Crochet Shorts: Beginner Friendly Free Pattern (XS–XXL)

If you’ve been wanting to add something truly wearable to your crochet repertoire, these crochet shorts are the perfect project. They’re relaxed, stretchy, and surprisingly quick to make — even if you’re still fairly new to crochet. This free pattern walks you through every step, from choosing your yarn to finishing the waistband, and it includes sizing from XS all the way through XXL so you can make a pair that actually fits.

Whether you’re making these for lazy days at home, wearing them as a swimsuit cover-up, or dressing them up with a linen top and sandals, crochet shorts are endlessly versatile. Let’s get into everything you need to know.

Why You’ll Love This Pattern

These shorts are worked in two flat panels — a front and a back — that get seamed together. This makes the construction much more approachable than patterns worked in the round with complex shaping. If you can chain, single crochet, and work evenly across rows, you can make these shorts.

A few things that make this pattern beginner friendly: the stitch pattern is simple and rhythmic, the shaping happens gradually so it’s easy to track, and the waistband uses a simple casing with a drawstring so you don’t need to worry about getting your waist measurement perfect on the first try. The drawstring makes them adjustable and forgiving, which is exactly what you want in a wearable garment.

Materials You’ll Need

Before you start, gather everything so you can work without interruptions.

Yarn: You’ll want a lightweight cotton or cotton-blend yarn. Cotton is ideal for shorts because it’s breathable, has a slight natural give, and holds its structure without being stiff. Look for a yarn labeled as DK weight (also called light worsted or weight 3). Suggested yardage by size: XS needs approximately 400 yards, S needs 450 yards, M needs 500 yards, L needs 550 yards, XL needs 600 yards, and XXL needs 650 yards.

Great yarn options include Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton, Paintbox Simply DK, or any budget-friendly DK cotton you can find at your local craft store or online.

Hook: A 4.5mm or 5mm crochet hook works well with most DK cotton. The key is getting gauge, so don’t skip that step.

Notions: You’ll need a yarn needle for weaving in ends and seaming, scissors, stitch markers (at least two), a measuring tape, and about 1.5 to 2 yards of cord, ribbon, or braided yarn to use as a drawstring. A row counter app on your phone is helpful but optional.

Gauge

Getting gauge is especially important in garments. A difference of even one stitch per inch can mean your shorts end up multiple sizes off from what you intended.

Gauge: 14 stitches x 16 rows = 4 inches in single crochet with a 5mm hook.

To check your gauge, make a swatch of at least 20 stitches and 20 rows, then block it lightly with a damp cloth. Measure the center of the swatch — not the edges, which can distort. If your swatch has more stitches than the gauge, go up a hook size. If it has fewer stitches, go down a hook size.

Sizing

These shorts are designed with approximately 2–3 inches of positive ease, meaning they’re meant to be a little relaxed and roomy. The finished hip measurement is about 2–3 inches larger than your actual hip measurement.

Here’s how the sizes break down based on finished hip measurement:

XS corresponds to a 32–33 inch hip. S corresponds to a 34–36 inch hip. M corresponds to a 37–39 inch hip. L corresponds to a 40–43 inch hip. XL corresponds to a 44–47 inch hip. XXL corresponds to a 48–51 inch hip.

For the inseam, these shorts are designed to hit at about 3 to 4 inches. If you’d like them longer — say, a 6 or 7 inch inseam for more of a biker short style — simply continue working rows before beginning the crotch shaping.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

ch — chain
sc — single crochet
st(s) — stitch(es)
rep — repeat
sk — skip
sl st — slip stitch
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
pm — place marker
blo — back loop only

Pattern Notes

This pattern is worked flat in two pieces: a front panel and a back panel. The back panel is slightly longer to provide a more comfortable fit. After both panels are complete, they are seamed along the sides and inner legs, and then a waistband is added.

The turning chain at the beginning of each row counts as nothing — meaning you chain one to turn, but that chain does not count as a stitch. Always insert your hook into the first stitch of every row.

Read through the entire pattern before beginning. This is a good habit with any garment pattern.

The Pattern

Front Panel

Foundation chain by size:
XS: chain 57
S: chain 63
M: chain 69
L: chain 77
XL: chain 85
XXL: chain 93

Row 1 (RS): Sc in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across. (XS: 56 sts / S: 62 sts / M: 68 sts / L: 76 sts / XL: 84 sts / XXL: 92 sts) Turn.

Rows 2–4: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn.

Continue working in sc across every row until the piece measures 3.5 inches from the foundation edge (or your desired inseam length, measured from the bottom). End with a WS row.

Crotch Shaping (Front):

This creates the slight curve that makes the shorts comfortable to wear. You’ll decrease at both ends of the next few rows.

Row A: Ch 1, sc2tog over first 2 sts, sc across to last 2 sts, sc2tog. Turn. (2 sts decreased)
Row B: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn.

Repeat Rows A and B a total of 4 times. You will have decreased 8 stitches total.

After completing the crotch shaping, work even (no increases or decreases) in sc until the front panel measures 10.5 inches total from the bottom edge, or until you reach your desired total length. End with a WS row. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Back Panel

The back panel starts with the same foundation chain as the front, but it is worked slightly taller before the crotch shaping begins, which gives more seat coverage and a better fit.

Foundation chain: Same as front panel by size.

Row 1 (RS): Sc in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across. Turn.

Rows 2–4: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn.

Continue working in sc until the piece measures 4.5 inches from the foundation edge. End with a WS row.

Crotch Shaping (Back):

The back panel uses slightly more shaping to create a curve that accommodates the seat.

