Materials Used | cotton yarn I used off a large cone so I don't know how much I used. |
Hook Size | G or H depending on child |
Measurements | approx. girls 4/5 - I don't have measurements, I'm sorry. |
Notes | After working the first 2 rows of the top in a hook size, check it around the child to make sure it's the right size. Cotton yarn will stretch over time. The top is done in shells and in a rectangle, then sewn up the back seam. The boy shorts bottom is done in hdc. |
Ch 81.
Row 1: 2 dc in the 3rd ch from the hook, *skip 2 sts, 1 sc in next ch, skip 2 sts, 5 dc in next st (shell). Repeat from *, end with skip 2 sts, 3dc in last st. Ch 1, turn.
Row 2: 1 sc in first dc, *5dc in next sc, 1 sc in center dc of shell. Repeat from * ending with 1 sc in top of turning ch. Ch 2, turn.
Row 3: 2dc in first sc, * sc in center dc of shell, shell next sc. Repeat from * ending with 3 dc in top of turning ch. Ch 1, turn.
Row 4: Repeat Row 2.
Row 5: Repeat Row 3.
Row 6: Repeat Row 2.
Row 7: Repeat Row 3.
Row 8: Repeat Row 2.
Row 9: Repeat Row 3.
Row 10: Repeat Row 2.
Row 11: Ch 1, sc in each st. Leave a 15" tail and fasten off. Turn inside out and sew up seam. Weave in ends.
After the top is in a circle, I went back to the seam and attached the yarn. I followed the same shell/sc pattern and added a row of shell around the bottom. It finished it off. You can do this or you can leave it without it.
Straps: make 2
Row 1: Ch 30, hdc in 3rd ch from hook, hdc in each st across. Ch 2, turn. (The strap stretches so it's best to have a tight fit at first)
Row 2: Hdc in each st across. Leave a 9" tail to sew the strap to the top.
I had to move the strap from where the picture shows. I moved it closer to the arms, as when my daughter went into the water the sides dipped.
Boy Shorts Bottom:
Ch 80, sl st tog to form a ring. Be careful not to twist the chain.
Round 1: Ch 2, in same st hdc. Hdc around in every st. Sl st tog to the first hdc not the ch 2. Do this throughout. It pulls the sts tog so that there are no holes. (The seam will go crooked and that is right. It is how you keep the holes pulled together.)
Rounds 2-13: Repeat Round 1.
Round 14: Ch 2, in same st hdc. (count that as 1 st) Hdc in the next 39 sts, then join to the 1st hdc. This makes the first leg hole.
Round 15: Leg hole: Ch 2, hdc in next st and in every st around. Sl st tog.
Round 16: Leg hole: Ch 1, sc in next st and in every st around. Sl st tog. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Attach yarn to crotch, ch 2, (count that as 1 st) Hdc in the next 39 sts, then join to the 1st hdc. This makes the second leg hole. Repeat Rounds 15 and 16 just like the other leg hole. Fasten off and weave in ends. Now sew up crotch seam.
I use elastic on all my daughter’s clothes. So I take the ¼" elastic, measure it to my daughter and cut it. Then I sew the one end into a circle. Then I sc the elastic to the first row of hdc of the pants. (sc around the elastic not through it) Fasten off and weave in ends. For these swim boy shorts, use the hips for the measurement not the waist.
© July 11, 2007 Christina Budd
This is my written pattern; please use it for personal use only. You may make the item and sell them, but pattern remains property of Christina Budd. And if you sell the finished product, please link back to and give credit to this the original pattern.