Sweetheart Child's Eyelet Bib Skirt

Free Child Skirt Knitting Pattern

A bib skirt is cute, traditional and easy to knit. This skirt was designed to match the Sweetheart Child's Eyelet Cardigan, and features the same eyelet motif.

I made the skirt in a solid color because I was worried it might clash with the Cardigan if I made it with color transitions. However, if you're using it by itself or don't feel this is a problem, you can add colors transitions. The procedure is the same as with the cardigan. I recommend making color changes in the wrong side row following the eyelet row.

The skirt is worked from the top down as one piece, starting with the bib, which is worked back and forth and then the skirt itself is worked in rounds. The skirt is worked in stockinette stitch with rows of eyelets. It is finished with garter stitch at the bottom. The shoulder straps are also worked in garter stitch.

The skirt on the picture is in size 2 and is knee-length. The pattern actually gives instructions for a longer skirt, about mid-calf. To make it shorter or longer, just adjust the number of rounds. It's easy to adjust on the go.


Sizes: 2 (4, 6, 8, 10)

Finished Measurements

Length: 12 (13, 14, 14, 15) inches [30 (32.5, 35, 35, 37.5) cm]

Materials: 100% Wool Brown Sheep (affiliate link) Nature Spun Sport Weight yarn 184 yd (168 m)/50g, color 187 Red Fox – 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) balls.
Elasic
snaps

Needles: circular US#5 (3.75mm) 21” (52 cm) OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE

Gauge for stockinette st: 18 sts x 32 rows = 4" x 4" (10cm x 10cm)

Pattern Notes

Stockinette St in Rows:
Row 1: knit
Row 2: purl
Repeat rows 1-2

Stockinette St in Rounds
All rounds: knit

Garter Stitch in rows:
All rows: knit

Garter Stitch in rounds:
Round 1: knit
Round 2: purl
Repeat rounds 1-2

Selvedge Stitches
The 1st and last stitches of the pattern are selvedge stitches.
Selvedge stitches are used to make the edges of the work even and smooth.
In this pattern, I slip the first stitch as if to knit and purl the last stitch.

Abbreviations:
k – knit
p - purl
k2tog - knit 2 together
co - cast on
yo - yarn over
RS - right side
WS - wrong side
pu&k - pick up and knit


Bib Skirt

Please note that there are different amount of stockinette st rows between eyelet rows for each size: 10 (12, 14, 16, 18).

The skirt is worked from the top down, starting with the bib, which is worked back and forth. The skirt itself is worked in rounds, without seams. The shoulder straps are worked from the top of the bib in garter stitch. The elastic casing is added afterwards (optional).

Cast on 29 (30, 31, 32, 33) sts (includes 2 selvedge sts) .

Bib

Rows 1-6: sl 1, garter st to last st, p 1.
Row 7: sl 1, knit to last st, p 1.
Row 8: sl 1, k 3, purl to last 4 sts, k 3, p 1.
Repeat rows 7-8 26 (30, 36, 48, 56) more times.

Skirt

Knit next RS row, cast on 75 (84, 91, 98, 103) sts, join to the 1st st and continue to work in rounds.

Work 6 rounds of garter stitch.

Work 10 (12, 14, 16, 18) rounds of stockinette st.

1st Eyelet Round: *k 2, yo - rep from * to the end of the round.

Next row: knit

Work 10 (12, 14, 16, 18) rounds of stockinette st.

2nd Eyelet Round: *k 2, yo -rep from * to the end of the round.

Next row: knit

Work 10 (12, 14, 16, 18) rounds of stockinette st.

3rd Eyelet Round: *k2tog, yo - repeat from * to the end of the round.

Next row: knit

Work 10 (12, 14, 16, 18) rounds of stockinette st.

Repeat 3rd eyelet round, next even round and following 10 (12, 14, 16, 18) rounds 4 (5, 6, 6, 7) more times or to desired length. Remember that 6 rounds of stockinette and 8 rounds of garter stitch will add about 2” (5 cm) to the length of the skirt.

Work 6 rounds of stockinette.
Work 8 rounds of garter stitch. Bind off.

Shoulder Straps

Pu&k 7 sts on the right (or left) side of the top of the bib and work garter stitch for 15 (16, 18, 20, 22) inches [37 (41, 44, 50, 55) cm] or to desired length. Bind off.

Work a second strap on the opposite side of the bib.

Finishing:

Weave in the ends of the yarn. Block the piece.

Casing for elastic (optional)

Pu&k stitches along the top of the skirt (on both sides of the bib) and work stockinette st for 6 rows. Bind off. Sew on the edge of the casing on the wrong side of the skirt waist. Thread a piece of elastic through the casing and secure the ends to the edge of the bib, overlapping by 0.5 inch.

Sew a snap to the end of each shoulder strap and to the waist at the back.

Enjoy!