I crocheted a skirt! Yup, a whole skirt…. almost can’t believe it myself, since crochet is not my forte.
Now I was initially inspired by Jo Sharp’s Hexagon skirt, but have discovered this new-wave trend was set by Australian designers Romance was Born in their whimsical Spring/Summer 2009 collection, itself inspired by the crocheted granny-square rugs of the 1960’s and 1970’s.
I really love it! it’s so warm and cosy, and I love the unexpected jolt of seeing so-unhip-it’s-actually-kinda-hip granny-squares in a wearable item. I think it is fun and funky; when I first posted my plans for this skirt I did get a comment that “these are everywhere right now” but I haven’t seen a single one out and about around where I live, so I guess the trend hasn’t caught on in Perth yet. I feel happily unique so far.
Viva les granny-square!
(at left, Jo Sharp’s Hexagon skirt; at right from Romance was Born Spring/Summer 2009)
Crocheted Granny-Squares Skirt:
6 balls of coloured 8ply yarn
I used Jo Sharp Classic DK Wool; 3 “greenish” shades (Glade, Lichen and Orchard), and 3 “reddish” shades (Brocade, Scarlet and Nasturtium)
3 balls of Black 8ply yarn
3.5mm crochet hook *
3.5mm round needle *
(*warning, I am an extremely loose knitter and crocheter, and a “normal” person would probably use a needle/hook 3 sizes bigger…)
Abbreviations:
ch; chain
tr; treble stitch (US double)
sl st; slip stitch
Using colour 1, ch 6, join with a slip stitch in the 1st chain to make a ring.
ch3, tr x2 into ring, (ch 3, tr x3 into ring) 3 times; ch 3. Sl st into top of 3 ch at beginning, end wool.
Join 2nd colour into corner:
ch3, tr x2, ch 2, tr x3; (ch 2, tr x3 into next corner, ch2 tr x3 into same corner) 3 times, ch 2, sl st into top of first ch 3 in this colour, end wool.
Using black, join into corner:
ch 3, tr x2 into corner , ch 2, tr x3 into same corner, ch 2; ( tr x3 into side, ch2, tr x3, ch 2, tr x 3 into next corner, ch 2, tr x3 into same corner, ch2) 3 times; ch 2, tr x3 into next side, ch 2, join with a sl st into top of first black ch 3, end wool.
Voila! you have a little granny square!
How many you need to make depends on the size of your granny-squares, your own hip measurement and how long you want your skirt to be; this is an individual requirement.
I made 78, having one “green” and one “red” shade in each one, and alternating to have equal-ish numbers of each variation. Then overstitched them together to make a tube of 6 x 13 squares.
Then using a 3.5mm round needle, I picked up 92 stitches around the top (as a guide, 7 in each square and then 1 extra in the last),
K 15 rows in the round in black.
Row 16; (K4, K 2 tog) rep until you get to the last 2 st, K2 (78 st)
K 15 rows.
Cast off, veeeeery loosely (otherwise you won’t be able to fit the skirt over your hips!)
Take a piece of 2mm black elastic cut to fit your waist, and weave it in and out through the stitches in the second to top row, then machine zig-zag the ends together firmly.
The beauty of this is that it has no front or back, so there is less chance of developing a “seat” by sitting in the skirt the same way every time. It can just be swivelled around any which way. And since it is all wool and crocheted, it can be reshaped after laundering, if necessary.
