Girly-girl Skirty Soaker By Amy Kenagy
This pattern was one of those fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants patterns. The yarn I used for the original pattern was considered DK weight, thoughIfound it to be slightly thicker than that. When using lighter weight yarn, I double stranded for the soaker and on the first couple rows of the skirty, which made my gauge differ on the skirt versus the soaker body. The choice to double strand for the first couple rows of the skirty was to add a litte detail and fullness, so you can single strand there, too, if you want to. This is more a recipe than a band and then picking up those stitches like the pattern does to begin the skirty. There are two sizes of the pattern listed. If one of those won't work for you,just remember that your cast on number needs to be a multiple of 4 and then changing the pattern where needed to make the skirty pleats and the optional ribbing below the waist band work out. I did not add short rows but feel free to add them to the back of the soaker if you need extra room. Yarn: Note: Yarn amounts for the small size assumes a double stranded soaker and single stranded skirty with DK weight or light worsted weigh yarn. The Large size assumes single stranded with a heavier worsted weight yarn. Small size: 280 yards (125 grams) of DK or light worsted weight wool Large size: 350 yards (166 grams) of worsted weight wool Needles: size 4 circular needles (16 inch) AND size 7 circular needles (24 inch) Gauge: 5stitches single strand (4.5 sitches per inch double strand and 6 rows on sie $7=1$ inch Abbreviations: $\mathsf{k}=$ knit kfb $\lvert=$ knit front and back of stitch pfb $\lvert=$ purl front and back of stitch $p=p u r l$ k2tog $=$ knit next two stitches together p2tog=purl two together
SOAKER:
On your smaller needles, cast on 72(96) stitches and join, being careful not to twist. Mark the beginning of the row. (This marker wil note the start of the rows and the back of the soaker). Option 1: Optional open ribbed pattern. This just gives a little more room as you enter the hips: Knit in a 2 x 2 rib pattern for 1.5 inches. $\mathsf{^{\star}k3\,p1\,\,k1\,\,p1\,\,k1\,\,p1^{\star}}$ for5 rows. Next row: $\mathsf{k}3\,^{\star}\mathsf{p}1\mathsf{\ k}1\mathsf{\ p}1\mathsf{\ k}5^{\star}$ (repeat between \* until last 5 stitches) p1 k1 p1 k2. Repeat this row for 4 more rows. Option 2: If you cast on a number that is not a multiple of 8 or you prefer the 2 x 2 rib: Knit in $2\times2$ rib for 2.5 inches Body: Switch to larger needles and purl entire row. Knit in stockinette stitch until work measures 5.5(6.5)inches from your cast on row. Legs: k19 (k25), bind off next 5, k25(k37), bind off next 5, k16(k24) Removemarker. We will now be working the back and front flat seperately.
Back:
Knit until 2 before the left set of bound off stitches. Move yarn to the front. Slip next two stitches purlwise to right needle. Turn work. \*This row and all wrong side rows: Move yarn to front and p2tog.Purl until two before bind offstitches. Move yarn to front. Slip last two stitches purlwise onto right needle. Turn work. This row and allright side rows: Move yarn to back and k2tog. Knit until two before bind offstitches. Move yarn to front. Slip next two stitches purlwise to right needle. Turn work. \* Repeat pattern between \* until 18 (20) stitches remain between your bind off stitches on either hip. Leave these stitches live but cut the yarn (you'll weave it in later) and return to the front of the soaker.
Front:
Join new yarn with the right side facing (double stranding if you've been doing that) Knit until two stitches remain before the bind offstitches. Move yarn to the front. Slip last two stitches purlwise to right needle. Turn Work \*This row and all wrong side rows: Mveyarn to the front and p2tog.Purl untiltwobefore bind ofstitches. Move yarn toback. Slip these two stitches purlwise onto right needle. Turn work. This row and allright side rows: Move yarn to back. K2tog. Knit until two stitches before bind off stitches. Move yarn to front. Slip these two stitches purlwise onto right needle. Turn work.\* Repeat pattern between \* until 18(20) stitches remain. \*Next row and all wrong side rows: Purl all stitches until one before end. Move yarn to back and slip the last stitch. Turn work. Next row and all right side rows: Knit al stitches until one before end. Move yarn to front and slip last stitch purlwise. Turn work. \* Repeat pattern between \* until the leg holes measure 10(12) inches in circumference. If your baby has chubby legs, you can do these last repeats more times to make larger leg openings. Cut yarn and leave a long tail to graft with.
Finishing:
Graft seam front 18(20) stitches to back 18(20) stitches using the Kitchner stitch. Weave in ends. You can add a cuff to the leg openings by picking up stiches and knitting in a rib pattern, but mine turned out looking okat as finished so I just left them as is.
SKIRTY:
Note: This is one of those places where the math would change if you cast on a number that, when multiplied by 2 is not a multiple of 12. (Example: For the small size, I cast on 72 which will increase to 144 during this phase in the pattern. 144 is a multiple of 12 so I knit 11 and purled 1 on the first pleated row and worked my pattern down from there. IfI had cast on 80 at this point in the pattern it would increase to 160 stitches, which is a multiple of 10, so I could knit 9 and purl1 or for a wider pleat since it's a multiple of 16, I could start with knit 15 purl 1. ) Pick up the 72(96) purled stitches located near the top of the soaker on your larger needles. I did the first two rows double stranded to add more bumpy detail and fullness at the top of the skirt, but this is optional. With the top of the soaker facing you, knit one round. On the next row, kfb of each stitch to increase to 144(192) stitches. At this point, if you used a double strand to knit your first two rows, cut one strand of yarn, leaving tail to weave in later. Continuing with uncut strand, \*k11, p1\*. Repeat until end of round. Do this for another 4(6) rows. (or more rows if you want the finished skirt longer - this applies to each of the repeated rows below) On next row, $^{\star}\mathtt{k}\mathtt{1}\mathtt{1}$ , pfb\*. Contine to the end of round. (156(208) stitches) $^{\star}\mathsf{k}\,^{1}\mathsf{1},\mathsf{p}\mathsf{2}^{\star}$ for 4(6) rounds. On next row, $^{\star}{\sf k}11,\mathsf{p}1$ , pfb\*. Continue to the end of round. (168(224) stitches) $^{\star}\mathsf{k}\,^{1}1,\mathsf{p}3^{\star}$ for 4(6) rounds. On next row, \*k11, p1, pfb, $p1^{\star}$ . Continue to the end of round. (180(240) stitches) $\star11,\ p4^{\star}$ for 4(6) rounds. On next row, $^{\star}\mathtt{k}\mathtt{1}\mathtt{1}$ , p2, pfb, p1\*. Continue to the end of round. (192(256)stitches) ${}^{\star}\mathsf{k}\!\left\vert1,\mathsf{p}\mathsf{5}^{\star}\right.$ for4(6) rounds. Toaddlength to your skit even after adding in extrarepeats above, you canalso continue to knit in pattenat this point until the skirt reaches desired length.
Bind off in pattern.
Weave in ends. Make an i-cord or other tie and weave through waist band.
