purlJam

# Little Wheels Baby Pants
*A gender-neutral worsted-weight baby pant featuring a single decorative Catherine's wheel band across the hips. Cozy, simple, and quick to make — perfect for any little one.*

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## Size
**6–12 months** (finished measurements):
- Waist: 19 in (48 cm) — with stretch
- Hip: 20 in (51 cm)
- Total length (waist to cuff): 14 in (35.5 cm)
- Inseam: 7 in (18 cm)

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## Materials
- **Yarn**: Worsted weight (#4), approximately 250–300 yards (230–275 m) in a gender-neutral color such as sage green, oatmeal, soft gray, mustard, or terracotta
- **Hook**: US H/8 (5.0 mm)
- **Notions**:
  - Tapestry needle
  - Stitch markers (2)
  - ½ in (12 mm) wide elastic, approximately 20 in (51 cm) — OR — coordinating ribbon for drawstring
  - Scissors

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## Gauge
**14 hdc × 11 rows = 4 in (10 cm)** in half double crochet
*Take time to check gauge — baby garments need accurate sizing.*

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## Abbreviations (US Terms)
- **ch** — chain
- **sl st** — slip stitch
- **sc** — single crochet
- **hdc** — half double crochet
- **dc** — double crochet
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **sk** — skip
- **sp** — space
- **BLO** — back loop only
- **rep** — repeat
- **CW** — Catherine's wheel (special stitch, defined below)

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## Special Stitch — Catherine's Wheel

**Wheel Cluster (closing half-wheel)**: Yarn over, insert hook in next st, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). [Yarn over, insert hook in next st, yarn over and pull up a loop] 6 times (15 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through all 15 loops. Ch 1 to close.

**Fan (opening half-wheel)**: Work 7 dc in indicated stitch/space.

A complete Catherine's wheel is formed when a "fan" is worked above a "closing cluster" (and vice versa), creating the iconic wheel motif. In this pattern, **the Catherine's wheel band appears only once** as a decorative feature — the rest of the pants are simple hdc.

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## Pattern Notes
- The waistband is worked flat in BLO ribbing, then seamed into a tube.
- Stitches are picked up along the long edge of the waistband to begin the body.
- The body is worked in **joined rounds** (join with sl st, ch 2 to start each round; ch-2 does NOT count as a stitch).
- The Catherine's wheel band is worked over 3 rounds, only **once**, just below the waistband.
- After the body, work splits for two legs, each worked in joined rounds to the cuff.
- Stitch counts appear in parentheses at the end of each round/row.

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## Instructions

### Waistband
Worked flat in rows, then seamed.

**Row 1 (foundation)**: Ch 9. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. **(8 sts)**

**Rows 2–66**: Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st across. Turn. **(8 sts)**

You should have a long ribbed strip approximately 19 in (48 cm) long. Adjust rows if needed to match measurement (each row = ~⅓ in / 7 mm).

**Seam**: Fold strip in half with right sides together so the two short ends meet. Sl st or whip-stitch through both layers to form a tube. Turn right side out.

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### Round 1 — Set Up Body
With the waistband tube held with the seam at center back, attach yarn to the top edge of one long side at the seam.

**Round 1**: Ch 1. Work 70 sc evenly spaced around the top edge of the waistband (approximately 1 sc per row-end, working a few sk sts as needed to hit 70). Join with sl st to first sc. **(70 sts)**

> ✅ *Math check: 70 sts ÷ 14 sts per 4 in = 20 in hip circumference.* ✓

Place a stitch marker in the join — this marks the **back center**.

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### Round 2 — Hdc Set-Up Round
**Round 2**: Ch 2 (does not count as st). Hdc in same st and in each st around. Join with sl st to first hdc. **(70 sts)**

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### Rounds 3–5 — Catherine's Wheel Feature Band (worked once)

> 📌 *This is the only decorative band. The wheel motif spans 3 rounds.*

**Round 3 (set-up row of fans and skips)**: Ch 1. Sc in same st. *Sk 2 sts, 7 dc in next st (fan made), sk 2 sts, sc in next st.* Rep from * around — you will work **7 fans** total. After the 7th fan, sk 2 sts, and join with sl st to first sc. **(7 fans + 7 sc = 7 × (7 dc) + 7 sc = 56 sts)**

> ✅ *Math check: 7 fans × (1 sc + 2 sk + 1 fan st + 2 sk) = 7 × 6 = 42... wait — 1 sc + 2 sk + 1 fan center + 2 sk = 6 base sts per repeat × 7 = 42. We need to consume all 70 sts. Adjustment: 7 fans should consume 70 base sts means 10 sts per repeat.*

**Corrected Round 3**: Ch 1. Sc in same st, sc in next st. *Sk 3 sts, 7 dc in next st (fan), sk 3 sts, sc in next 2 sts.* Rep from * around 6 more times. Omit the final 2 sc on the last repeat (already worked at start) — join with sl st to first sc. **(7 fans of 7 dc + 14 sc = 63 sts)**

> ✅ *Math check: Per repeat = 2 sc + 3 sk + 1 fan center + 3 sk = 9 base sts. Wait — recalc: 2 sc + 3 sk + 7 dc (in 1 st) + 3 sk = consumes 2+3+1+3 = 9 base sts per repeat. 9 × 7 = 63... we need 70.*

**Use this corrected Round 3 (10-st repeat over 70 sts)**: Ch 1. Sc in same st, sc in next st. *Sk 3 sts, 7 dc in next st (fan), sk 3 sts, sc in next 3 sts.* Rep from * across, ending last rep with sc in next 1 st (instead of 3) to balance. Join with sl st to first sc. 

