Issue 3

Flower child bikini By Melinda Thomas Follow these instructions to crochet a charming bikini to match the Flower child headscarf featured in i can make it myself issue three. You will need... Pellicano Crochet Cotton: 1x 50g ball white (7901) Pellicano Crochet Cotton: 1x 50g ball pink (0702) for the small or 2 x 50g balls pink (0702) for the medium and large sizes Semco: 2mm crochet hook Duet sewing thread: white (4000) 2mm wide white hat elastic: 2m Tapestry needle Hand-stitching needle General sewing supplies

Dimensions: This garment can be made in three different sizes.

Bikini top

Bikini bottom

Small - fits waist 46cm to 52cm

Medium - fits waist 52cm to 60cm


Large - fits waist 60cm to 70cm

Crochet abbreviations and symbols

approx = approximately

beg = beginning


ch = chain

cl = cluster

cm = centimetre

dc = double crochet

dtr = double treble


htr = half treble
mm = millimetre

rep = repeat

rnd = round


sl st = slip stitch

sp = space

tog = together

tr = treble
[] or () indicates a repeat of whatever is inside the parentheses as many times as indicated in the pattern.

* indicates a repeat of the instructions following the asterisk as many times as indicated in the pattern.

Tip
Throughout these instructions, a number of
rows are repeated. Always check to make sure you follow the
instructions that correspond to the size of the bikini you are making.

Tip

Test the tension. Make one flower following the instructions below. The
flower should measure approximately 3cm in diameter (measuring from the
edge of one petal to the edge of the adjacent petal). Check the tension
before beginning and adjust the hook size to achieve the correct
tension for this pattern. If the piece is larger than this, use a
smaller hook. If the piece is smaller, use a slightly larger hook.

Method

Beg by making the two bikini top triangles. Using the white crochet cotton, make 6ch and join with sl st to form a ring.

Rnd 1: 1ch, 11dc in ring, sl st into 1ch at beg of rnd. Finish off.

Rnd 2: Join the pink thread to a dc from the previous row. 5ch, miss
dc, (dc in next dc, 4ch, miss dc) 5 times, sl st in 1 st of 5ch at beg
of rnd.

Rnd 3: sl st in 1 st sp, (1ch, htr, 3tr, htr, dc) in same sp, miss dc,
*(dc, htr, 3tr, htr, dc) in next sp, miss dc, (repeat from * to end),
sl st in back of flower between first and last petals. Finish off.

Rnd 4: Make the white edging around the flower. With right side of the
flower facing you, join the white thread to the 2 nd of 3tr on a
flower, 8ch, dtr in 2 nd of 3tr of next petal, 4ch, dtr in same st,
7ch, dc in 2 nd of 3tr of next petal, *7ch, (dtr 4ch, dtr) in 2 nd of
3tr on next petal, 7ch, dc in 2 nd of 3tr of next petal, (repeat from *
once more, omitting the final dc in the last repeat), end with sl st in
1 st of 8ch from beg of rnd. Finish off.

Now, make the coloured section of the triangle.

Row
1: (All sizes) With right side of the flower motif facing you, join the
pink thread to one of the white 4ch corner spaces of the previous row.
Work 2ch, 2htr in same sp, htr in next dtr, 8htr in
next sp, htr in next dc, 8htr in next sp, htr in next dtr, 3htr in next
4ch corner sp. Turn work at the end of the row.

Rows 2, 3 and 4: (All sizes) 2ch, htr in next 23htr to end, htr in 2 nd of 2ch from beg of previous row.


Row 5: (All sizes) 2ch, htr in same st, htr in next 23htr, 2htr in 2 nd of 2ch from beg of previous row.

Rows 6, 7 and 8: (All sizes) 2ch, htr in next 25htr, htr in 2 nd of 2ch from beg of previous row.

Row 9: (All sizes) 2ch, htr in same st, htr in next 25htr, 2htr in 2 nd of 2ch from beg of previous row.

Row 10: (All sizes) 2ch, htr in next 27htr, htr in 2 nd of 2ch from beg of previous row. Finish off for the small size only.

Row 11: (Medium and large) Rep row 10.

