By Elisha Laubacher
SIZES
A[B, C, D, E, F, G, H] To Fit Hip: 31-32[33-34, 35-36, 37-38, 39-40, 41-42, 43-44, 45-46]" (measured at fullest circumference) Two styles available in each size: Dance (fitted) and Lounge (loose). The two styles have the same leg ribbing sizes, but above the leg ribbing, the Lounge style fits slightly more loosely than the Dance style. The waist ribbing is designed to be much tighter for the Dance style so that the shorts stay up alone - it's looser for the Lounges because those have a drawstring. Shown in size B (Dance) above and D (Lounge) below.
MATERIALS
$2[2,\,2,\,3,\,3,\,3,\,4,\,4]$ skeins NaturallyCaron.com Country ( $75\%$ microdenier acrylic, $25\%$ merino wool; 185yd/170m; 30z/85g per skein) (Yarn amounts are estimated, because you can knit the shorts however long you want them to be.) Size B shorts are in color 0010 Sunset Size D shorts are in colors 0009 Renaissance Rose and 0023 Chocolate Truffle 1 set US 6, $\mathbf{16}^{\prime\prime}$ circular needles 1 set US 6, $24^{\prime\prime}$ circular needles 1 darning needle Scrap yarn Stitch markers 1 crochet hook or 2 double-pointed needles for the drawstring (Lounge style only)
GAUGE
23 sts/33 rows $=4^{\prime\prime}$ in St st
NOTES
Shorts are worked seamlessly from the bottom up. Each leg is worked separately, and the live stitches are placed on scrap yarn. Scrap yarns are lined up, and legs are connected at the hip (leaving some live sts on scrap yarns at the crotch). Shorts are worked in the round and then bound off at the top. The three-needle bind-off attaches the crotch sts. Short rows provide shaping throughout. You can work as many short rows in the back as you need. Try on the shorts frequently (by placing the live sts on scrap yarn) to check for length and the amount of short rows needed. \*\*when working short rows for the hips, always work wrap and turns 2 sts in from the previous set of them.\*\* The binding off must be very loose, so you may wish to use larger needles to bind off.
INSTRUCTIONS
LEGS (Dance Version) With $\mathsf{16^{\prime\prime}}$ needles, C0 84[92, 100, 108, 116, 124, 132, 140] sts. Pm and join for rnd, making sure not to twist the sts. Work [k2, p2] ribbing for your desired length of ribbing. Then, work St st for as long as you'd like. (Make sure to write down how many rnds you knit so that the other leg is identical.) Place sts onto scrap yarn. Cut yarn. Rep for second leg, but leave second leg on needles. LEGS (Lounge Version) With $\mathsf{16^{\prime\prime}}$ needles, C0 84[92, 100, 108, 116, 124, 132, 140] sts. Pm and join for rnd, making sure not to twist the sts. Work [k2, p2] ribbing for your desired length of ribbing. Next Rnd: [K2, KFB] to end. Then, work St st for as long as you'd like. (Make sure to write down how many rnds you knit so that the other leg is identical.) Place sts onto scrap yarn. Cut yarn. Rep for second leg, but leave second leg on needles. ATTACH LEGS AT HIP (Both Versions) Line up legs and place live sts from both onto $24^{\prime\prime}$ needle. Leave 15[16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22] sts from each leg on scrap yarns, aligned at the crotch. These will be connected later. Pm at the front center leg join (called fm). Count the number of sts on the needles from one of the legs and divide that number by two (number x). Count x sts from fm and pm. This marker will be the left hip (called ihm), which marks the beg of the rnds. Slip sts from one needle to the other until Ihm is at the beg of the rnd. Count x sts from fm in the other direction, pm, and this will be the right hip (called rhm). See photos for details.
Leg sts on scrap yarn and needles
Placing all sts onto one needle
All sts on one needle
All markers placed, and beg of the rnd is at left hip (right side of photo) HIPS (Dance Version) Rnd 1: [K2, KFB] to end. Follow Hip instructions for the Lounge version below, beg at rnd 1. HIPS (Lounge Version) Rnd 1: K, [KFB] twice at each side of fm. Rnd 2: K. Rnd 3: K to 1 before end of rnd, wrap and turn, p to 1 before rhm, wrap and turn, k to end. Rnd 4: K. Rnd 5: Rep rnd 3. Rnd 6: K to 8 sts from fm, wrap and turn, p.to 1 before left hip, wrap and turn, k to 1 before rhm, wrap and turn, p to 8 before fm, wrap and turn, k to end. Rnd 7: K. Rnd 8: Rep rnd 3. Rnds 9-11: K. Rnd 12: Rep rnd 3. Rep rnds 9-12. Rnd 17: Rep rnd 6, but work to 10 sts from fm. Rep rnds 9-12. Rnd 22: Rep rnd 6, but work to 20 sts from fm. Work even in St st, inserting any short rows you need, and cont to where you want the Waist Ribbing to start. Next Rnd: [K1, k2tog] to end. WAIST RIBBING (Dance Version) Rnd 1: [K2, p2] to end. Cont in [k2, p2] rib until waistband is half the length you want it to be. Next Rnd: [K2, p2tog] to end. Cont in [k2, pi] rib until waistband is desired length. BO loosely in patt. WAIST RIBBING (Lounge Version) Rnd 1: [K2, p2] to end. Cont in [k2, p2] rib until waistband is half the length you want it to be. Next Rnd: [K1, yo, p2tog] to end. Cont in [k2, p2] rib until waistband is desired length. BO loosely in patt. LEG JOIN (Both Versions) Place leg sts from one scrap yarn onto $\mathbf{16}^{\prime\prime}$ needle. Row 1: With RS facing, pick up and k 1 st from edge; k to end; pick up 1 st from other edge. Row 2: P. Row 3: K. Leave sts on needle. Place sts from second scrap yarn onto $24^{\prime\prime}$ needle. Rep as for first leg sts. Place RS's of crotches together and turn shorts inside out. Both WS's are facing out. BO all sts using 3-needle-BO. FINISHING Sew any holes closed. Weave in all ends. Drawstring (for Lounge version): Crochet a chain or knit an I-cord long enough to tie around the waist. Thread the end through a darning needle, and starting at the center front of the shorts, weave in and out of eyelets all the way around.
