Long Loops Toddler Skirt (3T-4T)

Part 2 of the Toddler set is here!!! The skirt I think is my favorite piece of the set. It’s light and airy, and perfect for summer and spring.  It has lots of big holes for air, but still covers a diaper or little undie, and it flounces very prettily when your little one runs around!  It’s very intricate, and that’s why I paired it with a plainer tee-shirt in the designs.  

If your little girl is anything like mine, she is constantly on the move. I really wanted to make a skirt that would emphasize movement, and I think I achieved it. The extra flounce of this skirt is just right – a circle skirt would become too heavy for an active child, and a straight skirt wouldn’t allow for much movement. I think this may technically be called a flared skirt, but don’t hold me to that! 😁

I’m considering making one in an adult size, but until then, here’s the Long Loops Toddler Skirt!

Unless otherwise noted, ch2 or ch1 at the beginning of each round does NOT equate to a stitch, so you will make the first stitch in the same stitch. Ch4 at the beginning of a round DOES equate to a stitch, so you will slip stitch at the end of the round to the 4^th chain to close the round.

Special Stitches:

Long Loop Stitch, topped with 4 Sc: Yarn over, insert hook in first stitch, yarn over, pull thru stitch, and PULL TALL (dc or tr height) (3 loops on hook). **From this point on, it is helpful to keep a finger over the yarn on your hook, to make sure the tall loops do not shorten.** Yarn over, insert hook in same (first) stitch, yarn over, pull thru stitch, and PULL TALL (5 loops on hook). Yarn over, insert hook into SECOND stitch, yarn over, pull thru stitch, and PULL TALL (7 loops on hook). Yarn over, insert hook into same (SECOND) stitch, yarn over, pull thru stitch, and PULL TALL (9 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull thru 8 loops (2 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull thru two loops (1 loop on hook).  Insert hook back thru the center of the 8 long loops, and perform 4 sc thru the center of and around all 8 threads of the tall loops just created.  This should create a small hole in the center of the loops.  See pictures below.  This is a little complicated, so here’s a GREAT youtube tutorial of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMo84x12Zhs

Caron Cotton Cakes – 250 yards for 3T, slightly more for 4T 

5.5mm Hook

18-20 inches of ¾-inch elastic band.  Ideally you should measure your elastic around your child to be sure it’s not too tight.

Pattern written in US terminology

Pattern is written as: 3T (4T).

Band:

Leaving a tail of 3 ft, ch 6. Sc in second ch from the hook, and across (5 sc). 

Ch1. Turn. Sc across.  Repeat until there are 65 (75) rows.  Ss the two ends of the band together to make a circle, being careful not to twist the band.  You should be working on the OPPOSITE side to the long tail. 

Skirt: Ch1. Sc evenly around the skirt, 66 (77) sc. Ss to first sc.

Round 1: Ch1. *Sc in next st (for first st, this is the same st as the join), ch 4. Sc in next st, ch4. Sc in next st, ch 2. Sc. Hdc. Dc in next 4 sts. Hdc. Sc. Ch2.* Repeat * to * around. Ss to first sc. [6 (7) 8-stitch starter-shells]

Round 2: Ss to the center of the ch4. Ch1. *Sc in next space (same space as the ch1 at the start of the round). Ch4, sc in next chain space. Ch 2. Skip sc and ch2. {Long Loop Crochet over next two stitches, topped with 4 sc. Ch1.} repeat {} a total of 4x. Ch2. Skip ch2 and sc. * Repeat * to * around. Ss to first sc. [24 (28) Long Loop crochets]

Round 3: Ss to center of the ch4 space. *8 tr in ch4 space (First tr of the round will be a ch4). Ch2. Sc between first two long loop stitches. Ch 4. Sc between second and third long loop stitches. Ch4. Sc between third and fourth long loop stitches. Ch 2.* Repeat * to * around. Ss to top of the ch4 (which counted as the first tr).  [6 (7) 8-tr shells]

Round 4: Ch2. *{Long Loop Stitch over the next two stitches (the first stitch being in the join), topped with 4 sc. Ch1.} repeat {} a total of 4x. Ch1 more, sc in ch4 space. Ch 4. Sc in next ch sp. Ch 2. Skip ch2 and sc. * Repeat * to * a total of 3 times. SS to the first sc in the top of the first Long Loop Stitch. [24 (28) Long Loop crochets]

Round 5: Slip stitch across to the ch1 at the end of the first long loop.  Ch1. *Sc between first and second long loop stitches (same space as the first ch1). Ch4. Sc between second and third long loop stitches. Ch4. Sc between third and fourth long loop stitches. Ch 2. 8 tr in ch 4 space. Ch 2. * Repeat * to * a total of 3 times. Ss to first sc. [6 (7) 8-tr shells]

Rounds 6-13: Repeat rounds 2-5. FO. 

For additional length, repeat rounds 2-5 until desired length is reached, ending on a Long Loop round, to keep the scalloped edge of the skirt. 

Attaching the elastic band:

Overlap the ends of the elastic by about ¾-inch, and sew together, using a 3-foot piece of yarn.  Do not cut excess yarn. Using the long tail from the start of the project, sew the elastic to the crocheted band.  I tried using a whip-stitch, but found that this left the work uneven and scratchy – not good for toddler skin.  So I used a back stitch, keeping the stitches close to the top of the band and skirt.  Then, using the 3-foot yarn piece that you used to sew the elastic together, do a basting stitch around the skirt, attaching the lower bit of elastic to the skirt (see photo).  Before tying off the basting stitch yarn, make sure you stretch the band well, so that there is sufficient yarn to give the skirt breathing room.  When fastening off, make sure to tie off between the skirt and the band, so that no knots are next to the toddler’s skin to cause irritation.  Weave in ends.  The End!

If you do not have an elastic band, Ch 130, and ss back along the chain.  Weave this chain through the crocheted band, and tie a bow in the back where the band connects.  

Long Loop Stitch, topped with 4sc:

Yarn over, insert hook in first stitch, yarn over, pull thru stitch, and PULL TALL (tr height) (3 loops on hook). **From this point on, it is helpful to keep a finger over the yarn on your hook, to make sure the tall loops do not shorten.** Yarn over, insert hook in same (first) stitch, yarn over, pull thru stitch, and PULL TALL (5 loops on hook). Yarn over, insert hook into SECOND stitch, yarn over, pull thru stitch, and PULL TALL (7 loops on hook). Yarn over, insert hook into same (SECOND) stitch, yarn over, pull thru stitch, and PULL TALL (9 loops on hook): 

Yarn over, pull thru 8 loops (2 loops on hook). 

Yarn over, pull thru two loops (1 loop on hook).  

Insert hook back thru the center of the 8 long loops. 

Perform 4 sc thru the center of and around all 8 threads of the tall loops just created.  

This should create a small hole in the center of the loops.

And that’s it! As always, I’d love to hear from you about what you think about the Long Loop Toddler Skirt, or any of my other creations, so feel free to leave a comment or ask a question!  If you make it, I’d love to see it in action, so tag me on Instagram @springintofalldesigns and on Ravelry at SpringintoFall.  Also, follow me on Instagram to be the first to know what new patterns are on their way!!!