When you have a wardrobe full of knitted jumpers… it’s time to knit some trousers! Simple, classic and timeless, these Culottes will feel at home in any wardrobe. Wear with nautical stripes and trainers for Maritime Chic in the Spring, with a bikini to the beach in the summer, or customise into short shorts or pavement skimming trousers by adjusting the leg length to your preference; the styling possibilities are endless!

Sizes: 2 (3) 4 (5) 6 (8) 10 years
Waist Circumference: 2 (3) 4 (5) 6 (8) 10 years
Hip Circumference: 69 (71) 79 (81) 81 (89) 95cm
Inseam: 19 (21) 23 (24.5) 26.5 (30) 36cm
Gauge: 21 sts and 26 rows for 10 x 10cm in ss
Suggested Needles: 3.5mm and 4mm circulars with 40-50cm cords, 3.5mm dpns
Suggested Materials: 2 (2) 2 (3) 3 (4) 4 skeins of The Cotton Wool by We Are Knitters, but this may be more/less if you make the leg shorter/longer than the inseam given. 3cm wide elastic for the waistband, tapestry needle, stitch markers.

Notes on Sizing

The ages given are used as guidelines but as children grow at different rates, make sure to measure your child and use the measurement (rather than age) as a guide as to what size to knit. The Culottes are designed to have a snug fit around the waist which tapers out to skim loosely over the hips and sits wide on the thigh and the legs. The two smallest sizes have 15 cm and all other sizes have 20 cm of positive ease incorporated. The leg lengths given should serve as a guideline. Make sure to measure your child, or better still, get them to try the culottes on before binding off to ensure you have reached the leg length required.

Notes on Construction

The Culottes are worked on circular needles in the round. First the waistband is knitted on the smaller needles, then you switch to larger needles and use German Short rows to make the Culottes higher in the back. Increases make the Culottes roomier in the hips. A gusset is created to add ease of movement when the garment is worn. The legs are knit in continuation of the body on circular needles, one leg at a time. Finally the waistband is knit on dpns.