Classic Top-Down Baby Pants

Seamless Heirloom Style in Worsted Weight

A timeless, minimalist pair of baby pants worked seamlessly from the top down in the round. Features a tall stretchy 1×1 rib waistband (no elastic or drawstring), a high rise with roomy short-row shaped seat for diaper comfort, and straight wide legs that fall cleanly from hip to ankle. Finished with fold-up 1×1 rib cuffs. Relaxed vintage Scandinavian/heirloom silhouette in simple stockinette. Easy skill level.

Sizes

Newborn (0–3 months, 3–6 months, 6–12 months, 12–24 months) To fit waist approx: 14 (16, 17, 18, 20)" / 35.5 (40.5, 43, 45.5, 51) cm

Finished Measurements

• Waistband circumference (unstretched): 14 (16, 18, 20, 22)" / 35.5 (40.5, 45.5, 51, 56) cm
• Hip/Seat circumference: 18 (20, 22, 24, 26)" / 45.5 (51, 56, 61, 66) cm
• Front rise (waistband top to crotch): 6 (7, 8, 9, 10)" / 15 (18, 20.5, 23, 25.5) cm
• Back rise (with short-row shaping): approx 7 (8, 9, 10.25, 11.5)" / 18 (20.5, 23, 26, 29) cm
• Inseam (crotch to top of cuff): 5.5 (6.5, 7.5, 9.5, 11.5)" / 14 (16.5, 19, 24, 29) cm
• Cuff height: 1.75" / 4.5 cm (wear folded or unfolded)
• Leg circumference (straight): 10 (11, 12.25, 13.25, 14.5)" / 25.5 (28, 31, 33.5, 37) cm

Measurements given are for the finished garment after light blocking. Choose size by baby’s current waist/hip and desired ease; pants have generous diaper room and positive ease.

Yarn

Worsted weight (#4) yarn; approximately 160 (200, 250, 320, 400) yds / 145 (185, 230, 295, 365) m. Sample uses a smooth superwash wool or wool-blend for stitch definition and easy care. Exact amount depends on yarn and length adjustments.

Needles

US 8 (5 mm) circular needle, 16" / 40 cm (for body) and/or preferred method for small-circumference knitting (magic loop, 9" circular, or DPNs) for legs and cuffs. Optional: US 7 (4.5 mm) for denser ribbing if desired (pattern written for single needle size).

Gauge

16 sts and 22 rounds = 4" / 10 cm in stockinette stitch worked in the round on US 8 (5 mm), after blocking. Take time to check gauge. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain gauge.

Notions

• Stitch markers (1 unique for BOR, plus 2–3 others)
• Waste yarn or stitch holders
• Tapestry needle
• Row counter (optional)

Abbreviations (US)

BOR: beginning of round CO: cast on k: knit p: purl pm: place marker rnd(s): round(s) RS: right side sl: slip st(s): stitch(es) St st: stockinette stitch (knit every round) w&t: wrap and turn (German short-row method detailed below) WS: wrong side M1L: make 1 left (lift strand between sts from front to back, knit through back loop) M1R: make 1 right (lift strand between sts from back to front, knit through front loop) k2tog: knit 2 together SSK: slip, slip, knit (slip 1 kwise, slip 1 kwise, knit both through back loop)

Notes

• Pants are worked seamlessly top-down in the round.
• 1×1 rib is stretchy and provides waist fit without elastic or drawstring.
• German short rows shape the seat for a high, comfortable back rise.
• After crotch division a small gusset is cast on; legs are worked straight with no further shaping.
• Cuffs may be worn folded up for shorter length or unfolded as baby grows.
• Instructions use “join to work in the round, being careful not to twist” at the start; keep BOR marker throughout body.
• When working short rows, resolve wraps as you come to them on subsequent rounds by knitting the wrap together with its stitch.
• Inline stitch-count validations appear at key points.

German Short Row (w&t): Work to the indicated st. With yarn in front, slip next st purlwise, bring yarn over right needle to back (creating a double stitch / “wrap”), turn work. On return, yarn is in position to work the next st. When later working the double st, knit both legs together as one st.

PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

Waistband

With US 8 (5 mm) needles and long-tail cast-on (or other stretchy cast-on), CO 56 (64, 72, 80, 88) sts.
(14 (16, 18, 20, 22)" × 4 sts/in = 56 (64, 72, 80, 88) ✓)

Place unique marker for BOR and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.

Work 1×1 rib (k1, p1) every round until waistband measures 2" / 5 cm from cast-on edge.

Body – Hip Increases

Change to stockinette stitch (knit every round).

Next rnd (increase): *K7 (8, 9, 10, 11), M1L; repeat from * to end.
(8 (8, 8, 8, 8) increases made → 56 (64, 72, 80, 88) + 8 = 64 (72, 80, 88, 96) sts ✓)

Next rnd: Knit.

