Ruth Knit Skirt Pattern: The Cutest Free Pattern for Girls (Plus a 3 More Free Ones You’ll Love!)
Looking for the perfect knit skirt pattern? Find tons at my skirt pattern page, with one freebie below!
I’m going to say it loud and proud: I love a good knit skirt pattern. There’s just something about twirling yarn into wearable, swishy comfort that makes me reach for my circulars again and again. Whether it’s a quick baby skirt or a full-blown youth size, I’ve discovered that nothing says cozy and cute quite like a handmade skirt.
So today, I’m rounding up my favorite reasons to cast on a knit skirt pattern—plus, I’ve got a brand new one for you at the bottom of this post: the Child Ruth Skirt! And if that’s not enough to get you knitting, you’ll find links to even more free skirt patterns over on my skirt pattern page. Go ahead, click—you’ll want to knit them all.
Why You’ll Love a Knit Skirt Pattern
There are a million patterns out there, but when it comes to a knit skirt pattern, it checks all the boxes. It’s practical. It’s adorable. And it’s fun to knit! Here’s what keeps me coming back to them:
- They’re worked top-down (which makes adjusting length a breeze).
- Waistbands with elastic (affiliate link) = comfy and stay-put.
- They’re perfect for gifting.
- You can make them in everything from laceweight to worsted yarns.
- Little girls love them. Moms love them. Everyone wins.
Let’s Talk Yarn and Needles
When it comes to choosing yarn for your next knit skirt pattern, I can’t recommend KnitPicks Heatherly Sport (affiliate link) enough. It’s got that perfect soft bounce, holds cables beautifully, and doesn’t feel too heavy for little ones on the move. Pair that yarn with KnitPicks circular needles in sizes 5 (3.75mm) and 3 (3.25mm) (affiliate link), and you’re golden.
You’ll also need a cable needle (affiliate link) to work those sweet twists, and a bit of elastic (affiliate link) for the waistband—because if you’ve ever had a handknit skirt slowly slide down a toddler’s hips… you know. Elastic saves the day.
Some of My Favorite Free Knit Skirt Patterns
If you love options (don’t we all?), here are a few more knit skirt pattern faves you’ll want to check out. I’ve linked each pattern for you, so grab a cup of coffee and get comfy:
The Sophia Skirt – A classic knit skirt pattern with elegant eyelet details.
The Ocean Skirt – Wavy, beachy texture in every row.
Youth Midi Skirt – A simple, sweet midi-length skirt in youth sizes.
They each have their own personality, and they’ve all been knit up multiple times in our house. Trust me—if you try one, you’ll want to try them all.
About the Child Ruth Skirt Pattern
And now for the star of the show: the Child Ruth Skirt, a brand-new knit skirt pattern that I’m so excited to share with you. It’s sweet. It’s stretchy. It’s got a lovely cable twist border that feels just a little extra without being fussy.
This knit skirt pattern is worked top-down in the round, which means no seams (hallelujah). The waistband is folded over and sewn down to create a casing for the elastic (affiliate link), and the skirt gently flares out for a flowy shape that little girls can run, dance, and tumble around in.
But let’s talk about that cable twist at the bottom. It adds such a nice weight and balance to the whole skirt—not to mention it’s super fun to knit. You’ll definitely need a cable needle (affiliate link) on hand, but if you’ve never done cables before, don’t worry! I promise it’s just a simple twist, and you’ll pick it up in no time.
I used KnitPicks Heatherly Sport yarn (affiliate link) in a soft lavender for this one, and paired it with my trusty KnitPicks circular needles size 5 (3.75mm) and 3 (3.25mm) (affiliate link). This yarn holds its shape, has just the right amount of squish, and feels buttery soft against the skin—everything you want in a knit skirt pattern.
What Makes a Knit Skirt Pattern Great?
After making more skirts than I can count, I’ve narrowed it down to a few must-haves that really make a knit skirt pattern stand out:
- Stretchy waistband – Must include elastic (affiliate link) so it fits snugly but comfortably.
- Simple increases – I love when the shaping doesn’t feel like a chore.
- A fun border – Whether it’s a picot hem, lace detail, or a classic cable twist, it’s those final rows that make it special.
- Easy to lengthen – Every kid grows differently, so having a pattern that’s easy to adjust is a huge bonus.
The Child Ruth Skirt checks all these boxes and more, which is why it’s earned a spot on my favorites list.
Tips for Knitting Your First Skirt
If this is your first time picking up a knit skirt pattern, here are a few tips from one knitter to another:
- Double-check your gauge, especially if you’re using a different yarn. You want that waistband to be just right.
- Knit the waistband casing loosely—you’ll be folding it over to insert the elastic (affiliate link), so tight stitches are not your friend.
- Weigh your yarn if you’re worried about running out. Knit the waistband and body first, then divide what’s left evenly for the border.
- Block it gently to let those cables pop and give the skirt a little flow.
