Free Pattern: Mermaid Style!

Okay, so my friend James had a birthday a few months ago. He wanted everyone to go to Smuggler’s Cove, a piratey rum bar with a bajillion different rums and crazy mixed drinks inspired by different continents. It sounds really cheezy, but the drinks were actually pretty interesting and quite delicious!

The night before James’ bday party, Manda and I still didn’t have pirate costumes. I was really struggling with putting an outfit together from things I already owned. We went to the mall and tried to find pieces we’d use again in our regular wardrobe, but I still couldn’t get with the pirate program. Finally, Manda said, “You don’t have to be a pirate. You could be the mermaid.” EUREKA!!! Hence, the crocheted mermaid costume was born (after trying a few really bad pairs of green skinny jeans.) Here’s a really really REALLY poor quality phone-cam photo of me before leaving the house.

My quick-n-dirty mermaid outfit came out pretty cute, so I thought I’d share the shell bikini pattern with you. I will warn you: it’s not great. I didn’t create the pattern with the intention of sharing it or selling it. I was really just trying to make myself a quick outfit. But maybe you guys will get a kick out of it, too, and use it as a foundation for a really awesome ensemble.

Essentially, I just made two giant seashell “patches,” hot glued some see-through, bubble-like beads to the surface, and I tacked the shells down to an aqua blue dress with a few stitches here and there, so that I could cut the dress free afterwards. I also crocheted a starfish hair piece, hot glued gold beads to the top, and hot glued some small pearl strings to the back. I made the hair piece mere minutes before we had to leave, so I didn’t write a pattern for it. Plus, I can’t find  the pattern for an afghan that I used as a guide, so you may want to search for some other free star fish patterns out there, like this one.

Now that I’ve made this sound like the worst free pattern ever …….. onto the free pattern!

Remember, I made these for myself. They are BIG cuz it just ended up that way, so this probably wouldn’t fit children. You could use a lighter weight yarn than Red Heart Super Saver to get some smaller shells.

I used an H hook and Red Heart Super Saver in a light pink color, as well as white for accents.

I made 4 shells, since I wanted my shells to be sturdy, so each shell is actually 2 shells sewn together.

Abbreviations:

ch(s) = chain(s)
dc = double crochet
hdc = half double crochet
htr = half triple crochet
sc = single cochet
sk = skip
st(s) = stitch(es)
(  ) = work everything inside the parentheses into the next stitch
[  ] = repeat everything inside the brackets  the number of times indicated

With Pink,

Ch 13

1)    Sk 1st st and work 12 sc cvenly across. (12)

2-3) Ch 1, turn. Work 12 sc evenly across. (12)

4)    Ch 1, turn.[(2 sc), sc] 6 times. (18)

5-6)    Ch 2, turn. Work 18 hdc evenly across. (18)

7)  Ch 2, turn.  [(2 hdc), 2 hdc] 6 times. (24)

8-10)    Ch 2, turn, Work 24 hdc evenly across. (24)

11-14) Ch 2, turn. hdc2t0g,  hdc2tog, (2 hdc), hdc, (2 hdc), 10 hdc, (2 hdc), hdc, (2 hdc), hdc2tog, hdc2tog. (24)

15) Ch 1, turn. [Sk 1 st, sc] 2 times,  sk 1 st,  (2 hdc), 13 hdc, (2 hdc), [Sk 1 st, sc] 2 times. (21)

16) Ch 1, turn. [Sk 1st st, sc] 2 times, hdc, [ hdc, (dc, htr), (htr, dc), hdc] 3 times,  sk 1 st, sc, sk 1 st, sl st. Break off.

Use white to surface chain white lines on the shell. After working a 2nd shell (no white lines needed on this one), you can sl st or surface chain your two shells together with white, which also creates a nice border.

Repeat to make your second shell.

* This pattern is intended for your personal use only and not for creating items to sell. Please do not sell this pattern or re-post it without my permission.

P.s. If you find any errors or weird spots, please let me know! This is an un-tested pattern.

 

58 Comments on “Free Pattern: Mermaid Style!”

  • I adore your blog!! Everytime I come visit to read, I always leave smiling my head off, your designs are crazy cute, and I’m sure they sell like hot cakes. Don’t ever stop doing what you do, because you are amazing and an inspiration.

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Aw wow, thank you so much for the super nice note! 🙂 I will keep trying to bring you guys more cute ideas! xo

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      It was kind of like wearing boob armor, Knights of the Boobie Table.

