studiosquaredaway

Jun 1

Breezy Palm Cover

Updated: Jun 22

Get ready for the summer season with your own beautifully handcrafted crochet bathing suit cover-up! Made with love and attention to detail, this stylish and versatile piece is perfect for adding a touch of elegance to your beach or poolside look.

Breathable cotton yarn with an open, lacy pattern helps the piece to drape perfectly over tank tops, bathing suits, or a sports bra! I used a new-to-me crochet stitch called the Palm Stitch, which consists of two rows repeating, creating the look of a palm leaf! Can you picture it in the image below?

This cover-up is a perfect addition to your crochet summer tops collection. Follow along for step-by-step instructions and tips on mastering the Palm Stitch.

Materials

Size US H / 5.0mm hook
Lion Brand Coboo yarn, 51% cotton, 49% rayon from bamboo.
- Color A is in White
- Color B is in Taupe

stitches

You will need to know the basic stitches below. For a description of the basics, including a video, check out my Crochet Resources page here.

Ch(s) = chain(s)
Sk = skip
Sl St = slip Stitch
Tr = Treble Crochet
Sc2tog = single crochet 2 together (to decrease)

Palm pattern is as follows (assuming pattern is working off previous row of the palm stitch):

Row 1: Ch 4, turn. Work 2 tr into first st, sk 2 st, 1 tr into next st, {sk 2 st, 5 tr into next st, sk 2 st, 1 tr into next st}, repeat {} to the last 2 st. Sk 2 tr, 3 tr into last st.

Row 2: Ch 1 and turn. Work 1 sc into first st, and each st across to end.

Row 3: Ch 4, turn. { sk 2 st, 5 tr into next st, sk 2 st, 1 tr into next st }, repeat {} until end, working a tr into the turning chain from previous row.

Row 4: Ch 1 and turn. Work 1 sc into first st, and each st across to end.

Repeat rows 1-4.

Gauge

For the most accurate gauge, crochet in the different styles squares that are larger than 4"x4" so that you can measure the center, stitches which will more accurately reflect the overall pattern.

15 stitches and 8 rows in the Palm stitch = 4" x 4"

Sizing

pattern

Back Panel, starting with Color A

Start: Ch the following for your size 80 (80, 92, 104, 116, 128)

Row 1: In second ch from hook, work a sc. Work 1 sc in each st across to end. 79 (79, 91, 103, 115, 127)

Row 2: Ch 4, turn. Work 2 tr into first st, sk 2 st, 1 tr into next st, {sk 2 st, 5 tr into next st, sk 2 st, 1 tr into next st}, repeat {} to the last 2 st. Sk 2 tr, 3 tr into last st. - 79 (79, 91, 103, 115, 127)

Row 3: Ch 1 and turn. Work 1 sc into first st, and each st across to end. 79 (79, 91, 103, 115, 127)

Row 4: Ch 4, turn. { sk 2 st, 5 tr into next st, sk 2 st, 1 tr into next st }, repeat {} until end, working a tr into the turning chain from previous row. 79 (79, 91, 103, 115, 127)

Row 5: Ch 1 and turn. Work 1 sc into first st, and each st across to end. 79 (79, 91, 103, 115, 127)

Repeat rows 2-5 until you have the following total number of rows for your size: 30 (34, 34, 34, 38, 38).

Next, use stitch markers to mark the arm holes and the center of the piece:

Count in the following number of st from either end: 10 (10, 10, 16, 16, 16). Place your stitch markers, which should line up with the single tr in the previous row.

Place the third stitch marker in the center of the piece, which should also line up with the single tr in the previous row.

Now to work the straps, starting with your working end.

Row 1: Ch 1 and turn. Sc in in first st and next across halfway, bringing you to the center st marker. - 40 (40, 46, 52, 58, 64)

Row 2: Ch 4, turn. Ch 4 counts as st here and throughout section. Work 2 tr into first st, sk 2 st, 1 tr into next st, {sk 2 st, 5 tr into next st, sk 2 st, 1 tr into next st}, repeat {} to the first st marker, working 3 tr into last st. - 31 (31, 37, 37, 43, 49)

Row 3: Ch 1 and turn. Work 1 sc into first st, and each st across, leaving the last 3 st unworked. Your final sc should be worked in the single tr from previous row. - 28 (28, 34, 34, 40, 46)

Row 4: Ch 4 and turn. Work 2 tr into the same st. Sk 2 st, 1 tr into next st, {sk 2 st, 5 tr into next st, sk 2 st, 1 tr into next st}, repeat {} to the first st marker, working 1 tr into last st. - 28 (28, 34, 34, 40, 46)

Row 5: Ch 1 and turn. Work 1 sc into first st, and each st across, leaving the last 3 st unworked. Your final sc should be worked in the single tr from previous row. - 25 (25, 31, 31, 37, 43)

Row 6: Ch 4 and turn. Work 2 tr into the same st. Sk 2 st, 1 tr into next st, {sk 2 st, 5 tr into next st, sk 2 st, 1 tr into next st}, repeat {} to the first st marker, working 3 tr into last st.- 25 (25, 31, 31, 37, 43)

Repeat rows 3-7 until you have a total decreasing rows for your size: 14 (16, 16, 16, 18, 18).

