Stitches used:

• Chain (ch)

• Single crochet (sc)

• Slip stitch (sl st)

• Double crochet (dc)

Size: Small (36) To make other sizes, simply increase or decrease the number of starting chains and adjust the number of rows as needed.

Base:
Measure the hip circumference (in this model: 98 cm).
Make a foundation chain in multiples of 10 until you reach the desired measurement – for this size, make 180 ch.
Join to work in the round with a sl st.

Waistband:
Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), work 1 round of dc around.
Then work 3 more rounds of dc (total of 4 rounds of dc).

Skirt Body:
Shell and V-stitch pattern:
Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), in the same st make: 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc (this forms a shell).
Ch 1, skip 4 sts, in the 5th st: 1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc (V-stitch).
Ch 1, skip 4 sts, in the 5th st: 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc (shell).
Repeat the pattern: ch 1, skip 4 sts, V-stitch, ch 1, skip 4 sts, shell, until the end of the round.
Repeat this pattern (shell on shell, V-stitch on V-stitch) for 7 rounds.

Increasing the spacing:
From the 8th round, start spacing the motifs with 2 ch:
1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc (V-stitch), ch 2, shell, ch 2, V-stitch.
Repeat for 19 rounds.

Then, increase to 3 ch spacing between motifs:
1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc (V-stitch), ch 3, shell, ch 3, V-stitch.
Repeat for 34 rounds or until you reach the desired length.

Hem finishing:
Work 1 round of shells only:
Shell on shell and shell on V-stitch, separated by ch 3.

Next round:
Ch 3, then:
1 dc,
2 dc with picot (ch 3, sl st into top of dc),
2 dc with picot in the center of the shell,
2 dc with picot,
Finish with 1 dc.
(Total: 1 dc, 6 dc with picot, 1 dc).
Ch 3, sc in the center of the next shell, ch 3, and repeat the shell with picots.

Cord for the waistband:
Ch 2, turn back into the 1st ch and make 1 sc.
Turn, insert the hook through both loops of the previous st and make 1 sc.
Repeat this process (cord of sc) until you reach 130 cm or the desired length.
Weave the cord through the waistband.

Designer: Joana Gouveia (@fioscruzados)