Directions for Making a Crochet Bikini

This crochet bikini combines easy crochet stitches with a moderately-challenging pattern.

Channel your inner creativity and beauty by crocheting a gorgeous bikini. Choose your favorite color, crochet the bra and the panties, and head straight to the beach to show off your bikini creation.

Things You'll Need

• 3 balls of finger-weight yarn approximately 30 grams each
• Crochet hook size 00
• Soft tape measure
• 1 yard of round elastic cord
• Pins
• Crochet finishing needle

Instructions

Sizing and Stitch Guide

1. Take your bust, waist and hip measurements to determine your bikini size. This pattern uses US size 6-8 (small). US size 10 (medium) and 12 (large) are in parenthesis. (See Reference 1)

2. Practice the stitches until you become familiar with those used in this pattern before you begin to crochet the bikini.

3. Start your crochet with a slip knot. Make a single-crochet by inserting your crochet hook into the slip knot or stitch. Wrap the longer cord of yarn over the hook and pull up a loop. There should be two loops on your hook. Wrap the yarn over the hook again and draw the yarn through the inside of both loops on the hook. (See Reference 2)

4. Create a double-crochet by inserting your crochet hook into the stitch. Wrap the yarn over the hook and pull up a loop. There should be three loops on your hook. Wrap the yarn over the hook again and draw the yarn through two loops. There should now be two loops on the hook. Wrap the yarn over the hook again and draw the yarn through the remaining two loops. (See Reference 2)

5. Create a slip-stitch by inserting the hook into the space and then wrap the yarn over the hook. Draw the yarn through the stitch and the loop on the hook, in one motion. (See Reference 2)

6. Make a chain by wrapping the yarn over the hook and drawing up a loop. This action will create a new loop. Continue this action to create more chain-loops. (See Reference 2)

7. Bind-off a row of stitches by creating a loose slip-stitch at the beginning of the row and continuing across the number of stitches specified in the directions. Next, chain 1 and work single-crochets across. Chain 1 again, and turn. (See Reference 1)

8. Decrease 1 single-crochet by pulling up a loop in each of the two side-by-side stitches. Wrap the yarn over the hook and pull through all 3 loops on the hook. (See Reference 1)

9. Increase 1 single-crochet by working 2 single-crochets in 1 stitch. (See Reference 2)

10. End-off a row of stitches by cutting the long cord of yarn approximately six inches from the hook. Using your crochet hook, draw the cut end of the yarn through the remaining loop on your hook. Use your hands to pull the cut piece tight until it is snug. (See Reference 3)

Gauge

1. Maintain a correct and consistent stitch gauge by using a size 00 crochet hook and periodically measuring the stitches with a soft measuring tape. (See Reference 1)

2. Measure the length of stitches after five single-crochet stitches are completed. It should equal one inch in length. (See Reference 1)

3. Complete the first five rows of single crochet stitches and use your soft measuring tape to measure the stitches from the top-to-bottom. Five rows of single-crochet stitches should equal one inch. (See Reference 1)

Bra Crochet Instructions: Make Two Bra Cups

1. Crochet the first bra cup by chaining 16 (17, 18). For Row 1 single-crochet in the second chain from the hook and in each of the next 13 (14, 16) chains. Crochet 3 single-crochets in the last chain loop. Turn and work single-crochets in each of the next 14 (15, 16) stitches. Chain 31 (33, 35), chain 1, and turn. (See Reference 1)

2. Begin Row 2 by working only in the back of the stitch loop. Single-crochet in each of the next 15 (16, 17) stitches. Next, add 3 single-crochet in the next single-crochet stitch. Single-crochet in the next 15 (16, 17) stitches. Increase 2 single-crochets. (See Reference 1)

3. Work in the back loop only for rows 3 to 13. Single-crochet in each stitch across, working 3 single-crochets in center single-crochet to total 55 (59, 63) single-crochets. (See Reference 1)

4. Crochet row 1 of the border by joining the yarn in the upper side edge and single-crocheting in each stitch across. Chain 3, and turn to start row 2. Repeat for row 3. Do not skip any stitches between the two cups. For row 4, single-crochet in each stitch across, and end-off. (See Reference 1)

