Classic Elite Yarns Clarisse Skirt Crochet Pattern

Classic Elite Yarns Clarisse Crocheted Skirt

What Is Being Made

Clarisse is a women's crocheted skirt designed by Susan Mills, originally published in Calista 1602. This garment is worked in the round from the bottom up, featuring a distinctive design that transitions from decorative chevron stripes at the hem to solid double crochet stitches at the waist. The skirt is available in five sizes: XS, S, M, L, and XL, with finished hem circumferences ranging from 40 inches to 55 inches.

Techniques Used

The Clarisse skirt employs two primary construction techniques. The garment is worked in the round, meaning it is crocheted continuously in circular rows rather than in flat pieces that require seaming. The pattern begins at the hem and progresses upward toward the waist, allowing for a seamless cylindrical construction. Additionally, the pattern incorporates color work through striped sections, with instructions to stagger yarn joins to avoid a visible column of joins running up the garment.

The finishing process includes threading elastic through a casing at the waist for a comfortable, adjustable fit. A ¾-inch-wide elastic band, cut 1 inch longer than the desired finished length, is inserted using a safety pin as a threading tool. The skirt is completed with a sewing needle and coordinating thread to secure the elastic.

Stitches Used

The Clarisse pattern features several fundamental crochet stitches:

• Double Crochet (dc): The primary stitch used throughout the upper portion of the skirt and in the set-up round, providing structure and drape.
• Single Crochet (sc): Used in the chevron stripe rounds for a tighter, more textured appearance.
• Chain Stitch (ch): Used to create the foundation and decorative spaces within the chevron pattern.
• Slip Stitch (sl st): Used to join rounds and create a seamless transition between circular rows.
• Dcdec2 and Scdec2: Custom decrease stitches that reduce stitch count while maintaining pattern continuity. These decreases are worked by inserting the hook into consecutive stitches, drawing up loops, and drawing yarn through all loops on the hook simultaneously.

The pattern features two distinct stitch patterns: the Dc Chevron round and the Sc Chevron round. Both chevron rounds work on a multiple of 12 stitches plus 11, creating peaks and valleys through the combination of increases (ch 3 spaces with double or single crochet on either side) and decreases (dcdec2 or scdec2).

Materials

The Clarisse skirt is crocheted using yarn from Classic Elite Yarns, though the specific yarn weight and fiber content are not detailed in the provided pattern excerpt. The pattern specifies a gauge of 18 double crochets to 4 inches and 8 rounds of double crochet to 3 inches, which should be verified before beginning the project to ensure proper finished measurements.

In addition to yarn, the pattern requires a crochet hook appropriate to the chosen yarn weight (not specified in the excerpt provided). Supplementary materials include ¾-inch-wide elastic, a large safety pin for threading the elastic through the waist casing, a sewing needle, and coordinating thread for securing the elastic.

Pattern Notes

The pattern is rated as Intermediate skill level. Crocheters are advised to weave in yarn ends for each stripe as they complete it, rather than waiting until the end, to simplify finishing. The beginning chain is calculated as a multiple of 14 stitches plus 13, which is then reduced to a multiple of 12 stitches plus 11 during the set-up round. To create a visually seamless striped effect, new yarn colors should be attached two stitches before any space in the previous pattern round, staggering the joins around the circumference rather than allowing them to stack vertically.