Row 12: (Medium only) 2ch, htr in next 27htr, htr in 2 nd of 2ch from
beg of previous row. (Large only) 2ch, htr in same st, htr in next
27htr, 2htr in 2 nd of 2ch from beg of previous row.

Row 13: (Medium only), 2ch, htr in same st, htr in next 27htr, 2htr in
2 nd of 2ch from beg of previous row. Finish off the medium size only.
(Large only) 2ch, htr in next 29htr, htr in 2 nd of 2ch from beg of
previous row.

Row 14: (Large only) Rep row 13.

Row 15: (Large only) 2ch, htr in same st, 2htr in next 29htr, 2htr in 2 nd of 2ch from beg of previous row. Finish off the large size.

To make the white edging around the triangles, begin by positioning the
triangle right side down and pointing to you. Join the white thread to
the top right corner of one of the triangles.

Make
1ch. Crochet a row of dc evenly up the side of the triangle. In the top
4ch sp work (2dc, 2ch, 2dc). Continue working a row of dc down the
other side of the triangle, then turn work (do not work across the base
of the triangle). Make one more row of dc up the side of the triangle.
In the top corner 2ch sp work (dc, 3ch, dc). Continue working a row of
dc down the other side of the triangle (do not work across the base of
the triangle). Finish off and repeat for the second triangle.

To
make the bikini top straps for around the neck, position the triangle
right side up and pointing to you. Join the white thread to the 3ch sp
at the top of one of the bikini triangles.

Work 140 (140- 170 )
ch. Now, dc in 3 rd ch from hook, and dc each ch to end, sl st in the
3ch sp at the top sp of the bikini triangles. Weave in ends. Repeat to
make the strap for the second bikini triangle.

Join
the bikini triangles using the white thread. Position the triangles
right side up and pointing to you. Work one row of dc along the base of
the two bikini triangles, working no chain stitches between the two
bikini triangles for the small and medium sizes and working 3ch between the bikini triangles for the large size as shown in Diagram 1.

Diagram 1

To make the strap to go around the base of the bikini top, work 360 (360- 420 ) ch. Fold this length of chain in half and thread another coloured thread through the centre of the row of ch to mark the centre, then unfold again. Work dc in 3 rd ch from hook and into each ch until you reach approximately 15cm from the centre of the length of ch. Place the middle of the length of chain in the centre between the two bikini triangles (with the right side of the last row of edging facing you) and pin it in place. Lay the length of chain along the base of the bikini top with the triangles pointing towards you, and continue working dc along the length of ch stitches until you reach the corner of the first bikini triangle as shown in Diagram 2. The straps at the sides of the bikini top will be of equal length.

Diagram 2

Continue working a row of dc over the length of the chain and into the
row of dc along the base of the bikini top triangles, encasing the
length of chain in the dc stitches. For the small and medium sizes,
work dc stitches into the dc along the base of the second triangle. For
the large size, work dc stitches in each of the 3ch between the two
triangles and continue working dc stitches along the base of the second
triangle as shown in Diagram 3. Continue working dc stitches along the
remainder of the length of ch until the end. Finish off and remove the
pin.

Diagram 3

To make the front of the bikini bottoms, beg with 56 (71- 83 ) ch. Row 1: (All sizes) Working back along the length of the chain just made, tr in 8 th ch from hook, *2ch, miss 2ch, tr in next ch, (repeat from * to end), turning the work at the end of each row. Row 2: (All sizes) 2ch, *2htr in sp, htr in next tr, (repeat from * to end), 3htr in last sp.

Row 3: (All sizes) 2ch, make next 2htr tog in a cl, htr in each htr
to the last 2htr, (make a 3htr cl by working the last 2htr and htr in 2
nd of 2ch tog in a cl).

When decreasing the amount
of htr stitches in a row, some htr stitches will be worked together in
a cl. To make a 2htr cl, wrap the thread over the hook, insert the hook
through the stitch, then wrap the thread over hook again and draw the
hook and thread back through the stitch. Wrap the thread over the hook,
insert the hook through the next stitch, then wrap the thread over the
hook and draw the hook and thread back through this stitch. Wrap the
thread over the hook and draw the thread back through all five loops on
the hook.

