How to Crochet a Bikini

Crochet has always made for a popular style of garment. Like its sister stitching craft, knitting, crochet is particularly fashionable at present. It seems as though everyone wants the homey handmade, yet sexy, look of a crocheted swimsuit. Learning to crochet a bikini makes for a fun and potentially profitable pastime.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Yarn
• 3-mm crochet hook
• Wool needle

Learn to Crochet a Bikini

1. Familiarize yourself with the crochet pattern before you begin. Pick a pattern that is simple and quick if you are not very experienced in crochet.

2. Choose your yarn and hook(s) according to your directions.

3. Adjust your crochet pattern for the correct size for your suit. Instructions are often given for a medium-sized suit, with directives to increase by a certain number of stitches for a size larger or decrease by a certain number for a smaller suit.

Crochet the Bottom of a Bikini

1. Try this simple pattern for the bottom front of a medium bathing suit. Use a 3.5-mm crochet hook. Chain 10. Double-crochet in the second stitch until the end of the row.

2. Chain one and turn. Double-crochet to the row's end. Repeat for eight rows.

3. Increase by one chain in first stitch and then double-crochet to row's end.

4. Chain one and then double-crochet to the end for three more rows. Then, repeat the row where you increase by one.

5. Chain one and double-crochet to the end for three more rows.

6. Repeat another row where you increase by one.

7. Chain two and double-crochet to the end of the row.

8. Chain two and increase in the second stitch. Double-crochet the rest of the row, and increase in last stitch.

9. Chain two and double-crochet the rest of the row. Repeat the final two rows until you have 40 stitches. Fasten off your yarn.

Make the Bottom Back of the Bikini

1. Create the bottom back for this suit. Chain 10. Double-crochet in the second chain through to the row's end.

2. Stitch two rows by double-crocheting each stitch until the row ends.

3. Chain two, turn and do two double crochets in every stitch on the row to give you 18 stitches.

4. Chain two and double-crochet to the row's end.

5. Chain two, do two double crochets in next stitch and then double-crochet to the row's end. Repeat this last row until you have 44 stitches. Fasten off your yarn.

Create the Top of Your Bikini

1. Make the top of your bikini. You will be making two identical pieces to be joined later. Chain 32. Double-crochet in second stitch and keep going until you reach the end of the row.

2. Chain two and double-crochet to the end for the next two rows.

3. Skip two stitches and then double-crochet in each stitch until the row ends. Repeat this for the next five rows.

4. Skip two stitches and double-crochet to end. Repeat this row until 16 stitches are left.

5. Skip one stitch, double-crochet for seven stitches, skip another stitch and double-crochet for seven more stitches.

6. Turn, skip one stitch and double-crochet to the end of the row.

7. Continue to decrease the same way by skipping the middle stitch until only two remain.

8. Slip-stitch and continue on this last stitch by chaining 100 stitches to make the neck tie. Fasten off and cut the yarn.

Assemble the Pieces of Your Bikini

1. Chain 200. Fasten off the yarn.

2. Take a large wool needle and thread the lower edge of your two top sections to create back ties.

3. Chain 75 for ties at the top four corners. Fasten off the yarn and double-crochet around all the edges.

Tips & Warnings

• Check your hook's gauge before you crochet your bathing suit to make sure it is measuring accurately to your directions.

• Do not attempt to crochet a bikini until you have mastered the basics of crochet and have made many simpler pieces.