Finally, after 4 sample/test knits this pattern is ready for you!  I am just a wee bit tired of knitting jumper pinafores at the moment, but I wanted to plough through and get this one to you for your autumn knitting pleasure. 🙂  I hope you enjoy knitting it.

If you’ve been following my posts, you’ll know that this design was inspired by a vintage   jumper I saw quite awhile ago on Pinterest.  I’ve no idea who the original designer was.  If anyone knows, please let me know.

This pinafore is quite easy to knit with minimal shaping.  It’s knit flat with plackets for buttons and buttonholes on the back.  You’ll start at the bottom with a seed stitch border and go up.  Stockinette stitch is used for most of the skirt.  As you get to the fitted high waistband, you’ll make decorative decreases which look like soft gathers or pleats.

When the entire skirt is finished, stitches are picked up for the straps.  I don’t like picking up stitches, probably because I haven’t practiced enough, but these are a very small number to pick up, and they’re picked up along a straight edge.  It wasn’t hard at all, and I’ve included tips.  If you really don’t want to pick up stitches simply knit the straps then sew them on.

Working buttonholes are added to the straps and for the first three buttons.  The remainder of the buttons are sewn through both plackets, as they’re not needed for dressing.

The Little Darlings have sloped shoulders, and the straps are meant to fall right at the shoulder/arm joint, so the straps need a fabric blouse or t-shirt to “grip” onto.  I’ve used quilter’s cotton which works nicely.  If you have the top already made you can adjust the straps when you get to this point in the pattern.  The straps could be lengthened and criss crossed in the back too.

The buttonholes are made with a yarn over.  These buttonholes are just a tiny bit larger than the ones on my sweater patterns.  Four millimeter beads will still work, but five millimeter beads or 1/4″ buttons are a better fit.  If you’re using the smaller size, making good thread shanks is important.

I’ve use Knit Picks fingering weight yarn for these three pinafores:  Stroll Tweed Sock in North Pole Heather, Palette in a blue heather, and Gloss in cranberry.  The gauges came out slightly different for each, but all three different yarns worked with the same pattern.

I wish all of you a wonderful day!  Thanks for visiting with me today. ❤