To make a 3htr cl, wrap the thread over
the hook, insert the hook through the stitch, wrap the thread over the
hook and draw the hook and thread back through this stitch. Wrap the
thread over the hook, insert the hook through the next stitch, wrap the
thread over the hook and draw the hook and thread back through this
stitch. Wrap the thread over the hook, insert the hook through the next
stitch, wrap the thread over the hook and draw the hook and thread back
through this stitch. Wrap the thread over the hook and draw the thread
back through all seven loops on the hook.

Row 4:
(All sizes) 1ch, htr in each htr to the last htr, (make a 2htr cl by
working the last htr and htr in cl from beg of previous row tog), miss
2ch from beg of previous row. This row will contain 1ch, 45htr and a
2htr cl for the small size, 1ch, 60htr and a 2htr cl for the medium
size and 1ch and 72htr and 2htr cl for the large size.

Tip

When repeating rows from this point onwards for the front of the bikini
pants, you will notice the number of stitches in each row decrease.
This is how the pants are shaped.

Row
5: (All sizes) 2ch, make next 2htr together as a cl, htr in each htr to
the last 3htr, make a 3htr cl, miss 1ch from beg of previous row.

Row 6: (All sizes) Rep row 4.

Row 7: (All sizes) Rep row 5.

Row
8: (All sizes) Rep row 4. This row will contain 1ch, 33htr and 2htr cl
for the small size, 1ch, 48htr and 2htr cl for the medium size, and
1ch, 60htr and 2htr cl for the large size.

Row 9:
(Small only) 1ch, htr in each htr to last 2htr, make a 2htr cl by
working the last 2htr tog in a cl, miss 1ch at end of row. (Medium and
large) Rep row 5.

Row 10: (Small only) Rep row 9. (Medium and large) Rep row 4.

Row 11: (Small and medium) 1ch,
htr in each htr to last 2htr, make a 2htr cl by working the last 2htr
tog in a cl, miss 1ch at end of row. (Large only) Rep row 5.

Row 12: (Small and medium) Rep row 11. (Large only) Rep row 4.

Rows 13, 14 and 15: (All sizes) 1ch, htr in each htr to last 2htr, make a 2htr cl by working the last 2htr tog in a cl, miss 1ch at end of row.

Row 16: (Small only) 2ch, htr in each htr to end, miss 1ch at end of row. (Medium and large) Rep row 13.

Row 17: (Small only) 1ch,
htr to last htr, (make a 2htr cl by working the last htr and htr in 2
nd of 2ch tog in a cl). (Medium and large) Rep row 13.

Row 18: (Small only) Rep row 16. (Medium and large) Rep row 13.

Row 19: (Small only) Rep row 17. (Medium only) 2ch, htr in each htr to end, miss 1ch at end of row. (Large only) Rep row 13.

Row 20: (Small only) Rep row 16. (Medium only) 1ch, htr in each htr to
the last htr, make 2htr cl by working the next htr and htr in 2 nd of
2ch tog. (Large only) Rep row 13.

Row 21: (Small only) 2ch,
htr in each htr to end, htr in 2 nd of 2ch from beg of previous row.
(Medium only) 2ch, htr in each htr to end, miss 1ch at end of row.
(Large only) Rep row 13.

Row 22: (Small only) Rep
row 21. (Medium only) 1ch, htr in each htr to last htr, make a 2htr cl
by working the next htr and htr in 2 nd of 2ch tog in a cl. (Large
only) Rep row 13.

Row 23: (Small only) Rep row 21. (Medium only) 2ch, htr in each htr to end, miss 1ch at end of row. (Large only) Rep row 13.

Row 24: (Small only) Rep row 21. (Medium only) Rep row 22. (Large only) Rep row 13.

Row 25: (Small only) Rep row 21. (Medium and large) 2ch, htr in each htr to end, miss 1ch from beg of previous row.

Row 26: (Small and large) 2ch, htr in each htr to end, htr in 2 nd of 2ch from beg of previous row. (Medium only) Rep row 22.

Row
27: (Small only) Rep row 21. (Medium only) 2ch, htr in each htr to end,
miss 1ch at end of row. (Large only), 1ch, htr in each htr to last htr,
make a 2htr cl by working the last htr and htr in 2 nd of 2ch tog in a
cl.

Row 28: (Small and medium) 2ch, htr in each htr to end, htr in 2 nd of 2ch from beg of previous row. (Large only) Rep row 25.

