Finito!

I’m going to feel really dumb if I spelled that wrong… lol Anyway; here is the first pair of finished shorties for my friend.

And look, they match my overgrown green onions… 😉 Stats:

Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted
Needles: size 5 & 7 16 inch circs, size 5 dpns
Gauge: 5 sts/inch
Pattern: my own — in short hand below…
Finished Measurements: waist: 14-22 inches; hips: 20 1/2-26 inches; thigh cuff: 9-12 inches; rise: 18-21 inches (measured from drawstring to crotch)

CO 80 sts on size 5’s

*k2, p2* 5 R
*k2, yo, p2tog* 1 R
*k2, p2* 6 R
k 1 R

switch to size 7’s
*k13, inc 1* k2
k 1 R

repeat these 2 R 3x’s =98sts

k til front is 8 1/2 inches & back is 9 1/2 inches (3 sets of short rows — 1st one after 1st set of increases, 2nd & 3rd set about every 9 R after that)

Move preceding 24 sts onto dpns, then k next 25 sts onto dpns

join new R

*k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1*

k 2 R

repeat these 3 rows 3xs

switch to 5’s

k 1 R, k to last 3 sts, inc 1 =44sts

*k2 p2* 6 R

BO

join yarn for second leg, leaving a tail to sew up hole in crotch, repeat leg instructions.

For drawstring: hold 2 strands of yarn together & crochet a chain about 34 inches.

I knit these to the measurements of my friend’s little girl, but I was off a little bit (apparently my 1 inch guage swatch didn’t get it done as well as it could have… ;)). The great thing about baby clothes is, an inch (okay, okay an inch & a half…!) isn’t necessarily a big deal. In this case, it just means that the cover will have a bit of negative ease over the diaper. I have a few knit covers like this & it doesn’t seem to be a big deal. Still, once baby actually tries these on, I’ll tweak my pattern. I have enough yarn to do about 3 more pair of shorties, should they be wanted.

It was nice to get these started & done so quickly — 3 days & they were finished with ends woven in. I did a rudimentary stitch count and realized that the number of sts is about equal to knitting the cuff, leg & heel flap/turn of my Noro sock. Sort of puts things into perspective. I knit much more quickly on circs (when not magic-looping, anyway) & with a nice combo of yarn weight & needle size. I’ll have to remember this next time I want a bit of instant gratification. I’m sure not getting it with the Bucket hat I’m knitting — heavy/slubby worsted cotton knit on 5’s…ugh! Anywho…

I also received my 2nd installment of the Zen Yarn Garden semi-solid sock yarn club a couple weeks ago!

This is called “Bamboolicious Yarn” and it’s a 70/20/10 superwash merino/bamboo/nylon blend. The color is Pine Grove. Love it! This one has less variances than last month’s pink — which I’m happy about. Hopefully I’ll get to actually knitting it up sometime soon. Although I might finish up some of my partial socks first & repair my other 2 pair.

Oh, and just so ya’ll can join in the impatient waiting…Knitty‘s Summer edition will be up any day (minute…second) now! Can’t wait to see what they have for us this season. 🙂