One of my sons lives in an area where he has little need for wool hats and slippers, but last year I found something fun to knit for his kids: A wool diaper cover. My daughter-in-law loves them. But she asked for some that would be easier to get off when soiled. As much as possible, I wanted to keep the smooth design of the pull-up diaper covers. I modified a pattern found online, but unfortunately I can't find the original again to link to it. Here is the basic idea of the middle sizes:
Materials: 2 oz Worsted weight wool, Needles size 4 and 6
Cast on 64 (68,72) stitches using worsted wool on size 4 needles.
Slip first stitch of every row.
Work 4 stitches garter stitch at each end of every row.
Work buttonhole in 5th row by binding off 3rd and 4th stitches from each end.
Start at Back Waist
Back Waist and Bum
Row 1: Sl 1, K4, 2x2 Rib to last 5 stitches. K5
Row 2-4: Repeat row 1.
Row 5: [Buttonhole row] Sl 1, K2, BO 2, Rib to last 5 stitches, BO 2, K3 [Or work one row button hole]
Row 6: Sl 1, K2, CO2, rib to last 5 stitches, CO2, K 3
Row 7-8: Repeat Row 1.
For Large, Continue ribbing for 4 more rows (12 rows)
Switch to size 6 needles and stockinette stitch.
Work Back Bum:
Row 1: Sl 1, K18, PM, K 26 (28, 34) PM, K19
Row 2: Sl 1, K4, P to last 5 stitches, K5
Row 3: [Short row] Sl 1, K to second marker, wrap and turn
Row 4: [Short row] P to marker, wrap and turn
Row 5: K across, picking up wrap as you knit
Row 6: Sl 1, K 4, P across, picking up wrap as you purl, K last 5 stitches
Continue in stockinette stitch with garter border for 23, (27, 31) rows.
Work buttonholes on each side of one more row for small (Row 17) and medium (Row 20.)
For large, work two buttonhole rows every 6 ridges.
AT THE SAME TIME
Work more short rows as on rows 3 and 4 as follows:
SMALL: Rows 11-14, 19-22
MEDIUM: Rows 13-16, 23-26
LARGE: Rows 11-14, 19-22, 27-30
After last short row is completed, Decrease for Legs
Row 23 (27, 31): Sl 1 SSK 4 times, K til 9 stitches remain, K2 tog 4 times, K1
Row 24 (28, 32): Sl 1, K4, P to last 5 stitches, K5
Row 25 (29, 33): [Short row] Sl 1, SSK, K to 2 stitches before second marker, wrap and turn
Row 26 (30, 34): [Short row] P to 2 stitches before marker, wrap and turn
Row 27 (31, 35): K to last 3 stitches, picking up wrap as you knit, K2 tog, K1
Row 28 (32, 36): Sl 1, K 4, P to last 5 stitches, picking up wrap as you purl, K5
Row 29 (33, 37): Sl 1, SSK, K to last 3 stitches, K2 tog, K1
Row 30 (34, 38): Sl 1, K4, P to last 5 stitches, K5
Row 31 (35, 39): Sl 1, SSK, K to marker, K2 P2 ribbing to next marker, K to last 3 stitches, K2 tog, K1
Row 32 (36, 40): Sl 1, K4, p to marker, P2 K2 ribbing to next marker, P to last 5 stitches, K5
Repeat last two rows until 28 (32, 36) stitches remain, maintaining pattern but removing markers as needed.
Between Legs
Right side rows: Sl K4, K2 P2 to last 5 stitches, K5
Wrong side rows: Sl 1, K4, P2 K2 to last 5 stitches, K5
Work these two rows until piece measures 9" (10.5, 11.5") from mid back.
Increase for Front
Right side: Sl 1, M1, K3, K to start of ribbing, K2 P2 to last 5 stitches, K4, M1, K1
Wrong side rows: Sl 1, K4, P to start of ribbing, P2 K2 to end of ribbing, P to last 5 stitches, K5
Repeat these two rows 4 times, then switch to stockinette:
Right side: Sl 1 K across
Wrong side rows: Sl 1, K4, P to last 5 stitches, K5
Work until piece measures 13" (15, 16.5")
Switch to smaller needles and ribbing:
8 (8, 12) Rows: Sl K4, rib to last 5 stitches, K5
Bind off using larger needles. Sew buttons to front. On some I added extra buttons for more sizing options. This was purely arbitrary, depending on how many matching buttons I could find in my button tin.
