This school skirt is knit from the top down in the round on long circular needles. The sample calculation is for a 6–7-year-old girl: the waistband begins with 360 stitches in double knitting, and the skirt is widened by increasing at the central purl stitches of the pleats.
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Translated
Things you will learn
The source calculation is for a 6–7-year-old girl; a different size requires your own stitch calculation.
For the double-knit waistband, cast on twice as many stitches as needed: 180 × 2 = 360 stitches in the example.
The sample waistband is 3 cm high.
The "pleat" pattern has two rows: the first alternates 5 knit stitches, 1 purl stitch, and 5 knit stitches; the second is worked entirely in purl stitches.
Widen the skirt by increasing beside the central purl stitch of each pleat: first every 8th row, then every 10th row.
Finished Skirt
A school skirt knit in the round, with an elastic waistband and textured vertical pleats.
Materials and tools
Materials
Elastic for the waistband, Thread it through the finished waistband; the source does not specify its width or length.
Tools
Long circular knitting needles, For knitting the skirt from the top down in the round.
Knitting needles or a needle, For binding off the lower edge at the desired length.
Preparation
Determine the size
The source gives a calculation for a 6–7-year-old girl. For another size, first determine the required stitch count, then cast on twice that number for the double-knit waistband.
Knit the waistband
The skirt begins at the top and is knit in the round on long circular needles.
Cast on for the double-knit waistband
Cast on twice the number of stitches you need. In the example, that is 180 × 2 = 360 stitches.
Work the double-knit waistband
Alternate 1 knit stitch with 1 slipped stitch. The sample waistband is 3 cm high.
Join the work in the round
In the final row, knit stitches together 2 at a time, then join the work in the round.
Work the "pleat" pattern
The main pattern has a two-row repeat and is gradually widened with increases.
Work the first two pattern rows
Row 1: repeat 5 knit stitches, 1 purl stitch, 5 knit stitches to the end of the row. Row 2: purl every stitch.
Widen the pleats
Repeat the two-row pattern repeat. Every 8th row, make 1 increase next to the central purl stitch of each pleat.
Divide the pleats into narrower ones
When each pleat has 11 knit stitches, 1 purl stitch, and 11 knit stitches, divide each wedge in half: 5 knit stitches, 1 purl stitch, 5 knit stitches, the central purl stitch, 5 knit stitches, 1 purl stitch, 5 knit stitches. The central purl stitch remains in place throughout the height of the wedge.
Continue widening
Continue working the main pattern, increasing next to the central stitch in each wedge every 10 rows.
Finish the skirt
Bind off the lower edge at the chosen length, then thread elastic through the waistband.
Bind off the lower edge
At the required length, bind off with knitting needles or a needle.
Thread in the elastic
Thread elastic through the waistband and hand-sew the opening closed.
Finish and variations
Finish
Check the waistband
Make sure the elastic is threaded through the waistband and the opening is neatly hand-sewn closed.
The source gives a calculation only for a 6–7-year-old girl. For another size, determine the required stitch count yourself and cast on twice that number for the double-knit waistband.
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