Sizing:

I cast on 72, 80, 88, 96 to achieve Small, Medium, Large, and X-Large sizes, which generally fall within the ranges in this chart: 

For preemie or NB sizing, I’d CO 56 or 64 stitches.  Everything is subject to change based on your yarn and gauge.  The leg openings are the hardest to plan, but usually have a fair bit of give.

Easy Part
On smaller circular needle
CO a multiple of 8, join
k2p2 ribbing for an inch (5-6 rows)
Place marker, k2, yo, p2tog for the eyelet row, remove marker
k2p2 for another inch, place marker in center of rib, between eyelets (this will be the front, where the drawstring will tie)
Switch to larger needle
k for 3.5 inches

Harder Part (in rounds)
round 1:place marker, k1, y/o for one row, ending on a y/o, remove marker
round 2: using the circ you were using and a narrow circ (3.5mm or less), slip the y/o onto the narrow circ, k the other stitch, so that the narrow circ is on the right side of your knitting (this will be the skirt)

Easy Again, on the main circ
K for 2 rounds
Decide how big you want the crotch to be (I use 64/14, 72/16, 80/18, 88/18, 96/20), and knit half that # of stitches past the center marker
Slip the crotch stitches onto a holder (you can remove the marker now if you would like to)

Now you’re working back and forth
row 1: K2, ssk, k to last 4, k2tog, k2, turn
row 2: P across, turn
repeat these rows until you have the same # of stitches on the needles and on the holder
Graft together using kitchener (instructions at http://www.knitting-help.com/)

Go back to the ruffle
row 1:Knit stitches from small circ onto circ you were using for the soaker part of the skirtie, placing marker at beginning
row 2: K1, yo, for one row, being careful at the beginning and end (you can get a hole or a solid part really easily if you’re not careful – this will double your stitch count)
row 3-?: knit
Bind off using something that won’t roll – I like a picot edge, but you can do a few rows of seed stitch too, or a couple of rows of garter should work

K an i-cord for the drawstring, and you’re done

Notes: You can do another y/o row, or other decorative stitches, a couple of rows down from the first y/o row of the skirty for a curly whirly effect, but it uses up a lot of yarn

Since I wrote it down, this is now copyrighted, eh? Feel free to use the pattern and method for creating the skirt for personal use. If you want to use it for sale, please accredit the pattern to me, and I’d appreciate an email to petra@badumbums.com to let me know. Thanks!

If you would like to download a pdf of this pattern, please click here.