I’ve been dreaming of crocheting cotton shorts in every color this summer. With this NEW crochet shorts pattern we can do exactly that! Introducing the Staycation Shorts, a free crochet pattern ranging in sizes from XS through 2XL.
Staycation Shorts Crochet Pattern
If you’ve ever thought of crocheting a pair of shorts, you are not alone friend! 🩳 These crocheted shorts are super comfortable, remarkably easy to crochet, and intended for wearing around the house – hence the name. 😉
As you wear your shorts they will relax a bit. Then, because we are using Comfy Worsted, a cotton blend yarn, when you wash the shorts they will tighten back up. Either way, you’ll definitely want to add the drawstring to the top band as noted.
The two legs of these crocheted shorts are made as mirror images of one another. We’ll connect each leg to form a tube, then line up the back of both legs and slip stitch (or Mattress Stitch) together to form the actual shorts you see here. This is such a fun, quick project and doesn’t require much yarn! I love that!
The pink colored crochet shorts pictured are the “Peony” colorway of Comfy Worsted yarn – a 75% Pima Cotton, 25% Acrylic blend. The grey version is the “Silver” colorway of Dishie – a 100% cotton yarn from WeCrochet.
If you have a 100% cotton yarn or a cotton blend on hand you could use that and stash bust to make your crochet shorts instead.
If you need help reading a crochet pattern, you’ll want to head over and read this post on How to Read a Crochet Pattern.
Find the ad-free, printable PDF of this pattern on Ravelry, Etsy, or right here in the Heart Hook Home blog shop! Thank you! ♥
Materials:
Comfy Worsted OR worsted weight Cotton Yarn (like Dishie)
-approx. (450, 500, 610, 700, 740, 800) yards
Crochet hook in size G/4mm
and
Crochet hook in size I/5.5mm
Sizes: (XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL)
Gauge: 17 hdc sts x 12 Rows = 4” square (using G/4mm hook)
Pattern Notes:
Pattern written using US terms.
After washing the shorts will shrink a bit. After wearing they will stretch back out. They may look large as you’re making them but remember that we will also be adding a drawstring.
Shorts are made with the G/4mm hook, the bottom edging is made using the I/5.5mm hook.
Fhdc = Foundation Half Double Crochet (tutorial here)
Pattern for Crochet Shorts:
Left Leg:
Row 1: With G/4mm hook, and leaving a ~10” tail, Fhdc-8 (or ch-9, hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each to end.) (8)
Rows 2 through (3, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (8)
Row (4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end AND THEN ch-(37, 39, 41, 43, 43, 45). (45, 47, 49, 51, 51, 53)
Row (5, 5, 7, 7, 7, 7): Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each st to end of row. (44, 46, 48, 50, 50, 52)
Row (6, 6, 8, 8, 8, 8): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (44, 46, 48, 50, 50, 52)
Row (7, 7, 9, 9, 9, 9): Ch-1, turn, sc in first 30 sts. Hdc in each st to end. (44, 46, 48, 50, 50, 52)
Rows (8, 8, 10, 10, 10, 10) through (10, 10, 12, 12, 12, 12): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (44, 46, 48, 50, 50, 52)
