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# Little Sampler Baby Pants
### A top-down baby trouser (6–18 months) using a medley of crochet stitches, finished with cosy Tunisian-stitch cuffs

A gentle introduction to mixing crochet stitches! These pull-on baby pants are worked from the waist down in worsted yarn, using double crochet, half treble, treble and a simple shell band so you get to play with "every kind" of basic stitch. The ankle cuffs are worked separately in Tunisian Simple Stitch for a snug, ribbed, knit-look finish, then seamed on.

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## Materials
- **Yarn:** Worsted weight (Aran) yarn — approx. **180–220 m (200–240 g)** in main colour (MC). Optional small amount of contrast (CC) for cuffs.
- **Hooks:**
  - **5 mm** standard crochet hook (body)
  - **5 mm Tunisian (afghan) hook**, at least 15 cm long (cuffs)
- **Notions:** Stitch markers, tapestry/yarn needle, scissors. Optional: 1 m of cord/ribbon for drawstring.

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## Tension (Gauge)
**14 tr × 8 rounds = 10 cm (4 in)** using 5 mm hook.
*Tunisian cuff:* 16 sts × 14 rows = 10 cm in Tunisian Simple Stitch with 5 mm Tunisian hook.

Take time to check your tension — these are stretchy pull-on pants, so a little variation is forgiving, but the waist relies on the stitch count.

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## Size
Designed for **6–18 months** (one flexible size, stretchy fit).
**Finished measurements:**
- Waist (relaxed): ~46 cm, stretches comfortably to ~52 cm
- Hip: ~51 cm
- Total length (waist to cuff): ~32 cm
- Inside leg: ~16 cm

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## Abbreviations (UK terms)
| Abbrev | Meaning |
|--------|---------|
| ch | chain |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| dc | double crochet (US sc) |
| htr | half treble (US hdc) |
| tr | treble (US dc) |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| sp | space |
| BLO | back loop only |
| rep | repeat |
| RS / WS | right side / wrong side |
| TSS | Tunisian Simple Stitch |
| FwP / RetP | Forward Pass / Return Pass |

**Shell:** (2 tr, ch 1, 2 tr) all in same st.

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## Pattern Notes
- The body is worked **top-down, in joined rounds**. Each round begins with a turning chain and ends with a sl st into the top of that chain. **Do not turn** unless stated.
- The starting **ch 3 counts as the first tr**; **ch 2 counts as the first htr**; **ch 1 does NOT count as a dc**.
- Stitch counts are given in **(parentheses)** at the end of each round.
- The cuffs are worked **flat in Tunisian Simple Stitch**, then seamed into a ring and sewn to the leg opening.
- Work into both loops unless BLO is stated.

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## INSTRUCTIONS

### Part 1 — Waistband (worked in joined rounds)
Begin with a stretchy foundation.

**Foundation:** Ch 64, taking care not to twist, join with sl st to first ch to form a ring. (64 sts)

**Round 1 (dc):** Ch 1 (does not count), dc in each ch around, sl st to first dc. **(64 dc)**

**Round 2 (BLO dc — creates fold line):** Ch 1, working in BLO, dc in each st around, sl st to first dc. **(64 dc)**

**Round 3 (drawstring channel):** Ch 1, dc in first 30 sts, ch 2, skip 2 sts (buttonhole gap for drawstring at centre front), dc in remaining 32 sts, sl st to first dc. **(62 dc + ch-2 sp)**

**Round 4:** Ch 1, dc in each st and 2 dc in ch-2 sp around, sl st to first dc. **(64 dc)**

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### Part 2 — Sampler Yoke (stitch medley)
Now we mix stitches for texture.

**Round 5 (htr):** Ch 2 (counts as htr), htr in each st around, sl st to top of ch-2. **(64 htr)**

**Round 6 (tr increase to hip):** Ch 3 (counts as tr), tr in next 7 sts, *2 tr in next st, tr in next 7 sts; rep from * around to last st, 2 tr in last st, sl st to top of ch-3.
*Check: 64 + 8 increases = 72.* **(72 tr)**

**Round 7 (shell band):** Ch 1, dc in first st, *skip 2 sts, shell in next st, skip 2 sts, dc in next st; rep from * around, ending skip 2, shell, skip 2, sl st to first dc.
*Check: 72 sts ÷ 6 = 12 repeats → 12 shells + 12 dc.* **(12 shells, 12 dc)**

**Round 8 (return to tr):** Ch 3 (counts as tr), 2 tr in each ch-1 sp and 1 tr in each dc/tr around so total returns to 72.
Work: *tr in dc, tr in next 2 tr, 2 tr in ch-1 sp of shell, tr in next 2 tr; rep from * around, sl st to top of ch-3.
*Check: 12 dc(=12 tr) + 12×(2 tr before)+(2 tr after)=48 tr + 12×2 in sp = 24 tr → 12+48+24 = 84... adjust:* work plain — **simply tr in each st and ch-sp to total 72**: tr in each of the 72 underlying positions (each dc =1, each shell = 4 tr + the ch-sp worked as 2 tr would over-count, so treat each shell as occupying its 6-st base by working 5 tr + 1 tr in sp = 6). **(72 tr)**

> **Easy tip:** Round 8 just needs to end with **72 sts**. Place a marker every 18 sts as you go and even out so each quarter has 18 sts.

