I always find myself scraping my brain for summer knits ideas. When I made my Spotty Top, I ran elastic through my turned hem on the bottom band to give the top more support. I started thinking about what else I could do using that technique and my thoughts turned to my love affair with elastic belts.
I love mixing up my dress and belt combinations in the summer. It’s an easy way to add color and a bit of variety to an outfit without donning a hot layer. I realized that a belt is a perfect summer knit for me. I loved the way my belt turned out and it was a fun quick knit so I thought I’d share my pattern.
Materials:
- 45 (50, 50, 55, 60, 60, 65, 70) yds tough DK weight yarn – Turning the casing and threading the elastic is rough on your yarn. Use something tough. I used Jo Sharp DK Classic.
- 24.5, (26.5, 28.5, 30.5, 32.5, 34.5, 36.5, 38.5) inches of 1 inch elastic – I simply took one yard of elastic, wrapped it around my waist so that it was comfortably snug and cut it at that length. Elastic measurements are just a suggestion.
- Scrap yarn
- US 5 (3.75mm) needles
- A third needle and/or a darning needle
- 1 hook style belt buckle – You’ll have to eyeball the openings as none of the belt buckles I’ve looked at give a measurement for that. The buckle I used lists 1.25 inches as its total width.
- Matching thread
- Sewing needle
Sizes: 24.5 (26.5, 28.5, 30.5, 32.5, 34.5, 36.5, 38.5) inches
Gauge: 12 sts x 16 rows = 2 x 2 inch
Provisional CO 153 (165, 177, 189, 201, 213, 225, 236) with scrap yarn
Row 1: Switch to main yarn and knit to end.
Row 2: Purl to end.
Row 3: Knit to end.
Row 4: Knit to end.
Row 5: K2, *k2, p1, k3; rep from * to last st, k1.
Row 6: P1, *p2, k1, p1, k1; rep from * to last 2 sts, p2.
Row 7: K2, *p1, k3, p1, k1; rep from * to last st, k1.
Row 8: P1, *k1, p5; rep from * to last 2 sts, k1, p1.
Row 9: Repeat Row 7.
Row 10: Repeat Row 6.
Row 11: Repeat Row 5.
Row 12: Knit to end.
Row 13: Knit to end.
Row 14: Purl to end.
Row 15: Knit to end.
I put together Rows 5-11 as a chart for people who prefer visuals.
Remove provisional CO and place stitches on the third needle. With the WSs facing out, three needle bind off all stitches (this is what I did) OR with RSs facing out, graft together the live stitches using the kitchener stitch. If you used the three needle bind off, your work will be inside out when you finish. Turn you work right side out. Secure all ends and pull them to the inside of the casing.
Thread the elastic through the knit casing. Arrange the casing so the seam runs down the center of the back with the purl ridges along the edges of the elastic. With the needle and thread, sew the ends of the casing shut, stitching through the elastic ends at the same time to secure it. Make sure that the casing isn’t twisted before sewing the second end.
Thread half an inch of the belt through the loop of one part of the buckle. Sew it down using the needle and thread. Follow your knit stitches when sewing on the outside of the belt to make your sewn stitches as invisible as possible. Repeat for the other half of the belt buckle.
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