Tunisian Crochet Pattern: Modern Melissa Skirt

The Modern Melissa Skirt is Tunisian crochet skirt pattern inspired by a vintage stitch pattern. This is a straight skirt that looks flattering on many body types and is available in four sizes. I’ve also included a video tutorial for the stitch pattern.

This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. Yarn for the sample was generously provided by Rowan.

I love looking through vintage crochet books. (If you do, too, you may want to check out the archives of my Vintage Needlecrafts Pick of the Week series.) But, let’s face it. The farther back you go, the harder it is to understand the stitch patterns. There aren’t as many “conventions,” like standard naming. And, there’s often not much detail because it is assumed the readers would be familiar with a variety of “women’s crafts.”

It was in one such book that I came across something called the “Melissa Stitch.” I have no idea if I made what the author intended, but I really liked the look of it.

As soon as I saw this stitch pattern, I knew it would be perfect for a straight skirt.

The vertical lines that this Tunisian crochet skirt creates are very slimming, and the way the fabric drapes hugs your curves with very little shaping.

Start by crocheting two panels flat, join with a sturdy single crochet seam, and then finish with a covered elastic waist band crocheted in the round. The dense Tunisian crochet stitches make lining optional, or you can wear it over leggings, tights, or slip shorts. The Modern Melissa Skirt is a great first garment pattern for an adventurous beginner, but it’s interesting enough to keep a more experienced crocheter interested. I’ve included a video tutorial at the end of the post where I walk through all of the special stitches, the different methods of decreasing, and the bind off.

If you make your own Modern Melissa Skirt, I’d love to see it! Share your progress and questions by tagging me on Facebook as @Underground Crafter on on Instagram as @ucrafter. You can also share a picture in the Underground Crafters Facebook group. Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get a coupon code for your choice of one of my premium patterns and private access to my vault of subscriber goodies. Plus, you’ll never miss one of my free patterns again!

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Modern Melissa Skirt

Tunisian Crochet Skirt Pattern by Underground Crafter

This Tunisian crochet skirt has a great texture and the denser fabric of the Tunisian crochet means you can wear it unlined over tights or leggings.

Finished Sizes

• Adult Women’s XS (S, M, L). Photographed sample is size M.
  • XS: 24” (61 cm) waist, 34” (86 cm) hips, 21” (53 cm) length.
  • S: 26.5” (67.5 cm) waist, 36” (91.5 cm) hips, 21” (53 cm) length.
  • M: 30” (76 cm) waist, 38” (96.5 cm) hips, 21” (53 cm) length.
  • L: 34” (86.5 cm) waist, 44” (111.5 cm) hips, 21” (53 cm) length.

Materials

• Rowan Pure Wool Worsted yarn (100% washable wool, 3.5 oz/100 g, 219 yd/200 m) – 5 (6, 6, 7) skeins 113 Pretty Pink, or approximately 1,095 (1,314, 1,314, 1,533) yd/1,001 (1,201, 1,201, 1,402) m in any medium weight wool yarn.
• US K/10.5 mm Tunisian crochet hook, or any size needed to obtain gauge.
• Yarn needle.
• Stitch marker.
• 0.75” (2 cm) elastic for waist band – 1 yd/1 m length
• Sewing needle and thread.

Gauge

• 13 sts x 9 rows = 4” (10 cm) in pattern before blocking. For best fit, always check your gauge.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

• ch – chain
• Decrease Return – *Yo and draw through 2 loops; rep from * across to last 3 sts, yo and draw through 3 loops. A video tutorial demonstrating this and all special stitches is available at the end of the pattern.
• ea – each
• rep – repeat
• Standard Return – Ch 1, *yo and draw through 2 loops; rep from * across. A video tutorial demonstrating this and all special stitches is available at the end of the pattern.
• Tks – Tunisian knit stitch – Insert hook between loops of next vertical bar, yo and draw up loop onto hook. A video tutorial demonstrating this and all special stitches is available at the end of the pattern.
• Tss – Tunisian simple stitch – Insert hook under next vertical bar, yo and draw up loop onto hook. A video tutorial demonstrating this and all special stitches is available at the end of the pattern.
• sc – single crochet
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• yo – yarn over
• * Rep instructions following asterisk as indicated.

