There is a special kind of confidence that comes from wearing something you made yourself, and it doubles when that something is a pair of crochet shorts that fits you perfectly. No tugging at the waistband, no too-tight thighs, no settling for the one colour the shop happened to stock — just a handmade bottom made to your measurements, in your yarn, in your shade. Once you have crocheted your first pair, I promise you will wonder why you ever bought shorts off a rail.
I have gathered 20 of my favourite free shorts and pants patterns here — lacy beach shorts, easy striped everyday pairs, wide-leg trousers, breezy wrap pants and cosy lounge pants for slow evenings at home. Every one is linked to a genuinely free pattern from its designer or yarn brand, and I have mixed fibres, fits and skill levels so there is something here whether this is your first garment or your fiftieth. Pick your pair, grab some cotton yarn, and let's make you some bottoms.
1. The Staycation Shorts With the Lacy Legs
The name says it all: these are the shorts you live in when the holiday is happening right at home. The body is simple, comfortable half double crochet, and then each leg finishes with a wide band of pretty lacework worked with a slightly larger hook, which gives them that dressed-up edge plain lounge shorts never have. The two legs are crocheted as mirror images and joined, a drawstring keeps the waist exactly where you like it, and the cotton-blend yarn means they soften beautifully with every wash while holding their shape. They are graded in six sizes from XS to 2XL, so nobody is left out. Make them in the soft peony pink of the sample for pure staycation luxury, or in grey for the pair that goes with every top you own.
Pattern: Staycation Shorts by Heart Hook Home — Get the free pattern
2. The Shell-Stitch Shorts With the Fringed Tie
If you love texture, this is your pair. Rows of classic shell stitch give the whole fabric a gentle scalloped ripple, and working them in a sturdy cotton yarn means the shells keep their definition wear after wear. The shorts are made from the top down with nothing more exotic than chains, single and double crochets, so the stitch pattern settles into an easy rhythm after the first couple of rows. A drawstring threaded through the waistband finishes in little fringed ends, which is such a sweet handmade detail. Sizing is generous, running from XS right up to 3X. In white they are pure beach-club chic; in a sandy neutral they will carry you through the whole summer.
Pattern: Shell Shorts by Hooked on Homemade Happiness — Get the free pattern
3. The Summer Breeze Lace Cover-Up Shorts
Here is the pair designed for that walk from the sand to the beach café. These lacy shorts are built from four flat panels that are joined together, with an open, airy stitch pattern and a scalloped edge along each leg that looks far more complicated than it is. They are worked in a fingering-weight linen and cotton blend, so the finished fabric is light as air and dries fast over a swimsuit. The pattern comes in six sizes with two fits to choose from in each, because the designer knows a looser fit and a closer fit are both lovely on different days. An i-cord tie at the waist finishes the look. In the soft honey shade of the sample they are basically bottled sunshine.
Pattern: Summer Breeze Shorts by Lorene Haythorn Eppolite at Cre8tion Crochet for Furls Crochet — Get the free pattern
4. The Striped Shorts You Can Fit to Any Size
Stripes are the happiest way to use up a yarn stash, and this cheerful pair puts them to work beautifully. The design is worked in simple stitch rows with the colour changes doing all the talking, and because the pattern teaches you how to size the shorts as you go, you can make them for absolutely any body — no fixed size chart holding you back. A full video tutorial walks beside the written pattern, which makes this a brilliant first shorts project if you like to see a step before you stitch it. Keep the stripes neat in two colours, or go full rainbow with a different leftover ball on every stripe. Either way, wear them with a plain white tee and let the shorts be the outfit.
Pattern: Striped Crochet Shorts by Viv Crochets — Get the free pattern
5. The Two-Tone Shorts With a Video to Follow
Two colours, one very wearable pair of shorts. Wannipa's design plays a main shade against a contrast tone so the construction details — the shaped waist and neat leg finish — become part of the look. The pattern is written for women's sizes XS to XXL and comes with both photo guidance and a step-by-step video tutorial, so you are never left guessing at a tricky row. The fit is relaxed without being baggy, which makes these the shorts you will reach for on market mornings and long warm evenings alike. Try black with a cream contrast for a pair that behaves like a neutral, or reverse it and let the lighter shade lead. Simple, polished and endlessly re-makeable.
