Easy Crochet Summer Shorts Pattern | Beginner Crochet Shorts Tutorial
Summer is the perfect time to pull out your hooks and create something wearable, breezy, and completely made by your own hands. If you’ve been wanting to try crocheting garments but felt intimidated by sweaters or fitted tops, shorts are one of the best places to start. They’re forgiving in fit, quick to work up, and endlessly customizable. Whether you want something flowy and bohemian for the beach or a simple pair to lounge around the house, this easy crochet summer shorts pattern has you covered.
This tutorial walks you through every step from choosing your yarn to weaving in your last end. No complicated stitches, no confusing shaping — just a clean, beginner-friendly pattern that delivers a result you’ll actually want to wear.
Why Crochet Your Own Shorts?
Before we dive into the pattern, let’s talk about why this project is worth your time. Handmade crochet clothing has had a massive resurgence in popularity, and for good reason. When you make your own garments, you control the fit, the color, and the fabric. You aren’t limited by what’s on the rack in your size or within your budget.
Crochet shorts are also a fantastic gateway into garment-making. Unlike tops, which require precise neckline shaping and armhole calculations, shorts are essentially two rectangular tubes joined at the crotch with a waistband added on. That’s it. The construction is logical and straightforward, which means even if you’ve only made dishcloths and scarves before, you have the skill set to make these work.
They also make a wonderful gift. A lightweight pair of crocheted shorts in someone’s favorite color, finished with a drawstring tie, feels personal and thoughtful in a way that a store-bought gift simply doesn’t.
Materials You’ll Need
Getting your materials together before you start is a small habit that makes the entire process smoother. Here’s what you’ll need for this pattern.
Yarn: Choose a lightweight cotton or cotton-blend yarn. Cotton is the ideal choice for summer garments because it breathes well, holds its shape, and doesn’t stretch out excessively the way acrylic can. A DK weight or worsted weight cotton yarn both work well here, though DK will give you a slightly lighter, lacier result. For an adult medium, you’ll need approximately 400 to 600 yards depending on the length of shorts you want.
Hook: A 5mm (H/8) crochet hook is a good starting point for worsted weight cotton. If you’re using DK weight, try a 4mm (G/6) hook. Always swatch first to confirm your gauge before committing to the full project.
Notions: You’ll need a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, a length of ribbon, cording, or a folded strip of fabric for the drawstring, scissors, and stitch markers to help keep track of your rounds.
Gauge: For this pattern, you’re aiming for approximately 14 stitches and 16 rows per 4 inches in half double crochet using worsted weight cotton and a 5mm hook. Because fit matters for wearables, take the time to make a swatch, wash it, and measure it before starting. Cotton can shift slightly after washing, and it’s far better to catch a gauge discrepancy before you’ve made an entire leg.
Sizing and Measurements
This pattern is written for a range of sizes. Before you begin, take the following measurements and write them down somewhere accessible.
Measure your hips at the widest point, your waist where you want the shorts to sit, and the desired length from waistband to hem. Also measure your thigh circumference if you want to make sure the leg opening has enough ease to be comfortable.
A general size chart for reference looks something like this. For a small, you’re working with hip measurements of approximately 34 to 36 inches. For a medium, 38 to 40 inches. For a large, 42 to 44 inches. For XL, 46 to 48 inches. This pattern works with 2 to 4 inches of ease built into the hip, meaning the crocheted fabric will be slightly larger than your actual measurement to allow for comfortable movement.
Understanding the Stitch
This pattern primarily uses the half double crochet stitch, which strikes the perfect balance between the tight density of single crochet and the open drape of double crochet. It creates a fabric with a little texture, good structure, and a smooth, flattering look when worked in cotton.
If you’re not yet comfortable with the half double crochet, here’s a quick refresher. Insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop so that you have three loops on your hook, yarn over again, and pull through all three loops at once. That’s one half double crochet. The stitch is faster than single crochet and produces a slightly taller fabric, which means your rows build up nicely without taking forever.
