The ultimate way to keep warm and comfortable in the colder months has arrived. These knit pants are knit from top down in the round and features a retro-inspired fit that’s trendy and cozy.
Time: One Month Project or 50 Hours Project
Skill Level: Easy
Size: XS (S, M, L, XL, 1X, 2X, 3X)
Finished Waist Size: 26 (28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 40, 44)”
Finished Hip Size: 34 (36, 38, 40, 44, 46, 50, 54)”
Finished Inseam: 30” or your desired length.
Shown in sizes S” and L” with inseam 32” and 34”
Gauge: 20 sts and 24 rows = 4” (10 cm) in St. st after wet blocking.
Materials
Yarn: Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Wave (100% Superwash Wool; 220 yards [200 meters] / 100g): # 112 Seattle (size S) or # 113 Unicorn (size L) or your color choice 7 (8, 8, 9, 10, 10, 11, 12) skeins.
Needle: US size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needle, 24” or longer enough to accommodate waist hem stitches. US size 7 (4.5 mm) circular needle, 24” or longer enough to accommodate body stitches, 16” circular, and DPN’s.
Notions: Markers, stitch holders in different colors, extra set of circular needles, tapestry needle.
Special Stitches
I-cord: Using DPNs *Knit a row. Slide row to other end of needle without turning work. Pull yarn firmly and rep from * to desired cord length, creating a tube.
KRL – Knit left increase: Knit one stitch into the back loop of the next stitch on LH needle, one row below, by pulling the yarn from the back with the RH needle, without twisting the st.
KRR – Knit right increase: Knit one stitch into the back loop of the last stitch on RH needle, two rows below, by pulling the yarn from the back with the LH needle, without twisting the st, then transfer the st to the RH needle.
Schematic
A (Finished Waist Size): 26 (28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 40, 44)”
B (Finished Hip Size): 34 (36, 38, 40, 44, 46, 50, 54)”
C (Leg circumference top): 21 (22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31)”
D (Leg circumference bottom): 19 (20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29)”
E (Waist band width): 3.3”
F (Rise): 8.25 (8.25, 8.25, 10, 10, 10, 10, 12)”
G (Back Rise): 10 (10, 10, 13, 13, 13, 14.5, 16)”
H (Inseam): 30” or your desired length.
Pattern Notes
The pants are knit from top down in the round. The waistband is folded and sewn together. An I-cord string is knit separately and used to adjust the waist to your body. Below waist shaping is done with short rows section. At crotch, the pants are divided and the legs are knit in the round toward ankle. Another hem is created at the bottom of the legs to prevent the natural curling of stockinette knit. The inseam is adjustable to your desired length.
Work with two skeins of yarn to create the stripes, alternating them every 3 rnds, and every 2 rows in the crotch section.
Please be aware that any adjustment to the length will affect the yardage requirement.
Pattern
Pants
Waistband
With smaller size circular needles, CO 130 (140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 200, 220) sts,
PM, being careful not to twist sts, join to begin working in the rnd.
Attach second skein after 3 rnds, and alternate between the two skeins every 3 rnds.
Hem
Rnds 1 – 20: Knit
Rnd 21: Purl
Rnds 22 – 30: Knit
Rnd 31: Knit until the last 2 sts, BO the last 2 sts.
Rnd 32: Knit, then using the back loop CO method, CO the 2 sts. This creates the belt hole.
Rnds 33 – 41: Knit
Short Row Shaping
Change to larger size needles.
Row 1: K to last 10 (10, 10, 15, 15, 15, 20, 20) before end of Rnd, W&T.
Row 2: P to last 10 (10, 10, 15, 15, 15, 20, 20) before beg of Rnd, W&T.
Row 3: K to last 10 sts before previous wrap, W&T.
Row 4: P to last 10 sts before the previous wrap, W&T.
Rows 5 – 6: Rep Rows 3 and 4.
Row 7: Knit to the marker at the beg of Rnd, picking up each wrap and knitting it together with the wrapped st.
Next Rnd: Knit and pick up each wrap and knit it together with the wrapped st.
Sizes XS, S, M move to Next Rnd.
Sizes L, XL, 1X. Rep short row shaping once more, then move to Next Rnd.