  • Hehe this is cute! I may have a go at making this! Love your blog x

  • Alyssa

    says:

    i love this i am working on it now but i think you made a mistake on row seven. i think it should to be [(2 hdc), 1 hdc].

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Hmmmm but then if you repeated that 6 times, the stitch count would still be 18?

      • Alyssa

        says:

        you are right i’m sorry i was reading it wrong! i just finished it and the pattern and it came out right i made mine using a larger hook so that the shell came out bigger. =]=]=] thank you for this!!

  • Cat

    says:

    Those are amazing!

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Aw thanks, Cat! They definitely keep one’s frontal areas warm! 😛

  • Veronica

    says:

    You are an absolute genius. I made a ladybug outfit for my cousins photography business that naked babies can wear. I’ve wanted to make a mermaid one but the shells always looked bad. Until I found this. Thank you so much Miss Chan. You’re my second biggest crochet inspiration (mom is first). XO

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      I am glad it was helpful! 🙂 To use this particular pattern for babies would require a really light weight yarn. Hope it turned out ok! 🙂 xox

      • Veronica

        says:

        I followed your pattern but just adjusted it to ch 8 instead of twelve.

  • Jazz

    says:

    Hey there, thanks for these. Im very much into modular crochet and will be making a baby blanket out of these for my forthcoming daughter. thanks 🙂

  • Bec

    says:

    Thank you so much for the directions! My granddaugher will be thrilled to have these to with the mermaid tail that I’m making her for her birthday! I got your wonderful scarf book last year for my birthday and I love it! All the little girls in our family will be getting cupcake and cookie scarves for Christmas! Thanks again!

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      You’re welcome! I hope they turn out ok! I really only made these once for myself, so I have no idea how they turn out otherwise heheh :).

  • Nina

    says:

    Wow, I am still stunned by your skills! I am still puzzling over how you did the honey bear cup cozy and the scoop of ice cream on your head in the photo with the crochet, knit, sew, dream etc. bag! My eyes almost popped when I saw these creations…you are really good at what you do! 😉

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Aw thank you, that is super sweet!

  • Shelly Geweke

    says:

    Hi! Love your blog! Wondered if you would be willing to share your starfish pattern with me? Thanks!

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Hi! Thank you!! As I mentioned in the entry, I really truly could not remember what pattern I used to base my starfish off of, and I didn’t write down any notes : / . I’m sorry! I made it so quickly to wear it on time for my friend’s party!

  • Eileen Armagost

    says:

    Omg I can’t wait to try this pattern!!!! My friend is having a baby and I made a mermaid tail but couldn’t find a good pattern for a shell too. Thank you so much for posting this. They are so cute!

  • Susan

    says:

    Would you happen to have this pattern in a toddler/newborn size am making a mermaid cocoon for a friend’s baby and this would be adorable made in super soft yarn

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Hi there! No, I don’t, I’m sorry! You should search Etsy for what you are looking for. I have a feeling there is a lot available for toddler/newborn patterns 🙂 Good luck!

  • Dee

    says:

    I’m such a fan of your lovely patterns you are so creative and talented 🙂 Please could you tell me if the Red Heart Super Saver yarn you’ve used a cotton yarn, acrylic or other and is it a DK weight I assume? Sorry I’m not too familiar with Red Heart I cannot seem to source it in my country.

    Thank you

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      HI there! Red Heart Super Saver is a worsted weight acrylic. It is fairly heavy. If you end up using a DK, your shells will just come out smaller :).

  • Nayda

    says:

    Hi… Do you have a video? Im New @ this and I don’t know the terms yet.
    Thank you:)

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Hi Nayda, I don’t have videos for any of my patterns, but there are already a lot of videos online for at least learning basic stitches and terms to get you started.

  • Stephanie

    says:

    Hey there!
    I am using your awesome pattern for a beanie and I got a little confused…I know how to do all the stitches except for the htr…is there any way you can explain it? I would try youtube it I’m kinda scared it would confuse me with the UK stitch.

