Pattern for Longies & Shorties!

Pear’s EASIEST LONGIES EVER Pattern
(if you want to make shorties or capris, the pattern is exactly the same, just make shorter legs)

You may use this pattern without permission/license per personal use or to sell. I won’t charge for it. If you’d like to make a donation for using it, the paypal address is maialaia @yahoo .com, but it is not necessary. If something isn’t clear in this pattern, please post or email me and I’ll try to explain further! ENJOY!

Remember to take all measurements with a diaper or undies ON!


For the ease of this pattern, I use any yarn that is 5 stitches per inch on size 8 needles. You can adjust your yarn once you are comfortable with the pattern.

To make this pattern you will need:

16 inch circular needles in size 6 and 8
a set of size 8 double pointed needles
one longish straight needle – size 8
A tapestry (or similar) needle
Scissors
3 stitch markers
Tape Measure
2 skeins (or about 300 yards, 150-200 grams) of worsted weight yarn
(if you want absorbent longies, use yarn that is at least 70% wool)


To make this pattern you will need to know how to:

Cast On
Bind Off
Knit and Purl in the Round
Pick up stitches
Knit 2 together
Do Kitchener stitch. (Don’t be scared of kitchener! There are many awesome online tutorials for it!)


THE PATTERN

For every inch of waist on the baby in question, count 5 stitches, then round up to the nearest number divisible by 8. In this example we will be making a size “smallish.”

Baby’s waist = 17 inches. So: 17 x 5 = 85 + 3 = 88

DRAWSTRING WAISTBAND:

Cast 89 stitches onto the long straight needle. (Yes, I said 89. Trust me.)
Knit 2, Purl 2 onto the size 6 circulars.
When you get to stitch #89, slip it onto the other needle.
Knit 2 together (ie: the “extra stitch” and the first knit stitch in the next round)
Knit 1, Purl 2
Knit 2, Purl 2 all the way around
Place a stitch marker inbetween stitches #88 & #1
Knit 2, Purl 2 for 6-10 more rounds.



RIBBY WAISTBAND:

Cast 89 stitches onto the long straight needle. (Yes, I said 89. Trust me.)
Knit 1, Purl 1 onto the size 6 circulars.
When you get to stitch #89, slip it onto the other needle.
Knit 2 together (ie: the “extra stitch” and the first knit stitch in the next round)
Knit 1, Purl 1 all the way around
Place a stitch marker inbetween stitches #80 & #1
Knit 1, Purl 1 for 24-36 more rounds.


If you would rather, you can skip the straight needle – however, I would still cast onto the size 8 circulars for the first row and then move to the size 6s. This will keep the stitches from being really tight, which is hard for some folks.


Allright! Now that you’ve finished the waistband, moving on!

Switch to your size 8 circulars
Knit all around for 4 rounds
On your next round, place additional markers at 22 (1/4 of the way around) and 66 (3/4 of the way around) stitches

Now we do a SHORT ROW! (Don’t panic. They are EASY.)
Knit around to the ¾ stitch marker
Move your yarn forward (as if you were going to purl)
Slip one stitch purl-wise
Move your yarn back
Turn your knitting so you are looking at the “wrong” side of your knitting
Slip one stitch purl-wise
Purl back to the ¼ stitch marker
Move your yarn back (as if you were going to knit)
Slip one stitch purl-wise
Move your yarn forward again
Turn your knitting back to the “right” side
Knit around to the #1 stitch marker

Knit 5 rows around

CONGRATULATIONS! You just did your first short row!

Now repeat the Short Row and the 5 rows around until you have reached your desired rise-length (make sure you end with a few knit rows, not a short row)

Now you are ready to DIVIDE FOR THE LEGS!

Get your double-pointed needles (DPNs)
Starting at stitch #1 knit 4 stitches onto a DPN
Knit 40 stitches onto 2 or 3 DPNS
Knit 4 stitches onto a DPN

Pull a yard or two of yarn out of your ball.
Break or cut the yarn.

Kitchener stitch the two sets of 4 stitches together (this is your crotch!)

Leave the 40 stitches on the circulars. Just ignore them for now.

LEG TIME!

Using the remaining yarn, Knit around the leg that is on the DPNS. (eventually you will get to where you broke your yarn and when you do, simply tie on your ball again and keep going)
You will have a “gappy place” next to the crotchal-area. Pick up 4 stitches to close this. (You can also skip this step and just stitch up the small hole later if you like.) (Furthermore, if you are knitting for a large child, you may want to do 5 or 6 stitches instead of 4.)

Knit all around until you have the desired leg-length, MINUS the length of your cuff.

Here are 3 different kinds of cuffs:

PURLY CUFFS:
Purl around
Knit around
Repeat to desired length
Bind off!

RIBBY CUFFS:
Knit 2 Purl 2 all around to desired length
Bind off!

SEED STITCH CUFFS:
Row A: Knit 1 Purl 1 around
Row B: Purl 1 Knit 1 around (ie: knit the purls and purl the knits)
Repeat AB, AB, AB to desired length
Bind off!

Check it out! You finished a leg!

2ND LEG:

With a DPN, pick up 4 stitches by the crotch (just like on the other leg)
Knit around the leg, transferring stitches onto the DPNs
Knit all around and finish with a cuff, just like on the other leg.


GOOD JOB! Now you just need some finishing touches!

Now with your tapestry needle, weave in any hangy bits of yarn.

If you did the drawstring waist-band you should now make a cord for the waist. You can use a braid (like I do) or icord or a twist! Thread the cord through the waist band where you like it. I usually do it slightly more than halfway down to the actual waist.

Where you turned your short rows, you may have small “holes” in your knitting. With your tapestry needle, tighten the stitch. Now you have a loopy bit hanging out. Work along the row the loop is in, leaving each stitch a teensy bit loose until it’s all evened out.

YOU ARE ALL DONE!!!!!!!!!!!

Now go make a matching hat or booties with the left over yarny bits!