So one of my knit projects right now is a skirt.  To get ready for this project, I bought a pattern – for the Simple Straight Skirt, by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas –  which I proceeded to then not really follow.  I also bought and read a book entirely on the topic of knitting various types of skirt – titled Knit My Skirt, by Candace Eisner Strick – which I also did not listen to in any meaningful way.

Of the pattern I am ostensibly following, I didn’t do the waistband the way they recommend, and am currently also not following their directions for the body of the skirt. I did follow their stitch count for the size yarn I am using, and plan to follow their direction for the ribbing at the bottom of the skirt.  From the book, I am following some of the advice about how to engineer a waist section, but not entirely following the directions there, either. Basically what I am doing is knitting a tube, which I will sew a broad elastic waistband to eventually.  I don’t know what about this project made me so contrary, but something sure did.  In any case, it is proceeding along fine.  I have put it on some waste yarn and tried it out, and it fits fine so far.  Here it is.

This is not the first time I ever made a skirt.  Years ago in college I knitted a dress, which is long gone, and also a few years ago I did a different skirt of a slightly more sophisticated pattern.

I still wear it, but only when it’s pretty cold, because it is really quite toasty.

There are a lot of advantages to skirts as knitting projects.  There’s just enough shaping to make you feel like you’re doing something.  However, the most complicated skirt you could ever hope to do will still be simpler than most sweaters you will ever do.  No shoulder or neck shaping, no sleeves, no waist or bust shaping.  There are also more patterns out there than you’d think, if you’ve never investigated the concept.  Take a look around, and you might find yourself skirting the issue too!