Pineapple Motif Crochet Bolero / Shrug Pattern

Pineapple Motif Crochet Bolero / Shrug Pattern

Skill Level: Intermediate

Language/Terminology: US Crochet Terms

Sizes: Small/Medium (Large/X-Large)

Materials & Tools

• Yarn: Fine / Sport Weight Cotton Yarn (approx. 800 - 1000 yards)
  
  
• Crochet Hook: 3.0 mm (US C-2 or D-3)
  
  
• Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors, blocking pins, optional decorative brooch or clasp
  
  

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch: chain
  
  
• sl st: slip stitch
  
  
• sc: single crochet
  
  
• dc: double crochet
  
  
• tr: treble crochet
  
  
• sp: space
  
  
• shell: (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in specified chain space
  
  
• V-st: (dc, ch 2, dc) in specified stitch/space
  
  

Pattern Overview & Assembly Layout

This garment is constructed by joining square pineapple motif motifs as shown in the layout diagram:

1. Back Panel: Made of 6 full square motifs 
   
   
2. Front Panels: 2 full square motifs and 2 diagonal half-motifs per side to create the curved, open-front bolero drape.
   
   
3. Sleeves: 4 motifs per sleeve (or 6 for wider/longer sleeves) attached to the armhole section.
   
   
4. Edging & Border: Continuous pineapple fan border along the outer edges, front opening, and sleeve cuffs.
   
   

1. Square Pineapple Motif (Make 14 to 18 Motifs)

Each motif is worked in the round starting from the center ring.

• Ring: Ch 10, sl st to first ch to form a ring.
  
  
• Round 1: Ch 1, work 20 sc into the ring. Sl st to first sc to join (20 sc).
  
  
• Round 2: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), *dc in next sc, ch 1; repeat from * around. Sl st to 3rd ch of initial ch-4 (20 dc, 20 ch-1 spaces).
  
  
• Round 3 (Establishing 4 Pineapple Base Arches):
  
  
  • Corner/Petal: Work 9 dc into the 1st ch-space.
    
    
  • Side Arch: [Ch 5, skip 1 sp, sc in next sp] 3 times.
    
    
  • Repeat from * around to create 4 fan/pineapple bases. Sl st to join.
    
    
• Round 4:
  
  
  • Over each 9-dc fan, work (dc, ch 1) in each of the 9 sts.
    
    
  • Over side arches, work [ch 5 loop into next ch-5 sp] across.
    
    
• Rounds 5–8 (Pineapple Mesh & Expansion):
  
  
  • Work sc into each ch-1 space across the 9-dc fan separated by ch-3 loops (creating the pineapple mesh).
    
    
  • Continue expanding the outer corners with ch-5 loops and corner shells (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc).
    
    
• Round 9 (Motif Border & Join-As-You-Go):
  
  
  • Finish off the pineapple tip with a final sc and picot.
    
    
  • Work corner shells and outer ch-5 arches.
    
    
  • Joining: On the final round of motif 2 onwards, join to adjacent motifs by replacing the middle chain of ch-5 loops with a sl st into the corresponding loop of the neighboring motif.
    
    

2. Half-Motifs for Front Drape (Make 4)

Worked back and forth in rows following the motif pattern cut diagonally in half from corner to corner:

• Row 1: Ch 6, 10 sc in ring.
  
  
• Row 2: Turn, ch 4, (dc, ch 1) 5 times.
  
  
• Row 3–8: Continue working half of the full square pattern back and forth, establishing 2 fan sections.
  
  
• Join along the straight edge to the front side of the garment layout.
  
  

3. Garment Assembly

1. Join Motifs: Using the layout grid, connect motifs using Join-As-You-Go on Round 9, or whipstitch finished motifs together with a yarn needle through back loops only.
   
   
2. Shoulder & Underarm Seams: Join the top row of back motifs to the front top motifs at the shoulders. Join underarm edges below the sleeve openings.
   
   

4. Outer Fan & Wave Border

Once assembled, work the decorative scallop and fan edging around the entire outer perimeter (neckline, front opening, bottom hem) and around the sleeve cuffs.

• Round 1 (Foundation): Fasten yarn at lower corner. Work ch 5, skip 3 sts/sp, sc in next sp, ch 5, V-st (dc, ch 2, dc) in next corner/sp. Repeat around perimeter. Sl st to join.
  
  
• Round 2 (Fan Base): Work 9 dc into each V-st around, with ch-3 arches anchored by sc into the ch-5 spaces.
  
  
• Round 3 (Scallop Mesh): (dc in next st, ch 1) 9 times over fan, sc into ch-3 loop.
  
  
• Round 4 (Finishing Picot Edge): Work (sc in ch-1 sp, ch 3, picot) across each fan section to form scalloped edges along front curvature and sleeve ends.
  
  

Finishing

1. Weave in Ends: Secure all yarn tails with a tapestry needle.
   
   
2. Blocking (Crucial for Lace): Pin out the garment onto a blocking board, mist generously with water or steam lightly, and allow to dry completely to open up the pineapple motifs.
   
   
3. Clasp: Attach an optional decorative brooch or hook-and-eye closure at the bust center.