Crocheted Beach Essentials

The summer will be here before you know it, and crochet is hotter than ever. Just a glance at the fashion runway for spring and you'll see at line of bags, belts, tops, and dresses all worked up in delicate crochet. Get your summer wardrobe ready in time by getting started now. Here are some ideas of great hooked beachwear to add to your collection.

Sarongs

These are easy to make (generally just a simple rectangle form) and look great on the beach. You can get a pattern or make your own. Cotton yarns will work well for this project in worsted or dk weights. You can use a shawl design to make one that is long and wraps around your legs as well, or try a skirted design in open shell stitches. Just check out the yarn racks at your local craft store for some great brights or muted ivories. Try a yarn with a sparkle in it for some added glitz on the beach. Have more than one bathing suit? You can make several of these in less time than it takes to make a lapghan.

Tankini/Bikini

You don't have to go all out to make a swimsuit out of crochet thread. In fact is it more functional if you just make the top out of crochet and purchase the bottom of your choice to match. This will save you time and give you the option to make several top styles with just one basic bottom, giving you a few options for the beach. Tankini patterns are hard to find, but you can simply embellish a bikini top by adding a bottom part to make a tankini. As far as bikini tops, you can find tons of free patterns online that should fit any style you are looking for. Some are done in dk weight yarns, some in crochet thread, but either way they will come out great if you get started now.

Hats

You shouldn't go to the beach without one! Hats are one of the easiest and cheapest things to work up in crochet stitches. Match your beach outfit with the yarn of your choice and make a sun hat to cover your eyes and shield your face from the sun. You can find easy patterns online or purchase a pattern book. If you have made a few hats in the past, you can take what you've learned and design your own. There are so many different possibilities with this one that you can try a few different designs to see what you like better. And because it only takes an evening of your time to complete (2-3 hours for most intermediate crocheters), you can make a few of them before summer rolls around.

Thongs

I'm not talking about underwear with this one. Foot thongs are great beach wear. These can be worked up in dk yarns or cotton thread to wrap around your ankle and around one toe on each foot. They can be embellished with beads or made into flower motifs that lie across your foot. While flip flops can get lost in the sand on the beach, these have no soles and will stay put. You can design your own by crocheting a casing over a piece of elastic that is fitted to your ankle size, and then crocheting a fishnet design or a long strand of beads to go over the top of your foot; chain a loop to go over your toe and presto! These are fun to wear and give you a no-rust alternative to toe rings. They can get wet without turning your toes green.

So don't sit around waiting for summer! Get Hooking