Cosy knits: Skating skirt

Skating skirt with picot edge is knit on a circular needle from the bottom up. Recommended for experienced knitters. Instructions are written for Child's size. Standard abbreviations are used.

The yarn is available through mail order from Briggs & Little Woolen Mills. To order, visit www.briggsandlittle.com or call 1-800-561-9276.

Size:
Child's
Finished hip measurement: 74 cm (29-1/4 ins)

You need:
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3 skeins Briggs & Little Heritage 2-ply (100 g) yarn:
4.00 mm circular needle OR whichever needle you require to produce the tension given below
Elastic for waist, 25 mm wide
Tapestry needle

Tension:
18 sts and 27 rows = 10 cm (4 ins) in St st. Work to the exact tension with the specified yarn to obtain satisfactory results.

To make:
Beg at lower edge, cast on 448 sts. Place marker on needle and join in rnd, being careful not to twist sts. K 8 rows.

Picot edge
[Yon, k2tog] to end of rnd.
K 8 rows.

To make hem:
With wrong sides tog, fold work in half. Ktog 1 st from needle and 1 st from cast-on edge until all sts in rnd are worked.
K 1 rnd even.

Dec rnd: [K12, k2tog] to end of rnd. 416 sts now on needle.

K 3 rnds even.

Dec rnd: [K11, k2tog] to end of rnd. 384 sts now on needle.

K 3 rnds even.

Continue dec in this manner, having 1 less st between dec on next and every following fourth rnd, until there are 160 sts on needle.

K 3 rnds even.

Next rnd: * K8, k2tog, [k3, k2tog] 4 times. Rep from * to last 10 sts, [k3, k2tog] twice. 133 sts now on needle.

K even until work from beg measures 23 cm/9 ins or desired length, dec 1 st at end of last rnd.

Work 3 cm (1-1/4 ins) in [k1, p1] ribbing for waistband.

Cast off loosely in ribbing.

To finish:
Weave in ends of yarn on wrong side of work.

Make herringbone casing inside waistband as follows: Using tapestry needle and matching yarn, work herringbone st over the elastic by bringing yarn up below lower edge of elastic. Insert needle above upper edge of elastic a little to the right and take a short st to the left. Insert needle below lower edge to the right and take a short st to the left. Be careful not to catch the elastic, as this must be left free to stretch within the casing.

Steam lightly through a damp cloth, taking care not to press ribbing.