Bessie Crochet Skirt Free Pattern with Straight and Flared Options

A crochet skirt with a little movement, pretty lace, and two ways to finish it? That is exactly what I wanted for Bessie.

The Bessie Crochet Skirt combines a textured waistband with an open lace body. Keep it straight for a simple silhouette, or add the optional flare for extra fullness and swish. You can also adjust the length as you work, making it a lovely project to personalize for your wardrobe.

Wear yours with a plain tank and sandals, pair it with a blouse, or layer it over swimwear for a holiday outfit.

The free crochet skirt pattern below includes size XS. For all nine sizes, from XS to 5XL, get the ad-free, print-friendly PDF. The PDF includes color-coded instructions to help you follow your chosen size more easily.

Two Ways to Make Your Bessie Skirt

Both versions begin with the same waistband and lace body.

The straight skirt follows the repeating lace pattern to your preferred length. It is a lovely choice if you enjoy a simple shape that lets the stitch detail stand out.

The flared skirt adds an increase section before continuing the lace pattern. This creates a fuller lower section with more movement.

You can decide which version to make as your skirt grows. If you are adding the flare, finish the straight section after a dc cluster round and continue without fastening off.

Choosing Your Yarn

I used Lion Brand Coboo, a DK weight yarn made from cotton and rayon from bamboo. Its soft drape suits the open lace fabric beautifully.

You can substitute another DK weight yarn, but check your gauge and how the fabric hangs. A yarn that feels firm in a small swatch may produce a very different skirt from one with a softer drape.

Wash and block your swatch according to your yarn’s care instructions before deciding whether you like the finished fabric.

Get the Complete Bessie Crochet Skirt PDF

Prefer to crochet without scrolling through a blog post?

The complete PDF includes:

• Nine sizes from XS to 5XL.
• Color-coded instructions to make your size easier to follow.
• Straight and optional flared skirt instructions.
• An ad-free layout.
• Print-friendly formatting for your project bag.

Follow the free XS instructions below, or choose the PDF for the full size range.

Materials

• Lion Brand Coboo, DK weight / #3 light yarn: 51% cotton and 49% rayon from bamboo, approximately 232 yards / 212 meters per 100 g skein.
• Approximately 600 yards for size XS. Allow additional yarn when extending the length or flare.
• 5 mm crochet hook, or the size needed to meet gauge.
• Yarn needle.
• Scissors.
• Measuring tape.
• Stitch markers.
• Optional elastic thread for the waist.

Pattern Details

Skill level: Intermediate
Terminology: US crochet terms
Free pattern size: XS

Finished Measurements for XS

• Waist: 24 inches.
• Hip: 32 inches.
• Length: 18 inches, or your preferred length.

The modeled skirt is size M, worn with approximately 1 inch of positive ease.

Check both your waist and hip measurements before starting. Because the skirt is pulled on, the waistband must stretch comfortably over your hips.

For sizes S through 5XL, get the complete color-coded PDF.

Gauge

20 stitches over 10 rows measures 4 × 4 inches in the stitch pattern before blocking.

For your gauge swatch, chain 20 and work the stitch pattern for 10 rows. Check your measurements before beginning the skirt.

Abbreviations

• ch: chain
• ch sp: chain space
• st: stitch
• sts: stitches
• sl st: slip stitch
• sc: single crochet
• hdc: half double crochet
• dc: double crochet
• rep: repeat

Special Stitches

V stitch: Work (dc, ch 3, dc) in the indicated stitch or space.

Dc cluster: Work (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in the indicated stitch or space. In this pattern, “cluster” refers to this group of stitches; the double crochets are completed individually.

Hdc in the third loop: Work into the extra horizontal loop behind the usual top two loops of the half double crochet.

Before You Begin

Read through the instructions before starting.

The free instructions below are for size XS only. Counts appear at the end of the relevant rounds.

The skirt is worked from the waist down in joined rounds. The waistband uses the third loop of half double crochet to create its braided texture. After the waistband, work through both loops unless instructed otherwise.

Try the skirt on as you work to check the fit and decide on your preferred length.