Pattern: Crochet Shorts by Wannipa Yunker at Knit Cro Addict — Get the free pattern
6. The Wide-Leg Shorts That Are Not a Skirt
Everyone will ask where your skirt is from — and you get to enjoy telling them it is actually shorts. These flare generously from the hip into wide, swishy legs that move like a skirt but behave like shorts on a breezy day, which is honestly the best of both worlds. They are worked in a fine fingering-weight yarn for a soft, flowing drape, starting with an elastic ribbed waistband, and the pattern even includes belt loops so you can cinch them with your favourite belt. Sizes run from XS to XXL with proper measurements given for every size. Dress them up with a tucked-in blouse and wedges, or keep it simple with a vest top and sandals. Comfort and drama, in one pattern.
Pattern: Wide Leg Crochet Shorts by Wannipa Yunker at Knit Cro Addict — Get the free pattern
7. The Marble Shorts With the Sporty Waistband
These are the polished cousins of gym shorts, and I mean that as the highest praise. The body is worked in single crochet through the front loop, which creates a fine, almost woven texture that looks tailored rather than handmade-lumpy, and clever short rows shape the seat so they actually fit like real shorts. An elastic waistband with a drawstring cord keeps everything secure and gives them that sporty, athleisure finish. The pattern is written in eight sizes, so the fit is precise rather than hopeful. Make them in a marled or heathered yarn for the true marble effect of the name. With a cropped tee and trainers, they are a whole outfit in themselves.
Pattern: Marble Shorts by By Katerina — Get the free pattern
8. The Crossed-Stitch Shorts With the Ribbed Band
Sometimes one good stitch is all a design needs, and here it is the crossed double crochet, worked round and round into a subtle X texture that looks quietly expensive. The shorts start with a deep waistband of front and back post stitches, which gives real ribbed stretch at the waist, and each leg finishes with a neat round of crab stitch for a clean, rope-like edge. There are nine sizes to choose from, and the pattern includes step-by-step photos plus video help along the way. Because the texture does the visual work, these shine in a single solid colour — think terracotta, olive or classic navy. They are the pair I would make for someone who claims crochet shorts cannot look tidy.
Pattern: Summer Crochet Shorts by Fosbas Designs — Get the free pattern
9. The Bella Shorts With the Cosy Ribbed Waistband
A high, ribbed waistband changes everything about how shorts feel, and this pair is built around exactly that. You start by working the waistband in back-loop half double crochet until it fits your waist, then build the body downwards — a made-to-measure approach wrapped inside a fully written pattern. Little clusters form a flame-stitch detail that gives the fabric its pretty texture, and the size range is a standout, running all the way from XS to 5XL. There is a video tutorial if you like to crochet along in company. Keep the leg length classic, or add a few rounds for a longer, festival-friendly short. Either way, that waistband makes them feel like they were tailored for you — because they were.
Pattern: Bella Crochet Shorts by Cosy Rosie UK — Get the free pattern
10. The Summer Fancy Shorts in Fine Cotton
DROPS patterns are the quiet overachievers of the crochet world — always free, always graded across a proper size range, always with the diagrams you actually need. Summer Fancy is a delicate pair of shorts worked in fine cotton yarn, the kind of light, breathable fabric that hot afternoons were invented for. The stitchwork keeps them airy without feeling fragile, and the fit is neat enough to wear out rather than just over swimwear. Sizes run from S to 2XL with full measurement charts on the pattern page. Worked in white they are crisp and classic; in a soft pastel they are pure summer romance. Add a loose linen shirt and you have my favourite heatwave uniform.
