Children's Knit Bell Bottoms

This free knitting pattern uses colorful yarn to make ruffles on a pair of children's knit bell-bottoms. Use crochet and knitting techniques together to make an unforgettable addition to your child's wardrobe.

Materials:

• One pair size US 8 (5 mm) needles OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE
• Yarn needle
• Crochet hook size US H/8 (5 mm)
• Row counter
• Markers
• 1/4” elastic
• Caron International's Simply Soft (100 acrylic; 6 oz/170 g, 315 yds/288 m): #9727 Black, 2 skeins
• Caron International's Simply Soft Brites (100% acrylic; 6 oz/170 g, 315 yds/288 m): 1 Small amounts of: #9608 Blue Mint, #9607 Limelight, #9606 Lemonade, #9605 Mango, #9604 Watermelon
• Pattern

Insructions:

GAUGE
16 sts and 24 rows = 4”/10 cm in St st

STITCHES USED
Stockinette stitch (St st)
Double crochet (dc)

NOTES: Pants are worked in 2 pieces, left and right legs.

FIRST LEG (make one)

1. With size 8 needles and Black, cast on 23 (25, 27) sts. Work 6 rows in St st.
    
2. Mark for front of pants. Continue in St st for 54 (60, 66) rows

Shaping:

1. Inc 1 st at beg of next RS row – 24 (26, 28) sts. Work 5 rows.
    
2. Inc 1 st at end of next RS row – 25 (27, 29) sts. Work 5 rows.
    
3. Repeat last 2 rows once more, ending with a WS row -- 27 (29, 31) sts. Do not bind off.
    
4. With size 8 needles and Black, cast on 27 (29, 31) sts. Work 6 rows in St st.
    
5. Mark for back of pants. Continue in St st for 54 (60, 66) rows.

Shaping:

1. Inc 1 st at beg of next RS row – 28 (30, 32) sts. Work 5 rows.
    
2. Inc 1 st at end of next RS row – 29 (31, 33) sts.
    
3. Repeat last 2 rows once more, ending with a WS row – 31 (33, 35) sts. Do not bind off.

Joining:

1. *With RS facing, knit across front and back leg sections, inc 1 st on both sides – 60 (64, 68) sts. Work 5 rows. Repeat from * once more – 62 (66, 70) sts.
    
2. Work 6 (10, 16) rows.
    
3. *Inc 1 st on both side of next RS row. Work 5 rows. Repeat from * once more – 66 (70, 74) sts.
    
4. *Inc 1 st on both sides of next RS row. Work 3 rows. Repeat from * 2 times more – 72 (76, 80) sts.
    
5. Mark as center of inseam.
    
6. *Dec 1 st on both sides of next RS row. Work 3 rows. Repeat from * 2 times more – 66 (70, 74) sts.
    
7. Dec 1 st on both sides of next RS row. Work 7 rows – 64 (68, 72) sts.
    
8. Dec 1 st on both sides of next RS row. Work 38 (42, 48) rows. Bind off 62 (66, 70) sts.

SECOND LEG (make one)

1. With size 8 needles and Black, cast on 27 (29, 31) sts. Work 6 rows in St st.
    
2. Mark for back of pants. Continue in St st for 54 (60, 66) rows.

Shaping:

1. Inc 1 st at beg of next RS row – 28 (30, 32) sts. Work 5 rows.
    
2. Inc 1 st at end of next RS row – 29 (31, 33) sts.
    
3. Repeat last 2 rows once more, ending with a WS row – 31 (33, 35) sts. Do not bind off.
    
4. With size 8 needles and Black, cast on 23 (25, 27) sts. Work 6 rows in St st.
    
5. Mark for front of pants. Continue in St st for 54 (60, 66) rows

Shaping:

1. Inc 1 st at beg of next RS row – 24 (26, 28) sts. Work 5 rows.
    
2. Inc 1 st at end of next RS row – 25 (27, 29) sts. Work 5 rows.
    
3. Repeat last 2 rows once more, ending with a WS row -- 27 (29, 31) sts. Do not bind off.

Joining:

1. *With RS facing, knit across back and front leg sections, inc 1 st on both sides – 60 (64, 68) sts. Work 5 rows. Repeat from * once more – 62 (66, 70) sts.
    
2. Work 6 (10, 16) rows.
    
3. *Inc 1 st on both side of next RS row. Work 5 rows. Repeat from * once more – 66 (70, 74) sts.
    
4. *Inc 1 st on both sides of next RS row. Work 3 rows. Repeat from * 2 times more – 72 (76, 80) sts.
5. Mark as center of inseam.
    
6. *Dec 1 st on both sides of next RS row. Work 3 rows. Repeat from * 2 times more – 66 (70, 74) sts.
    
7. Dec 1 st on both sides of next RS row. Work 7 rows – 64 (68, 72) sts.
    
8. Dec 1 st on both sides of next RS row. Work 38 (42, 48) rows. Bind off 62 (66, 70) sts.

RUFFLES

Limelight Ruffles:

1. With crochet hook and Limelight, ch 23. 2 dc in 2nd ch from hook, (3dc in next ch, 2dc in next ch) across, working 3 dc in last ch -- 21 base sts.. Fasten off.
    
