Sandi Zigzag Skirt - Free Crochet Pattern in Paintbox Yarns Simply DK

Sandi Zigzag Skirt: Free Crochet Pattern in Paintbox Yarns Simply DK

The Sandi Zigzag Skirt is a charming children's crochet skirt pattern available as a free downloadable PDF from Paintbox Yarns. Designed for girls aged 2–3, 4–5, 6–7, 8–9, and 10–11 years, this intermediate-level pattern produces a playful, eye-catching skirt featuring a classic zigzag stripe design worked in two bold contrasting colors. It is an ideal project for crocheters who are comfortable with the basics and ready to explore colorwork and shaping techniques.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a children's skirt sized to fit waists ranging from approximately 54 cm (21¼ in) up to 63 cm (24¾ in), with finished lengths spanning 26 cm (10¼ in) for the smallest size up to 46 cm (18 in) for the largest size. The finished garment features a distinctive zigzag or chevron stripe motif running throughout the body of the skirt, making it a visually striking and fun wardrobe piece for children.

Colorwork and Design Details

The skirt is worked in two colors, designated Color A – Mustard Yellow and Color B – Royal Blue, both in Paintbox Yarns Simply DK. These two bold, contrasting shades create the striking zigzag stripe effect that gives the skirt its name. Depending on the size being made, the pattern calls for 1 to 2 × 100g balls of each color, making it a relatively economical project in terms of yarn usage.

Techniques Used

• Worked flat: The skirt is constructed by working back and forth in rows rather than in the round, giving the crocheter full control over shaping and stripe placement.
• Stripes: Two-color stripe work is a central technique in this pattern, requiring the crocheter to switch between Mustard Yellow and Royal Blue at regular intervals to build up the zigzag colorwork effect.
• Zigzag / chevron shaping: The characteristic zigzag silhouette is achieved through a combination of increases and decreases worked at regular intervals across rows, a technique commonly associated with chevron crochet. This requires attention to stitch counts and placement to maintain the clean, pointed peaks and valleys of the design.
• Sizing and shaping: The pattern is written for five sizes, with instructions given for the smallest size and changes for larger sizes provided in square brackets, following standard UK crochet pattern conventions.

Stitches Used

As an intermediate crochet pattern, the Sandi Zigzag Skirt draws on a core set of crochet stitches used to build the chevron fabric. Zigzag and chevron crochet patterns of this type typically rely on:

• Chain stitches for foundation and turning
• Double crochet (UK terminology) — equivalent to single crochet in US terminology — or treble crochet (UK) — equivalent to double crochet (US) — for the main fabric body
• Increases (multiple stitches worked into the same stitch) at the peaks of the zigzag
• Decreases (stitches worked together) at the valleys of the zigzag

The pattern is written using UK crochet terminology, with US terminology equivalents provided in italics within round brackets throughout, making it accessible to crocheters familiar with either convention.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Paintbox Yarns Simply DK, a DK weight yarn, in two colors:
  • 1–2 × 100g balls of Color A – Mustard Yellow
  • 1–2 × 100g balls of Color B – Royal Blue
• Hook