> Per repeat consumes: 3 sc + 3 sk + 1 fan-base + 3 sk = 10 base sts. **10 × 7 repeats = 70 base sts.** ✓ 
> Total sts produced: 7 fans (7 dc each = 49) + 21 sc = **(70 sts)**

**Round 4 (wheel-closing round)**: Ch 3 (counts as first dc). Work 3 dc in same st as join (this begins a half-fan over the sc group). *Sk next 3 dc of fan below, work CW Cluster across next 7 sts (the 4th dc of fan + the 3 sc + the first 3 dc of next fan) — see note*, sk 3 dc, 7 dc in next sc (the center sc of the 3-sc group).* 

> 📝 **Simplified Round 4**: Ch 1. Sc in 4th dc of first fan (center of fan). *Sk 3 dc, work CW Cluster as follows over next 7 sts [yo, pull up loop in each of next 7 sts (= last 3 dc of fan, center sc of sc-group, first 3 dc of next fan)] — yo and pull through all 15 loops, ch 1 to close. Sc in center dc (4th dc) of next fan.* Rep from * around, ending with CW Cluster over the last 7 sts and joining with sl st to first sc. **(7 closing clusters + 7 sc = 14 motif sts + 7 ch-1 sps)**

**Round 5 (return to hdc)**: Ch 2 (does not count). Work hdc evenly around: 5 hdc over each closing cluster (in the ch-1 sp and surrounding sts) and 5 hdc around each sc, for a total of **70 hdc**. Join with sl st to first hdc. **(70 sts)**

> ✅ *Math check: 7 wheel sections × (5 hdc over cluster + 5 hdc over sc transition) = 70 sts. Returns to base stitch count.* ✓

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### Rounds 6–14 — Body
**Rounds 6–14 (9 rounds)**: Ch 2 (does not count). Hdc in each st around. Join with sl st to first hdc. **(70 sts each round)**

Body should measure approximately 4 in (10 cm) from top of waistband.

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### Round 15 — Split for Legs
**Round 15**: Ch 2. Hdc in next 34 sts (35 sts total worked, forming back of one leg + front of one leg combined for the first leg). Ch 1 (crotch chain). Sk next 35 sts (these become the second leg). Join with sl st to first hdc of this round to close the **first leg**. **(35 hdc + 1 ch = 36 sts for first leg)**

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### First Leg
**Rounds 16–34 (19 rounds)**: Ch 2. Hdc in each st and in the ch-1 sp around. Join with sl st to first hdc. **(36 sts)**

Leg should measure approximately 7 in (18 cm) from crotch.

**Cuff Round 1**: Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Join with sl st to first sc. **(36 sts)**

**Cuff Rounds 2–4**: Ch 1. Sc in BLO of each st around. Join. **(36 sts)**

Fasten off and weave in ends.

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### Second Leg
With right side facing, attach yarn to the crotch (at the ch-1 of Round 15, working into the unworked 35 sts).

**Round 1**: Ch 2. Hdc in each of the 35 unworked sts, then hdc in the base of the crotch ch-1. Join with sl st to first hdc. **(36 sts)**

**Rounds 2–19 (18 rounds)**: Ch 2. Hdc in each st around. Join. **(36 sts)**

Leg should measure approximately 7 in (18 cm).

**Cuff Rounds 1–4**: Work as for first leg. **(36 sts)**

Fasten off and weave in ends.

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## Finishing

1. **Weave in all ends** with tapestry needle.
2. **Reinforce crotch**: With a length of yarn, hand-sew a few small reinforcing stitches at the crotch join on the wrong side.
3. **Waistband elastic** (recommended):
   - Cut elastic to baby's waist measurement minus 1 in (2.5 cm).
   - Overlap ends ½ in (12 mm) and sew securely to form a loop.
   - Place inside the waistband tube. Using tapestry needle and yarn, sew the bottom edge of the waistband to the first round of the body, enclosing the elastic inside.
   
   **OR** **Drawstring option**: Thread ribbon through the waistband ribs (in and out every few sts at the front center) and tie in a small bow.
4. **Block lightly** if desired by spritzing with water and laying flat to dry. This helps the Catherine's wheel band lay beautifully.

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## Final Stitch Count Summary
| Section | Stitch Count |
|---|---|
| Waistband (per row) | 8 sc |
| Body set-up & hdc rounds | 70 sts |
| Catherine's wheel round 3 | 70 base sts |
| Catherine's wheel round 4 | 7 clusters + 7 sc |
| Catherine's wheel round 5 | 70 hdc |
| Each leg | 36 sts |
| Cuff | 36 sc |

Enjoy your sweet little pair of wheel-banded baby pants! 🌿