight to your inbox every day!
