Today I want to share part one of a two part post that details how I freehand crocheted this shorts and cropped top set without a pattern. This is NOT an official written pattern as I’m just learning how to write one, but I will detail the steps as best as I can. This is the tutorial for the shorts. These are pretty easy to crochet, but not necessarily a beginner friendly pattern. You should have basic crochet knowledge such as how to crochet in the back loop only. Experience making garments to measure is helpful. If I write a true pattern for these in the future, I will update this post.

For the shorts, you can customize these to whatever your own measurements are. You’ll want to try on the shorts as you are working on them to ensure they fit properly.

• Yarn used: Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn in the color Day Dreamery
• Hook size: 5.5mm (I) – I used a Tulip Etimo hook for this one (I have the gold metal version, which is discontinued)

Waistband (SC BLO ribbing)

Chain 9. Single crochet (SC) in the 2nd chain from hook and each other chain until the end of your starting chain (8 stitches). (If you would prefer a wider waistband, make additional starting chains before you do your first row of single crochets). Do not chain 1, turn. SC under both loops of the first stitch. SC in the back loop only (BLO) of the next 6 stitches. SC in the last stitch under both loops. Do not chain 1, turn. Repeat this for each row to your desired waistband size. (Should be somewhat tight as it will stretch, but you will be adding a drawstring). You also will want it to be able to stretch to fit over the widest part of your hips if they are wider than your waist. Try to have an even number of rows if possible, but you can add or subtract a stitch in the first round of the body to make the stitch count even if necessary.

Once waistband is at desired length, slip stitch the two halves together. I do this by folding the band in half, and starting from the working end, go in through the front loop of the first stitch and the first chain you made at the start of your work and make a slip stitch. Then go in through the front loop of the next stitch and the next starting chain, and slip stitch, all the way to the end. You can opt to turn the waistband inside out here if you like, but sometimes with my ribbing I prefer leaving it with the seam ridge facing out because it mimics the BLO ribbing you just created. On this pair I did turn it inside out.

Body of the shorts

Row 1 – Chain 1 and make a round of half double crochets (HDC) around the waistband edge (approx 1 HDC per waistband row). I had 112 stitches. You’ll want to have an even stitch count, so add or subtract a stitch if needed. Join to the first stitch you made with a slip stitch. I prefer to mark both my first and last stitches in each round with a stitch marker. Chain 1 and turn. Note: If your waist is significantly smaller than your hips, you may want to add some increases into this first row using two HDCs in one stitch (or, in this case, in one row/spot on the waistband). Add any increases evenly on the shorts – whether you space them out or add them into the sides of the shorts. The same would be said if your waist is larger than your hips – decrease using a HDC 2 together method. You can find some tutorials on YouTube on how to do decreases if you are not familiar.

Row 2 – HDC in the BLO in every HDC around. Chain 1 and turn.

Row 3 to desired length before leg split – Repeat rounds of HDC in the BLO, where your first stitch each round goes into the last stitch from the previous round. This will keep the back seam straight. Always join each round to the first stitch with a slip stitch, then chain 1 and turn.

Repeat rows until you reach your desired spot for the leg split (this depends on how low of a rise you would like for your shorts). I recommend trying on as you crochet. I did 18 rounds (19 including the first round of regular HDC into the waistband).

Legs

At this point, as mentioned I had 112 stitches around. I already had my first and last stitch marked. So I marked my 56th and 57th stitch (on the front side) which is exactly opposite those first and last stitches. You’ll want to know your stitch count, and mark two stitches on the front side of your shorts, exactly half of your number of stitches, to create two even leg holes. You will be connecting your stitches with chains to form the inside of the leg openings.

After finishing the last round before the split (in my case, round 18 of HDC BLO), chain 8 (or desired crotch length between the front and the back of your shorts), join to the front side of your shorts into the corresponding marked stitch with slip stitch. This forms one leg opening.

Slip stitch once into your next marked stitch on the front of the shorts. Then chain 8 again and join back to the marked stitch on the back of the shorts. You should now have two chains forming the inside of the leg holes, connected in the front and back marked stitches.

Slip stitch 4 times back into the chain of one leg (so that you start your leg rounds in the middle of the crotch opening – this makes the seam hidden inside your thighs), HDC into the 4th stitch, and do 4 more HDC along this chain. Then continue HDC BLO around to form one leg hole. (You are stitching around half of the shorts now, not all the way around the full shorts body). Follow the same pattern you did for the main body of the shorts, slip stitching into the first stitch and chain 1 and turn for each round until your desired inseam length. (I did 6 rounds). Cut yarn and fasten off.

Attach yarn to 4th chain of the inside of second leg and repeat same process as the first leg. Don’t fasten off yet, as you’ll be adding a border.

Use the tail from where you attached your yarn to sew using a mattress stitch (or whichever seaming method you prefer) the opening between the two legs together at the crotch.

Border and drawstring

Once legs are made to desired length, I used this pattern from My Sweet Potato for the border for each leg. You can continue working on the second leg with your working yarn. You’ll need to reattach yarn to the first leg to add the border.

Once both legs are done, make a drawstring or I-cord by whichever method you prefer and weave drawstring through the middle of the ribbed waistband (I did mine at the 4th waistband stitch) every other ridge. Make sure to measure the drawstring as you are making it to be sure it is long enough to wrap around your waist and tie in a bow.

Here is a great video tutorial by Briana K for the style of drawstring that I made. I’ve seen a few people do their drawstrings like this, but Briana’s video is quick and clear.

Be sure to weave in all of your ends. If you’re using acrylic yarn like I did, you may not need to block the shorts (I did not). Other yarn fibers will probably need some blocking.

I know these instructions are not written in typical pattern form, but I did want to share how I made these in case any of you are inspired to make a pair of crochet shorts for yourself. Hopefully they are written clearly enough to figure out.

Tomorrow I will post part two – the top.

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