Classic Elite Yarns Bondi Jumper Crochet Pattern

Classic Elite Yarns Bondi Crocheted Shell Stitch Tank Top

What Is Being Made

The Bondi is a crocheted shell stitch tank top designed by Judy Croucher and originally published in Spring 2013 in the Surf's Up 9213 collection. This garment is an easy-level crochet project suitable for crafters seeking a classic, lightweight summer piece. The tank top features an elegant lace construction created through repeating shell motifs, with a sleeveless design and adjustable straps that can be customized during the finishing process.

Construction Method and Shaping

The Bondi is worked primarily from the top down, with the back and front pieces constructed using this approach. The garment is worked flat in rows rather than in the round, allowing for straightforward seaming during finishing. The shaping is achieved through strategic changes in hook size—the pattern uses a medium hook for the initial rows, then transitions to a larger hook to create graduated increases in width. This hook-size manipulation creates natural shaping without requiring traditional decreases or increases, resulting in a flattering, contoured fit.

The upper trim and straps are joined to the foundation chain of both the back and front pieces and are worked from the bottom up, creating a finished edge at the neckline and armholes. The pattern notes that the right and wrong sides appear identical before the upper trim is added, allowing the crocheter to choose either side as the right side when beginning the trim work.

Primary Stitches and Pattern Techniques

The foundation of the Bondi's visual appeal is the shell stitch, abbreviated as sh in the pattern. Each shell is constructed as [2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc] worked into the indicated stitch, creating the characteristic fan-like motif that defines lace crochet garments. The shell pattern operates on a multiple of 4 chains plus 5 additional chains for the foundation.

The shell pattern is worked across the garment in repeating rows. The Foundation Row establishes the initial shells by working a shell into the 6th chain from the hook, then skipping 3 chains and repeating this placement across the row, with final adjustments for the edge stitches. Subsequent rows follow a consistent pattern where double crochets are skipped between shells, and new shells are worked into the chain-2 spaces created by the previous row's shells. This creates a consistent, geometric lace fabric with excellent drape.

Additional stitches used throughout the pattern include double crochet (dc) for edge stitches and structural support, single crochet (sc) in the strap sections, slip stitch (sl st) for joining and finishing, and chain (ch) for spacing and foundation work. The pattern includes a shell chart for visual reference, allowing crocheters to follow the stitch placement graphically if preferred.

Garment Sizing and Fit

The Bondi is available in six sizes: 2XS, XS, S, M, L, and XL. The pattern shown is in size S. The foundation chain varies by size, ranging from 65 chains for the smallest size to 109 chains for the largest, creating proportional garments across the size range. The number of shells worked also increases with size, from 15 shells in the smallest size to 26 shells in the largest.

The pattern includes specific instructions for strap placement that vary by size, allowing the straps to be positioned appropriately for each garment dimension. The finished measurements section provides sizing information, though complete measurements are not fully detailed in the provided excerpt.

Materials: Yarn and Tools

The Bondi is designed to be worked with Classic Elite Yarns yarn. The pattern sample shown was crocheted in the colorway Canyon. The pattern requires multiple crochet hook sizes—specifically a smallest hook, a medium hook, and a largest hook—to achieve the graduated shaping described above. The exact yarn weight and specific hook sizes are not detailed in the provided pattern excerpt, but the use of multiple hook sizes is essential to the garment's construction and fit.

Seaming and Finishing

The Bondi is a seamed garment, meaning the back and front pieces are sewn together after the main crochet work is completed. This construction method creates clean, professional-looking seams and allows for precise garment shaping. The upper trim and straps are worked directly into the foundation chain edges of the completed pieces, creating an integrated finish without additional seaming at the neckline.