Seaside Shell Stitch Pullover: Free Crochet Pattern

Introduction

The Seaside Shell Stitch Pullover is a loose, breezy sweater designed for anyone who wants a lacy layer that feels as light as sea air. It is beginner-friendly: the body is a simple flat rectangle, the sleeves are straight tubes worked in the round, and the whole thing comes together with basic seams. Crocheted in sport-weight cotton, the allover shell stitch gives a soft scalloped texture that drapes beautifully and lets a little breeze through. Dusty rose is framed by calm grey single-crochet bands at the neck, cuffs, and hem, so the finished pullover looks polished with almost no shaping to worry about.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Sport weight (CYC 2), cotton or cotton blend. Main color (MC) dusty rose: 1000 (1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700) yards. Contrast color (CC) grey: 200 (220, 240, 260, 280, 300, 320, 340) yards.
• Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8), or the size needed to match gauge.
• Notions: Stitch markers, tapestry needle, tape measure, scissors.
• Finished size: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL). Bust 40 (44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72) inches; length 24 (24.5, 25, 25.5, 26, 26.5, 27, 27.5, 28) inches. The fit is loose and boxy by design.

Abbreviations

• ch – chain: yarn over and pull through the loop on your hook.
• sc – single crochet: insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
• dc – double crochet: yarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through two loops twice.
• shell – 5 dc worked into the same stitch.
• sl st – slip stitch: insert hook, yarn over, pull through everything on the hook.
• st(s) – stitch(es).
• beg – beginning.
• rep – repeat.
• RS – right side (the outside of the finished sweater).
• MC / CC – main color (dusty rose) / contrast color (grey).

Gauge

One shell (5 dc) plus one sc measures 2 inches (5 cm) wide, and 4 rows measure 2 inches (5 cm) in the shell pattern. Work a small swatch in pattern and measure it before beginning; if your shells are wider or narrower, change hook size until the gauge matches.

Tips Before You Start

• Count your shells at the end of every row or round. The shell count stays the same throughout each piece, so it is the easiest way to catch a mistake early.
• Remember that the ch 3 at the beginning of a row counts as the first dc, while the ch 1 at the beginning of an sc row does not count as a stitch.
• When you join the sleeve chains into a ring, check carefully that the chain is not twisted before working Round 1.
• Keep your tension relaxed and even. The shell stitch looks best when the shells sit flat rather than pulled tight.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Body (MC)

Worked flat in rows. Shell = 5 dc in the same st. Ch 3 at the beginning of a row counts as the first dc.

Ch 102 (112, 122, 132, 142, 152, 162, 172, 182).

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, *skip 2 ch, shell in next ch, skip 2 ch, sc in next ch; rep from * across, turn. (17 (19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33) shells)

Row 2: Ch 3, 2 dc in first sc, *sc in center dc of next shell, shell in next sc; rep from * across, end sc in last sc, 3 dc in turning ch, turn. (17 (19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33) shells)

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in first dc, *shell in next sc, sc in center dc of next shell; rep from * across, end sc in top of turning ch, turn. (17 (19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33) shells)

Rows 4–end: Rep Rows 2–3 until the piece measures 24 (24.5, 25, 25.5, 26, 26.5, 27, 27.5, 28) inches, ending with Row 3. Fasten off.

Sleeves (MC) – make 2

Worked in the round. Ch 52 (52, 62, 62, 72, 72, 82, 82, 92). Join with sl st to form a ring, being careful not to twist.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in same ch as join, *skip 2 ch, shell in next ch, skip 2 ch, sc in next ch; rep from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (9 (9, 11, 11, 13, 13, 15, 15, 17) shells)

Rnd 2: Ch 3, 2 dc in first sc, *sc in center dc of next shell, shell in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. (9 (9, 11, 11, 13, 13, 15, 15, 17) shells)

Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in first dc, *shell in next sc, sc in center dc of next shell; rep from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (9 (9, 11, 11, 13, 13, 15, 15, 17) shells)

Rnds 4–end: Rep Rnds 2–3 until the sleeve measures 18 (18, 18.5, 18.5, 19, 19, 19.5, 19.5, 20) inches. Fasten off.

Assembly

Fold the body in half widthwise with RS together. Mark the center 8 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) inches of the fold for the neck opening. Sew the shoulder seams from the outer edge to the neck mark on each side. Place the sleeve tops at the armholes, centering each sleeve on a shoulder seam. Sew the sleeves to the body. Sew the side seams and sleeve seams.

Neck Edging (CC)

With RS facing, join CC at the shoulder seam.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc evenly around the neck opening, join with sl st to first sc. (approx 60 (64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92) sc)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off. (approx 60 (64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92) sc)

Cuff Edging (CC) – make 2

With RS facing, join CC at the sleeve seam.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc evenly around the cuff, join with sl st to first sc. (approx 30 (30, 34, 34, 38, 38, 42, 42, 46) sc)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off. (approx 30 (30, 34, 34, 38, 38, 42, 42, 46) sc)

Hem Edging (CC)

With RS facing, join CC at the side seam.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc evenly around the hem, join with sl st to first sc. (approx 100 (110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180) sc)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off. (approx 100 (110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180) sc)

Assembly and Finishing

Weave in all ends on the wrong side, working them through a few stitches in each direction so they stay secure. Lightly block the pullover to the finished measurements: mist it with water, pat it into shape on a towel or blocking mat, and let it dry flat, easing the shell pattern open so the lace shows. Once dry, try it on and adjust the neck, cuff, or hem edging if needed.

Pro Tips and Variations

• For a cropped version, shorten the body before assembly; just end on a Row 3 and add the hem edging as written.
• Swap the grey CC for a soft cream or navy to change the look, or work the edgings in the same dusty rose for a tonal finish.
• For a warmer sweater, use a cotton-blend yarn with a little wool and go up one hook size to keep the shell stitch loose and drapey.