Louet Stephanie Skirt Knitting Pattern

Louet Stephanie Linen Skirt Knitting Pattern

What Is Being Made

The Louet Stephanie is a seamless, top-down knitted skirt designed by Trudy van Stralen. This versatile garment is offered in two length options: a shorter version for a casual, fun aesthetic, or a longer length suited to business-casual styling. The pattern provides finished sizes in Small, Medium, and Large, with waist and hip measurements ranging from 38⅓ inches to 45⅝ inches before elastic is applied.

Yarn and Materials

The Stephanie skirt is constructed from Louet Euroflax 100% Wet Spun Linen in Fine/Sport Weight. Each skein contains 100 grams and yields 270 yards (246 meters). The shorter 21⅓-inch length requires 4 skeins across all sizes, while the longer 28-inch version needs 4 skeins for Small and Medium, and 6 skeins for Large. The yarn is worked on 3.0 mm, 3.25 mm, and 4.0 mm circular needles (80 cm length), with a 3.25 mm needle used for the main gauge. Additional materials include a 3.25 mm crochet hook, smooth waste yarn for the cast-on, and 1.5-inch-wide elastic for the waistband.

Techniques and Construction Method

The Stephanie skirt employs a seamless, top-down construction worked entirely in the round using circular needles. This approach eliminates seaming and allows the knitter to try on the garment as it progresses. The pattern begins with a specialized crochet cast-on technique, which creates a flexible, professional-looking foundation edge suitable for linen's natural drape. The cast-on process involves creating loops over the knitting needles using a crochet hook and waste yarn, a method that provides both visual and tactile markers to ensure proper removal of the waste yarn after the initial rounds are complete.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch structure is stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric ideal for showcasing the linen yarn's natural texture and sheen. The pattern incorporates fundamental knitting abbreviations and techniques including:

• K (Knit)
• P (Purl)
• YO (Yarn Over) – used for creating decorative openwork or shaping
• K2tog (Knit 2 Together) – a decrease stitch for shaping the skirt

The pattern is worked in repeating rounds, with Rounds 1–8 repeated a total of 5 times before progressing to subsequent pattern sections. This rhythmic structure makes the Stephanie an accessible project for knitters seeking an easy-to-knit garment with professional results.

Gauge and Finishing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 20 stitches and 29 rounds equal 4 inches in stockinette stitch on a 3.25 mm needle. Because linen yarn behaves differently when wet, the pattern instructions emphasize that knitters must machine wash and dry their gauge swatch before measuring to ensure accuracy. The skirt is finished with an elastic waistband, and needle sizes may be adjusted as needed to achieve the correct gauge for proper fit.

Yarn Characteristics

Louet Euroflax 100% Wet Spun Linen is a premium natural fiber yarn known for its strength, breathability, and lustrous appearance. Wet-spun linen production creates a particularly smooth, durable yarn that softens and becomes more fluid with wear and washing, making it an excellent choice for warm-weather garments. The Fine/Sport Weight classification provides a refined drape suitable for skirts that move gracefully while maintaining shape.