These little shorts are my new favorite project. They knitted up quickly and though they’re done in stockinette, the increases every 4 rows kept it interesting. The pattern below will create a size smallish medium. I didn’t include a lot of details about how to sew in the elastic thread at the waistband, but there’s a lot of great youtube videos that will show you how. 🙂

Here’s how I made them…

MATERIALS

24″ US 4 circular needles

24″ US 6 circular needles

112 g Madeline Tosh, Tosh Merino Light

30” ish elastic thread (I’m a dummy and bought beading thread instead of the fabric elastic, but it works just fine)

Tapestry needle

PATTERN

Worked top down on US 4 and US 6 needles in the round.

Gauge: 4”= 24 sts and 32 rows

Waistband

Using US 4 needles, cast on 72 stitches, place marker, cast on 72 more, place marker and join.

Work 12 rows in k2, p2 rib.

Hip shaping

Switch to US 6 needles.

*Knit 2 rows. Next row: slip marker, knit 1, increase 1, knit to 1 stitch before next marker, increase 1, knit 1, slip marker, knit 1, increase 1, knit to 1 stitch before next marker, increase 1, knit 1. Knit 1 row.* 4 stitches increased.

Repeat from * to * 19 times more. You will have worked 20 increase rows and should have 224 stitches on your needle (112 stitches on each side). At this point, you will split the work in two and work the front and back separately.

Front

Next row: Remove marker. Bind off 6 stitches. Work to next marker. Remove marker. Turn work.

Next row (wrong side): Bind off 6 stitches. Purl to end of row.

Next row (right side): Bind of 6 stitches. Knit to end of row.

Continue working like this, binding off 6 stitches at the beginning of each row until you have 16 stitches on your needle.

Work 12 rows even in stockinette stitch. Cut a tail about 18” long and place these stitches on a stitch holder to be worked later.

Back

Next row (right side): Rejoin yarn to work. Bind off 3 stitches. Knit to the end of the row.

Next row (wrong side): Bind off 3 stitches. Purl to the end of the row.

Continue working like this, binding off 3 stitches at the beginning of each row until you have 16 stitches on your needle.

Work 12 rows even in stockinette stitch. Don’t break yarn. You’ll use it to pick up stitches for the leg after joining the crotch.

Crotch

Seam the 16 stitches from the front and 16 from the back together using Kitchener stitch.

Leg

Using the yarn from the back piece that you left attached and size 4 circular needle, pick up stitches for the leg hole as follows.

From one side of the crotch, pick up 10 stitches. From the front pick up 56 stitches. From the back pick up 64 stitches. Pick up 10 more stitches from the other side of the crotch. Place marker and join. You should have 140 stitches. Knit 3 rows in stockinette stitch. Switch to 2×2 rib and work 8 more rows. Bind off.

Work the other leg hole just the same, picking up the same amount of stitches from each section.

Finish

Weave in all ends. Lightly steam block with an iron. Sew in elastic thread to the very first row of waistband. Thread a tapestry needle with elastic and pick up the front leg of each stitch and pull elastic through. Tie a tight knot.