What you'll need
| Girls': | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waist, in: | 21 | 23 | 25 | 27 |
| Waist, cm: | 53.5 | 58.5 | 63.5 | 68.5 |
| Length, in: | 8.5 | 10.5 | 12.5 | 15 |
| Length, cm: | 21.5 | 26.5 | 32 | 38 |
KnitPicks Cotlin - Island Coral
|
1 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
|
KnitPicks Cotlin - Swan
|
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|
KnitPicks Cotlin - Surf
|
1 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Product Description
This sideways-knit skirt evokes thoughts of sand, sea, and summer skies with just the hint of clouds. Your favorite girl will love having a cotton/linen skirt perfect for playing at the beach or at home!
The skirt is shaped at the knee with short-row gores. Short rows are a quick and easy way to change the shape of a knit garment without having to work in increases or decreases. You will knit part of the row, then turn your knitting around and knit back across the stitches you just did. Unlike some short row patterns, you should not wrap the turned stitch here; the eyelet created by turning the work without the wrap is deliberate and decorative.
This skirt pairs nicely with the Beachwalker Top, also available from Katherine Vaughan Designs. Both patterns were originally published in Love of Knitting, Summer 2010.
Beachwalker Skirt by Katherine Vaughan
Project Overview
The Beachwalker skirt is a sideways-knit children's garment designed to evoke the relaxed aesthetic of beach days, with inspiration drawn from sand, sea, and summer skies. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a practical cotton/linen skirt suitable for active play or everyday wear.
Construction Method and Shaping
This skirt employs a sideways knitting construction, meaning the fabric is worked horizontally rather than from top to bottom. The garment is shaped at the knee using short-row gores, a shaping technique that allows designers to modify the silhouette of a knit without relying on traditional increases or decreases.
Short rows work by knitting partway across a row, then turning the work and knitting back across only the stitches just completed. In this pattern, the designer deliberately omits wrapping the turned stitch, creating small eyelets as a design feature rather than treating them as something to conceal. This approach simplifies the construction process while adding subtle visual interest to the finished piece.
Knitting Techniques and Stitches
The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting techniques appropriate for an intermediate skill level. The short-row shaping method is the primary structural technique, allowing for custom knee shaping without complex stitch manipulation. The eyelets created by unwrapped turned stitches add texture and visual detail to the garment.
Yarn and Materials
- Yarn Weight: DK weight
- Fiber Content: Cotton/linen blend
- Main Color (MC): 100 (130, 180, 250) yards / 90 (120, 165, 230) meters
- Contrast Color 1 (CC1): 100 yards / 90 meters
- Contrast Color 2 (CC2): 100 (130, 180, 250) yards / 90 (120, 165, 230) meters
- Needles: US 5 (3.75mm) needles
- Additional Tools: Tapestry needle for finishing
Gauge
The pattern is worked to a gauge of 21 stitches and 34 rows, providing the foundation for accurate sizing across the multiple garment dimensions offered.
Design Details
The three-color yarn palette allows for creative colorwork possibilities while maintaining the summery, beach-inspired aesthetic. The DK weight cotton/linen blend provides breathability and drape suitable for warm-weather wear, making this skirt practical for both play and casual everyday occasions.
Specifications
| Brand: | Independent Designer |
| Yarn Weight: | DK |
| Pages: | 2 |
| Designer: | Katherine Vaughan |
| Craft: | Knitting |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Languages: | English |
| Notes: | Use any DK weight cotton/linen blend yarn, 3 colors: MC 100/130/180/250yd (90/120/165/230m), CC1 100yd (90m), CC2 100/130/180/250yd (90/120/165/230m) |
| Number of Patterns: | 1 |
| Skill Level: | Intermediate |
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