Pattern Instructions for the Crimson Crochet Bikini
Size
36
You Will Need
- Yarn (100% cotton; 125 m/50 g) – 150 g crimson, plus 50 g each or leftover amounts of violet, lilac, white, and bright pink
- Size 3 mm and 3.5 mm crochet hooks
Stitch Patterns and Charts
Square Motif
Work according to the chart. Work each round in a different color yarn, choosing colors at random so the squares turn out as varied as possible.
Main Stitch Pattern
Work in single crochet (sc) using crimson yarn.
“Crab Stitch”
Work single crochet (sc) from left to right.
Gauge
15.5 sts x 24 rows = 10 x 10 cm, worked in main stitch pattern;
square motif size = 9 x 9 cm.
Schematic
Instructions
Top
Make 6 squares separately for the band, then sew them together, or join each square to the previous one while working the last round.
For the cup, chain 21 + 1 turning chain and work in main stitch pattern. To shape, starting from row 2, work 3 sc into the center stitch (= 11th stitch) 18 times in each row = 57 sts.
After 9 cm = 20 rows from the starting row, finish the piece.
For a 7 cm dart, fold the starting row (14 cm long) in half and sew the seam. Make the second cup the same way.
Finishing
Lightly dampen the pieces, stretch them to the measurements given on the schematic, pin them to the schematic, and let dry completely.
Join the squares into a strip and sew on the cups following the schematic.
Along the short ends, crochet 1 triangle each in crimson yarn. In row 1, work 18 sc, then decrease 2 sts in each row.
When only 2 sts remain, chain 50 cm, turn the work, and work 1 row of slip stitches.
Edge the second end the same way.
Bottoms
Start with the front panel. Chain 70 + 1 turning chain and work in main stitch pattern.
After 5 cm = 12 rows from the starting row, decrease 1 x 5 sts on both sides (at the beginning of the row using slip stitches, at the end of the row leave them unworked), then decrease 1 x 4, 2 x 3, 2 x 2, and 3 x 1 sts in each row = 26 sts. In rows 23, 25-28, 31, 34, and 38, work the first and last 2 sc together = 10 sts.
For the crotch, work an additional 7.5 cm.
After 24.5 cm from the starting row, increase on both sides 27 times in each row and 3 times every 3rd row by 1 st (= work 2 sc into the first and last stitch) = 70 sts.
After 46 cm from the starting row, decrease on both sides to round off the back piece: 1 x 4 sts, then 5 x 4 sts in each following row.
After 49 cm, finish the piece.
Finishing
Sew the side seams. Finally, edge the leg openings and top edge of the bottoms with 1 round of sc and 1 round of “crab stitch.”