You’ll also use chain stitches for the foundation and slip stitches to join rounds when working in the round. Both of those are truly beginner-level stitches that most crocheters pick up in their very first session.
The Pattern
Foundation and First Leg
Begin with one leg and work it from the hem upward. This construction method makes it easy to adjust the length as you go and ensures that both legs are symmetrical.
Start by making a foundation chain. For a medium size, chain 56. Join the chain with a slip stitch to form a ring, being careful not to twist it. Chain 2, which counts as your first half double crochet throughout the pattern.
Work one half double crochet in each chain stitch around the ring. At the end of the round, join with a slip stitch to the top of your beginning chain 2. You now have 56 half double crochets in your first round.
Continue working in joined rounds. Chain 2 at the start of each round and work one half double crochet in each stitch around. Join each round with a slip stitch. Work straight with no increases or decreases for 12 rounds, or until the leg measures your desired inseam length minus about 2 inches for ease at the thigh. For a standard 3 to 4 inch inseam, 12 rounds works well in worsted weight. For longer shorts that hit mid-thigh, add 6 to 8 more rounds.
When the leg is the right length, fasten off and set it aside. Do not weave in the ends yet — leave a tail for joining.
Second Leg
Make the second leg exactly as you made the first. Work the same number of rounds and fasten off, again leaving a tail.
Joining the Legs
This is where the magic happens and where first-time garment makers often feel a flutter of nerves. Take a breath — it’s simpler than it looks.
Place both legs next to each other with the last rounds facing up. You’re going to join them by working across both legs in a single round to create the body of the shorts.
Begin a new round by attaching your yarn to the back inner edge of one leg (the part that will become the crotch). Chain 4, then skip across and join with a slip stitch to the corresponding position on the second leg. Chain 4 again and slip stitch back to the first leg. These short chain bridges form the crotch of the shorts. They’re only a few stitches wide because you want the legs to be close together at the crotch.
Now work continuously around both legs. Half double crochet around the entire top of the first leg, work across the crotch chains with a half double crochet in each chain, then continue around the top of the second leg and work across the remaining crotch chains. At the end, join with a slip stitch. You now have one continuous round of stitches at the top of the shorts forming the body.
Count your stitches at this point. For a medium, you should have approximately 116 stitches around. This is your new stitch count for the body of the shorts.
Working the Body
Work the body of the shorts in joined rounds of half double crochet, just as you did the legs. For a low-rise or medium-rise short, you’ll work approximately 6 to 8 rounds here. For something with more coverage, work 10 to 12 rounds.
As you work these rounds, try the shorts on every few rounds if possible. Garment making benefits enormously from frequent try-ons. Because crochet has a bit of built-in stretch with cotton, you’ll often find the fit developing more naturally than you’d expect.
If you notice the fabric pulling around the hips, you can add a subtle increase round by working two half double crochets into every tenth stitch. This increases your stitch count by roughly 10 percent and gives you a more relaxed hip fit.
The Waistband
Once the body of the shorts reaches your desired length, it’s time to create the waistband. The waistband is worked as a folded casing that will hold your drawstring.
Work 2 rounds of single crochet around the top edge of the shorts, keeping your tension slightly looser than you have been. Single crochet here gives a cleaner, more finished edge and creates a slightly tighter band that will fold nicely.
Now work 4 more rounds of single crochet for the casing portion. At the start of your second casing round, work to the center front of the shorts and leave a gap of about 1.5 inches by chaining 3 and skipping 3 stitches. This gap is your drawstring opening. Continue around and close it by working into the next stitch as normal.
After completing all 4 casing rounds, fold the waistband to the inside of the shorts and use your tapestry needle and a length of yarn to whipstitch the last row of the waistband to the inside of the shorts, just above where the casing begins. Leave a small opening aligned with your drawstring gap so you can thread the drawstring through.
Finishing the Leg Hems
Turn the shorts inside out and weave in all ends that you haven’t addressed yet. Then flip back to the right side.