2. With crochet hook and Limelight, ch 16. 2dc in 2nd ch from hook, (2dc in next ch, 3dc in next ch) across, working 3 dc in last ch – 14 base sts. Fasten off.
    
3. With crochet hook and Limelight, ch 10. 2 dc in 2nd ch from hook, (2dc in next ch, 3dc in next ch) across, working 3dc in last ch – 8 base sts.. Fasten off.

Lemonade Ruffles:

1. With crochet hook and Lemonade, ch 21. 2dc in 2nd ch from hook, (2dc in next ch, 3dc in next ch) across working 3 dc in last ch – 19 base sts.. Fasten off.
    
2. With crochet hook and Lemonade, ch 15. 2dc in 2nd ch from hook, (2dc in next ch, 3dc in next ch) across working 3 dc in last ch – 13 base sts . Fasten off.
    
3. With Lemonade, ch 9. 2dc in 2nd ch from hook, (2dc in next ch, 3dc in next ch) across working 3 dc in last ch – 7 base sts. Fasten off.

Watermelon Ruffles:

1. With crochet hook and Watermelon, ch 20. 2dc in 2nd ch from hook, (2dc in next ch, 3dc in next ch) across working 3 dc in last ch – 18 base sts. Fasten off.
    
2. With crochet hook and Watermelon, ch 14. 2dc in 2nd ch from hook, (2dc in next ch, 3dc in next ch) across working 3 dc in last ch – 12 base sts. Fasten off.
    
3. With crochet hook and Watermelon, ch 8. 2dc in 2nd ch from hook, 3 dc in each ch across. – 6 base sts. Fasten off.

Mango Ruffles:

1. With crochet hook and Mango, ch 19. 2dc in 2nd ch from hook, (2dc in next ch, 3dc in next ch) across working 3 dc in last ch – 17 base sts. Fasten off.
    
2. With crochet hook and Mango, ch 13. 2dc in 2nd ch from hook, (2dc in next ch, 3dc in next ch) across working 3 dc in last ch – 11 base sts. Fasten off.
    
3. With crochet hook and Mango, ch 6. 2dc in 2nd ch from hook, 3dc in each ch across – 4 base sts. Fasten off.

Blue Mint Ruffles:

1. With crochet hook and Blue Mint, ch 18. 2dc in 2nd ch from hook, (2dc in next ch, 3dc in next ch) across working 3 dc in last ch – 16 base sts. Fasten off.
    
2. With crochet hook and Blue Mint, ch 11. 2dc in 2nd ch from hook, (2dc in next ch, 3dc in next ch) across working 3 dc in last ch – 9 base sts. Fasten off.

Note: To knit ruffles in as you go, at the end of row before you would hang the ruffle, knit 4 rows of waste yarn, hang ruffle on and then rehang insert.

Decrease and hang ruffles as directed below.

1. 1: With waste yarn, cast on 21 sts sts. Knit 4 rows
    
2. 2: With Black, knit 6 rows, rehang hem
    
3. 3: Reset row counter.
    
4. Rows 1 & 2: Knit 2 rows.
    
5. Row 3: Hang first ruffle 21 Limelight sts.
    
6. Row 4: Dec 1 st right side -- 20 sts.
    
7. Row 8: Dec 1 st left side -- 19 sts.
    
8. Row 10: Hang ruffle 19 Lemonade sts.
    
9. Row 12: Dec 1 st right side -- 18 sts.
    
10. Row 14: Hang ruffle 18 Watermelon sts.
     
11. Row 16: Dec 1 st left side -- 17 sts.
     
12. Row 18: Hang ruffle 17 Mango sts.
     
13. Row 20: Dec 1 st right side -- 16 sts.
     
14. Row 23: Hang ruffle 23 Blue Mint sts.
     
15. Row 24: Dec 1 st left side --15 sts.
     
16. Row 28: Dec 1 st right side -- 14 sts.
     
17. Row 30: Hang ruffle 14 Limelight sts.
     
18. Row 32: Dec 1 st left side -- 13 sts.
     
19. Row 33: Hang ruffle 13 Lemonade sts.
     
20. Row 36: Dec 1 st right side -- 12 sts.
     
21. Row 38: Hang ruffle 12 Watermelon sts.
     
22. Row 40: Dec 1 st left side -- 11 sts.
     
23. Row 43: Hang ruffle 11 Mango sts.
     
24. Row 44: Dec 1 st right side -- 10 sts.
     
25. Row 48: Dec 1 st left side -- 9 sts.
     
26. Row 50: Hang ruffle 9 Blue Mint sts.
     
27. Row 52: Dec 1 st right side -- 8 sts.
     
28. Row 53: Hang ruffle 8 Limelight sts.
     
29. Row 56: Dec 1 st left side -- 7 sts.
     
30. Row 58: Hang ruffle 7 Lemonade sts.
     
31. Row 60: Dec 1 st right side -- 6 sts.
     
32. Row 63: Hang ruffle 6 Watermelon sts.
     
33. Row 64: Dec 1 st left side -- 5 sts.
     
34. Row 68: Dec 1 st right side -- 4 sts.
     
35. Row 70: Hang ruffle 4 Mango sts.
     
36. Row 72: Dec 1 st left side -- 3 sts.
     
37. Row 76: Dec 1 st right side -- 2 sts.
     
38. Row 80: Dec 1 st left side -- 1 st.
     
39. Fasten off.

FINISHING:

1. Using mattress stitch, sew inserts in leg openings.
    
2. Sew inside legs together, stopping at inseam marker. Sew sides of pants together from inseam to waist.
    
3. Fold top of waist seam over and sew 6 rows under with a length of elastic inside.

RUFFLE INSERT

Note: To knit ruffles insert, with MC work in St st picking up base sts from colored crochet ruffles as designated below:

1. With size 8 needles and Black, cast on 21 sts. Work 6 rows in St st for hem.
    
2. Rows 1 & 2: Knit 2 rows.
    
3. Row 3: With MC, k21 sts tog with 21 Limelight base sts.
    
4. Row 4: Dec 1 st beg of row -- 20 sts.
    
5. Row 5, 6 & 7: Continue in St st.
    
6. Row 8: Dec 1 st at end of row -- 19 sts.
    
7. Rows 9-10: Continue in St st.
    
8. Row 11: With MC, k19 sts tog with 19 Lemonade base sts.
    
9. Row 12: Dec 1 st at beg of row -- 18 sts.
    
10. Rows 13 & 14: Continue in St st.
     
11. Row 15: With MC, k18 sts tog with 18 Watermelon base sts.
     
12. Row 16: Dec 1 st at end of row -- 17 sts.
     
13. Rows 17 & 18: Continue in St st.
     
14. Row 19: With MC, k17 sts tog with 17 Mango base sts.
     
15. Row 20: Dec 1 st at beg of row -- 16 sts.
     
16. Rows 21 & 22: Continue in St st.
     
17. Row 23: With MC, k23 sts tog with 23 Blue Mint base sts.
     
18. Row 24: Dec 1 st at end of row --15 sts.
     
19. Rows 25-27: Continue in St st.
     
20. Row 28: Dec 1 st at beg of row -- 14 sts.
     
21. Row 29: With MC, k14 sts tog with 14 Limelight base sts.
     
22. Rows 30 & 31: Continue in St st.
     
23. Row 32: Dec 1 st at end of row -- 13 sts.
     
24. Row 33: With MC, k13 sts tog with 13 Lemonade base sts.
     
25. Rows 34 & 35: Continue in St st.
     
26. Row 36: Dec 1 st at beg of row -- 12 sts.
     
27. Rows 37 & 38: Continue in St st.
     
28. Row 39: With MC, k12 sts tog with 12 Watermelon base sts.
     
29. Row 40: Dec 1 st at end of row -- 11 sts.
     
30. Rows 41 & 42: Continue in St st.
     
31. Row 43: With MC k11 sts tog with 11 Mango base sts.
     
32. Row 44: Dec 1 st at beg of row -- 10 sts.
     
33. Rows 45-47: Continue in St st.
     
34. Row 48: Dec l st at end of row -- 9 sts.
     
35. Rows 49 & 50: Continue in St st.
     
36. Row 51: With MC, k 9 sts with 9 Blue Mint base sts.
     
37. Row 52: Dec 1 st at beg of row -- 8 sts.
     
38. Row 53: With MC, k 8 sts tog with 8 Limelight base sts.
     
39. Rows 54 & 55: Continue in St st.
     
40. Row 56: Dec 1 st at end of row -- 7 sts.
     
41. Rows 57 & 58: Continue in St st.
     
42. Row 59: With MC, k7 sts tog with 7 Lemonade sts
     
43. Row 60: Dec 1 st at beg of row -- 6 sts.
     
44. Rows 61 & 62: Continue in St st.
     
45. Row 63: With MC, k6 sts tog with 6 Watermelon base sts.
     
46. Row 64: Dec 1 st at end of row -- 5 sts.
     
47. Rows 65-67: Continue in St st.
     
48. Row 68: Dec 1 st at beg of row -- 4 sts.
     
49. Rows 69 & 70: Continue in St st.
     
50. Row 71: K4 sts tog with 4 Mango base sts.
     
51. Row 72: Dec 1 st at end of row -- 3 sts.
     
52. Rows 73-75: Continue in St st.
     
53. Row 76: Dec 1 st at beg of row -- 2 sts.
     
54. Rows 77-79: Continue in St st.
     
55. Row 80: Dec 1 st at end of row -- 1 st.
     
56. Fasten off.

FINISHING

1. Using mattress stitch, sew inserts in leg openings.
    
2. Sew inside legs together, stopping at inseam marker. Sew sides of pants together from inseam to waist.