Rows
29 and 30: (all sizes) 2ch, htr in each htr to end, htr in 2 nd of 2ch
from beg of previous row. Row 29 will contain 2ch and 15htr for the
small size, 2ch and 18htr for the medium size and 2ch and 22htr for the
large size.

Row 31: (Small and medium) Rep row 28. (Large only) Rep row 27.

Row 32: (Small and medium) Rep row 28. (Large only) Rep row 25.

Row
33: (Small only) 2ch, htr in same st, htr in each htr to end, 2htr in 2
nd of 2ch at end of row. (Medium and large) 2ch, htr in each htr to
end, htr in 2 nd of 2ch from beg of previous row.

Row 34: (Small only) Rep row 28 and finish off.

Rows 34, 35 and 36: (Medium and large) Rep row 33.

Rows 37: (Medium only) 2ch, htr in same st, htr in each htr to end, 2htr in 2 nd of 2ch at end of row. (Large only) Rep row 33.

Row 38: (Medium and large) Rep row 33.

Row
39: (Medium only) 2ch, htr in same st, htr in each htr to end, 2htr in
2 nd of 2ch at end of row. For the medium size there will be 2ch and
22htr in this row. Finish off. (Large only) Rep row 33.

Row 40: (Large only) Rep row 33.

Row 41: (Large only) 2ch, htr in same st, htr in each htr, 2htr in 2nd of 2ch from beg of previous row.

Rows 42 and 43: (Large only) Rep row 33.

Row 44: (Large only) Rep row 41.

Row 45: (Large only) Rep row 33. Finish off.

To make the back of the pants, use the pink thread and beg with 74 (92- 104 ) ch.

Row
1: (All sizes) Working back along length of chain just made, tr in 8 th
ch from hook, *2ch, miss 2ch, tr in next ch, (repeat from * to end of
row). Turn work at the end of the row.

Row 2: (All sizes) 2ch, *2htr in sp, htr in next tr, (rep from * to end), 3htr in last sp.

Row
3: (All sizes) 2ch, make next 2htr tog as a cl, htr in each htr to the
last 2htr, (make a 3htr cl by working the next 2htr and htr in 2 nd of
2ch tog as a cl).

Row 4: (All sizes) 1ch, htr in
each htr to last htr, (make a 2htr cl by working the next htr and htr
in cl from beg of previous row tog as a cl), miss 2ch.

Row 5: (All sizes) 1ch, htr in each htr to last 2htr, make a 2htr cl by working the last 2htr tog in a cl, miss 1ch at end of row.

Row
6: (Small only) rep row 5. (Medium and large) 2ch, make next 2htr tog
as a cl, htr in each htr to the last 3htr, make a 3htr cl, miss 1ch
from beg of previous row.

Row 7: (Small only) Rep row 5. (Medium and large) Rep row 4.

Row 8: (Small only) 2ch, htr in each htr to end, miss 1ch from beg of previous row. (Medium and large) Rep row 5.

Row
9: (Small only) 1ch, htr in each htr to last htr, (make a 2htr cl by
working the next htr and htr in 2 nd of 2ch tog in a cl). (Medium and
large) Rep row 5.

Row 10: (All
sizes) 2ch, htr in each htr to end, miss 1ch from beg of previous row.
This row will contain 2ch and 55htr for the small size, 2ch and 69htr
for the medium size and 2ch and 81htr for the large size.

Row
11: (All sizes) 1ch, htr in each htr to last htr, (make a 2htr cl by
working the next htr and htr in 2 nd of 2ch tog). Tip When repeating
rows from this point onwards for the back of the bikini bottoms, you
will notice the number of stitches in each row decrease. This is how
the pants are shaped.

Row 12: (Small only) Rep row 8. (Medium and large) Rep row 5.

Row 13: (Small only) Rep row 11. (Medium and large) Rep row 10.

Row 14: (Small only) Rep row 8. (Medium and large) Rep row 11.

Row 15: (Small only) Rep row 11. (Medium and large) Rep row 5.

Row
16: (All sizes) 2ch, htr in each htr to end, miss 1ch from beg of
previous row. This row will contain 2ch and 49htr for the small size,
2ch and 61htr for the medium size and 2ch and 73htr for the large size.

