Special For You! Bikini Top And Shorts With Cord Ties.

CROCHET INFO (for the bikini top):
At the start of each row of double crochets, work 5 chain stitches to turn. These 5 chain stitches do not replace the first double crochet.

PATTERN:
See diagrams A.1 to A.9.

CROCHET INFO (for the shorts):
At the beginning of each round of double crochets, the first double crochet is replaced by 3 chain stitches. Finish the round with 1 slip stitch in the 3rd chain stitch at the beginning of the round.
At the beginning of each round of single crochets, the first single crochet is replaced by 1 chain stitch. Finish the round with 1 slip stitch in the first chain stitch at the beginning of the round.

INCREASE TIP (for the shorts):
Work until there are 2 double crochets left before the marker, work 2 double crochets in the first double crochet, 1 double crochet in each of the next 2 double crochets (the marker sits in the middle of these double crochets) and 2 double crochets in the next double crochet (= 2 double crochets increased). Repeat in the other side (= 4 double crochets increased on the round).

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BIKINI TOP:
The bikini top is worked back and forth, top down.

Work 48-52-52-53-54-57 chain stitches (including 1 chain stitch to turn) with hook size 4 mm / G/6 and Muskat. Turn and work as follows: Work 1 single crochet in the second chain stitch from the hook (= 1 chain stitch to turn + 1 single crochet), work 1 single crochet in each of the next 1-0-0-1-2-0 chain stitches, * skip 1 chain stitch, work 1 single crochet in each of the next 4 chain stitches *, repeat from *-* 8-9-9-9-9-10 more times = 38-41-41-42-43-45 single crochets. Turn and work pattern as follows: Work A.1 over the first 5 single crochets, A.2 over the next 29-32-32-33-34-36 single crochets, A.3 over the remaining 4 single crochets – read CROCHET INFO! REMEMBER THE CROCHET GAUGE! When A.1 to A.3 have been completed in height, continue with double crochets and increases in the same way until you have worked a total of 11-12-12-13-14-15 rows of double crochets (you increase 3 double crochets on each row). There are now 71-77-77-81-85-90 double crochets on the row. Cut the strand.

Work 22-26-33-39-44-52 loose chain stitches. Continue with double crochets as before over the 71-77-77-81-85-90 double crochets, then work 27-31-38-44-49-57 chain stitches (including the 5 chain stitches to turn) at the end of the row. Turn and work as follows: Work 1 double crochet in the 6th chain stitch from the hook, then work 1 double crochet in each of the next 3-1-2-2-1-3 chain stitches, * skip 1 chain stitch, work 1 double crochet in each of the next 5 double crochets *, repeat from *-* 2-3-4-5-6-7 more times, continue with double crochets as before over the 71-77-77-81-85-90 double crochets, then work over the chain stitches at the end of the row as follows:
Work 1 double crochet in each of the next 4-2-3-3-2-4 chain stitches, * skip 1 chain stitch, work 1 double crochet in each of the next 5 chain stitches *, repeat from *-* 2-3-4-5-6-7 more times = 109-121-133-147-159-178 double crochets.

Work 6-7-9-10-10-11 rows with 1 double crochet in each double crochet, on the last row of double crochets decrease0-3-6-2-5-6 stitches evenly on the row = 109-118-127-145-154-172 double crochets. Continue working as follows: A.4 over the first 7 double crochets, A.5 over the next 90-99-108-126-135-153 double crochets (= 10-11-12-14-15-17 repeats of 9 stitches), finish with A.6 over the last 12 double crochets. Work A.4, A.5 and A.6 one time in height. The last row is worked from the right side of the piece. Cut and fasten the strands.

CROCHET EDGE:
Work an edge around the top as follows: Begin from the wrong side of the piece – start with the one short side at the back, work up the diagonal side, over the row of chain stitches at top front, down the other diagonal side and along the last short side (do not work over the edge at the back of the fan pattern on the bottom edge):

ROW 1: 1 single crochet,* 3 chain stitches, skip forward approx. 1-1½ cm / 3/8″-½”, 1 single crochet *, repeat from *-*, make sure that the number of chain-spaces is divisible by 2.
ROW 2: Work 1 single crochet around the first chain-space, * 3 chain stitches, 1 double crochet in the first chain stitch, 1 single crochet around the next chain-space, repeat from *-*. Cut and fasten the strand.

ASSEMBLY:
Fold down the outermost 2 cm / 3/4” in each side on the wrong side of the top and sew down with small stitches through both layers so that there is a casting to thread the cord through.

CORD TIE:
Work 1 loose cord as follows: Work chain stitches with Muskat on hook size 4 mm / G/6 until you have a cord which measures 140-150-160-170-180-190 cm / 55″-59″-63″-67″-71″-75”, turn and work 1 slip stitch in each chain stitch, but make sure that you do not work the slip stitches tighter than the chain stitches! Cut and fasten the strands. Work 1 more cord in the same way.

