Peek-A-Boo Maxi Skirt – Pattern Testing Your Next Wardrobe Staple

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I try to choose test knits these days for things I will love and get a lot of use out of. And I think the Peek A Boo Maxi Skirt from Knitatude may be the pattern test I will end up getting the most use out of ever! Let’s be honest, I hate wearing pants. They’re so often uncomfortable, and I always wear through them so fast it’s hard to justify buying nice ones. So when I can, especially in fall and winter I wear skirts. Even better if they are stretchy! Enter the Peek A Boo Maxi Skirt!

While the notable design feature is the lace at the bottom, one of the most important wear-ability features is the waistband. It is wonderful that you put an elastic into this folded over “double-brim” waistband so it’s so easy to put on and comfortable to wear! The double brim is of course most popular in toques, but this is such a great use of it! There are 2 ways to make a double brim, you can pick up the cast on edge, or you can start with a provisional cast on, then un-do it to knit together with your active stitches to create the fold. While I used the pick-up method for mine, as is written in the pattern, I do find the provisional cast on can be a little faster!

When you are cutting the elastic to put in your waistband my recommendation is to really make sure you are at the smallest point of your waist. I had been a little worried this would be too high and I wouldn’t like it, so probably made mine a little bigger than I should have. And while it fits the narrowest part of my waist, I can feel it’s not quite as snug as would be ideal. When wearing your skirt it really is most flattering to have it at the narrowest point of your waist.

While the waistband does require a little bit of sewing, it’s very easy to do. I did it by hand, having not sewed anything in YEARS. And if you have a sewing machine that’s set up and ready to go, this little step would literally take you seconds. By hand I went back and forth across the elastic three times, so that hopefully I can be sure my sewing will hold!

After you’ve folded over you waistband, this becomes the BEST Knitflix project you can imagine! All stockinette. No row counting. And you can just keep knitting for a loooong time. I love when projects say “repeat to xx length”. Especially when it’s not sleeves that you’re going to have to duplicate.

The lace design feature helps make your knit skirt a little lighter and airier, and is so pretty! And in addition to all that, it’s also really, really easy.

Now let’s talk about the yarn. I used the same yarn as Chantal, Lion Brand LB Collection Superwash Merino. This is a very bouncy DK weight yarn that you can machine wash and dry. In fact if you wash it, you will NEED to tumble dry it or it grows in length like crazy. Because it is superwash it is quite soft and wearable next to the skin. But if you want a cotton option, I would suggest either Lion Brand Cotton Jeans or Knit Picks Cotlin, which is what I used to make my Dressed to the Maxi Dress.

Now something I don’t usually talk about in my blog posts – styling. I wasn’t sure what to wear my skirt with. I tried something a little flowy tucked in like Chantal did in her photos.

I had also been picturing it with something form-fitted, so tried with one of my ballet leotards, and I think that one may be my favourite!

It seemed like this also might be the kind of knit that you could wear with a shirt with the Queer Eye-famous French tuck. So tried it with this green t-shirt.

And gave it a try with an un-tucked t-shirt.

I would highly recommend this as your next knitting project, and you can get the pattern on Ravelry or Etsy!