Golden Years Skirt

Knitted skirt in DROPS BabyMerino and DROPS Kid-Silk. The piece is worked top down. Sizes XS - XXL.

DROPS 237-26
DROPS Design: Pattern bm-104
Yarn group A + A or C
-------------------------------------------------------

SIZES:
XS - S - M - L - XL - XXL

MATERIALS:
DROPS BABY MERINO from Garnstudio (belongs to yarn group A)
200-250-250-300-300-350 g colour 23, light beige
And use:
DROPS KID-SILK from Garnstudio (belongs to yarn group A)
100-100-100-125-125-150 g colour 40, pink pearl

NEEDLES FOR SIZES XS - S - M:
DROPS CIRCULAR NEEDLE SIZE 4.5 MM: Length 60 cm and 80 cm.
DROPS CIRCULAR NEEDLE SIZE 3.5 MM: Length 60 cm and 80 cm.

NEEDLES FOR SIZES L - XL - XXL:
DROPS CIRCULAR NEEDLE SIZE 4.5 MM: Length 80 cm.
DROPS CIRCULAR NEEDLE SIZE 3.5 MM: Length 80 cm.

KNITTING TENSION:
18 stitches in width and 23 rows in height with stocking stitch with 1 strand of each quality = 10 x 10 cm.
NOTE: Needle size is only a guide. If you get too many stitches on 10 cm, change to a larger needle size. If you get too few stitches on 10 cm, change to a smaller needle size.

-------------------------------------------------------

EXPLANATIONS FOR THE PATTERN:
-------------------------------------------------------

PATTERN:
See diagram A.1.

INCREASE TIP:
Increase alternately at the beginning and end of the stocking stitch section.
Increase 1 stitch by making 1 yarn over, which is worked as follows on the next round:
AT BEGINNING OF STOCKING STITCH SECTION:
Slip the yarn over onto the right needle as if to knit, place it twisted back on the left needle, knit the front loop (stitch twists to the right). No hole.
AT END OF STOCKING STITCH SECTION:
Knit the back loop (stitch twists to the left). No hole.
Work the new stitches in stocking stitch.

-------------------------------------------------------

START THE PIECE HERE:

-------------------------------------------------------

SKIRT – SHORT OVERVIEW OF THE PIECE:
The piece is worked in the round with circular needle, top down. So the skirt is higher at the back, you work an elevation. A twisted cord is worked for the row of holes in the waistband.

WAIST-BAND:
Cast on 112-128-136-152-160-176 stitches with circular needle size 3.5 mm and 1 strand of each quality (2 strands). Knit 1 round then work rib as follows: Knit 1, * purl 2, knit 2 *, work from *-* until there are 3 stitches left, purl 2 and knit 1.
When the rib measures 3 cm, work a row of holes for the cord as follows: Knit 1, * 1 yarn over, purl 2 together, knit 2 *, work from *-* until there are 3 stitches left, 1 yarn over, purl 2 together, knit 1.
Continue the rib (knit 2, purl 2) until the piece measures 6 cm from the cast on edge.
Knit 1 round and increase 8-4-8-4-8-4 stitches evenly spaced = 120-132-144-156-168-180 stitches.

SKIRT:
Change to circular needle size 4.5 mm.
Insert 1 marker at the beginning of the round = mid-back.
Work A.1 10-11-12-13-14-15 times on the round.
AT THE SAME TIME after the first round of pattern, work an elevation as follows:
Work 8-9-10-11-12-13 stitches from the right side, turn, tighten the strand, work 16-18-20-22-24-26 stitches from the wrong side.
Turn, tighten the strand and work 24-27-30-33-36-39 stitches from the right side, turn, tighten the strand, work 32-36-40-44-48-52 stitches from the wrong side.
Turn, tighten the strand and work 40-45-50-55-60-65 stitches from the right side, turn, tighten the strand, work 48-54-60-66-72-78 stitches from the wrong side.
Turn, tighten the strand and work 56-63-70-77-84-91 stitches from the right side, turn, tighten the strand, work 64-72-80-88-96-104 stitches from the wrong side.
Turn, tighten the strand and work 72-81-90-99-108-117 stitches from the right side, turn, tighten the strand, work 80-90-100-110-120-130 stitches from the wrong side.
Turn, tighten the strand and work 88-99-110-121-132-143 stitches from the right side, turn, tighten the strand, work 96-108-120-132-144-156 stitches from the wrong side.
Turn, tighten the strand and work to mid-back.
The skirt is now 5 cm higher mid-back.

Continue the pattern in the round with 10 stitches in stocking stitch/2 garter stitches.
AT THE SAME TIME when the piece measures 2-3-3-3-4-4 cm after the rib, mid-front, increase 1 stitch at the beginning of each stocking stitch section – read INCREASE TIP (10-11-12-13-14-15 stitches increased) = 130-143-156-169-182-195 stitches.

When the piece measures 9-10-10-11-12-12 cm after the rib, mid-front, increase 1 stitch at the end of each stocking stitch section - remember INCREASE TIP = 140-154-168-182-196-210 stitches.

When the piece measures 16-17-17-19-20-20 cm after the rib, mid-front, increase 1 stitch at the beginning of each stocking stitch section = 150-165-180-195-210-225 stitches.

When the piece measures 23-24-25-27-28-28 cm after the rib, mid-front, increase 1 stitch at the end of each stocking stitch section = 160-176-192-208-224-240 stitches.

When the piece measures 33-34-36-38-40-40 cm after the rib, mid-front, increase 5-6-6-7-7-8 stitches by increasing 1 stitch at the beginning of every other stocking stitch section = 165-182-198-215-231-248 stitches.

When the piece measures 47-48-50-52-54-54 cm after the rib mid-front, increase 5-5-6-6-7-7 stitches by increasing 1 stitch at the end of the other stocking stitch section so there are 15 stitches in each section = 170-187-204-221-238-255 stitches.

Continue working until the piece measures 70-72-74-76-78-80 cm from the cast-on edge mid-front.
On the next round increase 1 stitch in each stocking stitch section as before = 180-198-216-234-252-270 stitches. Change to circular needle size 3.5 mm.
Work as follows from mid-back: Purl 1, * knit 4, purl 2 *, work from *-* until there are 5 stitches left, knit 4 and purl 1.
Continue this rib for 2 cm. Cast off a little loosely with knit over knit and purl over purl. The skirt measures approx. 74-76-78-80-82-84 cm from the cast-on edge mid-front.

TWISTED CORD:
Cut 3 strands of Baby Merino, each 4-4-4½-4½-5-5 metres in length. Twist the strands together until they begin to resist, fold double and the cord will continue to twist. Tie a knot in each end. Start mid-front on the inside of the skirt and thread the cord up and down through the holes in the waistband. Tie the ends together on the inside of the skirt.

Diagram explanations

Have you finished this pattern?

Tag your pictures with #dropspattern #goldenyearsskirt or submit them to the #dropsfan gallery.

Do you need help with this pattern?

You'll find 18 tutorial videos, a Comments/Questions area and more by visiting the pattern on garnstudio.com.
Have you purchased DROPS yarn to make this pattern? Then you are entitled to receive help from the store that sold you the yarn.

© 1982-2025 DROPS Design A/S. We reserve all rights. This document, including all its sub-sections, has copyrights. Read more about what you can do with our patterns at the bottom of each pattern on our site.