Start from the right side and thread one end of the cord through the outermost hole at top front, around the double crochets and out through the next hole (= 2 cord ends out on the right side). Adjust the cord so that the ends are the same length, then thread the 2 ends under the cord on the wrong side and tighten. Repeat in the other side with the other cord. Then lay the cords in a cross at the back before they are threaded through the casting – see the illustration! The top is fastened by tying a knot.

SHORTS:
The piece is worked in the round, top down.

Work 163-182-196-220-244-268 chain stitches with Muskat on hook size 4 mm / G/6 and form them to a ring with 1 slip stitch in the first chain stitch. Insert 1 marker thread at the beginning of the round = mid back.
The first round is worked as follows: 3 chain stitches (= 1 double crochet) – read CROCHET INFO, work 0-1-1-1-1-1 double crochet in each of the next 0-1-3-3-3-3 chain stitches, * skip 1 chain stitch, 1 double crochet in each of the next 5 chain stitches *, repeat from *-* 26-29-31-35-39-43 more times = 136-152-164-184-204-224 double crochets. Work 1 more round with 1 double crochet in each double crochet. REMEMBER THE CROCHET GAUGE!

Now work a row of holes as follows: Work 4 chain stitches (= 1 double crochet + 1 chain stitch), skip 1 double crochet, * 1 double crochet in the next double crochet, 1 chain stitch, skip 1 double crochet *, repeat from *-* the whole round, finish with 1 slip stitch in the 3rd chain stitch at the beginning of the round. On the next round work 1 double crochet in each double crochet/around each chain stitch.

Then you are going to work the shorts higher in the back than the front and this is done as follows – WITH SINGLE CROCHETS: Work 8 single crochets past the marker thread mid back, turn and work 1 slip stitch in the first stitch, then 1 single crochet in each of the next 15 single crochets, turn and work 1 slip stitch in the first stitch, then 1 single crochet in each of the next 23 stitches (you also work the slip stitches). Continue in this way by working over 8 stitches more each time you turn, until you have worked over a total of 96-96-96-112-112-128 stitches. Turn again and work back to the marker thread mid back. The piece measures approx. 11-11-11-12-12-13 cm / 4½”-4½”-4½”-4 3/4″-4 3/4″-5″ mid back.

Insert 2 new marker threads in the piece, (keep the marker thread mid back), insert the 2nd marker thread after 34-38-41-46-51-56 stitches (= the side), 3rd marker thread after 68-76-82-92-102-112 new stitches (= the side). Continue with 1 double crochets in each double crochet, AT THE SAME TIME on the first round increase 1 double crochet on each side of the marker threads in the sides – READ INCREASE TIP. Increase in this way every 2nd-3rd-4th-4th-5th-6th round a total of 5-4-4-4-4-4 times. AT THE SAME TIME when you have worked 4-3-2-2-2-2 rounds, increase 1 double crochet on each side of the marker thread mid back. Increase in this way every 2nd round a total of 5-6-7-8-9-10 times.

When all increases have been completed there are 166-180-194-216-238-260 double crochets on the round. Continue with 1 double crochet in each double crochet until the piece measures 20-21-22-24-26-28 cm / 8″-8 1/4″-8 3/4″-9½”-10 1/4″-11″ mid front and 27-28-29-32-34-37 cm / 10½”-11″-11½”-12½”-13½”-14½” mid back.

Now divide for the legs as follows: Work 1 single crochet in each of the first 3-3-4-4-4-5 double crochets on the round, turn and work back over the first 6-6-8-8-8-10 double crochets (i.e. 3-3-4-4-4-5 double crochets on each side of the marker mid back). These 6-6-8-8-8-10 double crochets = gusset. Work double crochets back and forth over these for 10-11-12-13-14-15 cm / 4”-4 3/8”-4¾”-5 1/8”-5½-6”, cut the strand. Sew the gusset, edge to edge to the 6-6-8-8-8-10 middle stitches mid front. Continue by working the legs.

LEG:
Work 1 double crochet in each of the 77-84-89-100-111-120 double crochets around the one leg, in addition work 14-16-20-18-25-25 double crochets along the gusset = 91-100-109-118-136-145 double crochets. Continue with 1 double crochet in each double crochet until the leg measures 4-4-5-5-6-6 cm / 1½”-1½”-2”-2”-2 3/8”-2 3/8”.
Now work an edge at the bottom of the leg as follows:

Work A.7 (= 3 double crochets), A.8 (= 9 double crochets) over the next 81-90-99-108-126-135 double crochets, finish with A.9 (= 7 double crochets). Work according to diagrams A.7. A.8 and A.9 one time in height. Cut and fasten the strand.

TIE CORD:
Work 120-140-150-160-170-180 cm / 47″-55″-59″-63″-67″-71″ of LOOSE chain stitches, turn and work back with 1 slip stitch in each chain stitch. Thread the band into the row of holes at the top of the shorts – start mid front.