Therasia Skirt Knitting Pattern

Therasia Skirt in Juniper Moon Farm Zooey Twist

What is Being Made

The Therasia skirt is a knitted garment designed as part of the Santorini Collection by designer Kathleen Dames. This is a fitted, knee-length skirt worked in two separate pieces that are seamed together, creating a construction with intentional vents at each side hem. The skirt is available in seven different sizes, with finished circumferences ranging from 28 inches (71 cm) to 52 inches (132 cm) and lengths from 20 inches (50.75 cm) to 24 inches (61 cm), offering versatility for various body measurements and proportions.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Therasia skirt employs several intermediate-level knitting techniques that create its distinctive shaping and structure. The garment begins with a small number of cast-on stitches and uses strategic increases and decreases to form its silhouette. The skirt is constructed on the bias, which contributes to its drape and fit characteristics.

• Increases: The pattern uses m1L (make one left) and m1R (make one right) increase methods to add stitches symmetrically on either side of the work, creating gradual expansion during the initial shaping phase.
• Decreases: Knit two together (k2tog) and knit three together (k3tog) decreases are employed to shape the waistline and create the fitted silhouette at the top of the skirt.
• Yarn overs: Yarn over (yo) stitches are incorporated into the decrease rows, creating decorative eyelet details that add visual interest to the design.
• I-cord edging: An I-cord finish is used to create a refined edge detail, worked using double-pointed needles and a specialized technique of knitting all stitches from left to right needle, then sliding the work back to repeat.
• Two-piece construction: The skirt is knitted as two identical pieces that are later seamed together, with the seaming strategy intentionally leaving vents at the hem for ease of movement.

Stitches Used

The Therasia skirt is primarily worked in stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic knitted fabric with a flat appearance on the right side and a bumpy texture on the wrong side. This fundamental stitch is combined with strategic shaping stitches to create the garment's form.

• Stockinette stitch: The main fabric throughout the skirt, worked on the bias for enhanced drape.
• Garter stitch elements: Implied through the purl rows on the wrong side, which balance the knit rows on the right side.
• Yarn over eyelets: Decorative openings created by yarn overs paired with decreases, adding texture and visual detail to the waistband shaping area.
• I-cord: A tubular knitted cord used for edging, created by repeatedly knitting all stitches and sliding them back along the needle.

Materials and Tools

The Therasia skirt is designed to be knitted with Juniper Moon Farm Zooey Twist yarn in the color #08 Rio Grande. The yarn quantity required depends on the chosen size, ranging from 3 skeins for the smallest size to 6 skeins for the largest size, with each skein weighing 100 grams. The pattern calls for US size 4 (3.5mm) circular needles measuring 29 inches (73.75 cm) in length for the main body of the skirt, along with a pair of matching US size 4 (3.5mm) double-pointed needles for the I-cord edging. Additional notions include a tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends, and a safety pin for stitch markers or holding stitches during construction.

Gauge and Sizing Information

The pattern specifies a gauge of 21 stitches and 34 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) when worked in stockinette stitch on the bias using the recommended needle size. This gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements. The pattern recommends choosing a size with zero to negative ease, meaning the finished circumference should match or be slightly smaller than the wearer's actual measurements for an optimal fitted silhouette.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with some experience beyond basic techniques. The combination of shaping through increases and decreases, the bias construction, the incorporation of yarn overs for decorative detail, and the