Row 17: (All sizes) Rep row 11.

Row 18: (Small only) 2ch, htr in each htr to end, miss 1ch at end of row. (Medium and large) Rep row 5.

Row 19: (Small only) Rep row 11. (Medium and large) Rep row 5.

Row 20: (All sizes) Rep row 16.

Row 21: (All sizes) Rep row 11.

Rows 22 and 23: (All sizes) Rep row 5.

Rows 24: (Small only) Rep row 5. (Medium and large) Rep row 16.

Row 25: (Small only) Rep row 5. (Medium and large) Rep row 11.

Rows 26 and 27: (All sizes) Rep row 5.

Row 28: (Small only) Rep row 5. (Medium and large) Rep row 16.

Row 29: (Small only) Rep row 5. (Medium and large) Rep row 11.

Rows 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34: (All sizes) Rep row 5. After completing row 34, finish off the small size only.

Rows 35, 36, 37 and 38: (Medium and large) Rep row 5.

Row
39: (Medium only) 2ch, htr in each htr to the last 2htr, work last 2htr
tog as a cl. Finish off the medium size only. Row 39: (Large only) Rep
row 5.

Rows 40, 41, 42 and 43: (Large only) Rep row 5.

Row 44: (Large only) 1ch, htr in each htr to end, miss 1ch at end of row.

Row
45: (Large only) 2ch, htr in each htr to end, miss ch at end of row.
Finish off the large size. Assemble the pants and make the edgings. For
the leg edgings, place the front and back pieces together so the right
side of first row on each piece face each other. Using the pink thread,
hand-stitching needle and a whip stitch, sew the crotch seam.

Cut two, 39 (46- 56 )
cm pieces of elastic for the leg edgings. Overlap the ends of one piece
by 3cm and stitch with the white sewing thread and hand-stitching
needle to firmly bind the ends together. Repeat for the second piece of
elastic.

With the right sides of the first row of
the pants together, join the white thread to the top right corner of
the leg edge and make1ch. Make a row of dc along the edge. Turn the
work at the end of the row. Holding the elastic circle up against the
leg edge, make 1ch and then work back along the dc just made,
crocheting dc stitches over the circle of elastic to encase it in the
leg edging.
Finish off and rep for the other leg edge. (The
exposed elastic on the sides of the pants will be encased in dc
stitches in the final row of the waist edging.)

To make the waist edgings, cut one, 44 (54- 64 ) cm piece of elastic. Overlap the ends of one piece by 3cm and stitch with the white sewing thread to firmly bind the ends.

With the right side of the pants facing outwards, join the white thread
to the top right corner on the back of the pants and make 1ch. Make a
row of dc along back of pants working a dc in each htr and 2dc in each
sp. To make the strip at the sides of the bikini pants work 24 (28- 32 ) ch.

Tip

Reduce the length of the chain at the side of the bikini bottoms to
make the pants smaller. Conversely, enlarge them by increasing the
length of the chain.

Continue working a row of dc along the top of the front of the pants and work 24 (28- 32 ) ch at the other side of the bikini pants. Finish off the row with sl st in 1ch at beg of row.

Holding
the elastic circle up against the waist edge, make 1ch and then work
1dc into each dc of the previous row, crocheting the dc stitches over
the circle of elastic to encase it in the waist edging. Crochet in this
way along the back of the pants, and continue crocheting dc stitches
across the sides of the pants, making 1dc into each ch at the side of
the pants, crocheting over the elastic from the waist and the top of
the leg as you go. Continue crocheting dc stitches along the front of
the pants, encasing the elastic as you go. Work dc stitches into the ch
stitch on the other side strip, working over both pieces of the elastic
to encase it in the dc stitch. Finish off.

Make two flowers. Using the white thread, make 6ch and join with a sl st to form a ring.

Rnd 1: 1ch, 11dc in ring, sl st into 1ch at beg of rnd. Finish off.

Rnd
2: Join the pink thread to a dc from the previous row. 5ch, miss dc,
(dc in next dc, 4ch, miss dc) 5 times, sl st in 1 st of 5ch at beg of
rnd.

