Crochet bikinis are on trend – here's how to make one

Wearing crochet is on trend this year – and it's even made its way to the beach with crochet bikinis becoming the latest covetable item, perfect for your summer holiday plans.

So if you've been looking for a brand new craft project, why not get going on this cool free crochet bikini pattern from We Are Knitters?

Whether crocheting it for yourself or an Instagram-loving teen, the halter neck and pretty detailing makes this a gorgeous summer outfit. This pattern's in a lovely khaki, but by making your own, you can choose whatever colour yarn you fancy.

Looking for more crochet projects? Try making this crochet summer bag or crochet flower garland. And if you're a crochet novice who fancies learning a new skill, learn the basics with our how to crochet guide.

This project is crocheted in three sepa­rate parts (top, front side and back side of the bottom).

How to crochet a bikini top

1. With your crochet hook, cast on 67 chains and then 2 more.

2. Crochet rows 1 to 12 in double cro­chet and take into account the follow­ing decreases:

You need to crochet the double cro­chet from the third chain. When finish­ing the round, you will need to crochet two chains to be able to continue cro­cheting the next round. To start dou­ble crocheting, go around the hook with the thread. Introduce the hook with the thread inside the third chain and go around the hook again. Take out the hook with three threads. Go around the hook with the thread and pass it through the first two threads. Go around the hook again and pass it through the rest of the threads.

Row 1: Crochet the whole row in dou­ble crochet.

Rows 2 to 7: Crochet 2 double crochets together. Crochet the rest of the stitch­es in double crochet until you only have 2 stitches left and crochet them togeth­er in double crochet (Remember to always make 2 chains at the end of each row). At the end of row 7 you will have a total of 55 stitches.

Rows 8 to 12: Crochet 2 double cro­chets together twice. Crochet the rest of the stitches in double crochet until you only have 4 stitches left. Crochet 2 double crochets together twice.

At the end of row 12 you will have a total of 35 stitches.

3. Crochet rows 13 to 16 in triangle stitch:

Row 13: Wrap the hook and introduce it into the first stitch, wrap the hook with the thread again and pull it out, wrap the hook yet again and then pull it out of the first two slings formed by the hook. Wrap the hook and introduce it into the next stitch, wrap the hook with the thread again and pull it out, wrap the hook yet again and then pull it out of the first two slings formed by the hook. Wrap the hook and introduce it into the next two slings. Wrap the hook one last time and introduce it into the last two slings.

*Make 3 chains. Wrap the hook and introduce it into the next stitch, wrap the hook with the thread again and pull it out, wrap the hook yet again and then pull it out of the first two slings, repeat this twice more until you have 4 slings on your hook. Wrap the hook and pull it out of the first two slings; repeat this until you have only one sling left on the hook.*

Repeat from * to * until you have crocheted 12 triangles in total.

Row 14: Repeat row 13 but this time forming the triangles in the holes be­tween the triangles of the row before. You will have 11 tri­angles in total.

Row 15: Repeat row 14. You will have 10 triangles in total.

Row 16: Repeat row 14. You will have 9 triangles in total.

How to crochet bikini bottoms – front

1. With your crochet hook, cast on 8 chains and then two more.

2. Crochet rows 1 to 15 in double cro­chet as follows:

Rows 1 to 3: Crochet a double crochet into each of the stitches of the row be­fore.

Rows 4 and 6: Crochet 2 double cro­chets in the first stitch in order to in­crease it. Crochet the rest of the stitch­es in double crochet until you only have one stitch left and crochet 2 stitches to increase it. At the end of row 6 you will have a total of 12 stitches.

Rows 5 and 7: Crochet a double cro­chet into each of the stitches of the row before.

Rows 8 to 15: Crochet 2 double cro­chets in the first stitch in order to in­crease it. Crochet the rest of the stitch­es in double crochet until you only have one stitch left and crochet 2 stitches to increase it. At the end of row 15 you will have a total of 26 stitches.

3. Knit row 16 in triangle stitch, mean­ing repeat row 13 of the upper part of your bikini. You will crochet a total of 9 triangles.

How to crochet bikini bottoms – back

1. With your crochet hook, cast on 8 chains and then 2 more.

2. Crochet rows 1 to 17 in double cro­chet as follows:

Rows 1 to 4: Crochet a double crochet into each of the stitches of the row be­fore.

Rows 5, 7 and 9: Crochet 2 double cro­chets in the first stitch in order to in­crease it. Crochet 2 double crochets in the next stitch in order to make another increase. it Crochet the rest of the stitches in double crochet until you only have 2 stitches left. Crochet 2 stitches in the penultimate stitch to increase it and 2 double crochets in the last stitch.

Rows 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16: Crochet 2 double crochets in the first stitch in order to increase it. Cro­chet the rest of the stitches in double crochet until you only have one stitch left and crochet 2 stitches to increase it. At the end of row 16 you will have a total of 38 stitches.

3. Knit row 17 in triangle stitch, mean­ing repeat row 13 of the top of your bikini. You will crochet a total of 13 tri­angles.

How to end your project

1. To finish the upper part of your bi­kini, crochet an icord of 60 chains for the straps and 80 for the straps on the back. We recommend you to crochet a slip stitch around the whole bikini so that the rim looks nicer and more de­fined.

2. Thread the knitter’s sewing needle with a thread of the same cotton that you used to crochet the bikini. Sew the front side of the bottom to the back side of the bottom at the most narrow part.

3. In order to finish the bottom of your bikini, crochet 4 icords of 80 chains, each one for a strap of the panties and sew them together at the end. We also recommend you crochet a slip stitch around the whole bikini so that the rim looks nicer and more defined.

Watch the video on how to icord here.

Customise your crochet bikini

Once you are done knitting, custom­ise your project with pins, brooches, etc. Have fun with it! Send your pics through Instagram, tagging @primamag and using the hashtags #weareknitters & #cookislandbikini!

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