Can't get enough of these too sweet for words baby bum flap pants! The merino aran yarn from Camellia Fiber Co. used for the previous version of this pattern is no longer available, so Rebekka was kind enough to send over some of her new yarn for an updated pattern. The Alpaca Wool Handspun yarn from Camellia Fiber Co. was used for this version in the color natural, but it also comes in a variety of other colors including chocolate, charcoal and a beautiful charcoal and white marl (all would be delightful)! The alpaca and merino blend of this yarn give an earthy and fluffy texture, like working with a cloud. If you can see the detailing in the pictures, it gives a nice halo affect, as well. Both the alpaca and merino fibers that make up this yarn were grown and milled in the U.S. and I have to say, the quality is superb. I used a bit larger wooden buttons on these pants to balance with the chunkier fiber, and am so pleased with how the piece came together. I will be making many pairs of these pants for every tiny baby bum I know!
Materials
1 skein of Camellia Fiber Co.'s Alpaca Wool Handspun
6mm crochet hook
tapestry needle
brown thread and needle
scissors
Ribbing
Row 1: ch 4. hdc
in the second chain from the hook and in each ch across.
Row 2-32: turn
and ch 1. hdc in each hdc across back loops only (this creates the
ribbing effect).
After the last
row is complete for the ribbing, fold the ribbing in half and align the first row of hdc to the last row of hdc. ss these rows together (still only using the back
loops) to create the waistband of the pants. Once joined, the piece should
measure approximately 6 1/2 inches across.
Rise
Row 1: With your
yarn still attached to the waistband you just created, ch 1. hdc into the side
of the first hdc row and in each around. You should have a total of 32
hdc. ss into the first hdc you made on this row.
Row 2: ch 1. hdc
around (including the hdc you ss into to join). ss into first hdc of the round.
Row 3: hdc in
first 22 hdc of previous round leaving 10 hdc stitches open for the bum flap.
turn and ch 1.
Row 4-6: hdc in
each hdc from previous round (22 hdc). turn and ch 1. (this is creating the opening for the bum flap.)
Row 7: hdc in
each hdc from previous round and do not turn. ch 10. ss into first hdc of
current round (this will close the bum flap).
Row 8: ch 1. hdc
in each hdc and ch of the previous round. You should have 32 hdc total at the
end of this round. The measurement of the rise (from the top of the waistband
to the where the legs start) should be 5 inches.
First Leg
Row
1: With your yarn still attached to the rise, ch 1 and hdc in first 8 hdc of
the previous round. Join the back of your first leg to the front of the rise by
aligning the stitches on the front of the rise with the stitches on the back of
the rise. hdc into the 8th hdc from the first hdc on the front side of the
pants. hdc in the remaining 8 hdc of the previous round and ss into the top of
the first hdc of the round to create the first leg of the pants.
Row
2-7: ch 1. hdc into each hdc around. ss into the top of the first hdc. (You
should have 16 hdc for each leg. Remember to hdc into the hdc you join into on
each round, this helps disguise where you join at.)
Row
8: ch 1. sc into each hdc around. ss into the top of the first sc.
Row
9: ch 1. sc into each sc around. ss into the top of the first sc. fasten off.
Second
Leg
Row
1: Line up the front and back sides of the rise for your second leg, and
join your yarn by joining the first hdc stitches on the front and back nearest
the first leg with a ss. ch 1 and hdc around including the hdc stitches you
joined your yarn to.
Row
2-7: ch 1. hdc into each hdc around. ss into the top of the first hdc.
Row
8: ch 1. sc into each hdc around. ss into the top of the first sc.
Row
9: ch 1. sc into each sc around. ss into the top of the first sc. fasten off.
The legs should measure 4 1/2 inches long.
Bum
Flap:
Row
1: ch 13. hdc in the second ch from the hook and in each ch across.
Row
2-6: turn and ch 1. hdc in each hdc across.
Row
7: turn and ch 2. hdc in second hdc from previous round (skipping the first hdc of the previous round creates your first buttonhole) and in next 8 hdc. ch
1. skip 1 hdc hdc in last hdc from
previous round (this will create your second buttonhole). fasten off.
Assembly:
Attach the bum flap to the pants using your
tapestry needle and remaining yarn by sewing the bottom of the bum flap to the bottom of
the bum flap opening. I used the back stitch to secure the bottom of the bum
flap to the top of the hdc stitches at the bottom of the bum flap opening.
Use your needle and brown thread to sew on your wooden buttons to the top corners
of your bum flap. Weave in any ends, and button the bum flap to the pants.