Row A: Ch 1, sc2tog over first 2 sts, sc across to last 2 sts, sc2tog. Turn. (2 sts decreased)
Row B: Ch 1, sc across. Turn.
Row C: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc across to last 2 sts, sc2tog. Turn. (2 sts decreased)
Row D: Ch 1, sc across. Turn.

Repeat Rows A through D once more, for a total of 8 sts decreased.

Work even in sc until the back panel measures 11.5 inches total from the bottom edge. End with a WS row. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Assembling the Shorts

Lay both panels flat with right sides facing each other. Line up the side edges. Using your yarn needle and a length of yarn, whipstitch or mattress stitch along both side seams from the waist down to the bottom of the crotch shaping. Leave the leg openings open.

Next, fold the piece so that the inner leg seams align. Sew along both inner leg seams from the leg opening up to the crotch. Take your time at the crotch point — sew back and forth a few times here to reinforce it, since this area takes the most stress.

Turn the shorts right side out and try them on if possible, or compare against your measurements. The shape should be recognizable at this point — wider at the waist, with two defined leg holes.

Waistband

The waistband is worked directly onto the top edge of the assembled shorts, creating a folded casing for your drawstring.

With RS facing, join your yarn to a side seam at the waist edge.

Round 1: Ch 1, sc evenly around the entire waist opening. To get an even count, aim for approximately 1 sc per row end along the side sections and 1 sc per stitch along any straight sections. Join with a sl st to the first sc. Do not turn.

Rounds 2–6: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. Do not turn.

After round 6, fold the waistband to the inside of the shorts. Using your yarn needle, whipstitch the edge of the waistband to the inside of the shorts loosely, leaving a small opening at the side seam to thread your drawstring through.

Thread your drawstring cord through the casing using a safety pin attached to one end. Pull it all the way around so that both ends come out at the same opening on the side. Tie a knot or make a bow at each end to prevent it from being pulled through accidentally.

Leg Edging (Optional but Recommended)

Working a simple edging around each leg opening gives the shorts a finished look and prevents any curling.

Join yarn to the inner seam of one leg opening. Ch 1, sc evenly around the leg opening, placing roughly 1 sc per row end. Join with a sl st. Fasten off and weave in ends. Repeat for the other leg.

If you’d like a bit more texture, work a round of reverse single crochet (also called crab stitch) instead of a plain round. It creates a neat, twisted edge that looks polished.

Tips for Getting a Great Fit

Swatch, swatch, swatch. If your gauge is off, your finished measurements will be too. This is not optional in garment making, even for beginners.

Measure as you go. Check your work against a pair of shorts that fit you well. You’re looking at total length and hip width primarily.

Adjusting the length is easy with this pattern. If you want longer shorts — say, a mid-thigh or knee length — just keep working rows before beginning the crotch shaping. Add the same extra length to both the front and back panels, and remember that the back should always be about an inch taller than the front.

Cotton yarn grows. Cotton fabric tends to relax and drop slightly after you wear it and wash it. When checking your gauge swatch and finished pieces, try to measure after a light wash and air dry, since this will give you a more accurate sense of the finished size.

Seaming matters. Clean, even seams make a huge difference in how professional the finished garment looks. If you’ve never done mattress stitch before, it’s worth watching a quick video tutorial — it creates nearly invisible seams on the right side of the fabric.

Customization Ideas

Once you’ve made your first pair with the basic pattern, there’s so much room to make these shorts your own.

Add pockets. A simple rectangle crocheted in sc and seamed onto the front panels makes a functional patch pocket. Work it in a contrasting color for a fun design detail.

Try a different stitch. The body of the shorts works beautifully in half double crochet for a slightly stretchier, airier fabric. Just recalculate your gauge before adjusting the stitch count.

Play with color. Work the leg edging or waistband in a contrasting color for a sporty, intentional look. Alternating stripes of two colors in the body is also striking and straightforward since you’re working flat rows.

Add buttons or a tie at the waist. Instead of a hidden drawstring casing, you could leave the waistband unfolded and create a visible eyelet row by working (ch 1, sk 1 st, sc) across one round. Thread a ribbon or cord through the eyelets for a different waistband style.

Washing and Care Instructions

Cotton garments are generally easy to care for. Machine wash on a gentle cycle in cold water and air dry flat to prevent stretching. Avoid putting cotton crochet in a hot dryer, as the heat can cause the fibers to shrink or distort. If your shorts lose their shape over time, a light blocking — laying them flat and misting with water — will help restore them.

A Note on Inclusive Sizing

This pattern was designed to be truly wearable across a wide range of bodies. The construction method — flat panels with a drawstring waist — means the fit is naturally adjustable and forgiving. If you’re in between sizes, size up rather than down for a more comfortable result. And if you have specific measurement needs, every aspect of this pattern can be adjusted: chain more or fewer stitches for width, add or reduce rows for length, and work more rounds of waistband for a higher rise.

Crochet is one of the most flexible crafts there is when it comes to size customization. Don’t hesitate to make notes in the margins and make this pattern completely your own.

Final Thoughts

These crochet shorts are proof that wearable, functional garments don’t have to be intimidating. With a simple two-panel construction, minimal shaping, and an adjustable drawstring waist, this is a project that rewards even beginner crocheters with something genuinely useful and stylish. Once you’ve made one pair, you’ll find yourself reaching for this pattern again and again — in different yarns, different colors, different lengths.

Save this pattern, share it with a fellow crafter, and tag your finished makes so others can see how it turns out. Happy crocheting.