Rnd 3: sl st in 1 st sp, (1ch, htr, 3tr, htr,
dc) in same sp, miss dc, *(dc, htr, 3tr, htr, dc) in next sp, miss dc,
(repeat from * to end), sl st in back of flower between first and last
petals. Finish off.
Stitch one flower to the top left and right
corners at the front of the pants front using the white sewing thread
and hand-stitching needle.

Variegated Bikinis By Melinda Thoms If you were inspired by the Flower child crochet bikini in issue three of i can make it myself, try this variegated version to add to your child's wardrobe. You will need... Pellicano Crochet Cotton: variegated purple (5555) 2 x 50g balls Semco: 2mm crochet hook Duet sewing thread: white (4000) 2mm white hat elastic: 60cm Tapestry needle Hand-stitching needle General sewing supplies

Tip
Test the tension. The first four rows of
the bikini triangle should measure 3cm along the base and be 4.5cm
high. Check the tension before beginning and adjust the hook size to
achieve the correct tension for this pattern. If the piece is larger
than this, use a smaller hook. If the piece is smaller, use a slightly
larger hook.

Method

To make the triangles for the bikini top, beg with 12ch and turn the work after each row.

Row
1: (All sizes) htr in 4 th ch from hook, htr in next 7ch, 5htr in end
ch, working down other side of this row, htr in the base of the chain
sts the previous tr were worked in, htr in ch at end of row, miss 2ch.

Row
2: (All sizes) 2ch, htr in next 9htr, 2htr in next htr, 3htr in next
htr, 2htr in next htr, htr in next 9htr, htr in 2 nd of 2ch at end.

Row
3: (All sizes) 2ch, htr in next 11htr, 2htr in next htr, 3htr in next
htr, 2htr in next htr, htr in next 11htr, htr in 2 nd of 2ch at end.

Row
4: (All sizes) 2ch, htr in next 10htr, (2htr in next htr, htr in next
htr) twice, 3htr in next htr, (htr in next htr, 2htr in next htr)
twice, htr in next 10htr, htr in 2 nd of 2ch at end.

Row 5: (Small only) 2ch,
htr in next 13htr, 2tr in next htr, tr in next 3htr, 3tr in next htr,
tr in next 3htr, 2tr in next htr, htr in next 13htr, htr in 2 nd of 2ch
at end of row.

(Medium and large )
2ch, htr in next 13htr, 2htr in next htr, htr in next 3htr, 3htr in
next htr, htr in next 3htr, 2htr in next htr, htr in next 13htr, htr in
2 nd of 2ch at end.

Row 6: (Small only) 2ch, htr
in next 7htr, (2htr in next htr, htr in next 2htr) twice, (2htr in next
tr, htr in next 2tr) twice, 3htr in next tr, (htr in next 2tr, 2htr in
next tr) twice, (htr in next 2htr, 2htr in next htr) twice, htr in next
7htr, htr in 2 nd of 2ch. Then c ommence edging the rows following the
instructions below.
(Medium and large) 2ch, htr in next 14htr, 2htr
in next htr, htr in next htr, 2tr in next htr, tr in next 2htr, 3dtr in
next htr, tr in next 2htr, 2tr in next htr, htr in next htr, 2htr in
next htr, htr in next 14htr, htr in 2 nd of 2ch at end.

Row
7: (Medium and large) 2ch, htr in next 17htr, htr in tr, 2htr in next
tr, htr in next tr, 2htr in htr, htr in next dtr, 3htr in next dtr, htr
in dtr, 2htr in next tr, htr in tr, 2htr in next tr, htr in tr, htr in
next 17htr, htr in 2 nd of 2ch at end.

Row 8:
(Medium and large) 2ch, htr in next 19htr, (2htr in next htr, htr in
next 2htr) twice, 3htr in next htr, (htr in next 2htr, 2htr in next
htr) twice, htr in next 19htr, htr in 2 nd of 2ch at end.

Row
9: (Medium and large) 2ch, htr in next 17htr, 2htr in next htr, htr in
next 10htr, 3htr in next htr, htr in next 10htr, 2htr in next htr, htr
in next 17htr, 2htr in 2 nd of 2ch.

(Medium only) Commence edging rows following the instructions below.