Next rnd (increase): *K8 (9, 10, 11, 12), M1L; repeat from * to end.
(8 increases → 64 (72, 80, 88, 96) + 8 = 72 (80, 88, 96, 104) sts ✓)
These 72 (80, 88, 96, 104) sts = hip circumference 18 (20, 22, 24, 26)" ✓

Knit 1 round even.

Seat Shaping (German Short Rows)

The following short rows are worked over the back half of the stitches to create a roomy, high-rise seat.

Set-up: K36 (40, 44, 48, 52) sts (back), pm (side marker), k to end (front). BOR remains at original position (left side when worn).

Short-row 1 (RS): K from BOR to 4 sts before side marker, w&t. Short-row 2 (WS): P to 4 sts before BOR marker, w&t. Short-row 3: K to 4 sts before previous wrap, w&t. Short-row 4: P to 4 sts before previous wrap, w&t. Short-row 5: K to 3 sts before previous wrap, w&t. Short-row 6: P to 3 sts before previous wrap, w&t. Short-row 7: K to 3 sts before previous wrap, w&t. Short-row 8: P to 3 sts before previous wrap, w&t. (For larger sizes only) Short-row 9: K to 2 sts before previous wrap, w&t. Short-row 10: P to 2 sts before previous wrap, w&t.

Next rnd (RS, resolve wraps): Knit all the way around, working each double stitch (wrap + st) as a single knit stitch. Remove temporary side marker when you reach it.
Back rise has been increased by approximately 1–1.5".

Continue even in St st until front rise measures 6 (7, 8, 9, 10)" / 15 (18, 20.5, 23, 25.5) cm from top of waistband (measure at center front). Total rounds after waistband approx 33 (39, 44, 50, 55) at 5.5 rnds/in ✓.

Divide for Legs & Crotch Gusset

At BOR (left side), place next 36 (40, 44, 48, 52) sts on holder or waste yarn for Right Leg (these are the back + half front stitches as positioned).
Remaining 36 (40, 44, 48, 52) sts are for Left Leg.

Working on Left Leg sts only: CO 8 (8, 10, 10, 12) sts using backward-loop (or provisional) cast-on for crotch gusset.
Pm for new BOR at center of the newly cast-on gusset sts.
Join to work in the round on the Left Leg sts + gusset.
Total Left Leg sts: 36 (40, 44, 48, 52) + 8 (8, 10, 10, 12) = 44 (48, 54, 58, 64) sts.

Note: Final leg counts after even distribution will be balanced; see Legs section for exact working numbers after first round adjustment if needed. For clean math we next equalize:

Next rnd: Knit, decreasing 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) sts evenly across the round (use k2tog) so leg has 40 (44, 49, 53, 58) sts.
(44 (48, 54, 58, 64) – 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) = 40 (44, 49, 53, 58) ✓)
40 (44, 49, 53, 58) sts = 10 (11, 12.25, 13.25, 14.5)" leg circumference ✓

Left Leg

Work even in St st (knit every round) until inseam measures 5.5 (6.5, 7.5, 9.5, 11.5)" / 14 (16.5, 19, 24, 29) cm from crotch cast-on, or desired length before cuff.
No shaping—legs remain straight and wide.

Left Cuff

Work 1×1 rib (k1, p1) for 1.75" / 4.5 cm.
Bind off loosely in rib pattern (use larger needle or sewn bind-off / Jeny’s surprisingly stretchy bind-off for maximum stretch).

Right Leg

Return 36 (40, 44, 48, 52) held sts to needle.
With RS facing, join yarn at the crotch edge.
Pick up and knit 8 (8, 10, 10, 12) sts across the crotch gusset cast-on edge (1 st in each CO st).
Pm for BOR at center of picked-up gusset sts.
Total: 36 (40, 44, 48, 52) + 8 (8, 10, 10, 12) = 44 (48, 54, 58, 64) sts.

Next rnd: Knit, decreasing 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) sts evenly (k2tog) to 40 (44, 49, 53, 58) sts ✓.

Work even in St st identical to Left Leg until inseam matches.

Work 1×1 rib cuff identical to Left Leg and bind off loosely in rib.

Finishing

Weave in all ends securely on WS.
Gently block pants to finished measurements, taking care not to flatten the ribbing. Pin hip and leg widths flat and smooth the seat curve.
Allow to dry completely.
Cuffs may be folded up for a shorter pant or left long; the tall waistband sits comfortably at the natural waist without elastic.

Schematic Reference (key points)

• Waistband height: 2"
• Hip width (half-circumference laid flat): 9 (10, 11, 12, 13)"
• Front rise: 6 (7, 8, 9, 10)"
• Inseam + cuff: 7.25 (8.25, 9.25, 11.25, 13.25)"
• Leg width (half laid flat): 5 (5.5, 6.125, 6.625, 7.25)"

Tips for Success

• Keep crotch gusset cast-on firm but not tight so the seam lies flat.
• When picking up for the second leg, pick up under both legs of each cast-on stitch for a tidy join.
• If using magic loop, the gusset BOR marker sits at the midpoint of the cable join.
• For a completely reversible look, weave ends into the matching rib columns.

Enjoy your classic heirloom baby pants!