Fancy Pants Pattern

This pattern is for solid color fancy pants.  Fancy pants can be used as soakers.  They work great as diaper back-up, especially as pajama pants at night over a cloth diaper with a cover or disposable diaper.  I think every baby should have a pair of knitted pants, so knit some for your favorite babies, but please don’t take credit for my pattern. 

This is the first pattern I’ve ever written.  I’m bad at math, so let me know if there are any mistakes!

Materials: soft worsted weight wool yarn–I like Cascade 220, Malabrigo and Paton’s Classic Wool Merino.  Size NB with ruffles uses 1 skein of Malabrigo with a few yards left over.

Gauge: 5 stitches/in worked in round

Approximate width around hips: NB 14.5″, S 17″, M 19″, L 21.5″, Toddler 24″

Directions are for NB with changes in parentheses.

CO 60 (70, 80, 90, 100) stitches, be careful not to twist and join in round.  For a nice looking edge, use this technique.   

K3P2, repeat 12 (14, 16, 18, 20)  for 7 rounds

Round 8:  *K3, yo, P2tog* repeat 12 (14, 16, 18, 20) times

Round 9-12: go back to K3P2 ribbing

Round 12: *K4, Kfb* repeat 12 (14, 16, 18, 20) times.  You should have 72 (84, 96, 108, 120) stitches.

Round 13: K 18 (21, 24, 27, 30) PM, K 36 (42, 48, 54, 60) PM, K 18 (21, 24, 27, 30)

Round 14: K to 1 stitch before marker, wrap stitch and turn, P back to 1 stitch before marker, wrap stitch and turn.  K around, knitting wraps as you come to them

Rounds 15, 16: K

Round 17: repeat Round 14 (if you are knitting these for a baby who doesn’t wear cloth diapers, then K this round)

Rounds 17, 18: K

Round 19: repeat Round 14

Rounds 20, 21: K

Round 22: either repeat Round 14 for extra room or K

Continue knitting every round until front + back = 15 (17, 19, 21, 23) inches.  If you are knitting these for a baby who does not wear cloth diapers, you may want to make the rise a little shorter.

Next round: K3 then slip those stitches onto a dpn, K30 (35, 40, 45, 50) then slip those stitches onto waste yarn, K 6 then slip those onto a different dpn, K 30 (35, 40, 45, 50) then slip those stitches onto waste yarn, K 3 then slip those stitches onto the other end of the first dpn

Graft the 2 sets of stitches on dpn together.

Legs: Transfer the stitches from the waste yarn evenly onto 3 or 4 (whatever you prefer) dpn. 

Pick up and knit 2 stitches (one from either side of the graft) and knit around, PM

For ruffle fancy pants:  K every round until inseam measures 8.5, (9.5, 10.5, 11.5, 12.5) inches.

Next round: Kfb every stitch

Next round: P every stitch

Next round: Kfb every stitch

Next round: bind off loosely purlwise 

For ribbed cuff fancy pants: K every round for 1 (1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.5) inches.

Next round: K2tog, K the rest of the stitches.

Continue in this pattern until you have 25 (30, 35, 40, 45) stitches. 

K every round until inseam measures 7.5 (8, 8.5, 9, 9.5) inches.

K3P2 5 (6, 7, 8, 9) times for 24 rounds, bind off loosely.  If you don’t want a cuff, only knit ribbing for 12 rounds.

For capris: K every round until inseam measures 1.5 (1.75, 2, 2.5, 3) inches.

Next round: K2tog, K to last 2 stitches, SSK

*K3, P2* 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) times for 6 rounds.

Next round: *K3, yo, P2tog* 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) times.  If you want capris without a tie, continue this round in K3P2 ribbing.

Go back to K3P2 ribbing for 6 more rounds.

Bind off loosely.  Thread a ribbon through the eyelets.

Finishing: make a drawstring by either braiding or crocheting a chain or knit an I-cord.  Make sure it is long enough to tie!  Thread through eyelets  in the waistband.