Get ready to combine your love for the sun, sand, and surf with your passion for knitting because we’ve got something super exciting for you. Whether you’re planning a lazy hot summer day lounging on the beach or an adventurous seaside escape, having the right gear and beach look can make all the difference. And what could be more fun than crafting your own knit beach essentials? We’re talking stylish cover-ups, roomy tote bags, chic sun hats, and so much more—all knitted by you!
Imagine stepping onto the sand with a handmade beach cover-up that turns heads. Whether you are sporting a bikini top or the classic t-shirt and shorts combo, your outfit will benefit from a stylish cover-up. The right cover up offers the perfect balance between modesty and protection from the elements without sacrificing style or comfort. If a cover-up is on your list of knit beach essentials, then you are going to want to see the ones we’ve curated for sure!
The thing about beach days is that they can be a lot of work. You need to bring a lot of things with you and you’re going to want to fit everything in as few bags as possible to minimize sandy trips to and from the car. That’s where knit beach essentials tote bags come in handy! A tote bag that’s both fashionable and functional is a trusted companion for a fun day in the sun.
Speaking of sun, you are definitely going to want to pack some sunscreen for your beach day. And to protect your scalp from the harsh rays, why not whip up a chic knit sun hat that shields you from those rays in style? You will find all three of these things – cover-ups, tote bags, and sun hats – plus many more knit beach essentials in today’s round-up. Oh, and did I mention that all of the patterns we are featuring today are absolutely free?
This collection of knit beach essentials offers the ultimate blend of creativity and practicality. Not only will you look fabulous, but you’ll also have the satisfaction of knowing you created these beach must-haves with your own two hands. Let’s dive into these awesome patterns and get you beach-ready in no time. Scroll down and prepare to be inspired!
Chevron Beach Cover Up
All eyes will be on you when you step out in this stunning chevron beach dress. It’s the perfect thing to throw on over a swimsuit or t-shirt and shorts whether you are on your way to the beach, heading back from the beach, or both! The pattern calls for knit and purl stitches as well as increasing to form the peaks of the chevrons and decreasing to form the valleys.
Designer: Handy Little Me
Yarn: we are knitters The Cotton (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Ruby Beach Headband
Does it get very windy where you live? Keep your stylish strands from becoming unmanageable with a simple and stylish headband. This design knots at the top of the head to make the cutest little bow. Best of all, it is super easy to create for knitters of all skill levels. The beginner friendly design makes use of easy peasy garter stitch.
Designer: Rachel Kieselburg
Yarn: Brooklyn Tweed Loft (Fingering Weight #1)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Beach Wrap
Wraps and shawls aren’t just for the colder months. These stylish knit accessories are also great for the beach as they can be wrapped around the shoulders or around the waist in the sarong style to use as a cover-up. Stockinette and reverse stockinette stitches are worked on the bias to create the attractive diagonal ridges of texture.
Designer: Knit-O-Matic
Yarn: Quince & Co. Kestrel (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Windansea
It’s a smart idea to wear a hat to the beach to protect your scalp from the sun. These adorable sunhat offers an excellent balance between practicality and sheer prettiness. Simple stockinette stitch lets the background play second fiddle to the eye-catching swirl of eyelets that radiate outwards from the crown to the tip of the wide brim.
Designer: Kristi Porter for Berroco
Yarn: Berroco Seduce® (Worsted Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Chevron Sunglasses Case
Sunny days call for sunglasses but you don’t want your favorite shades banging around in your beach bag because they will get all scratched up. Make them a special case instead to keep them safe. This design works up super quick in super bulky weight yarn so you can whip one up in an afternoon. The pattern calls for just knit and purl stitches.
Designer: Hands Occupied
Yarn: Bernat Roving (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Medano Beach
Speaking of beach bags, check out the first one of our featured tote bag knit beach essentials. It’s cute as a button with stylish stripes and chic tied straps. The base of the bag is worked flat in and then stitches are picked up on all 4 sides to create the sides of the bag working in the round. It’s all stockinette stitch so it’s a fairly beginner-friendly design.
Designer: Heidi Kirrmeier
Yarn: Hemp for Knitting Allhemp6 (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Lakeside Beach Wrap
How cute is this mesh beach wrap? The oversize design really brings the drama with a knee length. As an added bonus, the open weave of the stitch pattern makes the project work up very quickly. The pretty lace stitch pattern uses a combination of knit and purl stitches along with knit 2 togethers and yarn overs.
