Sydney Skirt Knitting Pattern

The Sydney Skirt knitting pattern brings a beginner-friendly take to a classic straight-cut skirt, with sizing from XS through 5XL.

The Sydney Skirt is a new free skirt knitting pattern here on the blog. Read about my inspiration, the perfect yarn I choose and the simple construction below, then purchase the pdf pattern with photos and instructions here for only $4.70 or scroll down for the free version.

No time right now? Pin this free skirt knitting pattern for later!

*This post contains affiliate links (only for products I love, use and spend my own money on obviously). This means I earn some yarn money if you make a purchase through one of these links (of course at no extra cost for you!), which I promise to use to create more awesome patterns like this one. All opinions are my own. See my full disclosure here.

A Skirt Knitting Pattern for Every Look

It doesn’t get much more versatile than a high-waisted, straight-cut skirt. The Sydney Skirt is completely adjustable in length, so you can customize it for any look. Knit a short skirt and pair it with a set of tall boots for a mod 60s vibe. Create a mid-length skirt and don a pair of flats for a more collegiate feel. Throw on some tights and this skirt will take you into the chilly fall months as well.

It’s important that pieces like this are ultra adjustable and flattering for all sizes. You’ll find the pattern in XS – 5XL with a wide elastic waistband that ensures a perfect fit (and no pulling it up all day!). I like to wear mine with a thin belt on top, but that’s just for the looks.

You’ll love the feel of the Moss Stitch (alternating knits and purls) in this design.

Free Skirt Knitting Pattern for Beginners

The Yarn

For this free knit skirt pattern I choose to work with LionBrand Touch of Alpaca because they had the perfect shade of crimson red I was looking for. It was my first time working with this yarn, what a pleasant surprise!

Touch of Alpaca might only have 10% Alpaca, making it very reasonably priced, it is so soft. You’ll feel hugged by a soft blanket all day.

The color palette is also amazing. A great selection of modern neutrals and trendy colors to choose from.

However, you can easily substitute with any medium worsted weight yarn.

Downloadable PDF Skirt Knitting Pattern

click here to purchase the convenient printable PDF pattern of the Sydney knit skirt pattern

Why I Recommend You Purchase the PDF Pattern

If you’ve never used PDF patterns before, you are missing out on so much convenience!

You don’t need to take screenshots of the pattern
You don’t need to have your computer, phone or tablet around to work on your project.
You don’t need to panic if your husband accidentally closed the page
You can take notes, highlight your size and write down where you are.
When your best friend begs you to make her the same skirt, you have the pattern ready.
It’s a great way to support the blog so I can continue to bring you knitting tutorials.

Grab the printable PDF of the Beads and Bobbles Sweater seamless crochet pattern now in my Etsy shop or on Ravelry:

Etsy

Ravelry

Before You Start Your Knit Skirt

Materials

5 mm/ US 8 circular knitting needles.
Worsted weight LionBrand Touch of Alpaca (10% alpaca, 90% acrylic, 190m /207yd, 100g/3.5oz) in Crimson colorway:
- XS, S & M: 3 skeins
- L, XL, 2XL & 3XL: 4 skeins
- 4XL & 5XL: 5 skeins
Tapestry needle to weave in the ends
8 cm / 3” wide elastic band (length needed is your waist measurement)
1 stitch marker

Size

The skirt knitting pattern is available in the following sizes: XS to 5XL. The pictures illustrate the XL size.

Final garment measurements are:

XS: 95 cm / 37.5” hip
S: 103 cm / 40.5” hip
M: 111 cm / 44” hip
L: 119 cm / 47” hip
XL: 135 cm / 53” hip
2XL: 143 cm / 56.5” hip
3XL: 151 cm / 59.5” hip
4XL: 159 cm / 62.5” hip
5XL: 167 cm / 66” hip

The knit skirt is designed with a loose fit 10 – 15 cm / 4” – 6” ease at the hips.

The waist fit is adjusted with the elastic band.

The skirt is 56 cm / 22” long, you can easily adjust the length by trying it on and adding/ removing rows before casting off.

Gauge

The gauge for this pattern, in seed stitch, is 15 st by 27 rows for a 10 cm by 10 cm square (4” by 4”).

Abbreviations & Instructions

st = stitch
k = knit
p = purl
pfb = purl 1 into front and back of a stitch; single purl increase
p2tog = purl 2 stitches together
k2tog = knit 2 stitches together

Repeat instructions between [] the indicated number of times or until the end of the round/row.

The final number of stitches is indicated at the end of the round/row between < >.