Rows (11, 11, 13, 13, 13, 13) through (26, 30, 36, 44, 48, 56): repeat previous four rows (44, 46, 48, 50, 50, 52)
Row (27, 31, 37, 45, 49, 57): Ch-1, turn, sc in first 30 sts. Hdc in each st to end. (44, 46, 48, 50, 50, 52)
Row (28, 32, 38, 46, 50, 58): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (44, 46, 48, 50, 50, 52)
Row (29, 33, 39, 47, 51, 59): Ch-1, turn, 2hdc in first st, hdc in each st to end. (45, 47, 49, 51, 51, 53)
Row (30, 34, 40, 48, 52, 60): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (45, 47, 49, 51, 51, 53)
Row (31, 35, 41, 49, 53, 61): Ch-1, turn, sc in 31 sts, hdc in each st to end. (45, 47, 49, 51, 51, 53)
Row (32, 36, 42, 50, 54, 62): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (45, 47, 49, 51, 51, 53)
Row (33, 37, 43, 51, 55, 63): Ch-1, turn, 2hdc in first st, hdc in each st to end. (46, 48, 50, 52, 52, 54)
Row (34, 38, 44, 52, 56, 64): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (46, 48, 50, 52, 52, 54)
Row (35, 39, 45, 53, 57, 65): Ch-1, turn, sc in 32 sts, hdc in each st to end. (46, 48, 50, 52, 52, 54)
Row (36, 40, 46, 54, 58, 66): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (46, 48, 50, 52, 52, 54)
Row (37, 41, 47, 55, 59, 67): Ch-1, turn, 2hdc in first st, hdc in each st to end. (47, 49, 51, 53, 53, 55)
Row (38, 42, 48, 56, 60, 68): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (47, 49, 51, 53, 53, 55)
Row (39, 43, 49, 57, 61, 69): Ch-1, turn, sc in 33 sts, hdc in each st to end. (47, 49, 51, 53, 53, 55)
Row (40, 44, 50, 58, 62, 70): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (47, 49, 51, 53, 53, 55)
Row (41, 45, 51, 59, 63, 71): Ch-1, turn, 2hdc in first st, hdc in each st to end. (48, 50, 52, 54, 54, 56)
Row (42, 46, 52, 60, 64, 72): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (48, 50, 52, 54, 54, 56)
Row (43, 47, 53, 61, 65, 73): Ch-1, turn, sc in 34 sts, hdc in each st to end. (48, 50, 52, 54, 54, 56)
Row (44, 48, 54, 62, 66, 74): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (48, 50, 52, 54, 54, 56)
Row (45, 49, 55, 63, 67, 75): Ch-1, turn, 2hdc in first st, hdc in each st to end. (49, 51, 53, 55, 55, 57)
Row (46, 50, 56, 64, 68, 76): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (49, 51, 53, 55, 55, 57)
Row (47, 51, 57, 65, 69, 77): Ch-1, turn, sc in 35 sts, hdc in each st to end. (49, 51, 53, 55, 55, 57)
Row (48, 52, 58, 66, 70, 78): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (49, 51, 53, 55, 55, 57)
Row (49, 53, 59, 67, 71, 79): Ch-1, turn, 2hdc in first st, hdc in each st to end. (50, 52, 54, 56, 56, 58)
Row (50, 54, 60, 68, 72, 80): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (50, 52, 54, 56, 56, 58)
Row (51, 55, 61, 69, 73, 81): Ch-1, turn, sc in 36 sts, hdc in each st to end. (50, 52, 54, 56, 56, 58)
Rows (52, 56, 62, 70, 74, 82) through (53, 57, 63, 71, 75, 83): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (50, 52, 54, 56, 56, 58)
Row (54, 58, 64, 72, 76, 84): Ch-1, turn, hdc in 8 sts only. (8)
Rows (55, 59, 65, 73, 77, 85) through (59, 65, 73, 79, 85, 91): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (8)
Do not fasten off, see construction below.