Final row for the strap: Ch 1 and turn. Sc in first st and across to end. Trim out. - 13 (10, 16, 16, 19, 25)

To start the second strap, join with a slip knot to the opposite side of the panel.

Row 1: Ch 1 and turn. Sc in in first st and next across halfway, bringing you to the center st marker. - 40 (40, 46, 52, 58, 64)

Row 3: Ch 1 and turn. Work 1 sc into first st, and each st across, leaving the last 3 st unworked. Your final sc should be worked in the single tr from previous row. - 28 (28, 34, 34, 40, 46)

Row 5: Ch 1 and turn. Work 1 sc into first st, and each st across, leaving the last 3 st unworked. Your final sc should be worked in the single tr from previous row. - 25 (25, 31, 31, 37, 43)

Repeat rows 3-7 until you have a total of rows for your size: 14 (16, 16, 16, 18, 18).

Final row: Ch 1 and turn. Sc in first st and across to end. Trim out. - 13 (10, 16, 16, 19, 25)

For the front panel, repeat from the top, creating two identical panels.

Seam together

Line up the front and back panel. Using a yarn needle, seam together along the two sides, and the top of the two straps with the mattress stitch

Sleeves:

Join at the base of the sleeve where the front and back panels were joined. We'll now work in rounds. At the end of each row, sl st to the first ch(s) to complete the round

Round 1: Ch 1. Sc in 10 stitches for xs/s/m or next 16 st for lg/xl/2xl. Work 3 sc in each of the ch 3 spaces and a sc in the end of the sc row from the palm stitch of the main body. Continue in this way to end, and sl st to end the round. 76 (84, 84, 96, 104, 104)

Row 2: Ch 4 and turn.

Size XS skip 4 and continue to *
Size S-L, skip 2 and continue to *
Size XL-XXL, skip 3 and continue to *

*{Work 5 tr in next st. Sk 2. 1 tr in the next st. sk 2}. Repeat {} to end, skipping the final same number of st and as your size above, and sl st with original ch 3 to finish the round. 72 (84, 84, 96, 104, 104)

Row 3: Ch 1 and turn. Sc in each st across to end, sl st with first st to finish the round.

Row 4: Ch 4 and turn. Work 4 tr in first st. {Sk 2. 1 tr in next st. Sk 2. 5 tr in next st.} Repeat {} to end, finishing with a sl st to top of ch 3.

Row 5: Ch 1 and turn. Sc in each st across to end, sl st with first st to finish the round.

Repeat rows 4-5 until you have the total number of rows for your size: 24 (28, 28, 34, 40, 40)

Now we'll add the finishing touches to the sweater.

Switch to color B, and join with a sl stitch at one of the seams at the bottom of the sweater.

Row 1: Ch 1. Sc in first 4 st. {Sc2tog. Sc in next 4 st. Sc2tog.}. Repeat {} to end, sl st into first st.

Row 2: Ch 1 and turn. Sc in first 4 st. {Sc2tog. Sc in next 4 st. Sc2tog..}. Repeat {} to end, sl st into first st.

Row 3: Ch 1 and turn. Sc in first 3 st. {Sc2tog. Sc in next 3 st. Sc2tog.}. Repeat {} to end, sl st into first st.

Row 4: Ch 3 and turn. Sc2tog across to end. Sl st to the ch 3. Trim out.

Join with Color B at the end of the sleeve.

Row 1: Ch 1. Sc in first 4 st. {Sc2tog. Sc in next 4 st. Sc2tog.}. Repeat {} to end, sl st into first st.

Row 2: Ch 1 and turn. Sc in first 4 st. {Sc2tog. Sc in next 4 st. Sc2tog..}. Repeat {} to end, sl st into first st.

Row 3: Ch 1 and turn. Sc in first 3 st. {Sc2tog. Sc in next 3 st. Sc2tog.}. Repeat {} to end, sl st into first st.

Row 4: Ch 3 and turn. Sc2tog across to end. Sl st to the ch 3. Trim out.

Repeat for the second sleeve.

Join with color B at the base of the V along the neckline.

Row 1: {Sc in the end of the sc row from the palm pattern. Work 5 dc into the ch 4 spaces worked in the palm pattern. } Repeat {} around the neck opening, joining the round with a sl st.

Row 2: Ch 1. Work a sc into the first st and each st around. Join round with a sl st.

The next step will require a little creativity and personal preference. To create the strappy look across the back (which also helps keep the piece on your shoulders), I worked a series of chains, and sl st into the sc st between the dcs from the previous row, back and forth across the piece as in the picture below. Feel free to tighten or loosen, increase or decrease the amount of strap you want; get creative! Here is the step by step that I completed below:

Chains per strap between sl stitches: