Who knew the secret to making skirts stay up was elastic? Was it everyone? Because I just found out while remaking my Scrap Yarn Pencil Skirt. This is an update of a pretty recent pattern, but I still only had pictures and the blog post to work with.

One reason I take so many pictures of what I make – alongside vanity, boredom, and an excuse to do my makeup – is a habit of getting rid of things. I believe too strongly in the healing power of organization. When I was nine, the same age I was when I started knitting, I spent a lot of time at my art teacher’s house. She lived across the street from me and her home was full of treasures. Her dining room was stacked with boxes and bins so high you couldn’t see the table. The living room was stacked with papers, furniture, and enough nicknacks you couldn’t have put up a Christmas tree. The guest room was so full of clothes and books you couldn’t sit on the bed. But the best was the art studio. You couldn’t get enough floor space to paint on a canvas, but every scoop full of buttons, yarn, and charcoal, revealed a fine film of shining sequins. There was this idea that alongside the sequins and seed beads that stuck under my fingernails, was Mrs. Binger’s health. I didn’t know cleaning out an art room couldn’t cure Parkinson’s. It’s still my cure-all for hurt feelings and bad work days.

I wish I could say I frogged this skirt for the yarn, but it actually made its way into a donation bag while I was cleaning out my closet. I had an incredibly awkward first date in it, so away it went. Maybe I’m addicted to fresh starts. My skirt might be gone, but through my newfound knowledge of this newfangled elastic, I can do it better.

I’m actively looking for test knitters for this pattern! If you’re interested, drop me a line!

Braided Tulip Skirt

Size: XS (S, M, L, XL)

Size Guide

Materials:

Needles: US size 6 and US size 8

Yarn:

MC: Shine Worsted in Coffee, 8 (9, 11, 13, 15) skeins (75 yards each))

CC: Shine Worsted in Cream, 1 skein (75 yards)

Length of Elastic – 3/4″ x 23″ (25″, 28″, 32″, 36″)

Gauge:

9 stitches and 12 rows = 2 inches in stockinette (size 8 needles)

Abbreviations

CN – Cable needle

H2F – Hold to front

H2B – Hold to back

WS- Wrong side

RS – Right side