Work one final round of single crochet around each leg opening. This tidies the edge and prevents the hem from curling. For a more decorative finish, you can work a simple shell stitch border instead. To do a simple shell hem, work 5 double crochets into the same stitch, skip 2 stitches, slip stitch into the next, skip 2 stitches, and repeat around the leg opening. This creates a lovely scalloped edge that adds a touch of elegance to an otherwise simple garment.
Adding the Drawstring
Thread your drawstring through the casing using a safety pin or a blunt-ended bodkin. Pull it through evenly until equal lengths hang from both sides of the opening. Tie a knot at each end to prevent it from slipping back through the casing. You can leave the ends plain with a simple overhand knot, or get creative with beads, tassels, or decorative knots.
Customization Ideas
One of the real joys of making your own crochet garments is how much room there is to personalize the finished piece. Here are a few ways to make this shorts pattern entirely your own.
Color: Work the legs and body in a solid color, then switch to a contrasting color for the waistband and hem border. Stripes look especially gorgeous on shorts and are simple to achieve by switching yarn at the start of any round.
Length: Make these into full-length wide-leg pants by simply working more rounds on the legs and more rounds on the body. The construction remains exactly the same.
Stitch texture: Swap the half double crochet for a moss stitch (alternating single crochets and chain-1 spaces) for a more open, airy texture. This is especially beautiful in a beach-weight cotton where you want maximum breathability.
Pockets: Small patch pockets are easy to add. Simply crochet a rectangle to your desired pocket size, fold the top edge down by a few rows and secure it, then whipstitch the pocket onto the shorts front before finishing the waistband.
Waistband style: Instead of a drawstring casing, work your waistband in ribbing by working rows of back-loop-only single crochet back and forth, then joining the ends and sewing it to the top of the shorts. This creates a stretchy, elastic-like band that stays in place beautifully.
Tips for Getting the Best Fit
Garment crochet has a learning curve that’s mostly about fit rather than technique. Here are the things that will make the biggest difference in how your finished shorts look and feel.
Swatch and wash your swatch before starting. Cotton in particular changes after washing and drying, and you want your gauge measurement to reflect the yarn’s behavior in real life rather than straight off the skein.
Work at a relaxed tension. Many crocheters grip their yarn more tightly when working in the round, which leads to a stiffer fabric. Try to keep your tension consistent with your swatch tension throughout.
Try the piece on as you go whenever possible. Your measurements are a guide, but your actual body on the actual piece is the real authority. If something feels snug at the thigh after joining the legs, add a couple of increase rounds in the body before moving on.
Choose the right yarn. A yarn that is too heavy will create shorts that are stiff and uncomfortable in warm weather. A pure cotton in a lighter weight is worth the investment for a summer garment you’ll actually reach for.
Caring for Your Crochet Shorts
Cotton crochet garments are generally easy to care for. Most cotton yarns can be machine washed on a gentle cycle in cool water. Lay them flat to dry rather than hanging, because wet crochet fabric is heavier than dry and hanging can distort the shape. Avoid high heat in the dryer, which can shrink cotton and cause the fabric to stiffen.
With proper care, a pair of crocheted cotton shorts will last for years and potentially outlast anything you might buy at a fast fashion retailer.
Final Thoughts
There is something deeply satisfying about putting on a pair of shorts and knowing that your hands made them from a skein of yarn. The process of garment crochet teaches you a lot — about your own body, about construction, about how fabric behaves — and every piece you make gets you better at the craft.
This easy crochet summer shorts pattern was designed to be accessible enough for a beginner while still giving an experienced crocheter room to customize and play. Whether this is your first garment ever or your tenth, the finished result is something to be proud of.
Grab your cotton yarn, your favorite hook, find a sunny spot to work, and start crocheting. Summer is the perfect time, and you are more ready than you think.
If you make a pair of these shorts, share your photos — it’s always wonderful to see the variations and colorways that come to life when a pattern gets into creative hands. Happy hooking!