Pattern: Summer Fancy Shorts (DROPS 139-28) by DROPS Design — Get the free pattern
11. The Beach Comfort Lace Shorts
If your taste runs to lace, save this one first. These shorts are worked in the round from the top down in a fine cotton yarn, so the body stays smooth and mostly solid while pretty lace detailing does the decorating — cute and easy to wear, with no enormous holes to worry about. A small 2.5 mm hook gives the fabric its fine, almost shop-bought finish, which makes them a lovely slow-evening project rather than a race. The size range is one of the most generous in this whole list, running from S right up to XXXL. The designer rates them a holiday essential, and I agree: one pair in a bright coral will lift every plain swimsuit and vest top in your suitcase. This is lace you can actually live in.
Pattern: Beach Comfort Shorts (DROPS 190-25) by DROPS Design — Get the free pattern
12. The Elly May Shorts for Brunch and Beach Days
Some crochet shorts only belong at the beach, but Elly May was clearly designed to go out to brunch afterwards. Worked mostly in single crochet with a fine sport-weight cotton, the fabric comes out smooth, solid and surprisingly tailored for a handmade piece. A lacy cuff along each leg adds the one decorative flourish, like the trim on a good pair of tailored shorts. Sizes are written as combined ranges from S/M up to XL/XXL, with the usual clear DROPS diagrams to guide the shaping. In the white of the sample they look fresh with absolutely everything — a striped Breton top, a silky camisole, a denim shirt tied at the waist. This is the pair that proves crochet shorts can be genuinely classy.
Pattern: Elly May Shorts (DROPS 162-19) by DROPS Design — Get the free pattern
13. The Two-Tone Wide-Leg Pants
Now we move into long pants, and we start with a statement pair. These wide-leg trousers use two colours so the design reads almost like colour-blocked tailoring, with the legs falling in a soft, generous sweep from a stretchy ribbed waistband. The pattern is written for sizes XS to XXL with finished hip measurements given for every size, so you can pick your fit with confidence instead of crossing your fingers. Wannipa's video tutorial walks you through the whole make, which is reassuring on a bigger project like pants. Wear them with the matching-tone top for a full co-ord look, or let them carry a plain fitted tee. Either way, expect compliments and at least one person asking which boutique they came from.
Pattern: Crochet Pants by Wannipa Yunker at Knit Cro Addict — Get the free pattern
14. The Seabreeze Mesh Wrap Pants
Wrap pants are the holiday hero nobody talks about enough: they tie at the waist, so the fit adjusts itself after long lunches, and they fold nearly flat in a suitcase. This pair is worked in an open mesh stitch that keeps them feather-light and see-through in the prettiest way over a swimsuit or shorts. The pattern is a free download from Yarnspirations in the Caron design library, written in sizes up to 4/5XL. Because the panels are simple rectangles of mesh, this is a relaxing, rhythmic make — the kind you can work on with your feet up and a film on. In white they are Riviera elegant; in black they take you straight from beach to beach bar. Pack them once and you will never travel without a pair again.
Pattern: Seabreeze Mesh Wrap Pants by Caron, free at Yarnspirations — Get the free pattern
15. The Flower Power Pants
Seventies souls, this one is yours. These joyful trousers are built from flower motifs joined with classic granny squares, so the whole leg is a garden of little crocheted blooms — a proper make-as-you-go project where every motif feels like a small finished victory. The pattern is a free download from the Red Heart library at Yarnspirations, which means the instructions are thorough, tested and clearly laid out. Worked in the full multi-colour treatment they are festival-ready sunshine; worked in two or three tonal shades they calm down into something surprisingly wearable for everyday. Because you join motifs as you go, the length is easy to adjust for your legs. Peace signs entirely optional, happiness guaranteed.
