  by
Emily Dust-Nimsakont
I work at the National Museum of
Roller Skating (I'm not making this up -- there actually
is such a place), and over the time that I have worked
there, I have found myself drawn to the photographs
of the skaters from the 1940s, and especially to the
pleated wool skirts worn by some of the female skaters.
This pattern is the product of my attempt to recreate
one of those skirts (although it's a slightly sportier
version, with a drawstring waist).
The skirt is knit in the round from
the top down. The pleats are made up of panels of
knit stitches, which increase in size, alternating
with panels of purl stitches, which remain the same
size throughout.
The result is a nice, cozy skirt
for fall days that calls to mind an era when the roller
rink was the place to meet guys and every year, a
young woman was crowned the Roller Skating Queen of
America (no, I'm not making that up, either).
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model: Emily
Dust-Nimsakont
photos: Tanee
Nimsakont |
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| XS (S, M, L, XL, XXL) |
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Waist: 27.5 (30, 32.5, 35, 37.5,
40) inches when flat (with drawstring relaxed)
Drawstring adjusts to fit waist: 25-27 (28-30, 30-32,
33-35, 35-37, 38-40) inches
Hem circumference: 42.5 (45, 47.5, 50, 52.5, 55) inches
Length: 19.25 (19.25, 20.25, 20.25, 21.25, 21.25)inches
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Brown Sheep Top of the Lamb Single Ply Sport [100%
wool; 154yd/138m per 50g skein]; color: 200 (Russet);
5 (6, 6, 7, 7, 8) skeins
29-inch US #4/3 1/4 mm circular
needle
2 US #3/3mm double-pointed needles
tapestry needle
safety pin (optional)
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| [Knitty's list of standard
abbreviations can be found here] |
| 24 sts/35 rows =
4" in stockinette stitch |
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 With
circular needle, CO 165 (180, 195, 210, 225, 240)
sts.
Place marker and join to beg working in the round,
being careful not to twist stitches.
Create drawstring casing
Work in St st (k every round) for 1 1/2".
Next
round:
Sizes XS, M, XL: k 80 (95, 110), yo, k2tog,
k1, k2tog, yo, k 80 (95, 110).
Sizes S, L, XXL: k 88 (103, 118), yo, k2tog,
k2tog, yo, k88 (103, 118).
Cont in st st until work measures
2".
Start pleated panels
Next
round: P2, k10, [p5, k10] to last 3 sts, p3.
Rep this round until panels measure 3" (total
length is 5").
Next round: P2, k2, m1, k6, m1, k2, [p5,
k2, m1, k6, m1, k2] to last 3 sts, p3.
Next round: P2, k12, [p5, k12] to last
3 sts, p 3.
Rep this round until panels measure 6" (total
length is 8").
Next round: P2, k2, m1, k8, m1, k2, [p5,
k2, m1, k8, m1, k2] to last 3 sts, p 3.
Next round: P2, k14, [p5, k14] to last
3 sts, p3.
Rep this round until panels measure 9" (total
length is 11").
Cont in this manner, inc two stitches in each panel
every 3" until each panel has 22 knit sts.
297[324, 351, 378, 405, 432] sts; panels measure
18" (total length is 20").
Next round: P2, k22, [p5, k22] to last
3 sts, p3.
Rep this round for 0[0, 1, 1, 2, 2] inches.
Work four rounds of garter stitch.
BO all stitches loosely.
Drawstring
With dpns, CO 3 sts. Knit I-cord for 37[39.5, 42,
44.5, 47, 49.5] inches, or desired length.
BO.
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| Fold top inch of
work to inside and sew in place to form drawstring
casing.
Attach safety pin to end of drawstring and thread
through casing, drawing ends through holes formed
by yarnovers.
[Another option: I chose to slip
one end of the drawstring through each hole and fold
the casing over the drawstring as I sewed the edge
of the casing to the inside of the skirt.]
Weave in ends. Block to measurements.
[Blocking tip: Wet block piece with ribs collapsed.]
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 Emily
Dust Nimsakont lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, with her
husband and her cat. She is the assistant curator
at the National Museum of Roller Skating.
In the rare moments when she is not knitting, she
enjoys reading, running, and attempting to learn to
golf. |
| Pattern & images
© 2004 Emily Dust-Nimsakont. Contact Emily |
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