Bask in easy summer living with the Golden Days Lounge Shorts, a warm-weather essential designed for comfort and style. Knit from the top down in the round, these customizable shorts feature a folded waistband with a functional I-cord drawstring for the perfect fit. Subtle short-row shaping ensures a flattering silhouette, while neatly finished hems at the legs keep stockinette edges crisp and curl-free. Whether you’re lounging at home, heading to the beach, or enjoying a golden hour stroll, these soft and breathable shorts are made to move with you—your new favorite piece for sun-soaked days.
Time: Two Weeks Project or 30 Hours Project
Skill Level: Easy
Size: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X, 4X)
Finished Waist Size: 26 (28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 40, 44)”
Finished Hip Size: 34 (36, 38, 40, 44, 46, 50, 54)”
Finished Inseam: 3” or your desired length.
Shown in size S”
Gauge: 20 sts and 24 rows = 4” (10 cm) in St. stitch patt. after wet blocking.
Materials
Yarn: Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Wave (100% Superwash Wool; 220 yards [200 meters] / 3.5 oz [100g]): # 123 Golden Hour or your color choice 3 (3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6) skeins.
Needles: US size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needle, 24” or long enough to accommodate body stitches. US size 7 (4.5 mm) circular needle, 24” or long enough to accommodate body stitches, 16” circular, and DPN’s.
Notions: Markers, stitch holders, extra set of circular needles, tapestry needle.
Special Stitches
I-cord = *Knit a row. Slide row to other end of needle without turning work. Pull yarn firmly and rep from *, creating a tube.
KRL = Knit left increase
KRR = Knit right increase
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 (Waist band width): 3.3”
E (Rise): 8.25 (8.25, 8.25, 10, 10, 10, 10, 12)”
F (Back Rise): 10 (10, 10, 13, 13, 13, 14.5, 16)”
G (Inseam): 3” or your desired length.
Pattern Notes
The shorts 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 shorts are divided and the shorts’ legs are knit in the round. Another hem is created at the bottom of the legs to prevent the curling of stockinette piece 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.
Shorts Pattern
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, CO the 2 sts.
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 the 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 sts 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, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5) rnds another 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 sts 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 5 – 6. (105 (110, 115, 120, 130, 135, 145, 155) sts).
Shape Leg
PM, return to working in the rnd.
Knit 18 rnds.
Continue to knit in St st in the rnd until desired inseam length is achieved.
Bottom Hem
Next Rnd: Purl
Rnd 1 – 5: 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.