Row
10: (Large only), 2ch, htr in next 15htr, 2htr in next htr, tr in next
4htr, 2tr in next htr, tr in next 4htr, 2tr in next htr, tr in next
4htr, 3tr in next htr, tr in next 4htr, 2tr in next htr, htr in next
4htr, 2htr in next htr, htr in next 4htr, 2htr in next htr, htr in next
15htr, htr in 2 nd of 2ch at end.

Row 11: (Large
only), 2ch, htr in next 12htr, 2htr in next htr, htr in next 10htr, htr
in next 11tr, 3tr in next tr, htr in next 11tr, htr in next 10htr, 2htr
in next htr, htr in next 12htr, htr in 2 nd of 2ch at end. Commence
edgings.

Edge the rows of the bikini top triangles.

Row 1: (All sizes) 2ch, htr in next htr, (2ch, miss 3htr, htr in next htr) 7 (9- 11 ) times, 2ch, miss 3htr, 3htr in next htr, (2ch, miss 3htr, htr in next htr) 7 (9- 11 ) times, 2ch, miss 2htr, htr in next htr, htr in 2 nd of 2ch at end.

Row 2: (All sizes) 3ch, tr in next htr, (tr, htr, dc) in sp, [(dc, htr, tr) in next sp, tr in htr, (tr, htr, dc) in next sp] 3 (4- 5 )
times, (dc, htr, tr) in next sp, tr in next tr, (tr, 3ch, tr) in next
tr, tr in tr, (tr, htr, dc) in next sp, [(dc, htr, tr) in next sp, tr
in htr, (tr, htr, dc) in next sp] 3 (4- 5 )
times, (dc, htr, tr) in next sp, tr in htr, tr in 2 nd of 2ch at end of
row. Finish off then rep to make the second triangle for the bikini
top.

Now, make the bikini top straps. Join thread
to the 3ch sp at the top of one of the bikini triangles, with the right
side of the last row of the edging facing you.

Work 120 (140- 180 )
ch. dc in 3 rd ch from hook, and into each ch to end. Sl st in the 3ch
sp at the top of the bikini triangles. Weave in the ends. Repeat to
make the strap for the other bikini triangle.

To
join the bikini triangles, work one row of dc along the base of the two
bikini triangles, ensuring that the right side of the last row of
edging on the triangles is facing you and working 2 (4- 4 ) ch between the two bikini triangles. Finish off.

Make the strap to go around the chest and base of the bikini top. Make 320 (380- 420 )
ch. Fold this length of chain in half and thread another coloured
thread through the centre of the row of ch to mark the centre, then
unfold again.

Work dc in 3 rd ch from hook and
into each ch until you reach approximately 15cm from the centre of the
length of ch. Place the middle of the length of chain in the centre
between the two bikini triangles (with the right side of the last row
of edging facing you) and temporarily pin it in place. Lay the length
of chain along the base of the bikini top with the triangles of the
bikini top pointing towards you, and continue working dc along the
length of ch stitches until you reach the corner of the first bikini
triangle. The straps at the sides of the bikini top will be of equal
length.

Continue crocheting, working a row of
dc over the length of chain and into the row of dc along the base of
the bikini top triangles, encasing the length of chain in the dc
stitches. For the small size only, work dc in the 2ch between the
triangles. For the medium and large sizes work dc stitches in the 4ch
between the two triangles. Continue crocheting dc stitches into the dc
along the base of the second triangle. dc along the remainder of the
length of ch until end. Finish off and remove the pin.

Make the front of the pants.

Row 1: (All sizes) 19 (21- 23) ch, htr in 3 rd ch from hook, htr in each ch to end.

Row 2: (All sizes) 2ch, htr in each htr to end, miss 2ch at end.


Row 3: (All sizes) 2ch, htr in each htr to end, miss 2ch at end.

Row 4: (All sizes) 2ch, htr in next 14 (16- 18) htr in 2 nd of 2ch at end. Repeat 8 (10- 12) more times.

To shape the legs, for the next row work 2ch, htr in same st, htr in next 14 (16- 18) htr, 2htr in 2 nd of 2ch at end. This will increase the row at either end.

Next row: (All sizes) 2ch, htr in each htr to end, htr in 2 nd of 2ch at end. (Repeat row once more.)

Next rows: (All
sizes) Work consecutive rows increasing at either end of each row ie.
(2ch, htr in same st, htr in each htr to end, 2htr in 2 nd of 2ch at
end) until last row which should have the 2ch from the start of the row
and 47 (59- 65) htr.

