In this pattern I teach you how to make a simple but beautiful beach cover up. The cover up is easy adjustable to any size. If you can do a double crochet and a chain then you can certainly do this pattern.

Materials

  • 5 skeins of Lisa (you can find this yarn on the website from Eddna) or other number 2 yarn of your choice
  • 4 mm crochet hook for the cord, 5 mm. crochet hook for the cover up
  • 2 stitchmarkers
  • Scissors
  • Tapestry needle

Terms used/abbreviations

Ch                    chain
Dc                   double crochet
V-stitch          double crochet, chain 1, double crochet in the same ch1sp
Ch1sp              chain 1 space
Sl st                slip stitch

Notes

This pattern is written in US terms.

Pattern

We start the pattern with some measurements. Measure from the length you want for your cover up (your thigh or just above your knee) over your shoulder to the same spot on your back. Write this number down at number 1. Then measure from the shoulder to the middle of the neck, write this down at number 2.

Left side Body

Start with a chain for the length you wrote down at number 1, the chain must have the length you wrote down at number 1 and must be a multiple of 3. Ch2 extra.  

Row 1: Yarn over, insert your hook in the 3rd chain from the hook and make a dc, ch 1, dc in the next ch. *Skip a ch dc in the next, ch1, dc in the next ch*. Repeat between *..* until you have one ch left. Dc in the last ch.

Row 2: ch 4, turn your work. This ch4 is your first dc and a ch1, 2 dc in the first ch1sp (right in the middle of every V-stitch) ch1. Make 2 dc and a ch1 in every V-stitch End with a dc in the last stitch (the ch2 of the beginning of row 1).

Row 3: ch4, turn your work. This ch4 is your first dc and a ch1. Dc in the 1st ch1sp to complete your V-stitch. Make a V-stitch in every ch1sp across. The last V-stitch is placed in the ch4 from the previous row.

Row 4: ch3, turn your work. This ch3 is a dc, dc in the 1st ch1sp, ch1. In every ch1sp across 2 dc and a ch1. End with 2 dc in the ch4 from the previous row.

Row 5: ch3, turn your work. this ch3 is a dc. V-stitch in every ch1sp across. End with a dc in the ch3 from the previous row.

Repeat rows 2-5 until your work is the width you wrote down at number 2. For my piece it is 20 rows.

Don’t bind off, we move on with another measurement.

Place the longest part over your shoulder and line it up at the front and back. You have one half of your cover up done (the left or the right side). See on your body where you want your neckline to start and mark that spot with a stitch marker. Make sure your stitch marker is in a ch1sp. Feel with your fingers on the back and decide where you want the neckline on the back and mark that spot also with a stitch marker.

Right side Body

Row 1: ch 3 or 4 (depends on the row you are at), turn your work and continue the stitch pattern until the stitch with the stitch marker. Then count your stitches in between the 2 stitch markers (count every dc and every ch1). Chain that amount of stitches, I have 78 ch. Make sure your chain isn’t twisted. Yarn over, insert in the other ch1sp with a stitch marker and make a dc. Repeat the stitch pattern across.

Fit your work and see if the neckline is the way you want. If not then redo this row and make your neckline bigger or smaller.

Row 2: ch 3 or 4 (depends on the row you are at), turn your work. Work your stitch pattern across until you are at the chain. Now you have 2 options, this depends on which row you are at.
Option 1: Skip the first ch and make a V-stitch in the next 2 ch, skip a ch, V-stitch in the next 2 ch. Repeat to the other side of the chain, skip the last ch and make V-stitches in every ch1sp across. End the row following the stitch pattern.
Option 2: ch1, skip the 1st ch and make a dc in the next 2 ch, ch1, skip a ch, dc in the next 2 ch, ch 1. Repeat until you have 1 ch left, skip that ch and start with 2 dc in the ch1sp with the stitch marker . Repeat the stitch pattern to the end of the row.

Keep working repeating rows 2-5 until this side is as wide as the 1st side.

Fit your work and see if you like what you see and decide where you want your armholes to start. Place a stitch marker on that spot, for my piece it is 13 ch1sp from the top. Turn your work inside out. Fold your work in half like you see in the picture and sew both sides until the stitch marker. You can also make sc or sl st in every stitch to close the sides. Turn your work right side out.

Finishing

You can choose to make a round of sc around the arm holes and the neck line. Bind off and weave in your ends.

Finishing the bottom

For the bottom I work 4 rounds of dc around the bottom making 2 dc in every stitch for the first round and then 1 dc in every stitch around. If you want to make it extra fancy you can alternate rounds of dc and rounds of dc ch 1, skip 1. There are so many options here, enjoy!
Bind off and weave in your ends.

Waist cord

For the waist cord you can make a 3 strand braid or make an I-cord.
For the I-cord measure the yarn 3 times the length of the desired length, this length is the tail end you need for your waist cord (mine is 1.50 mt or about 5 feet). The other side is still attached to your skein of yarn.
Make a knot in the yarn to start your I-cord, cut the loop so you have some sort of fringe at the top. Make a slip knot on your hook after the starting knot with your working yarn. Place the tail end on the front and the working yarn on the back. For an easy tutorial, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EglHp_5rlxo

Yarn over with the tail end from front to back, yarn over with the working yarn and pull through both loops on the hook. Repeat this until the length you need. Tie a knot.

Your bikini cover up is ready for the beach!!!

Your all done!