Special Stitches

Seed Stich = work one row of knit 1, purl 1 followed by one row of purl 1, knit 1.

The Actual Free Skirt Knitting Pattern

Before you get started, purchase the convenient printable PDF pattern HERE.

XS
Cast on 132 st and join in the round.
Round 1: [k1, p1] around.
Repeat Round 1 until you reach 7 cm / 2.75”.
Round 2: k2tog, [[p1, k1] 9 times, p2tog, k2tog] 5 times, [p1, k1] 8 times, p2tog, k2tog. <119 st>
Round 3: [p1, k1] around, p1.
Round 4: [k1, p1] around, k1.
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 20 cm / 8”.
Increase: [[p1, k1] 9 times, pfb, pfb] 5 times, [p1, k1] 8 times, pfb, pfb, p1. <131 st>
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 25 cm /10”.
Increase: [[p1, k1] 10 times, pfb, pfb] 5 times, [p1, k1] 9 times, pfb, pfb, p1. <143 st>
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 49 cm / 19.25” or desired length. Cast off and weave in the ends.
S
Cast on 144 st and join in the round.
Round 1: [k1, p1] around.
Repeat Round 1 until you reach 7 cm / 2.75”.
Round 2: k2tog, [[p1, k1] 10 times, p2tog, k2tog] 5 times, [p1, k1] 9 times, p2tog, k2tog. <131 st>
Round 3: [p1, k1] around, p1.
Round 4: [k1, p1] around, k1.
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 20 cm / 8”.
Increase: [[p1, k1] 10 times, pfb, pfb] 5 times, [p1, k1] 9 times, pfb, pfb, p1. <143 st>
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 25 cm /10”.
Increase: [[p1, k1] 11 times, pfb, pfb] 5 times, [p1, k1] 10 times, pfb, pfb, p1. <155 st>
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 49 cm / 19.25” or desired length.
Cast off and weave in the ends.
M
Cast on 156 st and join in the round.
Round 1: [k1, p1] around.
Repeat Round 1 until you reach 7 cm / 2.75”.
Round 2: k2tog, [[p1, k1] 11 times, p2tog, k2tog] 5 times, [p1, k1] 10 times, p2tog, k2tog. <143 st>
Round 3: [p1, k1] around, p1.
Round 4: [k1, p1] around, k1.
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 20 cm / 8”.
Increase: [[p1, k1] 11 times, pfb, pfb] 5 times, [p1, k1] 10 times, pfb, pfb, p1. <155 st>
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 25 cm /10”.
Increase: [[p1, k1] 12 times, pfb, pfb] 5 times, [p1, k1] 11 times, pfb, pfb, p1. <167 st>
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 49 cm / 19.25” or desired length.
Cast off and weave in the ends.
L
Cast on 168 st and join in the round.
Round 1: [k1, p1] around.
Repeat Round 1 until you reach 7 cm / 2.75”.
Round 2: k2tog, [[p1, k1] 12 times, p2tog, k2tog] 5 times, [p1, k1] 11 times, p2tog, k2tog. <155 st>
Round 3: [p1, k1] around, p1.
Round 4: [k1, p1] around, k1.
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 20 cm / 8”.
Increase: [[p1, k1] 12 times, pfb, pfb] 5 times, [p1, k1] 11 times, pfb, pfb, p1. <167 st>
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 25 cm /10”.
Increase: [[p1, k1] 13 times, pfb, pfb] 5 times, [p1, k1] 12 times, pfb, pfb, p1. <179 st>
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 49 cm / 19.25” or desired length.
Cast off and weave in the ends.
XL
Cast on 192 st and join in the round.
Round 1: [k1, p1] around.
Repeat Round 1 until you reach 7 cm / 2.75”.
Round 2: k2tog, [[p1, k1] 14 times, p2tog, k2tog] 5 times, [p1, k1] 13 times, p2tog, k2tog. <179 st>
Round 3: [p1, k1] around, p1
Round 4: [k1, p1] around, k1.
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 20 cm / 8”.
Increase: [[p1, k1] 14 times, pfb, pfb] 5 times, [p1, k1] 13 times, pfb, pfb, p1. <191 st>
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 25 cm /10”.
Increase: [[p1, k1] 15 times, pfb, pfb] 5 times, [p1, k1] 14 times, pfb, pfb, p1. <203 st>
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 49 cm / 19.25 or desired length.
Cast off and weave in the ends.
2XL
Cast on 204 st and join in the round.
Round 1: [k1, p1] around.
Repeat Round 1 until you reach 7 cm / 2.75”.
Round 2: k2tog, [[p1, k1] 15 times, p2tog, k2tog] 5 times, [p1, k1] 14 times, p2tog, k2tog. <191 st>
Round 3: [p1, k1] around, p1
Round 4: [k1, p1] around, k1.
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 20 cm / 8”.