Designer: Knitatude
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Verano (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Blair Beach Poncho
Well I’ve never thought about wearing a poncho to the beach before, but now I really want to! This design features nautical stripes, fun fringe, and there’s even a hood to keep your hair under control on a windy day. The pattern is available in 4 sizes from toddler to teen but it likely would not be too tricky to size up to adult since it is all stockinette stitch.
Designer: Lakeside Loops
Yarn: Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton (Worsted Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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BVI Bikini
There are many benefits to knitting your own swimsuits, including saving money and being able to choose the exact color you’d like. Instead of exploring the limited selection at the store, why not whip up your dream swimsuit instead? The pattern calls for knit and purl stitches as well as knit 2 togethers and PSSO’s. It includes instructions for adding a crocheted edging.
Designer: Joanne Yordanou
Yarn: EL. D. Mouzakis Butterfly Super 10 (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Sarong
No list of knit beach essentials could be complete without a few different styles of cover-ups for you to enjoy. You can’t go wrong with a classic sarong-style cover-up. For this design, you’ll be using knit stitches, purl stitches, and increasing. The optional motifs attached along the hem of the sarong are crocheted.
Designer: Joanne Yordanou
Yarn: EL. D. Mouzakis Butterfly Super 10 (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Shazzas Bucket Hat
Have you heard the good news? Bucket hats are back in style so why not jump on the bandwagon with this fun design? Knitting from the brim up to the lace crown, you’ll be using knit stitches, purl stitches, slip stitches, knit 2 togethers, and PSSO’s. The extra wide and low brim will really come in handy for keeping the sun out of your eyes.
Designer: Shazzas Patterns
Yarn: Rowan All Seasons Cotton (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Beach Bag
As you know, there are a lot of odds and ends you need to pack in order to have a successful beach day. So if you are on the hunt for a great knit beach bag pattern, you are going to want a design that’s generously sized and stretchy too, like this one! In addition to knit and purl stitches, you will be doing slip stitches, yarn overs, and PSSO’s.
Designer: Lin Damrell for Cascade Yarns
Yarn: Cascade Yarns ® Sunseeker® (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Beach Stripes
Are you running low on cute summery tops to wear at the beach? Whether you are bored with the clothes you already have in your closet or you want to try your hand at knitting your own clothes, you really can’t go wrong with a great tank top pattern like this one. The design is worked flat on straight needles in garter stitch.
Designer: DROPS Design
Yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Paris (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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4th of July Beach Ball Bag
Look at all of the wrinkles in this beach bag and just imagine how much it can expand to fit all of your beach day needs. You can probably fit everything you need in here – minus your beach chair, that is. The blue parts of the bag are knit in garter stitch while the red and white stripes are made with stockinette stitch.
Designer: The Sassy Skein
Yarn: The Sassy Skein Key West Karibbean Kotton Aran (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Sunrise Beach Bag
Knit beach essentials like tote bags are especially practical when they have a bit of lacework like this one, so that any sand can easily shake out of the bag. Size 7 needles make short work of this lovely lace tote bag design. The pattern is an easy and attractive combination of knits and purls as well as yarn overs and knit 2 togethers.
Designer: Stine Radicke for Hobbii
Yarn: Cosy Go Handmade (Sport Weight #2)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Blair Bag
Our next design is a chevron style bag using mostly basic stitches and perfect for breezy beach days and a good book. Pack your towel, water bottle, and other small essentials in this easy to intermediate skill level design. The pattern calls for lightweight cotton yarn but you can customize it to be larger or smaller with heavier or lighter weights of yarn.
Designer: Yarnique
Yarn: Lion Brand Yarn Comfy Cotton Blend (Lightweight #3)
Click here to get the free knitting pattern!
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Opportune
Keep it cute and comfy poolside or beachside with this great knit clothing design. It’s like a short sleeve cardigan with a tied waist similar to a cozy robe. It even has a hood to keep your head warm if the wind picks up. The stitch pattern is an easy to remember 4 row repeat of knits, purls, knit 2 togethers, yarn overs, and slip slip knits.