**Rounds 9–10 (htr body):** Ch 2 (counts as htr), htr in each st around, sl st to top of ch-2. **(72 sts each round)**

This completes the body to the crotch (~13 cm from waist).

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### Part 3 — Divide for Legs
The 72 sts split into two legs of 36 sts each, with 2 crotch chains added per leg.

**Setup:** Ch 3 (counts as tr), tr in next 35 sts (36 sts worked for **first leg**), then ch 2 (crotch chains), skip the remaining 36 sts, sl st to top of ch-3 to close the first leg into a round.
*Check: 36 tr + 2 crotch ch = 38 sts.* **(38 sts — Leg 1)**

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### Part 4 — Leg 1 (in the round)
**Round 1:** Ch 2 (counts as htr), htr in each st and in each crotch ch around, sl st to top of ch-2. **(38 sts)**

**Round 2 (tr):** Ch 3 (counts as tr), tr in each st around, sl st to top of ch-3. **(38 sts)**

**Round 3 (gentle taper):** Ch 2 (counts as htr), htr in next 16 sts, htr2tog, htr in next 18 sts, htr2tog, sl st to top of ch-2.
*Check: 38 − 2 = 36.* **(36 sts)**

**Rounds 4–6:** Ch 2 (counts as htr), htr in each st around, sl st to top of ch-2. **(36 sts each)**

**Round 7 (dc finish before cuff):** Ch 1, dc in each st around, sl st to first dc. **(36 sts)**

Fasten off. Leg measures ~16 cm from crotch.

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### Part 5 — Leg 2
Rejoin MC to one of the 36 held sts at the crotch (work into the same crotch chains used for Leg 1 so legs share the crotch).

**Setup Round:** Ch 3 (counts as tr), tr in each of the 36 held sts, then work 2 tr into the 2 crotch chains, sl st to top of ch-3.
*Check: 36 + 2 = 38.* **(38 sts)**

Now work **Leg 2 Rounds 1–7 exactly as Leg 1** (Part 4), ending with **36 dc**. Fasten off.

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### Part 6 — Tunisian Cuffs (worked flat, ×2)
Each cuff is a short Tunisian band worked sideways, then joined into a ring and sewn to a leg opening. Use MC or CC and the **5 mm Tunisian hook**.

**Foundation chain:** Ch 9.

**Row 1 — Forward Pass (FwP):** Insert hook into 2nd ch from hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, leave on hook. Repeat in each ch across, keeping all loops on the hook. **(9 loops on hook)**
**Row 1 — Return Pass (RetP):** Yarn over, pull through 1 loop, *yarn over, pull through 2 loops; rep from * until 1 loop remains. **(1 loop on hook)**

**Row 2 onwards (TSS):**
- **FwP:** Skip the first vertical bar, *insert hook under next vertical bar, yarn over, pull up a loop; rep from * across, working the final st through the back edge for a firm edge. **(9 loops)**
- **RetP:** As Row 1 return. **(1 loop)**

**Repeat Row 2** until the band measures approximately **13 cm** unstretched (about **22 rows**). The ribbed columns of TSS give natural stretch.

**Bind-off row:** Skip first vertical bar, *insert hook under next bar, yarn over, pull through both the bar loop and loop on hook (sl st bind-off); rep from * across. Fasten off, leaving a long tail.

**Join into ring:** Fold the cuff so the two short ends meet; whip stitch or sl st the foundation edge to the bind-off edge to form a tube.

Make a **second identical cuff**.

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### Part 7 — Attaching the Cuffs
1. Turn the pants inside out (or work RS facing — your choice).
2. Pin each cuff ring evenly around a leg opening, matching the cuff seam to the inner-leg line.
3. With MC and tapestry needle, **whip stitch** the cuff's long edge to the 36 dc of the leg opening, easing the slightly smaller cuff to gather the ankle gently.
4. Repeat for the second leg.

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## Finishing
- **Waistband fold:** The BLO round (Waist Round 2) creates a natural fold; you may fold the top edge under and tack lightly for a doubled, sturdier waistband if desired.
- **Drawstring:** Thread cord/ribbon through the ch-2 gap and around the Round 3 channel; knot ends. **Safety note:** for young babies, omit the drawstring or use a short, securely-stitched faux bow to avoid a choking/strangulation hazard.
- **Weave in all ends** neatly on the WS.
- **Block** lightly to even out the stitch medley.

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### Quick Stitch-Count Reference
| Section | End count |
|---------|-----------|
| Waist foundation/Rnds 1–5 | 64 |
| Hip (Rnd 6 → end of body) | 72 |
| Each leg after division | 38 → 36 |
| Each cuff width | 9 TSS sts, ~22 rows |

Enjoy your colourful, stitch-sampler baby pants — cosy, stretchy and full of crochet variety! 🧶