The bikini bottom is knit in one piece, beginning in the middle and shaping both sides by a series of increases. Like the top, it's completely knit together -- no sewing required!
Provisional Cast-On
Using a crochet hook and some scrap yarn (not the elastic yarn), make a single-crochet chain of about 2" in length. Now, using a knitting needle alongside the crochet hook, wrap the yarn around the needle as you continue to make the crochet chain, creating the chain along the length of the knitting needle (figure A). Continue for the correct number of stitches and then make the chain an additional 2" (without the knitting needle). Cut the yarn and pull the tail through the last loop, securing it only gently as you will later need to undo the chain from this end. (You may also want to tie a marker knot to remember which end to undo it from.)Bikini Bottom Front
Make chain stitch for provisional cast-on. Using color A, K (18, 18, 20) 22 sts onto provisional cast-on chain and work in St st for 3".
Row 1: K1, Inc1bel (figure B), K to last 2 sts, Inc1aft (figure C), K1.
Row 2: P all sts.
Row 3: K all sts.
Row 4: P all sts.
Repeat rows 1 – 4 until you have (30, 30, 32) 34 sts.
Now repeat rows 1 and 2 only until you have (44, 48, 52) 54 sts.Next row: K1, Inc1bel twice, K to last 3 sts, Inc1aft twice, K1.
Next row: P all sts.
Repeat these two rows until you have (56,62,68) 74 sts.
Change to color (B) and work one row in K. Break yarn, leaving a 4" tail. Editor's note: The following step actually finishes the bikini bottom. For a video showing how to knit an I-cord, or tube, click here and scroll down to find the video link. Attaching the I-Cord
With a prepared 8" length of I-cord in color B on a double-pointed needle, attach it to bikini front as follows (figure D): K first 3 sts of I-cord, slip last st of I-cord onto right needle, slip next st from bikini bottom onto right needle, go back through these two stitches and knit them together. Slide I-cord to opposite end of double pointed needle and repeat. Continue across bikini to end, and then work the 4 I-cord sts for a further 8". Bind off. Bikini Bottom Back
With your knitting needle, pick up loops of color A at provisional cast-on of bikini bottom front, making sure you have all loops secure and the right number of stitches picked up! Using the reminder knot as a guide, undo the knot and carefully pull out the tail of the crochet chain (figure E). As long as you picked up the correct loops on the front, the scrap yarn should all just pull smoothly away from your knitting. You will now have your sts on your needle ready to go. For the back of the bikini bottom, you will begin increasing right away.
Begin Increase
Starting with a k row, begin pattern as follows:
Row 1: K1, inc1bel, K to last 2 sts, Inc1aft, K1.
Row 2: P all sts.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have (82, 90, 98) 104 sts, ending with a right side row.
Change to color B and work one row in P. Break yarn, leaving a 4" tail.
Work I-cord instructions as for front.
RESOURCES :
Fixation yarn
50 colors available.
Available at most yarn stores.
Cascade Yarns
Website: cascadeyarns.com
Cotton Classic yarn
Over 150 colors available.
Available at most yarn stores.
Tahki Stacy Charles, Inc.
Glendale, NY 11385
Website: http://www.tahkistacycharles.com
Rainbow Glass Beads
Michaels
Coppell, TX
Phone: 972-409-1300
Toll-free: 800-642-4235
Website: www.michaels.com
GUESTS :
Tina Whitmore
E-mail: tina@knitwhits.com
Website: www.knitwhits.com
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