Crochet summer shorts with a custom rise and leg length

Crochet shorts, waist to hem. Single crochet and a drawstring tunnel. About 4-6 hours.

Crochet summer shorts with a custom rise and leg length
Crochet summer shorts with a custom rise and leg length
  • LevelIntermediate
  • Time4-6 hours
  • Hook3.0 mm
  • YarnWorsted

About This Pattern

These shorts start small, as a strip of single crochet. I turn that strip into a waistband ring, then build the body upward in joined rounds. Nothing about it is rushed. It fits an evening on the couch, one round at a time, with a try-on break built in. It needs two balls of white, one of orange, a 3.0 mm hook, and a willingness to check the fit before committing to length.

In the basket

Abbreviations

ch
chain
st
stitch
sl st
slip stitch
sc
single crochet
BLO
back loop only
rnd
round

Crochet summer shorts with a custom rise and leg length

Main Pattern

Waistband Foundation: Make a slip knot, ch 6.

  1. Round 1sc in the 2nd ch from the hook sc in each ch across total 5 sc
  2. Round 2ch 1 and turn sc in BLO of each st across total 5 sc
  3. Round 3Until Waist Length ch 1 and turn sc in BLO of each st across keep repeating until the strip wraps around your waist to the fit you wantJoining The Waistband Into A Ring Fold the strip so the first row meets the last row sl st through both layers to join the edges make 5 sl sts total to join across turn the waistband inside out so the seam sits on the insideCheckpoint Wrap the ring around your waist If it feels too loose, remove a few rows and re join If it feels too tight, add a few rows and re joinShorts Body Base Round Join Yarn With white yarn, join into any space along the waistband edge ch 1

Part 2

  1. Round 1sc evenly all the way around the waistband place 1 sc in a larger gap and 1 sc in a tighter gap to keep spacing even sl st into the first sc to close the round ch 1
  2. Round 2sc in each st around sl st into the first sc ch 1
  3. Round 3Until Rise Length sc in each st around sl st into the first sc ch 1 repeat until the shorts reach your desired crotch depth

Rise Fit Check Try on the shorts tube The bottom edge should sit where you want the crotch split to start If you want more coverage, add more rounds If you want a shorter rise, stop sooner

Dividing For The Legs Marking The Split Lay the shorts flat with the seam at the back

Mark the front center point and back center point so the split is even Mark the two points where you will connect the crotch chain

Crotch Chain Bridge From your first marker, ch 8 If you need a wider crotch area, chain more than 8 Connect the chain to the opposite marker point on the other side with a sl st

Creating Two Openings You now have two leg openings One side will be Leg 1 The other side will be Leg 2 Leg 1 Joining Into The First Leg Opening ch 1 sc around the entire leg opening make sure you sc into each stitch around and also sc across the crotch chain stitches sl st into the first sc to close ch 1

Leg Rounds sc in each st around sl st into the first sc ch 1 repeat until the leg reaches your preferred length Optional Shaping For A Roomier Leg

If the leg feels tight at the thigh, add increases evenly work 2 sc in the same st every 10 to 15 stitches for one round return to regular sc rounds after that

Fasten Off cut yarn and fasten off weave in the end later Leg 2 Join yarn at any point on the second leg opening ch 1 sc around the opening including across the crotch chain sl st to close ch 1 repeat sc rounds until the leg matches Leg 1 length fasten off

Second Waistband Layer Make The Second Waistband Repeat the exact same waistband steps as the first waistband Make sure the length matches so it sits neatly on top

Attach The Second Waistband Place the second waistband over the first waistband so the top edges align Join white yarn at the top edge ch 1 sc through both waistband layers all the way around the top edge sl st to close ch 1 and fasten off

Drawstring Crochet The Drawstring With orange yarn, make a slip knot ch about 50 Add more chains if your waist is larger or you want longer ties fasten off

Thread The Drawstring Use a needle or safety pin method weave the drawstring between the two waistband layers all the way around bring both ends out at the front center

Secure The Bottom Of The Casing With orange yarn and sewing needle, stitch the bottom edges of the two waistbands together in several spots Make sure you do not sew through the drawstring This keeps the drawstring trapped inside the casing but still movable

Optional Granny Square Pockets Crochet two small granny squares in matching or contrast colors Position them on the front of the shorts Sew around the sides and bottom edges only Leave the top edge open to create a pocket opening

More pictures

Crochet summer shorts with a custom rise and leg length — photo 2
Crochet summer shorts with a custom rise and leg length — photo 3

Before the first stitch

  1. The waistband is made in rows, then joined to form a ring.
  2. The shorts body is worked in joined rounds of single crochet.
  3. You can try on after every few rounds to check rise and leg length.
  4. The crotch chain length controls how wide each leg opening is.
  5. The second waistband layer creates a tunnel to hold the drawstring.

Minutes per piece

  • Waistband strip and join about 45-60 minutes because it repeats until it wraps your waist
  • Body rounds to rise and leg length about 3-5 hours because you try on every few rounds

Where it ends up

  • Add more leg rounds for biker short length.
  • Add fewer leg rounds for short sporty fit.
  • Add a contrast color stripe near the hem.
  • Add a simple picot or scallop border at the leg hems.
  • Add pockets or skip them for a cleaner look.

Joining up

  1. Step 1 Weave in all ends securely
  2. Step 2 Lightly steam block if needed to smooth the fabric
  3. Step 3 Try on and adjust the drawstring tension

Small notes

  • Keep the same hook throughout, unless you want a snugger waistband, then size down.
  • Work into the back loop only on the waistband strip, or the ring won't stretch evenly.
  • The waistband gains a second layer, forming a tunnel for the drawstring.
  • Waistband length should fit around your waist comfortably without stretching too hard.
  • If you want a snug high waist fit, make the waistband slightly smaller than your waist measurement so it stretches to fit.
  • Rise length is the distance from the top waist edge down to where you want the crotch to sit.
  • Leg length is measured from the crotch down to your desired hem.

Little questions

  • How do I know when the waistband strip is long enough?

    Wrap it around your waist as you go. It should meet without stretching too hard. The fit checkpoint after joining lets you add or remove rows if needed.

  • What if the waistband feels too tight after joining?

    Remove a few rows and rejoin the edges. This is easier before you weave in ends. Recheck the fit on your body, not just by eye.

  • How do I control the leg opening width?

    The crotch chain length sets how wide each leg opening is. A longer chain gives a roomier leg. Try the shorts on before finishing that section.

  • Can I make the rise shorter or longer?

    Yes, that's the point of this pattern. Try the tube on after each added round. Stop rounds once the bottom edge sits where you want the crotch split.

Original pattern: https://crocheteverything.com/how-to-crochet-summer-shorts-tutorial-with-custom-rise-and-leg-length/

About the Author

Tamsin Okoro Who writes the patterns at Yarn Gallery, how a pattern gets from the hook to the page, and what this site will never do.

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