Crochet Patterns / April 16, 2025

Seashell Swim Skirt – Crochet Pattern for Size-Inclusive Beach Wrap Skirt

Hi friends!

This post includes everything you need to know about my new Seashell Swim Skirt, a crocheted cover-up skirt featuring lacy stitches and a side-tie, perfect for exploring the beach!

Get the Lion Brand Crochet Kit here (in your desired colourway)!

Before we begin, here are some quick links for you:

Find the PDF version on Ravelry, Etsy, and my website.
Add your finished project to Ravelry here!
Shop the recommended yarns, Lion Brand Coboo, here!
- Shop the full Lion Brand crochet kit here (comes with all yarn required in your chosen colourway + a FREE copy of the PDF pattern)!
For any questions about this pattern, please email knitsnknotswpg@gmail.com and I’ll get back to you asap!

Shop my first book – Modern Crochet Sweaters: 20 Chic Designs for Everyday Wear – here!

Pre-order my new book – Summer Crochet: 19 Delicate Designs with Simple Lace and Timeless Silhouettes – here!

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About

This airy design is sure to add a touch of elegance to your swimwear. The lacy stitches in the Seashell Swim Skirt echo the shape of rippling seashells scattered along the sand. Whether you’re dipping your toes in the water, strolling along the tide line, or lounging under a beach umbrella, this skirt will have you feeling comfortable and effortlessly chic while exploring the beach.

This pattern was originally designed as a bonus pattern for anyone who pre-ordered my book! Now that the book has been released, I’m happy to share this design with you as a regular PDF pattern for those of you who would like to make it but didn’t pre-order the book in time.

This pattern is special to me for so many reasons: not only was it the incentive pattern for the book, but we shot it in Kona, Hawaii on a family trip while I was 8 weeks pregnant with my second son. These photos hold so many memories and I’m glad I’m able to share them with you!

Materials

Yarn: DK/Light—Lion Brand Coboo® in colorway “White”

51% cotton, 49% rayon from bamboo
232 yds (212 m) per 3.5 oz (100 g) cake
Find this yarn on lionbrand.com or visit yarnsub.com to find comparable substitutes available in your region.

Yardage Required: 2 (2, 2, 2, 3) (3, 3, 4, 4) cakes or approximately 275 (295, 350, 380, 475) (575, 650, 735, 815) yds [251 (270, 320, 347, 434) (526, 594, 672, 745) m]

Yarn Substitution: Visit knitsnknots.ca/seashell-swim-skirt for an extensive list of suitable yarn substitutes. Substitute Lion Brand Coboo with any similar DK-weight (category #3) yarn that matches gauge. Note that DK weight is often referred to as “8-ply” in Australia. Plant fibers will work well in this project, particularly plant fibers like cotton, bamboo or any plant fiber blends. Yarn with some bamboo content creates a beautifully slinky fabric that lends a lot of drape and movement to the finished skirt.

Hook: Size U.S. F/5 (3.75 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge

Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors, 2 locking stitch markers

Gauge

3 Shell repeats = approximately 5.75” (14.5 cm) wide, 4 rows in Shell stitch pattern = approximately 3” (8 cm) tall

Note: Each Shell repeat = just shy of 2” (5 cm) wide.

For Swatch

Your swatch will consist of 3 full Shells plus 1 half Shell on each end. See full stitch chart on page 7. The stitch chart perfectly matches these gauge instructions.

Ch 30.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. [29 sc]

Rows 2-4: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.

Next, you will begin the shell stitch pattern.

Row 1: Ch 5 (counts as 1 tr + 1 ch here and throughout pattern), 3 tr in first sc at base of tch, sk next 6 sts, *Shell in next st, sk next 6 sts; rep from * to last st, (3 tr, ch 1, tr) in last st, turn. [3 Shells, 1 half Shell at each end]

Note: In Row 2, you will work 5 tr for every full shell, and 3 tr for each half shell.

Row 2: Ch 5, sk first tr and first ch-sp, tr in next tr, ch 1, sk next tr, tr in next tr, *ch 1, tr in next tr, ch 1, sk next tr, tr in next tr, ch 1, sk next ch-sp, tr in next tr, ch 1, sk next ch-sp, tr in next tr, ch 1, sk next tr, tr in next tr; rep from * across each Shell until reaching the final half-Shell, ch 1, tr in next tr, ch 1, sk next tr, tr in next tr, ch 1, sk next ch-sp, tr in 4th ch of tch, turn. [21 tr]

Row 3: Ch 5, 3 tr in first tr, sk next 4 tr, *Shell in next tr, sk next 4 tr; rep from * to last tr (the tch), (3 tr, ch 1, tr) in 4th ch of tch, turn. [3 Shells, 1 half Shell at each end]

Rep last 2 rows until you have completed at least 3 full Shells, finishing with a Row 2 rep.

Block your swatch the same way you would your finished piece. To check the stitch gauge, measure across the innermost 3 full Shells (not the half Shells on the edges) to get the most accurate measurement. These inner 3 Shells should measure approximately 5.75” (14.5 cm) wide. To check the row gauge, measure the first 2 Shell repeats worked and not the last repeat worked. These 2 Shell repeats should measure approximately 3” (8 cm) tall.

Pattern Notes

Skill Level: Intermediate

Sizing: This wrap skirt is written in nine sizes as follows: XS (S, M, L, XL) (2X, 3X, 4X, 5X) based on your hip circumference (see sizing chart on next page). Make sure to follow the numbers for your size only.

Stitch Counts: Stitch counts are listed after each row. If no stitch count is given, there has been no change since the previous row. If only one number is provided, it applies to all sizes.

Reversible: There is no right side or wrong side to this fabric; both sides are identical. You choose which side to wear as the “right side.”

Turning Chain: Ch 5 counts as 1 tr + 1 ch in every row of the Shell Stitch Skirt Panel. Ch 1 for Rows 2-4 of the Waist Tie does not count as a stitch.

Pattern Multiple: If you would like to customize the width/circumference of your skirt panel, add or subtract 7 stitches from the original beginning chain in order to adjust your skirt by one Shell repeat. The rest of the pattern can be followed as written.

Construction: The Seashell Swim Skirt is worked seamlessly from the top-down, beginning with the solid border and integrated waist tie at the top of the skirt. The remaining rectangular portion of your skirt is crocheted directly onto this top border, consisting of a lacy 2-row repeat, until reaching your desired length.