Easy Beach Cover Up
Get ready to soak up the sun with your new favorite summer project, the Easy Beach Cover Up Dress! This free crochet pattern is the ultimate beginner-friendly wardrobe staple, designed with a simple construction that looks high-end but feels effortless to make. Whether you’re headed to the pool or a tropical getaway, this crochet beach dress provides the perfect amount of coverage while staying light and breezy. The design is worked in two identical panels for the front and back, starting from the top and working down toward a beautiful shell-stitch bottom that adds a gorgeous flare. Because there is absolutely no increasing or decreasing involved, you can just relax and enjoy the rhythm of your stitches.
One of the best things about this easy crochet cover-up is how incredibly customizable it is to your unique body shape. While I’ve provided four different width options based on the main treble crochet body section, you can easily adjust the size to fit anyone from a child to a plus-size adult. To customize your fit, simply increase or decrease your beginning chain in multiples of four from any of the beginning chains shown. For reference, I am wearing a size XS/S with a 28-inch length in the photos. Since the body is straight and the bottom shell section naturally flares out, you get a flattering silhouette without any complicated shaping.
To get that perfect, flowy look you see in the picture, I highly recommend choosing a lightweight yarn with a soft handle. A yarn with a nice drape is key here; if the fiber is too stiff, the dress won’t move with you as you walk along the sand. Using a light cotton or a bamboo blend will ensure your handmade swimwear cover-up feels comfortable against the skin even on the hottest days. Grab your hook and your favorite summer yarn, and let’s get started on this fast and stylish crochet beach dress pattern!
ABBREVIATIONS (The pattern is in US terms):
- ch: chain
- sc: single crochet (UK double crochet)
- dc: double crochet (UK treble crochet)
- tr – treble crochet (UK double treble crochet)
MATERIALS:
– Light weight yarn. I used Yarn Bee Bamboo – Tiful in Linen.
– Size G (4 mm) crochet hook or size needed to obtain the correct gauge.
GAUGE: 18 sc = 4 inches
SIZES:
You can customize this to any width you like! I’ve included four suggested sizes below to get you started. The width is measured across the main body section — keep in mind the bottom skirt section flares out a bit.
XS/S – 19.5 inches across
M/L – 22 inches across
XL/XXL – 24.5 inches across
1X/2X – 27 inches across
DIRECTIONS (MAKE 2):
Starting at the top of the piece:
Ch 92(104, 116, 128) = 19.5”W(22”W, 24.5”W, 27”W)
FOUNDATION ROW:
– Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across to the end. Turn. 91(103, 115, 127) sc
The foundation row is the right side. Place a marker on this side so when you sew the 2 pieces together you have the correct sides facing each other.
MAIN BODY ROWS:
1: Ch 1, sc in each sc across to the end. Turn
2: Ch 5 (counts as first tr + ch 1), skip the first 2 sc, tr in the next sc, *ch 1, skip 1 sc, tr in the next sc; repeat from * across to the end. Turn
3: Ch 1, sc in the first tr, sc in the first ch 1 space, sc in the next tr, *sc in the next ch 1 space, sc in the next tr; repeat from * across to the turning ch 5 space, work 2 sc in the turning ch 5 space. Turn 91(103, 115, 127) sc
Repeat rows 2 & 3 until the piece reaches your waist, ending with row 3. You want it to sit right where you intend to tie it; I stopped at my navel, which measured about 14 inches.
BOTTOM SKIRT SECTION (This section will be wider):
1: Ch 5 (counts as first tr + ch 1), skip the first 2 sc, tr in the next sc, *ch 1, skip 1 sc, tr in the next sc; repeat from * across to the end. Turn
2: Ch 3 (counts as the first dc throughout the pattern), work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the first ch 1 space (shell made), *skip the next ch 1 space, work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the next ch 1 space; repeat from * across working the last repeat skip the last ch 1 space, work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the turning ch 5 space, work 1 more dc in the turning ch 5 space. Turn
3: Ch 6, work 2 dc in the ch 2 space of the first shell, *ch 4, work 2 dc in the ch 2 space of the next shell; repeat from * across working the last repeat ch 4, work 2 dc in the ch 2 space of the last shell, ch 3, dc in the top ch of the turning ch 3. Turn
4: Ch 4, work 2 dc in the first ch 3 space, work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in each ch 4 space across to the turning ch 6 space, work (2 dc, ch 1, 1 dc) in the turning ch 6 space. Turn
5: Ch 3, dc in the first ch 1 space, *ch 4, work 2 dc in the ch 2 space of the next shell; repeat from * across working the last repeat ch 4, work 2 dc in the turning ch 4 space. Turn
6: Ch 3, work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the first ch 4 space & in each ch 4 space across ending dc in the top ch of the turning ch 3. Turn
Repeat rows 3 – 6 until you reach your desired length ending with row 6.
FINISHING ROW:
– Ch 1, sc in each of the first 3 dc, work 2 sc in the ch 2 space of the first shell, *sc in each of the next 4 dc, work 2 sc in the ch 2 space of the next shell; repeat from * across ending 2 sc in the ch 2 space of the last shell, sc in each of the next 2 dc, sc in the top ch of the turning ch 3 & fasten off.
DRAWSTRING:
Make a beginning chain measuring:
70 inches for XS/S
80 inches for M/L
90 inches for XL/XXL
100 inches for 1X/2X
Or any length you choose.
– Slip stitch in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across to the end. Fasten off.
SEWING THE 2 PIECES TOGETHER (I recommend sewing the two pieces using the mattress stitch method with the wrong sides facing you but you can use any method that works best for you):
- On the top of the piece sew evenly on both sides for the shoulder seams leaving about 14 inches open for the neck opening. At this point try it on & see if you like the neck opening. You can always sew more or less until you reach your desired neck width!
- Leave the sides open; you’ll use the drawstring to pull everything together.
- Weave the drawstring through all of the ch 1 spaces made in the last worked row 2 of the main body section.
You’re all finished! I hope you love your new piece. As always, I would love to see your finished Easy Beach Cover Up Dresses and the amazing colors you chose!