5. Work lower band and ties by chaining 3 and then single-crocheting in the second chain from the hook. Single-crochet in the next chain. Chain 1, and turn. Work single-crochet on 2 stitches for 60 inches and end-off. Make two straps by working the same way you did for the lower band, but for 30 inches, and end-off. (See Reference 1)

6. Overlap the front edges of the bra cups to fit your breast shape correctly. Pin the lower edge of the cups to the center of the band and sew together with the crochet-finishing needle and yarn. Sew a strap to the top edge of the cup. Repeat for the other cup. (See Reference 1)

Panty Crochet Instructions

1. Work the back of the panties by chaining 77 (80, 85). For row 1, single-crochet in the second chain from hook and in each chain across 76 (79, 84). For rows 2 through 14 (15, 16), single-crochet in each stitch across. (See Reference 2)

2. Shape the leg by binding-off 4 stitches on each side of the next row, then binding-off every other row two times. Two stitches each side every other row, 6 (6, 7) times to total 28 (31, 32) single-crochets. End-off. (See Reference 2)

3. Work the front of the panties by chaining 81 (84, 89). Work single-crochets in 80 (83, 86) stitches across for 9 (10, 11) rows. (See Reference 1)

4. Shape leg and crotch by single-crocheting in each of the 16 (17, 18) stitches. Chain 1, and turn. Bind-off 4 single-crochets at inner edge by completing every row twice, 3 (3, 4) single-crochet twice, 2 (3, 2) single-crochets. End off. Skip the next 4 (4, 5) stitches on the last long row, and then single-crochet in each of the next 40 (41, 42) stitches. Chain 1, and turn. Decrease 1 single-crochet on each side of every row 11 times to equal 18 (19, 20) single-crochets. Work 8 rows evenly, increasing 1 single-crochet each side of every other row 5 (6, 6) times to equal 28 (31, 32) single-crochets. End off. Skip 4 (4, 5) single-crochets on last long row and then single-crochet in each of the next 16 (17. 19) single-crochets. Repeat leg shaping for the other side. (See Reference 1)

5. Work the upper front border by joining the yarn in the upper-side edge and single-crochet in each stitch across to equal 80 (83, 88) single-crochets. Chain 3, and turn. (See Reference 1)

6. Start Row 1 by placing the yarn over your hook and pulling up a loop in the first single-crochet, yarn over hook. Pull through 2 loops on the hook. Skip the next 2 stitches. Yarn over the hook and pull up a loop in the next stitch (yarn over the hook and pull through 2 loops on the hook three times). *Chain 2, yarn over the hook and pull up a loop in the last stitch. Yarn over the hook and pull through 2 loops on hook. Skip the next two stitches. Yarn over the hook and pull up a loop in the next stitch (yarn over the hook and pull through 2 loops the hook 3 times). Repeat from the asterisk (*) across ending in chain 2. Double-crochet in last stitch, chain 3, and turn. (See Reference 1)

7. Start row 2 start by placing the yarn over your hook and pulling up a loop in the first stitch. Yarn over the hook and pull through 2 loops on the hook. Skip the next 2 chains. Yarn over the hook and pull up a loop in the next stitch (yarn over the hook and pull through 2 loops on hook 3 times). * Chain 2. Yarn over the hook and pull up a loop in the last stitch. Yarn over the hook and pull through two loops on the hook. Skip the next 2 chains. Yarn over the hook and pull up a loop in the next stitch (yarn over the hook and pull through 2 loops on hook 3 times). Repeat from the asterisk (*) across ending in chain 3. Double-crochet in the top of the turning chain, chain 3, and turn. Repeat row 2 for row 3, and end-off. (See References 1)

8. Work the back border the same as the front border in steps 5 and 6. (See Reference 1)

9. Sew side and crotch seams to finish your bikini panties. From the right side, work one round of single-crochets around each leg opening. Cut elastic to fit tightly around hips leaving one inch extra for joining. Overlap the cord ends and sew it in securely. Working over the elastic cord, work one round of single-crochets to the upper edge. (See Reference 1)

References

• Crochic.tripod.com: Bikini Instructions
• Angelfire.com: Basic Crochet Stitches
• Dummies.com: Fasten-off Yarn