Pattern: Flower Power Crochet Pants by Red Heart, free at Yarnspirations — Get the free pattern
16. The Athleisure Pants With Pockets
Yes, real pockets — deep ones you can actually use. These sporty trousers are worked in front-loop single crochet for a smooth, dense fabric, with short rows shaping the seat so they fit like proper pants rather than tubes, and an elastic-and-cord waistband that keeps them exactly where you set them. The size range is superb, running from S all the way to 5XL, and the full pattern is written out free on the designer's site. They are the crochet answer to your favourite joggers: soft, structured and ready for school runs, dog walks and sofa evenings alike. Make them in grey marl for the full athleisure effect. Once you have worn handmade pants with pockets, there is honestly no going back.
Pattern: Athleisure Pants by By Katerina — Get the free pattern
17. The Thai Wrap Pants
Inspired by the wrap trousers travellers bring home from Thailand, this pair ties at the waist and drapes in soft, wide folds — no zips, no buttons, no waistband battles. The construction is beautifully simple: straightforward panels worked in half double crochet through the third loop, which gives the fabric a subtle ribbed texture and lovely drape. The pattern is free on the designer's blog in sizes S to 1XL, worked in a sport-weight cotton that keeps them cool in real heat. They take up almost no room in a bag and come out unwrinkled, which makes them the hardest-working holiday trousers I know. Pair with a simple vest and flat sandals and let the wrap silhouette do all the styling.
Pattern: Thai Pants by By Katerina — Get the free pattern
18. The Margrethe Pants With the Floral Leg
A floral lace motif running down each leg turns plain trousers into something genuinely special, and that is exactly the trick this Danish design pulls off. The pants are worked from the top down in one seamless piece, so you can try them on as you go and settle the length precisely on your own legs. A free download from Hobbii, the pattern is written for sizes S to XL and rated for confident crocheters who fancy a little lacework among the plain rounds. The floral strip makes them dressy enough for dinner with a silky top and sandals, while the plain body keeps them comfortable all evening. In a deep forest green or classic black, these are evening trousers with a secret: you made them.
Pattern: Margrethe Pants by Caroline Edal at Tarda Studio, free at Hobbii — Get the free pattern
19. The Striped Lounge Pants, Made to Measure
Not every pattern needs a size chart — this one simply asks for your waist measurement and builds from there. You begin with a ribbed band worked until it fits comfortably around your waist, then crochet downwards in cheerful stripes, splitting for the legs when you reach the length you like. A simple chained drawstring threads through the band to finish, and the whole thing is worked with a 4.5 mm hook in soft acrylic yarn. The sample stripes run blue mint, white and royal blue, but this is the perfect pattern for using up three half-balls you already own. They are pyjama-level comfortable yet tidy enough for a doorstep chat with the neighbours. Slow Sundays were made for pants like these.
Pattern: Crochet Pants by Jas K Crochet — Get the free pattern
20. The Vintage Wide-Leg Lounge Pants
We finish with a little piece of crochet history. This wide-leg lounge pants pattern comes from a vintage source, shared in full on the Craft Gossip crochet pages, and its easy, flowing silhouette has barely aged a day — proof that a good wide leg never really leaves fashion. The construction is straightforward, worked in an ordinary worsted-weight yarn, which makes it a calming, no-surprises make for a quiet week of evenings. The full leg gives them a palazzo elegance that works far beyond the sofa: add a fitted top and they are ready for dinner on the terrace. There is something lovely about crocheting a pattern that makers were enjoying decades ago and finding it still earns its place in your wardrobe. Some designs are vintage; this one is simply timeless.
Pattern: Wide Leg Lounge Pants, free pattern shared at Crochet Craft Gossip — Get the free pattern
Conclusion
Twenty pairs of bottoms, and not a single boring one among them — from Staycation's lacy lounge shorts to Flower Power's blooming trousers, there is a free pattern here for every summer plan and every skill level. My honest advice: start with the pair you cannot stop thinking about, choose cotton or a cotton blend so they stay cool and hold their shape, and try them on as you go, because handmade bottoms should fit your body, not a size chart. Tell me in the comments: which pair are you making first, and are you team shorts or team pants?
Happy crocheting,
Sienna