Bessie Crochet Skirt Free Pattern

Section 1: Waistband

Ch 114. Join with a sl st to the first ch, taking care not to twist the chain.

Round 1: Ch 1, hdc in each ch around, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 114 hdc.

Rounds 2–8: Ch 1, working in the third loop only, hdc in each st around, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 114 hdc.

Section 2: Skirt Body

Work through both loops from this point onward.

Round 1: Ch 5 (counts as first dc and ch 2), *skip next 2 sts, sc in next st, ch 2, skip next 2 sts, (dc, ch 3, dc) in next st, ch 2, rep from * until the last 6 sts, skip next 2 sts, sc in next st, ch 2, skip next 2 sts, dc in last st, ch 1, join with a sl st to the 3rd ch of beginning ch 5 to form a V st. 19 V sts and 19 sc.

Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as first st and ch 2 sp), skip ch sp, *(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next st, ch 2, skip next ch sp and st, sc in ch 3 sp, ch 2, skip ch sp, rep from * until the beginning ch sp, ch 2, join with a sl st to the 2nd ch of beginning ch 3. 19 dc clusters and 19 sc.

Round 3: Ch 5, skip next 2 sts, *sc in next ch 1 sp, ch 2, (dc, ch 3, dc) in next sc, ch 2, skip next ch sp and 2 sts, rep from * around, ch 2, join with a sl st to the 3rd ch of beginning ch 5. 19 V sts and 19 sc.

Rounds 4–37: Rep Rounds 2–3.

Adjust the length to your preference.

Round 38: Rep Round 2.

For the straight skirt, fasten off and weave in all ends.

For the flared skirt, continue below without fastening off.

Optional Flared Skirt

Begin after completing a dc cluster round of the straight skirt.

Round 1: Ch 5, *(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in ch 2 sp, ch 2, sc in ch 1 sp, ch 2, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next ch 2 sp, ch 2, (dc, ch 3, dc) in next st, ch 2, rep from * until the last sc st, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in ch 2 sp, ch 2, sc in ch 1 sp, ch 2, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next ch 2 sp, ch 2, join with a sl st to the beginning ch sp. 38 dc clusters, 19 sc and 19 V sts.

Round 2: Ch 5, *sc in next ch 1 sp, ch 2, skip next 2 sts and ch 2 sp, (dc, ch 3, dc) in next st, ch 2, sc in next ch 1 sp, ch 2, skip next 2 sts and ch 2 sp, (dc, ch 3, dc) in next ch 3 sp, rep from * around, join with a sl st to the 3rd ch of beginning ch 5. 38 V sts and 38 sc.

Round 3: Ch 5, *(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next st, ch 2, skip next ch sp and st, sc in ch 3 sp, ch 2, skip ch sp, rep from * until the beginning ch sp, ch 2, join with a sl st to the 2nd ch of beginning ch 5. 38 dc clusters and 38 sc.

Round 4: Ch 5, skip next 2 sts, *sc in next ch 1 sp, ch 2, (dc, ch 3, dc) in next sc, ch 2, skip next ch sp and 2 sts, rep from * around, ch 2, join with a sl st to the 3rd ch of beginning ch 5. 38 V sts and 38 sc.

Rep Rounds 3–4 until the skirt reaches your desired length.

Fasten off and weave in all ends.

Optional Fitted Waist

For a closer fit at the waist, join yarn with a sl st to the foundation edge.

Holding one strand of yarn and elastic thread together, work as follows:

Round 1: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), sc in each st around, join with a sl st to first sc. 114 sc.

Fasten off and weave in all ends.

Blocking and Finishing

Gently block your skirt according to your yarn’s care instructions. Arrange the lace evenly and shape the skirt to your intended measurements without overstretching the waistband.

Allow it to dry completely before wearing.

The lace is open, so pair your skirt with a slip or suitable lining for everyday coverage, or wear it over swimwear.

Make Bessie in Your Size

The free pattern includes size XS. If you need another size, the complete Bessie Crochet Skirt PDF includes XS through 5XL, with color-coded instructions to help you keep track of your size.

It is also ad-free and print-friendly, so you can keep a copy beside you while you crochet.

Will you keep your Bessie straight or add a little extra swish with the flare?