Right Leg:
Row 1: With G/4mm hook, a new ball of yarn, and leaving a ~10” tail, Fhdc-8 (or ch-9, hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each to end.) (8)
Rows 2 through (5, 7, 9, 7, 9, 7): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (8)
Row (6, 8, 10, 8, 10, 8): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end AND THEN ch-(43, 45, 47, 49, 49, 51) (51, 53, 55, 57, 57, 59)
Row (7, 9, 11, 9, 11, 9): Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each st to end of row. (50, 52, 54, 56, 56, 58)
Row (8, 10, 12, 10, 12, 10): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (50, 52, 54, 56, 56, 58)
Row (9, 11, 13, 11, 13, 11): Ch-1, turn, sc in 36 sts, hdc in each to end. (50, 52, 54, 56, 56, 58)
Row (10, 12, 14, 12, 14, 12): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (50, 52, 54, 56, 56, 58)
Row (11, 13, 15, 13, 15, 13): Ch-1, turn, hdc2tog, hdc in each st to end. (49, 51, 53, 55, 55, 57)
Row (12, 14, 16, 14, 16, 14): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (49, 51, 53, 55, 55, 57)
Row (13, 15, 17, 15, 17, 15): Ch-1, turn, sc in 35 sts, hdc in each to end. (49, 51, 53, 55, 55, 57)
Row (14, 16, 18, 16, 18, 16): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (49, 51, 53, 55, 55, 57)
Row (15, 17, 19, 17, 19, 17): Ch-1, turn hdc2tog, hdc in each st to end. (48, 50, 52, 54, 54, 56)
Row (16, 18, 20, 18, 20, 18): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (48, 50, 52, 54, 54, 56)
Row (17, 19, 21, 19, 21, 19): Ch-1, turn, sc in 34 sts, hdc in each to end. (48, 50, 52, 54, 54, 56)
Row (18, 20, 22, 20, 22, 20): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (48, 50, 52, 54, 54, 56)
Row (19, 21, 23, 21, 23, 21): Ch-1, turn hdc2tog, hdc in each st to end. (47, 49, 51, 53, 53, 55)
Row (20, 22, 24, 22, 24, 22): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (47, 49, 51, 53, 53, 55)
Row (21, 23, 25, 23, 25, 23): Ch-1, turn, sc in 33 sts, hdc in each to end. (47, 49, 51, 53, 53, 55)
Row (22, 24, 26, 24, 26, 24): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (47, 49, 51, 53, 53, 55)
Row (23, 25, 27, 25, 27, 25): Ch-1, turn hdc2tog, hdc in each st to end. (46, 48, 50, 52, 52, 54)
Row (24, 26, 28, 26, 28, 26): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (46, 48, 50, 52, 52, 54)
Row (25, 27, 29, 27, 29, 27): Ch-1, turn, sc in 32 sts, hdc in each to end. (46, 48, 50, 52, 52, 54)
Row (26, 28, 30, 28, 30, 28): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (46, 48, 50, 52, 52, 54)
Row (27, 29, 31, 29, 31, 29): Ch-1, turn hdc2tog, hdc in each st to end. (45, 47, 49, 51, 51, 53)
Row (28, 30, 32, 30, 32, 30): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (45, 47, 49, 51, 51, 53)
Row (29, 31, 33, 31, 33, 31): Ch-1, turn, sc in 31 sts, hdc in each to end. (45, 47, 49, 51, 51, 53)
Row (30, 32, 34, 32, 34, 32): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (45, 47, 49, 51, 51, 53)
Row (31, 33, 35, 33, 35, 33): Ch-1, turn hdc2tog, hdc in each st to end. (44, 46, 48, 50, 50, 52)
Row (32, 34, 36, 34, 36, 34): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (44, 46, 48, 50, 50, 52)
Row (33, 35, 37, 35, 37, 35): Ch-1, turn, sc in 30 sts, hdc in each to end. (44, 46, 48, 50, 50, 52)
Rows (34, 36, 38, 36, 38, 36) through (36, 38, 40, 38, 40, 38): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (44, 46, 48, 50, 50, 52)
Rows (37, 39, 41, 39, 41, 39) through (52, 58, 64, 70, 76, 82): repeat previous four rows (44, 46, 48, 50, 50, 52)
Row (53, 59, 65, 71, 77, 83): Ch-1, turn, sc in 30 sts, hdc in each to end. (44, 46, 48, 50, 50, 52)
Rows (54, 60, 66, 72, 78, 84) through (55, 61, 67, 73, 79, 85): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (44, 46, 48, 50, 50, 52)
Row (56, 62, 68, 74, 80, 86): Ch-1, turn, hdc in 8 sts only. (8)
Rows (57, 63, 69, 75, 81, 87) through (59, 65, 73, 79, 85, 91): Ch-1, turn, hdc in each st to end. (8)
Do not fasten off, see construction below.
