Free Pattern: Baby Pants

I love knitting baby items in BC Garn yarns. Not only are the yarns organic, they are GOTS Certified, ensuring not only the health and safety of the fibers, but also the animals and people who make them. Organic yarns are great for babies. Not only are they better for the planet, new parents appreciate the extra thought and care that an organic hand-knit item brings. Hats are a go-to because they are small and easy to make without a lot of fussing around. I have probably knit 4 or 5 Gilda Hats in BC Garn over the years! But when a hat isn’t enough, and a sweater might be too much, knit baby pants are the ultimate cute baby knit. These knit baby pants are worked seamlessly in the round from the top down–no sewing seams here! The waistband is worked in a knit 1 purl 1 ribbing, then the body is worked in double moss stitch. Increases are worked using a combination of lifted and make one increases, ensuring the patterning is maintained seamlessly. Once the increases are completed, the pants are divided for each leg and knit down. Each leg is worked separately and decreases are worked on the legs as k3tog or p3tog at the inseam. Working three stitches together for your decrease allows you to maintain the double moss stitch pattern easily. One of the things I really like about this pattern is that it is a great project for an advanced beginner. It uses knitting, purling, increasing and decreasing and the double moss stitch is a great stitch pattern for someone really looking to master the concept of “reading your knitting,” or “reading your stitches.”

PATTERN: Courtney's Baby Pants!

YARN
BC Garn Bio Balance (55% Organic Wool, 45% Organic Cotton; 246 yds / 50 gm skein): 21 red currant, 1 skein.
GAUGE
26 sts + 32 rnds = 4” (10 cm) in double moss st on larger ndls, after blocking.
NEEDLES
1 - 16” (40 cm) US 2.5 or 3 (3 mm) circular.
1 - 16” (40 cm) US 4 (3.5 mm) circular.
1 - set US 2.5 or 3 (3 mm) DPNs.
1 - set US 4 (3.5 mm) DPNs.
Check gauge and adjust needle size accordingly if necessary.
NOTIONS
Tapestry needle, 2 stitch markers, waste yarn or stitch holder.
SIZE
to fit 0-6 months (12.5" (36 cm) circumference waist, 14" (35.5 cm) Length with waistband unfolded)

STITCH PATTERNS
1x1 Rib (in the rnd over a mult of 2 sts):
Rnd 1: K1, p1; rep to end.
Rep Rnd 1 for patt.

Double Moss Stitch (in the rnd over a mult of 2 sts):
Rnd 1: K1, p1; rep to end.
Rnd 2: K1, p1; rep to end.
Rnd 3: P1, k1; rep to end.
Rnd 4: P1, k1; rep to end.
Rep Rnds 1-4 for patt.

Double Moss Stitch (in the rnd over a mult of 2 sts +1):
Rnd 1: K1, p1; rep to 1 st remains, k1.
Rnd 2: K1, p1; rep to 1 st rem, k1.
Rnd 3: P1, k1; rep to 1 st rem, p1.
Rnd 4: P1, k1; rep to 1 st rem, k1.
Rep Rnds 1-4 for patt.

ABBREVIATIONS
M1-k: Make one knit-wise
M1-p: Make one purl-wise
K-RLI: Knit-wise right lifted increase
P-RLI: Purl-wise right lifted increase

DIRECTIONS
Waist:
Using smaller ndls, CO 86 sts. Pm indicating beg of the rnd and join for working in the rnd, being careful not to twist stitches.

Work in 1x1 Ribbing for 2”.

Body:
Change to larger ndls.

Work Rnds 1-4 of Double Moss Stitch 7 times, working final Rnd 4 as follows: Work in patt for 43 sts, pm indicating center of rnd, work in patt to end.

Increase for Gusset:
Rnd 1 (Inc): P-RLI, *k1, p1; rep from * to 1 st before m, k1, m1p, slm, K-RLI, *p1, k1; rep from * to 1 st before m, p1, m1k – 4 sts inc’d.
Rnd 2: *P1, k1; rep from * around.
Rnd 3: *K1, p1; rep from * around.
Rnd 4: *K1, p1; rep from * around.
Rnd 5 (Inc): K-RLI, *p1, k1; rep from * to 1 st before m, p1, m1 k-wise, slm, P-RLI, *k1, p1; rep from * to last st, k1, m1p - 4 sts inc'd.
Rnd 6: *K1, p1; rep from * around.
Rnd 7: *P1, k1; rep from * around.
Rnd 8: *P1, k1; rep from * around.
Rep prev 8 rnds 1 time more, then Rnds 1-7 once more – 110 sts.

Divide for Legs:
Work 55 sts in pattern as set to center m, remove m, place rem 55 sts on a holder or thread onto waste yarn. Work each leg separately.

Legs:
Using backwards loop, CO 1 st, place a marker at new beg of rnd – 56 sts.

Work Rounds 1-4 in Double Moss Stitch.

Begin Leg Decreases:
Rnd 1 (Dec): Work in patt to 1 st before end of rnd, sl last st to the RH ndl and remove m, place sl st back on the LH ndl and replace m indicating new beg of rnd, p3tog, *k1, p1; rep from * to 1 st rem, k1.
Rnds 2-4: Work in Double Moss Stitch.
Repeat prev 4 rnds 6 times more - 36 sts.

Work straight in patt until leg meas approx 5.5” (14 cm).

Change to smaller DPNs and work in 1x1 Rib for 1.5” (4 cm). Bind off loosely and repeat for second leg.

Finishing:
Weave in ends. Soak in cool water and Soak Wash (Unscented for babies is best!) and lay flat to dry.

Adorably tiny, endlessly versatile, and easy to wear, you’ll love knitting these as much as your baby will love wearing them!

Notes:
Looking for a 100% cotton version? Try knitting them in Kelbourne Woolens Skipper! Want a cozy, warm 100% wool version? Grab BC Garn Semilla, an easy wash wool.

In double moss stitch you set up your stitches on round 1 and then for round 2 you “knit your knits and purl your purls.” On round 3, you do the opposite–where you see a knit, you’ll purl it; and where you see a purl, you’ll knit it. Round 4 you’ll purl your purls and knit your knits. The stitch pattern has a nice rhythm to it, and you will love to see it unfold as you knit.