This variation of my basic “pleated” skirt pattern, which includes Putting on the Pleats, Traveling Pleats, Velvety Pleats, and others, is sized for approximately 2-3 (4-6, 8-10) years. In this version, each “pleat” is decorated with columns of lacy chevrons. It is worked with fingering weight yarn at a gauge of just over 5 stitches per inch on size U.S. 3 (3.25 mm) needles.

Stitches are cast on for the waistband in a multiple of the “pleat” stitches, then purl stitches are added in “gores” to provide a loose fit around the hips and flare in the lower skirt. Twisted knit stitches are worked on both edges of each pleat to sharpen the boundaries between pleats and gores. A simple bind-off produces slight scallops around the lower edge.

Both row-by-row and charted lace instructions are provided.

The waist circumference can be customized by adjusting the circumference of the waistband elastic during finishing.

The skirt has 9 (10, 11) “pleat” panels, each consisting of 13 stitches. Purled “gore” stitches are added between these panels; the flare at the lower edge is created by progressively increasing the number of purl stitches in each gore.

The skirt length can be adjusted by working more or fewer rounds after the last pleat increase round. Every 8 rounds added or removed will lengthen or shorten the skirt by 3/4” (2 cm). You may need more yarn if you plan to make a significantly longer skirt.

Wet-blocking with blocking wires is recommended to ensure that the gores stretch out to form an A-line silhouette. The skirt will shrink in length after wet-blocking.