Antsy Pants in Spud & Chloe - OTR5 - Downloadable PDF

Antsy Pants Knitting Pattern by Spud & Chloe – On the Run Collection (OTR5)

The Antsy Pants pattern from Spud & Chloe's On the Run collection is a beginner-friendly knitting pattern for a pair of adorable baby and toddler shorts. Sized for infants and young children, this downloadable PDF pattern is a fantastic introduction to garment knitting for those newer to the craft, while still offering enough shaping detail to keep the project engaging. The finished shorts are practical, comfortable, and perfectly suited to active little ones on the move.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a pair of knitted shorts designed for babies and toddlers. The sizing spans multiple infant and toddler sizes, including 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months. The shorts feature a ribbed waistband with a built-in belt hole row to accommodate a drawstring or thin belt, making them easy to dress and adjust for fit as little ones grow.

Construction and Techniques

The Antsy Pants shorts are worked flat in separate pieces that are seamed together. The construction involves knitting each leg section individually with shaping at the crotch and inseam before joining. Key construction techniques used in this pattern include:

• Incremental shaping (increases): Stitches are increased at each end of the needle at regular intervals to shape the leg and crotch sections. The frequency of increases varies by size, giving each finished garment the correct proportions.
• Short-row shaping: The seat of the shorts is shaped using wrap-and-turn short rows, a technique where the knitter works only partway across a row, wraps the next stitch to prevent a gap, and turns the work. This creates a subtle curve that gives the shorts a better fit through the back.
• Crotch shaping: After the leg increases are complete, markers are placed to indicate the beginning of the crotch section, and additional increases are worked before the piece is worked even to the desired crotch depth.
• Ribbed waistband: The waistband is worked in a rib pattern, which provides stretch and helps the shorts stay in place without a separate elastic insert.
• Belt hole row: A decorative and functional row of yarn-over (yo) and k2tog eyelets is worked into the ribbed waistband to create evenly spaced holes for threading a belt or tie. The exact placement of this row varies slightly between sizes to maintain symmetry.

Stitches Used

This pattern uses a small, accessible set of stitches that make it ideal for beginner knitters looking to move beyond scarves and simple flat projects:

• Knit stitch (k) – the foundation stitch used throughout the body of the shorts
• Purl stitch (p) – used in the ribbing and during short-row shaping on wrong-side rows
• Rib pattern – a combination of knit and purl stitches worked in sequence to create an elastic, textured fabric for the waistband
• Yarn over (yo) – used in the belt hole row to create eyelets
• K2tog (knit two together) – a basic right-leaning decrease paired with the yarn over in the belt hole row to maintain stitch count while forming the eyelet openings
• Wrap and turn (w&t) – used during short-row shaping to create the curved seat of the shorts without leaving visible holes or gaps
• Inc 1 (increase 1 stitch) – used at each end of designated rows to shape the legs and crotch

Materials – Yarn, Needles, and Notions

The Antsy Pants pattern is published under the Spud & Chloe brand and is designed to be knitted in a super chunky weight yarn. Spud & Chloe yarns are well known for their soft, child-friendly fiber content, making them an excellent choice for garments worn close to a baby's sensitive skin