Pattern Notes

• Always skip first vertical bar (below first loop on hook) at beginning of row.
• For more even edges for easy seaming, insert hook under both loops of last st for final Tss of each row.
• Panels are crocheted from hem to waist. Front and back panels are connected with single crochet join (see video below) on the wrong side. Skirt is finished with an elastic waist band covered with crochet in the round. Waist band is crocheted in spirals without joining.

• If you can’t see the video tutorial above demonstrating a single crochet seam, click HERE to watch it on YouTube.
• Video tutorial for special stitches follows the pattern.

Pattern Instructions

Skirt

Front and back panel – Make 2

• Ch 59, (63, 69, 75).
• Set Up Row: Forward: Skip 1st ch, *insert hook in next ch, yo and pull up a loop; rep from * across, rep Standard Return.
• Row 1: (Right Side) Forward: *Tks, ch 3, Tks; rep from * across to last 2 sts, Tks, ch 3, Tss in last st, drawing loop up to height of other sts. Rep Standard Return.
• Row 2: Forward: *(Tks, ch 3) in top loop of 3^rd ch, Tks; rep from * across to last 2 sts, (Tks, ch 3) in top loop of 3^rd ch, Tss in last st, drawing loop up to height of other sts. Rep Standard Return.
• Rep Row 2 Forward and Return until panel measures approximately 14” (35.5 cm), or approximately 7” (18 cm) shorter than desired final length.

Begin tapering for waist

• Row 3: Rep Row 2 Forward. Rep Decrease Return. – 57, (61, 67, 73) sts.
• Row 4: Forward: Skip first ch 3, *Tks, (Tks, ch 3) in top loop of 3^rd ch; rep from * across to last 3 sts, Tks, skip ch 3, Tss in last st, drawing loop up to height of other sts. Rep Standard Return. – 55, (59, 65, 71) sts.
• Row 5: *Tks, (Tks, ch 3) in top loop of 3^rd ch; rep from * across to last 2 sts, Tks, Tss in last st, drawing loop up to height of other sts. Rep Standard Return.
• Row 6: Rep Row 5 Forward and Return.
• Row 7: Rep Row 5 Forward. Rep Decrease Return. – 53, (57, 63, 69) sts.
• Row 8: Forward: Skip first Tks, *(Tks, ch 3) in top loop of 3^rd ch, Tks; rep from * across to last 3 sts, (Tks, ch 3) in top loop of 3^rd ch, skip Tks, Tss in last st, drawing loop up to height of other sts. Rep Standard Return. – 51, (55, 61, 67) sts.
• Rows 9 & 10: Rep Row 2 Forward and Return twice.
• Rep Rows 3-10. – 43, (47, 53, 59) sts.
• Bind off: *Insert hook in next st as for Tks, yo, draw up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops; rep from * across to last st, insert hook in last st as for Tss, yo, draw up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops, fasten off.
• Weave in ends with yarn needle. Spray block to waist and hip width and 20.5” (52 cm) length (see finished measurements diagram).

Assembly

• With right sides of each panel facing, seam first long side from bottom to top with sc (see Pattern Notes). Fasten off. Seam second long side from bottom to top with sc. Do not fasten off. Turn right sides out.

Waist Band

• Ch 1, sc in ea st around, place marker. — 86 (94, 106, 118) sts. Sc in ea st around until waist band measures approximately 1.5” (4 cm), do not fasten off.

Finishing

• Cut elastic to 1” (2.5 cm) longer than skirt waist measurement. Fold overlap of elastic and sew closed. Insert elastic inside of skirt in waist band rounds. Fold over waist band. With yarn needle, sew waist band closed over elastic. With yarn needle, weave in ends.

© 2016 by Marie Segares (Underground Crafter). This pattern is for personal use only. You may use the pattern to make unlimited items for yourself, for charity, or to give as gifts. You may sell items you personally make by hand from this pattern. Do not violate Marie’s copyright by distributing this pattern or the photos in any form, including but not limited to scanning, photocopying, emailing, or posting on a website or internet discussion group. If you want to share the pattern, point your friends to this link: https://undergroundcrafter.com/2016/02/03/free-tunisian-crochet-pattern-modern-melissa-skirt. Thanks for supporting indie designers!

Watch the video tutorial for this pattern below.

If you can’t see the video above, click here to watch it on YouTube.