  • Darlene

    says:

    Don’t ever change ! When you get to be my age ( 67 ) keep on making
    those adorable crochet outfits, AND keep on wearing them !
    PEACE

  • Liz

    says:

    I love this pattern. It crocheted up quickly. I have a friend who lives in Key West and having her first baby. Her theme of course is sea shells. So this fit perfectly with the baby care package I am crocheting for her. Thanks for sharing the pattern. There are several rows that made no sense to me at first and it wasn’t turning out like your picture, then I figured out that you have the right stitches and amount of stitches, it is the way it is written. I hope you are not offended. I normally don’t do this, but this pattern is too cute and thought this would be helpful. I put the re-writes in bold (I hope). Here are the changes starting at row 7:

    Row 7: Ch 2, turn. *2 hdc in first hdc. Hdc in each of the next 2 hdc. Repeat from * to end. (24)
    Row 8-10: Ch 2, turn, Work 24 hdc in each hdc across. (24)
    Row 11-14: Ch 2, turn. hdc2tog, hdc2tog, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc. 1 hdc in each of the next 10 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next hdc, 2 hdc in next, hdc2tog, hdc2tog. (24)
    Row 15: Ch 1, turn. (Sk 1 st, sc) 2 times, sk 1 st, 2 hdc in next hdc. Hdc in each of the next 13 hdc. 2 hdc in next hdc, [Sk 1 st, sc] 2 times. (21)
    Row 16: Ch 1, turn. [Sk 1 st, sc] 2 times, hdc in next hd. [hdc in next st, (dc, htr in next st), (htr, dc in next st), hdc in next st] 3 times, sk 1 st, sc, sk 1 st, sl st. Fasten off and weave in ends.

  • kristal

    says:

    line “7” says [(2 hdc), 2 hdc]
    is it supposed to be 2 hdc, 2dc??

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Hi! Sorry it took me forever to respond! I needed to take a moment to look at the pattern. I think that what is there is correct. There are no double crochet stitches in Row 7.

  • Dannie

    says:

    hi twinkie thanks so much for your pattern!! i love all your stuff!!! im wondering if you rememeber the color yarn/brand you used for the seashell?

  • Dannie

    says:

    sorry i meant the STARFISH**

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Hi! Unfortunately I have no idea since this was a few years ago…. I’m sorry!

  • Leonie

    says:

    I hope you don’t mind, but used your pattern for doily’s to give to a friend for her beach themed room

  • Bonnie Jean

    says:

    These are so cool! I love anything that has to do with the Ocean! I just know my granddaughters would love this too for a gift! I was fiddling around with the idea of if I left the beads off and used cotton yarn, they would make great spa cloths, aka wash cloths! 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration! xxx’s

  • Molly D

    says:

    Thank you so much for this!!! I’ve been looking for a reasonable pattern for this for months now, and finding this one was absolutely perfect! Yay!!!!

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      I’m so happy it worked well for you! 🙂

  • Lori Boyer

    says:

    Can this be made for a 12 month old? What would the patter be

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Hi! I usually don’t make items for children, so I’m not sure.

  • cathy

    says:

    I just found your site and love it. Thanks for sharing your talents. I am trying to locate the pattern for the starfish that is shown with shell bikini top. Is it available?

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Hi! As I mentioned, I forgot what pattern I used to base that starfish off of. I’m sorry! I’m sure that if you google around, you can find something you like!

  • Kathryn

    says:

    Thank you so much! It’s really hard to find a shell bra pattern in adult sizes, strangely enough! Just wondering, how did you wear the shells? Did you sew them to a pre-existing bra? Do you have any ideas on how to turn the shells into a string bikini?

    Thanks so much!

    • Gina

      says:

      Hi, she mentioned she sewed them to a dress. ☺

  • Gina

    says:

    My daughter , she is 5 and in kindergarten, just got invited to her first birthday party of another little girl from her class… it’s little mermaid themed! I’m going to make these shells into a cute little purse for her. I think it will be perfect!

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Aw I love that idea so much!

  • Bunnie

    says:

    Thank you TwinkieChan this shell is so big i thought it was going tho bee small but it’s big and i love it

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Yay! I’m glad you like it! I’m going to see about using the pattern for a scarf! (Maybe it’s too big, hehe)

  • Jess

    says:

    I am planning on making this as a bralette. Can you please tell me the dimensions of the finished shell in inches so I can know if I have to adjust the pattern?

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Hi! This is a really old pattern, and I only ever made one set and gave it away. I’m sorry I didn’t measure them. Mine turned out pretty big. Please note that they turn out FLAT so they may not really fit the curvature of a person with boobs. I just sewed mine over a dress!

      • Jess

        says:

        I was worried about that, thanks anyway! I am planning on having several ties to make sure the top is form fitting and adjustable.

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