Designer: Emily Ringelman for Knitty
Yarn: Kraemer Yarns Tatamy Tweed DK (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Beach Friend
I am obsessed with this unique hat design. It’s like a bucket hat with a wide rolled brim and the stripes really add that “wow factor” that you want in your knit beach essentials. This hat may look intimidating to make but it uses one of the easiest stitches and one of the easiest colorwork methods: garter and mosaic.
Designer: DROPS Design
Yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Paris (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Beach Bag
There are many different ways to knit a tote bag for the beach, but I’m partial to designs that offer a little something extra. This design certainly fits the bill with a texture reminiscent of the undulating nature of the ocean’s waves. The pretty stitch pattern uses just knits, purls, and yarn overs to make drop stitches in a stunning wave-like texture.
Designer: Crafty LSS
Yarn: King Cole Pricewise Double Knitting (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Beach Scene Vest
You can bring the beach with you wherever your travels take you with this super fun vest design. The pattern features a red and white beach umbrella and a crab set against a background of warm beige sand and cool blue water. For this design, you’ll be using stockinette stitch and intarsia colorwork along with some rib stitch for the edging along the neck hole, arm holes, and hem.
Designer: Lion Brand Yarn
Yarn: Lion Brand Hometown (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Carolina Beach
Somewhere between a wrap and a poncho, I’m not quite sure what to call this cover-up but it sure is cute! I am especially partial to the color block design because it’s great for using up partial skeins of yarn leftover from other projects. The pattern calls for knit and purl stitches as well as yarn overs and knit 2 togethers.
Designer: The Noble Thread
Yarn: Katia Lino 100% (Fingering Weight #1)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Short Toe Socklets
You’ve probably heard before that it’s not considered fashionable to wear socks with sandals, but I think we can make an exception for these adorable little “socklets”. This is a quick and easy project that’s sure to come in handy if your sandal straps are scratchy or if you just want to add a pop of color to your outfit. The socklets are easy to make knitting in the round using stockinette stitch.
Designer: Regia Design Team
Yarn: Schachenmayr Regia Cotton Tutti Frutti Color (Fingering Weight #1)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Simple Summer Tank
You don’t have to be an expert knitter to make a cute top that you’d be proud to show off at the beach. This stylish tank top offers a more straightforward approach to garment making. I like the minimalist style because it really makes it easy to mix and match pieces in your wardrobe to make many different outfits. The pattern calls for stockinette and rib stitches.
Designer: Originally Lovely
Yarn: Lion Brand Comfy Cotton Blend (Worsted Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Mermaid Stripes
You’ll be feeling cute and looking great when you sport this two piece set at the beach. I love the sporty stripes in this design and the multiple hues of blue combined with the bright white really add a nice nautical touch to the ensemble. As an added bonus, this style of swimsuit offers more coverage than many ready made designs available at the store. The pattern calls for garter, stockinette and rib stitches.
Designer: DROPS Design
Yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Muskat Soft (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Drawstring Camisole
The gathered hem on the neckline of this sleeveless top goes a long way to making this simple stockinette stitch design feel extra special. You’ll be working from the top down for this design, so it’s easy to customize the length to your preference. Keep it cropped for a cute pseudo halter strap swim top or go long for a pretty tunic that pairs well with leggings.
Designer: Purl Soho
Yarn: Purl Soho Spun Silk (Fingering Weight #1)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Flip Flop Summer Tote
When you break the flip flops out of storage then you know summer has really started! This design is a delightful homage to the beloved warm weather footwear that is the flip flop. The bag itself is knit in stockinette stitch with intarsia colorwork. Double knitting colorwork technique is used to create the contrasting stitching on the bag handles.
Designer: Love. Life. Yarn. for I Like Knitting
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Solids, Heathers, Twists (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Final Thoughts on Knit Beach Essentials
With these fantastic designs for knit beach essentials at your fingertips you are sure to have the best beach day ever. You still have plenty of sunny days ahead to whip up a few of these designs and they try them out with some fun in the sun.
Don’t forget, sharing is caring! Send this free knitting pattern round-up to all your knitting friends so they can join in on the fun too! Bookmark this page or save the link to your Pinterest board for amazing knitting patterns.
I’ll see you next week for another free knitting pattern round-up. Make sure to follow the blog so you never miss a post. <3
Happy Knitting!