Increase: [[p1, k1] 15 times, pfb, pfb] 5 times, [p1, k1] 14 times, pfb, pfb, p1. <203 st>
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 25 cm /10”.
Increase: [[p1, k1] 16 times, pfb, pfb] 5 times, [p1, k1] 15 times, pfb, pfb, p1. <215 st>
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 49 cm / 19.25 or desired length.
Cast off and weave in the ends.
3XL
Cast on 216 st and join in the round.
Round 1: [k1, p1] around.
Repeat Round 1 until you reach 7 cm / 2.75”.
Round 2: k2tog, [[p1, k1] 16 times, p2tog, k2tog] 5 times, [p1, k1] 15 times, p2tog, k2tog. <203 st>
Round 3: [p1, k1] around, p1
Round 4: [k1, p1] around, k1.
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 20 cm / 8”.
Increase: [[p1, k1] 16 times, pfb, pfb] 5 times, [p1, k1] 15 times, pfb, pfb, p1. <215 st>
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 25 cm /10”.
Increase: [[p1, k1] 17 times, pfb, pfb] 5 times, [p1, k1] 16 times, pfb, pfb, p1. <227 st>
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 49 cm / 19.25 or desired length.
Cast off and weave in the ends.
4XL
Cast on 228 st and join in the round.
Round 1: [k1, p1] around.
Repeat Round 1 until you reach 7 cm / 2.75”.
Round 2: k2tog, [[p1, k1] 17 times, p2tog, k2tog] 5 times, [p1, k1] 16 times, p2tog, k2tog. <215 st>
Round 3: [p1, k1] around, p1
Round 4: [k1, p1] around, k1.
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 20 cm / 8”.
Increase: [[p1, k1] 17 times, pfb, pfb] 5 times, [p1, k1] 16 times, pfb, pfb, p1. <227 st>
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 25 cm /10”.
Increase: [[p1, k1] 18 times, pfb, pfb] 5 times, [p1, k1] 17 times, pfb, pfb, p1. <239 st>
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 49 cm / 19.25 or desired length.
Cast off and weave in the ends.
5XL
Cast on 240 st and join in the round.
Round 1: [k1, p1] around.
Repeat Round 1 until you reach 7 cm / 2.75”.
Round 2: k2tog, [[p1, k1] 18 times, p2tog, k2tog] 5 times, [p1, k1] 17 times, p2tog, k2tog. <227 st>
Round 3: [p1, k1] around, p1
Round 4: [k1, p1] around, k1.
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 20 cm / 8”.
Increase: [[p1, k1] 18 times, pfb, pfb] 5 times, [p1, k1] 17 times, pfb, pfb, p1. <239 st>
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 25 cm /10”.
Increase: [[p1, k1] 19 times, pfb, pfb] 5 times, [p1, k1] 18 times, pfb, pfb, p1. <251 st>
Repeat Round 3 and 4 until the moss stitch section reaches 49 cm / 19.25 or desired length.
Cast off and weave in the ends.
Blocking
You’re done with the knitting part, make sure to weave in all the ends.
To make your tension even block your project lightly.
Don’t skip this step as it can make a huge difference. Read my detailed tutorial on why block, how-to, and all my tips and tricks if you need help.
Finishing Touches
To get the perfect waist fit and help the Sydney Skirt hold up, add an 8 cm / 3” elastic band at the waist.
Cut the elastic to your exact waist measurement. As you might notice on the picture below, I cut my elastic slightly diagonally which makes the bottom of the elastic about 1-2 cm / 0.5-0.75” wider than the top. This helps the skirt sit on your hips better and give a more feminine silhouette.
Sew only the top of the elastic band to the skirt. I don’t sew the bottom to allow the skirt to flow better and widen slightly following my curves.

To sew the elastic, make sure you stretch your ribbing and elastic out to it’s widest allowance. Both the 1×1 ribbing and elastic are stretchy so the skirt waist band will stretch easily when you put it on. However, the sewing thread won’t stretch so you need to make sure it’s fixed at the widest position. Otherwise, you’ll have a hard time putting on your skirt and that would be a pity!

You can either sew it by hand or use a machine (that’s what I did).

I know it’s a little tricky to hold the elastic and skirt stretched while sewing but totally worth it. And you don’t need to be a good seamstress to make it work, as you can see if you look closely, I didn’t do a very good job, but no one will notice once you wear it.