Sizes 2X, 3X Rep short row shaping twice more, then move to Next Rnd.
Next Rnd: Knit 65 (70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 100, 110), PM to mark the center of the back, knit to end of rnd.
Inc Rnd: *K1, KRL, knit to 1 st before the next marker, KRR, k1; rep from * to end of rnd. 134 (144, 154, 164, 174, 184, 204, 224) sts.
Knit 2 (2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4) rnds.
Rep last 3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5) rnds 9 (9, 9, 9, 11, 11, 11, 11) more times. 170 (180, 190, 200, 218, 228, 248, 268) sts.
Sizes – (-, -, -, XL, 1X, 2X, 3X) only:
Knit to 1 st before the next marker, KRR, k2, KRL, knit to end of rnd. x (x, x, x, 220, 230, 250, 270) sts,
All Sizes: Remove the beg of rnd and center back markers.
Divide for legs
Place last 85 (90, 95, 100, 110, 115, 125, 135) sts onto an extra circular needle for the right leg.
Left leg
Work back and forth in rows with the 85 (90, 95, 100, 110, 115, 125, 135) sts for the left leg.
Shape Crotch
Row 1 (RS): Using knit CO, CO 2 sts, knit to end of row. 87 (92, 97, 102, 112, 117, 127, 137) sts.
Row 2: Using knit CO, CO 2 sts, purl to end of row. 89 (94, 99, 104, 114, 119, 129, 139) sts.
Rows 3 – 4: Rep Rows 1 – 2. 93 (98, 103, 108, 118, 123, 133, 143) sts.
Row 5: Using knit CO, CO 3 sts, knit to end of row. 96 (101, 106, 111, 121, 126, 136, 146) sts.
Row 6: Using knit CO, CO 3 sts, purl to end of row. 99 (104, 109, 114, 124, 129, 139, 149) sts.
Rows 7 – 8: Rep Rows 7 – 8. 105 (110, 115, 120, 130, 135, 145, 155) sts.
Shape Leg
PM, return to working in the rnd.
Knit 18 rnds.
Dec Rnd: K2tog, knit to end of rnd. 104 (109, 114, 119, 129, 134, 144, 154) sts.
Knit 18 rnds.
Dec Rnd: Knit to last 2 sts, K2tog. 103 (108, 113, 118, 128, 133, 143, 153) sts.
Rep last 38 Rnds once more. 101 (106, 111, 116, 126, 131, 141, 151) sts.
Knit 15 rnds.
Dec Rnd: K2tog, knit to end of rnd. 100 (105, 110, 115, 125, 130, 140, 150) sts.
Knit 15 rnds.
Dec Rnd: Knit to last 2 sts, K2tog. 99 (104, 109, 114, 124, 129, 139, 149) sts.
Rep last 32 Rnds twice more. 95 (100, 105, 110, 120, 125, 135, 145) sts.
Continue to knit in St st in the rnd until desired inseam length is achieved.
Bottom Hem
Next Rnd: Purl
Rnd 1 – 10: Knit
BO
Right Leg
Transfer the 85 (90, 95, 100, 110, 115, 125, 135) sts for the right leg back onto the working circular needle, and attach the yarn so you can work the crotch starting with the RS row.
Repeat all instructions for Left Leg.
Finishing
Sew the crotch opening. Fold waistband and bottom hems at the purl rnd and sew edge in place, creating waistband casing and bottom hems.
Weave in ends. Wash and block to measurements.
Drawstring
With two double pointed needles cast on 4 sts. Work I-cord for 64 (66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 78, 82)”. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, and thread the tail on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining stitches on needles, gather up and close the hole, stitch to secure.
Thread the drawstring through waistband casing.
Where it says work with with two skeins of yarn, Does this mean you are holding two together? It is unclear to my 77 year old brain and I have 4 teenage granddaughters. This would be perfect for next Christmas, even if I make them as shorts!
Hello Judith! I’ve reached out to the designer for advice and she or I will reply as soon as possible. Thanks! – Nicola, Editor
Hello Judith,
You work with two skeins of yarn to create stripes within the longer color change the Cascade 220 Superwash Waves creates. You are not holding the yarn together, but rather alternating the two skeins after every third round, or every two rows in the crotch section.