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Thursday 12 April 2012

Those amazing crochet shorts! Free charts and written patterns of the motifs!

DISCLAIMER!This is not a project for a beginner in any way. Nor is it for the faint of heart. You're going to need a good working knowledge of crochet and garment making to pull this off. Or, just great big balls and a hell of a lot of patience. I don't have any actual patterns for these bad boys. I will share with you what I've figured out on my own, but that's all I can do. I haven't gotten them finished yet but I'm working on these.

So, these shorts keep popping up on pinterest. Aren't they pretty? They're also about $150 from letarte swimwear. Madness!

I've also been seeing a lot of 'where can I get this pattern'? I don't think you can.. But I will GIVE you the next best thing. I will give you the chart that I found (I can't remember where) for the pretty circles and I will accompany that with a written pattern for said chart. (I wrote this out myself, I did test it but it may need a correction or 2. Let me know, k?)

I'm also going to give you a written step by step of the bottom bit, which is just a pineapple motif, you may need to adjust the number of stitches involved to match the motif in the shorts (I counted 7 TR in the first round)
The first bit, the waist band is super easy, Just single crochet until the chain is as long as your waist (or hips-wherever you want them to sit) is wide. Then continue on back and forth until your piece is as wide as you like it. Remember you're going to fold it over and sew it into a tube for the ribbon to tie your finished shorts. It looks like they do a round of shell stitches along one edge of the waistband as well.


The next bit is just a bunch of these pretty circles:

Notes. join each round,
R1: 12 DC in magic ring. join.
R2: Ch 3 dc in same (counts as 2). 2 in each around (24).
R3: ch 3, 2 dc in same stitch (cluster) **Ch 2, 3DC in next stitch** (Repeat around)
Join last cluster to ch3 (don't chain 2 after)
R4:Ch 6, slst to ch2 space, **Ch 5 slst to space** last stitch is Ch2 & join to ch6.
R5:  Ch 6, 5 DC in Chain space, ch 5, 5 dc in same ch Space,
**Ch 5 slst next sp 3 times, ch 5, 5 dc in next ch space, ch 5 sc in same ch space** repeat 5 times,
last stitch is Ch 5 slst next sp 3 times. join.
fasten off.


The next bit is pineapple motifs. Upside-down and right side up.
I counted 7 Trebles in the shorts but the closest chart I could find has 9, So it'll do.


Written instructions are as follows:

R1:Chain 4 (counts as first double crochet).
R2:Work (1 double crochet, chain 2, 2 double crochet) all in the 4th chain from the hook.
R3:Chain 4 to turn (counts as first treble), work 6 trebles in the chain-2 space.
R4:Chain 4 to turn (counts as first treble), skip first treble, work (chain 1, treble) in each treble across, ending with the last treble worked in the top of the chain-4.Turn.
R5: Work (chain 3, single crochet) in the first chain-1 space, (chain 3, single crochet) in each chain-1 space across. Turn.
R6: Skip the first chain-3 space, work (chain 3, single crochet) in each chain-3 space across.Turn.
 R7:Skip the first chain-3 space, work (chain 3, single crochet) in each chain-3 space across (you will have one less chain-3 space at the end of each row).
On following rows, continue to repeat step 7; eventually you will have a row with only one chain-3 in that row. Fasten off.


Well, there it is, folks. Good luck! 
EDIT: I recently saw a link to this page which shows the construction of these shorts using circle motifs. I would imagine you might find it helpful.
Also I finally found the post I saved the chart for the circle motif from right here

24 comments:

  1. I'm hoping to use these patterns to make this (http://pinterest.com/pin/192388215301929153/) I'm not the most experienced crocheter, but I have a grasp of the basic, great big balls, and patience... lol Any suggestions?

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  2. Good luck! LOL I'm not entirely sure what the motif in that one is but it sure is Pretty! You might try doing a google search for some flower motifs and see if you can find instructions on something similar.

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  3. how did you do the crotch part

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  4. Should the circles lie flat when done? Mines kinda ruffley I used red heart crochet thread sz 3 and an e/4 - 3.50mm hook

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    1. that's too big a hook. try size 10 thread and size 2.75 hook max

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  5. for the crotch I just kind of made a single crochet triangle.. I don't remember what I used for yarn (just something I pulled out of my giant stash)and yeah my circles were a tad ruffled, no biggie.

