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Summer Shorts
by 
Lili Pintea-Reed

These are a pair of cozy summer shorts done in fingering weight cotton.I 
developed the pattern by doing a gauge swatch in my cotton handspun and
copying the fit of a pair of shorts which fit me well at a 37 inch hip. 

They could just as easily be done in silk or wool for winter under garments.
I made a pair in hand spun cotton which are so comfy and flattering that 
people can't believe that I made them from scratch!

Materials
#3 American Needles
fingering weight cotton ( silk or wool for winter undies)

Gauge:
9 rows to inch
5 stitches to inch

(note: I knit very loosely so you might need to go up a needle size).


Left side: (front side  and back side as one piece)

Cast on 120 stitches and knit one purl one for ten rows. Continue in
stocking stitch for for leg length from crotch desired. 

Shape back and front crotches:
Bind off 
six stitches at beginning of row. Continue through row. Then bind off
six stitches at beginning of next row. Bind off 2 stiches beginning of 
next four rows to finish crotch shaping. You should have 100 stitches 
remaining. Continue in stocking stitch to reach your waist. I suggest
eight inches. 

Waist:
Then switch to knit one purl one for five rows. Next *knit two, YO,  knit two
together* repeat to end of row. Continue in in knit one purl one pattern for
five rows bind off.

Right side:
exactly the same as left side.

Gusset for crotch:

If you are not very hippy you can skip the gusset and sew both sides together.
For the rest of us 
cast on three stitches and knit. Next row make one stitch purl row make one
stitch. Continue increases every other row until the gusset is as wide as
your crotch. People vary so measure and check. When you reach your crotch 
width begin to decrease every other until only three stiches remain. Bind
off.

Assembly:

Take each side piece and sew up the leg seams. Find gusset center and pin to
leg seam top. Sew to side piece cantered. Take other side peice and join
keeping gusset centered on second side. Crochet belt or make I-Cord and 
thread through holes in waist band.

Use gauge to add or substract stiches to adjust fit.

Enjoy your summer shorts!
Lili
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Lili Pintea-Reed holds all copy rights 1999. Distribute freely with copy
right message intact.

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