Shell Summer Skirt

Free Skirt Crochet Pattern

This crochet skirt has simple, clean lines. At the same time, the shell construction provides a lot of interesting detail when seen up close. I used cotton yarn, both because it is cool and because it gives the skirt an elegant drape.

The skirt is worked top down, in the round, without seams, from the hip down. However, you have to change direction at the end of each row, so that every row is worked in the opposite direction from the previous one (as if back and forth). This ensures the skirt is straight and even. The upper part (from hip to the high waist) is worked afterwards bottom-up. The hem of the skirt features a flounce, which is created by crocheting several mesh inserts into the skirt between shells.

The skirt is quite simple to work, though the size does mean that it's a rather time consuming project. Definitely start working on it a good while in advance of the Summer!

Sizes: S (M, L, XL, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X)

Finished measurements:

Hip: 39 (43, 47, 51, 55, 59, 63, 67) inches [98 (108, 118, 128, 138, 148, 158, 168)] cm
Length: 28” (70 cm)

Materials:

• Aunt Lydia (affiliate link)'s 100% Mercerized Cotton, Size 3, 150yd/138m, color - Chocolate - 12 (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26) balls.
• Elastic ½” width (1 cm)

Hook: US D (2.75 mm)

Gauge: 1 Shell = 1” (2.5 cm)

Abbreviations

• ch = chain
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• sl st = slip stitch
• sc = single crochet
• dc = double crochet
• tr – treble crochet
• V-stitch (V-st) - (1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc) into ch 1 of the V-stitch of the prev. row
• Shell - (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) into the ch-3 of the prev row shell.
• Shell2 - (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) into the ch-2 of the prev row shell.
• Shell4 - (4 dc, ch 4, 4 dc) into the ch-4 of the prev row shell.
• Shell5 - (5 dc, ch 5, 5 dc) into the ch-5 of the prev row shell.
• Fan Shell - 7 dc into the ch-2 of the prev row shell.

Skirt

The skirt is worked top down, in the round, without seams from the hip. However, you have to change direction at the end of each row, so that every row is worked in the opposite direction from the previous one (as if back and forth). This ensures the skirt is straight and even. The upper part (from hip to waist) is worked afterwards bottom-up.

Chain 160 (180, 200, 208, 220, 240, 248, 268), join to the beginning of the chain to form a circle. Continue to work in-the-round.

Round 1: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), skip 1 (4th ch from hook), *shell into next st, skip 3, repeat from * to the end of the row, end with skip 1, sl st to ch 3. There should be 40 (45, 50, 52, 55, 60, 62, 67) shells. Turn

Round 2: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), *shell into next shell, repeat from * to the end of the row, sl st to ch 3. Turn.

Rounds 3-11: repeat round 2.

Round 12: ch 3 ( counts as 1 dc), *shell4 into next shell, repeat from * to the end of the row, sl st to ch 3. Turn.

Rounds 13-40: repeat round 12

Round 41: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), *shell5 into next shell, repeat from * to the end of the row, sl st to ch 3. Turn.

Rounds 42-47: repeat round 41. If you would like to change the skirt length, change the number of repeats of round 41. The length of the flounce is 6” (15 cm). Don't forget to factor that in when calculating the length of the skirt!

Flounce

Round 48: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), *shell5 into each of next 6 (7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 10, 11) shells, 10 dc into next shell, repeat from * 4 more times, end with shell5, into last shell5, sl st to ch-3. Turn. For sizes XL, 4X and 5X round ends with shell5 into each of last 3 shell5.

Round 49: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), *shell5 into each of next 6 (7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 10, 11) shells, 1 tr into next dc, (ch 1, 1 tr into next dc) 9 times, repeat from * 4 more times, end with shell5, into last shell5, sl st to ch-3. Turn.

Round 50: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), *shell5 into each of next 6 (7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 10, 11) shells, 1 tr into next tr, (ch 2, 1 tr into next tr) 9 times, repeat from * 4 more times, end with shell5, into last shell5, sl st to ch-3. Turn.

Round 51: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), *shell5 into each of next 6 (7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 10, 11) shells, 1 tr into next tr, (ch 3, 1 tr into next tr) 9 times, repeat from * 4 more times, end with shell5, into last shell5, sl st to ch-3. Turn.

Round 52: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), *shell5 into each of next 6 (7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 10, 11) shells, 1 tr into next tr, (ch 4, 1 tr into next tr) 9 times, repeat from * 4 more times, end with shell5, into last shell5, sl st to ch-3. Turn.

Round 53: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), *shell5 into each of next 6 (7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 10, 11) shells, 1 tr into next tr, (ch 5, 1 tr into next tr) 9 times, repeat from * 4 more times, end with shell5, into last shell5, sl st to ch-3. Turn.

Rounds 54-58: repeat round 53. Tie off.

Top of the Skirt

Secure the thread to the beginning of the 1st round of the skirt.

Round 1: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), *shell into the same stitch as the shell of the 1st skirt round, repeat to the end of the round, sl st to ch 3. Turn.

Round 2: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), *shell2 into next shell, * repeat to the end of the round, sl st to ch 3. Turn.

Rounds 3-4: repeat round 2.

Round 5: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), *V-st into next shell, * repeat to the end of the round, sl st to ch 3. Turn.

Round 6: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), *V-st into next V-st, * repeat to the end of the round, sl st to ch 3. Turn.

Repeat round six 6 (7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16) times. If you would like the top of the skirt to be longer, work more rounds of V-stitches.

Finishing

Fold the top of the skirt to the wrong side to make a belt and sew it on the wrong side approximately 1.5” (3.5 cm) from the top leaving a 2” (5 cm) opening. Thread elastic through the belt and sew the ends together. Sew the opening of the belt closed.

(Optional) Make a lining for the skirt and sew it on along the bottom edge of the belt.

Enjoy!

Click image to enlarge