Tuesday, 8 March 2016

SUCHI’s lil SKIRT




SUCHI’s lil SKIRT

I was recently gifted this really lovely cotton yarn and I thought it would be just perfect if I could make something and gift it back.  Getting just the right pattern that would do yarn justice and reduce wastage is always a challenge, and I’m hoping my choice here suffices. 

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As I work on this pattern, I’ve written down my notes that I share with you.



Materials used : Today I’ve used a really lovely combination of one ball of Aunt Lydia’’s Crochet 10 100% cotton & about a ball of Indian locally available Red Rose knitting cotton with a 3 mm crochet hook.



For Indians : Our Indian Red rose or Anchor knitting cotton yarns will be the same *thickness* as the yarns I’ve used.  I’d say I’ve used just over 100 gms of yarn.

Skill level : Intermediate.

Size made : I have made this for a 2  yr old. 
You can make this to any size.  Size only given here for yarn estimation.

Stitches used :
Starting slip knot : Here’s how you start with a slip knot.  https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw 

Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : This is a neat new way to start your work without a slip knot.  https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs

What is a chain stitch ? Here is an easy video tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx5ukBjKkY

What is a slip stitch : Here is a neat video tutorial at https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw

Magic circle : To refresh your skill, please view this easy video https://youtu.be/ISC39yOqWro

Double Crochet : dc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk);
[yo, draw through 2 lps] twice.  One dc made. 
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/xdnjB27zpYo

Chainless start for Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of dc.
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/wskv3iTjRx0

Whipstitch to join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the whipstitch at https://youtu.be/wZ-9LNzftMA

Invisible join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the embroidery needle and whipstitch to get an invisible join at https://youtu.be/a6XZQ6VzJFM

Single crochet to join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the single crochet at https://youtu.be/6FXoW_47_dI

How to change colors seamlessly : Here’s an easy video tutorial to show you how to change from the Main color to the Contrast or second color of yarn seamlessly.  View it at https://youtu.be/fRzSBja9jno 

How to carry your yarn when using two colors : Here’s an easy video tutorial to show you how to carry your yarn along when working with two colours.  

Abbreviations used :
lp(s) : Loop(s)                  sc : Single crochet
dc : Double crochet         sp : Space                                           
sl-st : Slip stitch               ch : Chain
st(s) : Stitch(es)               hk : Hook
yo : Yarn Over
                                                           
                                   
Instructions : (Using U.S terminology)
Please note that I start all my rows with a ch 1, turning chain for ease.
Please check the top of this blog for easy video tutorials on all stitches used in today's pattern.
Please read through all my notes before you pick up your hook, so you know just where we're heading in our pattern.
In my patterns I work with the principle of stitch count and body measurement.  This means that you need to work the stitch count in pattern, till you get the measurement (length and/or width) that you need for your project. 

Quick analysis of what we’re going to do here today.  We start at the waist of our skirt and work down. I will be giving instructions as if we’re all working in rounds. 

I’ve made this for a two year old slender girl, but this pattern is so lovely that one can make it in any size.. all the way through to adults, I’d say.
As always, I will be offering you lots of choices and links, so may I suggest that you please read through it all before you make decisions, to avoid ripping n frogging. Cheers.

Right then.. first we need to measure the waist and hips of the little kid we’re working this skirt for, and then we will work that first row with the hip measurement (unless the difference between the two is too high). In case the difference is too high, may I suggest one of two options :
Work with the hip measurements and then add either an elastic around the top or add loops so that you can loop in a belt to cinch it ; or
Ensure you work in a gradual increase by adding 2 dc’s in the 1st st for the first few rows on either ends, so that you get the width needed for hips.


If you are working a skirt for someone who has a big difference between hip and waist measurements, and are going to do the increase gradually, please note that you will be working in rows, and should then add 3 dc each end.  Working in rows will mean that you are going to work two halves separately for a bit, add in the 2 dc at each end and give it the shape desired, then join the sides when you feel that you have a measure that will go easily around hips, and then work the scalloped / shelled frilly bits in rounds.

Finally, you could also work just the first few rows back and forth (so you will need to add those extra sts for the back placket addition as well) and then join up after a few inches and work in rounds.

