Strawberry Swirl

Knitted knee-length skirt for children in DROPS Cotton Merino. The piece is worked top down in stocking stitch, with a wave pattern. Sizes 2-14 years.

DROPS Children 49-20
DROPS Design: Pattern cm-016-bn
Yarn group B
-------------------------------------------------------

SIZES:
2 - 3/4 - 5/6 - 7/8 - 9/10 - 11/12 - 13/14 years
Equivalent to child’s height in cm:
92 - 98/104 - 110/116 - 122/128 - 134/140 - 146/152 - 158/164

YARN:
DROPS COTTON MERINO from Garnstudio (belongs to yarn group B)
150-150-200-200-250-250-300 g colour 05, Powder Pink

ACCESSORIES:
Trouser elastic: 40 to 70 cm.

NEEDLES:
DROPS CIRCULAR NEEDLE SIZE 4 MM: Length 40 cm and 80 cm.
DROPS CIRCULAR NEEDLE SIZE 3 MM: Length 40 cm.
The technique MAGIC LOOP can be used – you then only need 80 cm circular needle in each size.

KNITTING TENSION:
21 stitches in width and 28 rows in height, with stocking stitch on needle size 4 mm = 10 x 10 cm.
23 stitches in width and 32 rows in height, with stocking stitch on needle size 3 mm = 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:

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

INCREASE TIP:
Work to the marker-stitch, make 1 yarn over (1 increased stitch), knit 1 (marker-stitch), make 1 yarn over (1 increased stitch).
Repeat at all 6 marker-stitches (12 increased stitches).
On the next round work the yarn overs as follows:
BEFORE MARKER-STITCH:
Slip the yarn over off the left needle and replace it the other way round (insert the left needle through the back when replacing it). Knit the front loop to avoid a hole. Then work the new stitch in stocking stitch.
AFTER MARKER-STITCH:
Knit through the back loop to avoid a hole. Then work the new stitch in stocking stitch.

PATTERN:
See diagram A.1.
The last row in the diagram shows how to cast off.

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

START THE PIECE HERE:

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

SHORT OVERVIEW OF THE PIECE:
The pattern uses both long and short needles; start with the length which fits the number of stitches and change when necessary.
The piece is worked in the round, top down. The waistband is worked first and later folded down with trouser elastic inside. The rest of the skirt is worked while increasing the stitch count.

WAISTBAND:
Cast on 102-106-112-120-128-138-148 stitches with DROPS Cotton Merino and circular needle size 3 mm. Work 2 cm stocking stitch, purl 1 round (= folding edge), work 2 cm stocking stitch. Insert 1 marker; the piece is now measured from here.

SKIRT:
Change to circular needle size 4 mm. Knit 1 round and decrease 6-4-4-6-8-12-10 stitches evenly spaced = 96-102-108-114-120-126-138 stitches.
Insert 6 markers without working the stitches – insert each marker into 1 stitch, with 15-16-17-18-19-20-22 stitches between each marker-stitch.
Work 1 cm stocking stitch.
Continue stocking stitch. On the next round increase on each side of each marker – read INCREASE TIP in explanations above. Increase like this every 2-2-2-2-2-2½-2½ cm a total of 9-10-11-12-13-14-14 times = 204-222-240-258-276-294-306 stitches. Remember to maintain the knitting tension.

Continue with stocking stitch until the piece measures 19-21-24-28-31-35-40 cm from the marker. AT THE SAME TIME on the last round decrease 0-1-2-3-4-5-0 stitches evenly spaced = 204-221-238-255-272-289-306 stitches.
Work A.1 a total of 12-13-14-15-16-17-18 times on the round.
When all the increases in A.1 are finished, there are 228-247-266-285-304-323-342 stitches. The last round in A.1 shows how to cast off with yarn overs.
The skirt measures approx. 25-27-30-34-37-41-46 cm from the marker.

ASSEMBLY:
Fold the waistband along the purled round, insert the trouser elastic tied to the correct length and sew the waistband down on the inside, making sure the seam is not tight. The skirt measures approx. 27-29-32-36-39-43-48 cm in total.

Diagram explanations

Have you finished this pattern?

Tag your pictures with #dropspattern #strawberryswirlskirt 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.

© 1982-2026 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.