Ready to Try the Child Ruth Skirt?
If you’re as excited as I am to get started, you can find the Child Ruth Skirt free knit skirt pattern at the bottom of this post. Scroll down, grab your KnitPicks Heatherly Sport yarn (affiliate link), your KnitPicks size 5 and 3 circulars (affiliate link), your cable needle and elastic (affiliate links), and let’s make something beautiful.
And don’t forget—there are even more knit skirt patterns waiting for you over on the skirt pattern page. Whether you’re looking for something simple, something textured, or something just a little fancy, I’ve got a pattern you’ll love.
Child Ruth Skirt Pattern
MATERIALS AND INFO
Sizes: 0-3m, 3-6m (6-12m, 12m) 18m, 24m, (3/4, 5/6), 7/8, 9/10, (11/12, 13/14)yrs
Materials: Approximately 1, 2 (2, 2) 2, 2, (3, 3) 4, 4, (4, 5) balls of KnitPicks Heatherly (328yds, 100g), needle, stitch markers, cable needle, 1.5ins wide elastic (1in/2.5cms less than waist measurement)
Needle Size: 5(US) 3.75mm & 3(US) 3.25mm straight and dpn
Gauge (tension): 24sts & 32 rows to make 10cm square, using size 5(US) 3mm needles
Waist Measurement: 14, 16 (18, 19) 19.5, 20 (21, 22) 23, 24 (25, 26) ins or 35, 40 (45, 47.5) 49, 50 (52.5, 55) 57.5, 60 (62.5, 65) cm
METHOD
Child Sophia Skirt is bottom-up seamless skirt in a warm and soft yarn. Created for our 8th child, I wanted a fun and sweet skirt for her to wear in the spring.
Abbreviations can be found on the last page.
Note: choose size based on waist measurement for best fit
WAIST
Cast on using smallest circular needle: 81, 99 (108, 117) 117, 126 (126, 135) 135, 144 (153, 162) sts.
Join in the round.
Work in stockinette (knit every round) until work measures 3.5ins or 9cms from cast on.
ELASTIC WAISTBAND
Cut elastic 1in or 2.5 cms smaller than waist measurement. Sew the 2 ends together (it does not need to look pretty because it will not be seen so if your sewing skills aren’t awesome THAT’S OKAY!) Make sure it is not twisted, just as you do for a cast on joining in the round. Also make sure it is reinforced well.
WAISTBAND JOIN
With largest needles, knit around, each time combining one st from the cast on and one st from your needles. (For a left-handed tutorial of this click here.)
SKIRT SHAPING
Set-up round – knit around
Increase Round – [k1, m1] around [162, 198 (216, 234) 234, 252 (252, 270) 270, 288 (306, 324) sts]
SKIRT BODY
Work until skirt measures 4, 5 (6, 7) 7.5, 8.5 (10.5, 12) 14, 16 (18, 20) or (10, 12.5 (15, 17.5) 19, 21 (26, 30) 35, 40 (45, 50) cms from top or approximately 3ins or 7.5cms less than desired length.
EDGING BAND
NOTE: The blacked out parts of the chart are not stitches. Only the white background is a stitch. This will make sense as you read the instructions and do this pattern.
Round 1 – Purl around
Round 2 – purl around
Round 3 – [p1, k1, p1] around
Round 4 – [p1, k1, p1] around
Round 5 – [p1, t2l] around
Round 6 – [p2, k1] around
Round 7 – sl1 [p1, t2l] around to last st, t2l with the last st and the slipped st from the beginning of round
Round 8 – [p2, k1] around (you are starting with the stitch after the twist that combined the last and first stitch of the round)
Round 9 – (you are now back to working the stitch pattern at the true beginning of round) [t2l, p1] around
Round 10 – [p1, k1, p1] around
Round 11 – [p1, t2l] around
Round 12 – [p2, k1] around
Round 13 – [p2, k1] around
Round 14 – purl around
Round 15 – purl around
Work for 1in or 2.5cms in stockinette.
Work 1 purl round.
Work 1 knit round.
Work 1 purl round.
Bind off all stitches knitwise.
Sew the waistband down by folding the bind off edge down toward the inside (wrong sides together) over the elastic. Weave in all ends and block.
ABBREVIATIONS
K – knit
P – purl
PM – place marker
SM – slip marker
K2tog -knit 2 stitches together
S1 – slip 1 stitch knitwise
PSSO – pass slipped stitch over the previous stitch that was k2tog
YO – yarn over
ST – stitch
STS – stitches
T2L – slip 1 stitch onto cable needle, purl the next st, knit the stitch from the cable needle
Child Ruth Skirt PDF
Affiliate Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. That means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for supporting free patterns and tutorials on my blog!
The post Ruth Knit Skirt Pattern: The Cutest Free Pattern for Girls (Plus a 3 More Free Ones You’ll Love!) appeared first on The Knit in the Womb Blog.
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