You can see here that the two legs are mirror images of each other.
Construction (all sizes):
Fold each leg in to form a tube so that the first row and the last row are lined up as pictured. Use the beginning tail to Mattress Stitch the inseam stitches together. (Only sew the 8 sts from the first row and last row).
Lay legs next to each one another and make sure that the legs are mirrored as pictured below.
For middle seam:
Making sure to line up crotch seam rows (the back of seat has more rows than the front), and, looking at the wrong side (so that the leg seams are visible) attach yarn at top of waistband. Sl st together (or Mattress Stitch) using outside loops only down to crotch.
When you reach the crotch, be liberal with your stitches. Before starting on the second side line up the remaining sts so you’re not left with any extra when you get to the top. When finished, do not fasten off.
Top band:
Flip shorts right side out. With G/4mm hook and where still attached…
Row 1: Looking at “right side”, ch-1, sc in each row end around. Join to top of first sc with sl st. (102, 110, 118, 134, 142, 158)
Rows 2 through 4: Ch-1, do not turn, hdc in each st around. Finish with Invisible Join. (102, 110, 118, 134, 142, 158)
Using a ribbon, shoe lace (if long enough), a crocheted i-Cord, or Romanian Cord, add the drawstring to the top band, feeding in and out through every few stitches around.
If adding elastic, use 1/2″ elastic and do three extra rows on the waistband (for seven rows total). Fold it back and baste stitch together, encompassing the elastic. Before completely shutting in elastic, use needle and thread to sew elastic together, 1″ smaller than your waist circumference. Weave in end.
Bottom of legs:
Looking at “outside” attach at the seam of either leg. Switch to I/5.5mm hook.
It is important to crochet the first row LOOSELY!!!
Size XS only – Row 1: Sc2tog, sc in next 19 row ends, sc2tog, sc in next 19 row ends, sc2tog, sc in remaining 15 row ends. Join to first sc. (56)
Sizes Small, Medium & Large only – Row 1: Ch-1, sc in each row end around. Sc2tog in final 2 sts. Join to first sc. (64, 72, 80)
Size XL only – Row 1: 2sc in first row end, sc in next 30 row ends. 2sc in next row end, sc in next 30 row ends. 2sc in next row end, sc in remaining 22 row ends. Join to first sc. (88)
Size 2XL only – Row 1: 2sc in first row end, sc in next 30 row ends. 2sc in next row end, sc in next 30 row ends. 2sc in next row end, sc in remaining 30 row ends. Join to first sc. (96)
ALL SIZES:
Row 2: Ch-3 (counts as dc here and for remainder), do not turn, sk-3 sts, * (2dc, ch-3, 2dc) in next st. Sk-3 sts, dc in next, sk-3 sts * repeat between * * around. Join to top of beg ch. (56, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96)
Rows 3 through 5: Ch-3, turn, sk-first 3 sts, * (2dc, ch-3, 2dc) in next ch-sp, sk-2 sts, dc in next dc, sk-next 2 sts * repeat between * * around. (2dc, ch-3, 2dc) in final ch-sp, join to top of beg ch. (56, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96)
Row 6: Ch-1, turn, sc in first 2 sts, * (sc, dc, tr, dc, sc) in next ch-sp, sc in next 5 sts * repeat between * * (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) more times. (sc, dc, tr, dc, sc) in next ch-sp, sc in remaining 3 sts. (74, 80, 90, 98, 106, 114) Fasten off using Invisible Join.
Do the same to the other leg. You are finished!
I hope you enjoyed crocheting these shorts with me, and that you’ll make more pairs to wear around your home as well!
Stay tuned for CHILD sizes, they are already off to the testers and this post will be updated when those are ready for your hook. ♥
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Track Stitch Tunic: Free Crochet Pattern (XS – 5XL)
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