Piruetti Cabled Shorts in Novita - 0070002 - Downloadable PDF

Piruetti Cabled Shorts by Lea Petäjä

What Is Being Made

The Piruetti Cabled Shorts are a knitted garment designed by Lea Petäjä for Novita. These shorts feature a fitted waist and short leg length, available in four sizes ranging from XS/S to XL. The finished waist circumference ranges from 74 cm (29¼ inches) to 98 cm (38½ inches), with an inner leg length between 7 cm (2¾ inches) and 9 cm (3½ inches), making them a versatile warm-weather or layering piece.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several key techniques. The construction uses short-row shaping to create the leg sections, with strategic yarn-overs and turning points at rows 5, 7, 9, and 11 to build graduated shaping. The pattern incorporates cable work as a central design element, requiring knitters to follow a cable chart and accompanying instructions. The waist features ribbed edging for a fitted, elastic finish. The pattern also demonstrates circular needle knitting and stitch transfer techniques, as both leg sections are eventually placed onto a single circular needle to join the waist.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) and Purl (P) stitches as foundational stitches
• K2 P2 ribbing for the waist, created by alternating two knit stitches with two purl stitches in repeating sequences
• Reverse stockinette stitch for textured contrast areas
• Cable stitches following a provided chart, creating the distinctive twisted rope-like pattern that gives the shorts their visual interest
• Yarn-over stitches as part of the short-row shaping technique

Materials

The Piruetti Cabled Shorts are worked in Novita Huviretki yarn in the colorway Snowdrifts (004). Yarn requirements vary by size: XS/S and M sizes require 250 grams, while L and XL sizes require 300 grams each. The project calls for 3.5 mm (US 4) knitting needles or the size needed to achieve proper gauge, along with a 3 mm (UK 11 / US 2½) circular needle measuring 60 cm (24 inches) for working the waist ribbing and joining sections. The yarn weight is DK (double knit), a versatile weight suitable for creating garments with good drape and stitch definition for cable patterns.

Pattern Structure

The shorts are constructed in two separate leg pieces that are later joined. Each leg is shaped using short-row techniques, with the working rows progressively decreased to create the fitted silhouette. The cable pattern is integrated into the leg design, and the two completed leg sections are transferred onto the circular needle to work the waist ribbing, which provides both structural integrity and a comfortable, stretchy fit.