While I’ve made this skirt for a child, you can actually make this for an adult as well, as long as you’re ready for some calculations and ready to read through this long-winded blog 

And here are a few handy charts for (general) kid body size measures

Pattern repeat given below is for working in rounds

Our stitch count is in multiples of 14. 


Part 1 :
Foundation double crochet (fdc) : This is a unique way of starting a project directly with a row of double crochet stitches.  Here is an easy video tutorial https://youtu.be/hjNUYVvyU9k 

Start Round 1 : with fdc needed for round waist / hip measure in multiples of 14. 
Join with a sl-st to the 1st fdc.

Round 2 : dc in the 1st fdc ; dc in each fdc till end. 
Join with a sl-st to the 1st dc.
dc in the 1st fdc ; dc in each fdc till end. 
Join with a sl-st to the 1st dc.

Round 3 : dc in the 1st dc ; dc in each dc till end. 
Join with a sl-st to the 1st dc.

Now here’s the beauty of this pattern , because right from the start your creativity can come to play.  We will be repeating Round 3 for a bit, but it’s here that you can decide how long you want to make it.  So you can either work this plain dc set all the way from the waist to the hips, or you can work just a few rows of plain dc and then start on the shelled / scalloped pattern right off.  Just in altering the number of scalloped rounds you have will make it a totally different looking skirt.. now isn’t that just fabulous.

So continue the repeat till your dc portion is the length you want. We will make a ‘holey’ row for the last one, so let’s get that done.

Last Round : dc in the 1st dc ; 
(ch 1, sk next dc, dc in the next dc) ; 
rep (to) all around ; 
ch 1 and join with a sl-st to the 1st st.



Part 2 :

Frill Pattern Instructions
The frill instructions stay the same for each layer. 

Round 1 : dc in the 1st dc ; dc in the next ch-1 sp ; dc in the next dc ; 
*ch 5, sk next two ch-1 sps and dc ; sc in the next dc ; 
ch 5, sk next two ch-1 sps and dc , 
[dc in the next dc ; dc in the next ch-1 sp ; dc in the next dc] ; 
ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp, rep [to] once* ; 
rep *to* all around ; 
ch 1, and join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

Round 2 : dc in the 1st 3 dc ; 
*(ch 3, sc in the next ch-5 sps ; ch 3, sk next sc, sc in the next ch-5 sp ; 
ch 3, dc in the nexxt 3 dc) ; 
ch 2, dc in the next 3 dc* ; 
rep *to* all around, 
ch 2 and join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

Round 3 : dc in the 1st 3 dc ; 
*(ch 4, sk next ch-3 sp ; sc in the next ch-3 sps ; 
ch 4, sk next ch-3 sp, dc in the next 3 dc) ; 
ch 5, dc in the next 3 dc* ; 
rep *to* all around, 
ch 5 and join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

In the following round, we will use a “V”-st in the ch-5 sp.  
Our “V-st is [dc ; ch 3, dc in the same ch-sp]

Round 4 : dc in the 1st 3 dc ; 
*(ch 2, sc in the next ch-4 sps ; 
ch 2, sk next sc , sc in the next ch-4 sp) ; 
ch 2, dc in the next 3 dc ; 
[ch 2, “V”-st in the next ch-5 sp] ; 
ch 2, dc in the next 3 dc* ; 
rep *to* all around, 
ch 2 and join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

Round 5 : dc in the 1st 3 dc ; 
*(ch 3, sk next sc, sc in the next ch-2 sps ; 
ch 3, sk next sc , dc in the next 3 dc) ; 
ch 2, 7 dc in the next ch-3 sp ; 
ch 2, dc in the next 3 dc* ; 
rep *to* all around, 
ch 2 and join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

Round 6 : dc in the 1st 3 dc ; 
*(ch 1, sk next two ch-3 sps and sc, dc in the next 3 dc) ; 
ch 2, dc in the next dc ; 
[ch 1, dc in the next dc] ; 
rep [to] 5 times ; 
ch 2, dc in the next 3 dc* ; 
rep *to* all around, 
ch 2 and join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

