BaDumBums Ruffle Skirted Soaker
This pattern for a skirty is really more of a technique to smoothly add a skirt to an article of clothing knit in the round, using yarnovers and an extra needl. The process can be awkward, but the finished skirt is attached seamlessly, has just as much give as the soaker underneath, and once the yarnover row is complete, you can really do anything you want to finish the skirt.
Supplies:
two circular needles, one smaller than the other (I use $4.5\mathrm{mm}$ and $3.5\mathrm{mm}\rangle$ · 4oz minimum worsted weight yarn (for a large) Stitch markers
For preemie or NB sizing, I'd CO 56 or 64 stitches. Everything is subject to change based on your yarn and gauge. The leg openings are the hardest to plan, but usually have a fair bit of give. Easy Part On smaller circular needle CO a multiple of 8, join ${\tt k}2{\tt p}2$ ribbing for an inch (5-6 rows) Place marker, k2, yo, p2tog for the eyelet row, remove marker ${\tt k}2{\tt p}2$ for another inch, place marker in center of rib, between eyelets (this will be the front, where the drawstring will tie) Switch to larger needle k for 3.5 inches Harder Part (in rounds) round 1:place marker, kl, y/o for one row, ending on a $y/0$ , remove marker round 2: using the circ you were using and a narrow circ $3.5\mathrm{mm}$ or less), slip the y/o onto the narrow circ, k the other stitch, so that the narrow circ is on the right side of your knitting (this will be the skirt)
Easy Again, on the main circ
K for 2 rounds Decide how big you want the crotch to be (I use 64/14, 72/16, 80/18, 88/18, 96/20), and knit half that # of stitches past the center marker Slip the crotch stitches onto a holder (you can remove the marker now if you would like to) Now you're working back and forth row 1: K2, ssk, k to last 4, k2tog, k2, turn row 2: P across, turn repeat these rows until you have the same # of stitches on the needles and on the holder Graft together using kitchener (instructions at http://www.knitting-help.com/) Go back to the ruffle row 1:Knit stitches from small circ onto circ you were using for the soaker part of the skirtie, placing marker at beginning row 2: K1, yo, for one row, being careful at the beginning and end (you can get a hole or a solid part really easily if you're not careful - this will double your stitch count) row 3-?: knit Bind off using something that won't roll - I like a picot edge, but you can do a few rows of seed stitch too, or a couple of rows of garter should work K an i-cord for the drawstring, and you're done Notes: You can do another y/o row, or other decorative stitches, a couple of rows down from the first y/o row of the skirty for a curly whirly effect, but it uses up a lot of yarn Since I wrote it down, this is now copyrighted, eh? Feel free to use the pattern and method for creating the skirt for personal use. If you want to use it for sale, please accredit the pattern to me, and I'd appreciate an email to petra@badumbums.com to let me know. Thanks!
