Hootie Pants
By Janelle Wood Since cold weather was rapidly approaching, I needed to make longies for my cloth diapered baby. I'm not a big fan of ribbed waistline or using an elastic in a casing either. I decided to try a provisional cast on and make the drawstring fit into an elastic casing. It turned out to be the most comfortable waistline for my son. I adore owl cables. I think they are the cutest thing ever, and they look even cuter on my baby's bum. Gauge: 5 sts and 6 1/2 rounds per inch Sizing and waist measurements: NB; 16 inches, (Small; 18 inches, Medium; 20 inches, Large; 22 inches) Materials: $3.25\;\mathrm{mm}$ (US 3) DPN's (for making I-cord) Size $4.5\;\mathrm{mm}$ (US 7) 16 inch circular needles Size 4 .5 mm (US 7) DPNs, 40 inch circular needle, or 2 long circular needles Worsted Weight Wool yarn, about 250 (300, 350, 400) yards Waste yarn or 24 inch circular needle $4.5\;\mathrm{mm}$ or smaller (For invisible provisional cast on and holding sts after dividing legs, if working one at a time) Stitch markers Row counter
Instructions:
Begin project by making an I-cord. 34(36, 38,40) inches in length Using invisible provisional cast on method, cast on 80(90, 100,110) sts. Place marker to indicate beginning of round (this will be center back of the pants). Knit 40(45, 50, 55) sts and place marker to indicate center front of pants. Begin knitting every round (stockinette stitch) until pants measure 1.5 inches from cast on edge. Knit to 4 sts before center front marker. YO, k2 tog. K 6, SSK, YO (this is the eyelets for the I-cord). K every round until work measures 2 inches from cast on edge. (You can now remove center front stitch marker if desired.) To make the drawstring casing, bring live sts from cast on edge up to the live sts on the needles, making sure that each stitch matches. K the working sts and live cast on sts together all the way around. While doing so, insert I cord into eyelets and completely encase them in the drawstring casing. Finish I-cord by tying knots on either end. K one round. On the next round, K 19 (21, 24, 26) sts, w&t. K 38 (43, 48, 53) sts, past beginning of round marker, w&t. Resume working in the round, picking up both wrapped sts when you knit past them. Begin Owl cable chart over next 17 rounds. Do not include short rows during the cable sequence. K one round Work another short row as before. (place markers) Continue knitting every round, working in a short row every 1(1.5, 2, 2.5) inches Knit in this manner until pants measure 6 (7, 8, 9) inches from cast on edge, measuring from the front of the pants (not the short row side)
Divide legs
K to 2 st before end of round marker and bind off 4 sts. K 36 (41, 46, 51) sts onto waste yarn, bind off 4 sts, K remaining 36 (41, 46, 51) sts onto DPNs or circular needles as desired. Work one at a time, 2 at a time, on DPNs, Magic Loop, or 2 circs, knit every round until legs measure 4 (5, 7, 9) inches from beginning Finish by bringing the edge 1 inch inside the leg and picking up and binding off sts creating a hem. You may also simply bind off and seam hem if desired. In the picture example, it was left as a rolled cuff. You could also do the last inch as seed or garter stitch. Finishing: Using mattress stitch, seam the 8 bound off stitches together at the crotch. Weave in all ends, wash and lanolize for use with cloth diapers. Owl Cable Chart
Rnd 1:\*P1, K8, P1 Rnd 2: \*P1, C4f, C4b, P1 Rnds $3{-}6{\because}^{*}\mathrm{P}1$ , K8, P1 Rnd 7: \*P1, C4f, C4b, P1 Rnds 8-15: \*P1, K8, P1 Rnd 16: \*P1, C4f, C4b, P1 Rnd 17: \*P3, K4, P3 Repeat each rnd from $^\ast8$ (9, 10, 11) times around. The sample in the picture is size medium on an 11 month old baby. It was knit in Cascade 220 in color 8400,Slate Gray. This pattern is intended for personal use only. You may make the pants for yourself or give them as a gift You may not make the pants and sell them without the written permission of the designer