Next row: (All sizes) 2ch, htr in same st, htr in next htr, (2ch, miss 3htr, htr in next htr) 13 (17- 19) times, 2ch, miss 3htr, htr in next htr, 2htr in 2 nd of 2ch at end. There should be 34 (41- 45) rows. Finish off.

Make the back of the pants.

Row 1: (All sizes) 19 (21- 23) ch, htr in 3 rd ch from hook, htr in each ch to end.

Row 2: (All sizes) 2ch, htr in same st, htr in each htr to end, 2htr in 2 nd of 2ch at end.

Row 3: (All sizes) 2ch, htr in same st, htr in next 19 (21- 23) htr, 2htr in 2 nd of 2ch at end.

Row 4: (All sizes) 2ch, htr in same st, htr in each htr to end, 2htr in 2 nd of 2ch.

Row 5: (Small only) rep row 4, 10 times so there are 2ch and 43htr in the last row.

(Medium only) rep row 4, 13 times so there are 2ch and 46htr in the last row.

(Large only) rep row 4, 19 times so there are 2ch and 60htr in the last row.

Next Row: (All sizes) 2ch, htr in each htr to end, htr in 2 nd of 2ch at end.

Next Row: (All sizes) 2ch, htr in same st, htr in each htr to end, 2htr in 2 nd of 2ch.

Repeat the last two rows 8 (11- 10) times, so there are 2ch and 61htr for the small size, 2ch and 69htr for the medium size and 2ch and 81htr for the large size.

Next Row: (Small only) 2ch, htr in same st, htr in each htr to end, 2htr in 2 nd of 2ch at end.

(Medium and large) 2ch, htr in each htr to end, htr in 2 nd of 2ch. (Repeat this row once more.)

Next Row: (All sizes) 2ch, htr in same st, (2ch, miss 3htr, htr in next htr) 19 (21- 25) times, 2ch, miss 2htr, 2htr in 2 nd of 2ch.

Assemble
the pants and make the edgings. For the leg edgings, place the front
and back pieces together so the right side of the last row on each
piece face each other. Using the thread, hand-stitching needle and a
whip stitch, s ew the crutch seam.

Cut two, 39 (44- 54)
cm pieces of elastic. Overlap the ends of one piece by 3cm and stitch
with the white sewing thread and hand-stitching needle. Repeat for the
second piece of elastic.

With right side of pants
facing you, join the thread to top right corner of back of pants. Make
1ch. Work a row of dc along the leg edge. Turn work at the end of the
row. Holding the elastic circle against the leg edge, make 1ch and then
work back along the dc just made, crocheting dc stitches over the
elastic to encase it in the leg edging.

Finish
off and repeat for the other leg edge. (The exposed elastic on the
sides of the pants will be encased in dc stitches in the final row of
the waist edging.)

To make the waist edging, cut one 47 (53- 61)
cm piece of elastic. Overlap the ends of one piece by 3cm and stitch
with the white sewing thread and hand-stitching needle. With right side
of pants facing you, join the thread to the top right corner of the
back of the pants.

Make 1ch, then work a row of
dc along the back of the pants working a dc in each htr and 2dc in each
sp. To make the strip at the sides of the bikini pants, work 24 (28- 32) ch.

Tip

Reduce the length of the chain at the side of the bikini bottoms to
make the pants smaller. Conversely, enlarge them by increasing the
length of the chain.

Continue working a row of dc along the top of front of pants and work 24 (28- 32) ch at the other side before finishing off the row with sl st in 1ch at beg of row.

Holding
the elastic circle up against the waist edge, make 1ch and then work
1dc into each dc of the previous row, crocheting dc stitches over the
circle of elastic to encase it in the waist edging. Crochet in this way
along the back of the pants and continue crocheting dc stitches across
the sides of the pants, making 1dc into each ch at the side of the
pants, crocheting over the elastic from the side of the waist and the
top of the leg as you go. Continue crocheting dc stitches along the
front of the pants, encasing the elastic as you go and finish off the
other side strip as you did the first, with dc stitches into the ch
stitches, working over the elastic to encase it in the dc stitch.
Finish off.