In the following round, we will use a dc 2-tog as well as the trc 3-tog.
We will also use our ch-3 picot.
How to work a picot stitch : Traditionally for a ch-3 picot, you work (ch 3, sl-st in 3rd ch from hook).  For a ch-5 picot, you will do (ch 5, sl-st in 5th ch from hook).  
Here’s a great video https://youtu.be/8s3zVaBcn4s

Double crochet 2-tog : dc 2-tog :  [yo, insert hk in st or ch-sp, yo and pull up a lp ; yo and draw through 2 lps] 2 times (3 lps on hk) ; 
{yo, draw through 2 lps on hk} 2 times.  One dc 2-tog made. 
This video tutorial at https://youtu.be/1_oPlUfN5eg shows you how to use the dc 2-tog to decrease.  
Sometimes we work the dc 2-tog in the same stitch, to use as a decorative stitch. Visit this video tutorial at https://youtu.be/lLUXOJ1sY9w 

Triple / Treble crochet 3-tog : trc 3-tog :   Here is an easy video tutorial at https://youtu.be/O8HM5j8ZXHw 

Round 7 : dc 2-tog over the 1st 2 dc ; 
*(sk next 2 dc and ch-sp, dc 2-tog over the next 2 dc) ; 
ch 2, sk next dc , trc 3-tog in the next ch-2 sp ; 
[ch 2 + picot + ch 2, sk next dc , trc 3-tog in the next ch-2 sp] ; 
rep [to] 4 times ; 
ch 2, dc 2-tog over the next 2 dc* ; 
rep *to* all around, 
ch 3 and join with a sl-st to the 1st st.
Fasten off and weave in ends.



We’ve done with one round of scallops and to work the next set, we will need to work a set of (dc ; ch 1, dc) spaces all around.
So this set of (to) is also a regular repeat for each set, and each set is worked under the scallops just worked.


Part 3 :
Re-attach your yarn to any dc from the Last Round of Part 1.
This first round will be a little tricky, and all rounds after this will be easy-peasy. We will need to work this first set of dc’s around the post, but we’re not really working post stitches.

The second thing that we’re doing here is adding a few stitches so that there will be more scallops in the next round.

Round 1 : dc in the 1st dc ; 
(ch 1, dc in the next dc) ; 
rep (to) all around ; 
ch 1 and join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

Round 2 : Increase round : 
dc in the 1st dc ; 
(ch 1, dc in the next dc) ; 
rep (to) all around ; 
ch 1 and join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

Ensure that at you have dc in multiples of 7 or better still, count all  your dc and ch-1 sps and ensure that you have sts in multiples of 14, which is our pattern repeat.

Calculations :  So how do you decide how many multiples you need for the second round.  Well, Elementary my dear Watson (as Sherlock would say?)
So every set of 14 sts gives you one scallop.  
So say you started with 140 sts, you should have 10 scallops on that first round.  
So if you want 14 scallops, you will need ( 14 x 14 = 196 sts ).
196 sts means dc + ch-1 sps combined. 

So yet again, I have offered you a decision and choices for your creativity.  Enjoy.

Continue increasing till you have stitches as per the calculations above, and then work without any further increase till you have a total of 7 rounds.

You will then work one set of scallops / frills – so instructions of Part 2, Rounds 1 – 7.

Rep Part 3 and Part 2 till your skirt is of the length desired, ending with Part 2.

  
Fasten off and weave in ends.

Give yourself a big pat on the back as this one has really been a great project – but totally worth it, I’m sure you’ll agree.

So if the skirt gets short for your lil baby girl, but her waist size still fits, then just add one round of frills, and voila! you have yourself a new skirt.. so howzatt for a last idea before we say good bye 

And that’s done.. yet another project brilliantly executed ! 

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Have a great day and see you soon. 

I have a few lil girl’s clothes already made, and just in case you want a dekho at those free patterns … here you go  

Oh and I do have some skirt patterns too.. for young ladies.. so do visit my blog for those.







































1 comment:

  1. I truly look forward to trying your patterns. They are beautiful and I hope I can do them justice.

    ReplyDelete

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