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  6. How do you join the circles together? Ive googled all the images I can find of these shorts to get different views and I cant't figure out if they're sewn together or joined as you go. Do you make the waistband separate then sew the circles on? I'm dying to making these but I simply don't know where to start!

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    1. Nikkichi...to the best I can figure out is make the waist band, then make the round motifs separately. You can't join as you go because they are made from the center out. I'm going to make enough motifs to fit the waistband, stitch the circles together then attach to the waistband...I hope it works, lol.Then I will figure out how to do the pineapples.

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  7. Hi, I have a couple of questions....What size thread, hook and what is the approximate diameter of the round motif? I appreciate any help :)

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  8. Sorry guys, I don't check my stuff much in the summertime.. I'm too busty with the family.

    you would attach the circles together with the "tallest" chain spaces (the ones above the clusters - there should be 6 of them)

    Like I said in the blog post, I'm really not much more helpful than the charts and what I've written out for them for my own personal use. I'm just sharing what I've figured out. This a fairly advanced project and if you can't figure out the basic construction of shorts. This probably isn't the project for you just yet.

    Do the waistband and then attach the motifs. You might find it helpful to use a pair of shorts that have a fit you like and use them to make a pattern.

    Here's what I did: I measured myself, waist, hips, length I wanted the shorts, then I drew out a pattern and jotted my measurements on each aspect, then I made a circle and took measure of it. Then its just simple math to figure out how many you'll need.

    You'll want to make enough circles to do 2 layers.

    I can't tell you my hook or thread size as I just grabbed stuff out of my stash and went to town. Your best bet would be to make a couple of the circles and measure them.

    I hope this was somewhat helpful. I got halfway though mine before there were some babies born and pregnancies announced in the family which diverted all my efforts to baby gifts.. Now it's getting cold and everyone needs new winter gear and they're just another project I'll finish "when I have the time". The joys of mother hood. lol

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  9. Ok so BUSY NOT busty.. Although...

    Also I forgot to mention, Block your circles BEFORE sewing them together.

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    1. What do you mean by "block your circles"?

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    2. Well, this is a garment best made from a cotton crochet thread, most organic threads and yarn require the finished piece (or pieces in the case of a motif).

      You hand wash and pin your pieces flat and let them dry. You do this to "open" the stitches and give the piece it's true shape.

      Micheal's craft store has a great little reference page that takes you through different types of blocking.
      http://www.michaels.com/Blocking-a-Crocheted-Piece/ae0079,default,pg.html

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  10. Thank you for sharing this, I can't wait to try it. ^_^

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  11. I saw a pattern for shorts Very similar to these on etsy.

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  12. This pattern is great, can't wait to make these

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  13. I am a beginner. I was able to create the 2 patterns given in the charts however I am unable to figure out how to join them together to form these shorts. Please can you help me????

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    1. Hello,

      I'm sorry that you're having trouble. I did write out a response to a similar question a few comments above yours. In short you'll want to take measurements of yourself or use a pair of shorts that fit well to make a pattern and sew your motifs together using the methods I've outlines in above comments.

      I'm sorry I can't be of more help.

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  14. I have been staring at this pattern for many months now and I am thankful for you to share. I know it is a challenge, but well worth the journey even if I do fail to reproduce such elegant beauty.

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  15. Thank you so much for the "pattern" After 4 months of struggling with several issues, I completed these shorts for my daughter-in-law and they are gorgeous. I did use a pair of her shorts as a pattern for the size. 6 circles across each piece worked out perfect. I used a #7 steel hook and white #10 thread. I used elastic under a crocheted piece for the waistband. The other issues that I struggled with were the fillers between the circle and the foundation row under the circles for the transition to the pineapple section. It was NOT easy, but I thank you because I couldn't have done it without you. If I could post a picture here I would. They are so cute!!

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  16. hi i love these shorts thank you for posting, regarding the reference to ruffles, mine did the same until i realised the 3dc and the 5dc were all clusters now i have perfect flat circles, bring on the summer many thanks Sharon x

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