patterns

Lenny Bloomers
 The Lenny Bloomers are fun, retro baby pants that come in two designs – either shoulder straps that
cross over and button at the back or a tie at the waist. Worked bottom-up in two pieces, both versions sit
high on the waist with short rows worked into the back piece to create shaping.

The simplicity of the Lenny Bloomers really allows you to play around with colours and patterns, easily
creating stripes and cute details. Some simple suggestions are included in the pattern.

Size / Measurements Tension

Size in months 3m 6m 12 m 24 m Using 4 mm / US 6 needles in stocking stitch –

21 stitches & 28 rows over 10 cm x 10 cm.
Based on 46 cm 48 cm 51 cm 54 cm
Stocking stitch – Row 1 (rs): knit. Row 2 (ws): purl.
approx. waist 18ʺ 19ʺ 20ʺ 21 ½ʺ
measurements

Finished Measurements taken from the bloomers laid flat,

Abbreviations
measurements across the widest part, from seam to seam.
k: Knit
Waist 20 cm 21 cm 23 cm 25 cm kfb: Knit into the front (as normal) and
8ʺ 8 ½ʺ 9ʺ 10ʺ then again into the back of the same
Hips 23 cm 24 cm 26 cm 28 cm stitch, creating two stitches out of
9ʺ 9 ½ʺ 10ʺ 11ʺ one.
Length 20 cm 21 cm 22 cm 24 cm
- crotch to top of k2tog: Knit two stitches together.
8ʺ 8 ½ʺ 8 ½ʺ 9 ½ʺ
waist ribbing approx. p: Purl
at the front pfb: Purl into the front (as normal) and
Yarn
100 gram ball 1 1 1 1
then again into the back of the same
metres 130 150 170 190 stitch, creating two stitches out of
yards 145 165 185 210 one.
approx. p2tog: Purl two stitches together.
Please note that yarn amounts given are for making the rs: Right side – the front of work.
bloomers in a single colour.
turn: Short rows are used to create
shaping within a knitted piece by
Supplies partially knitting a row(s). A row is
worked to a certain number of
Yarn weight: DK (see above chart for yardage) stitches before being turned and the
Suggested yarn: King Cole Cottonsoft same stitches worked back across.
1 pair 3.25 mm / US 3 needles *please see special note below*
1 pair 4 mm / US 6 needles ws: Wrong side – the back of the work.
Darning needle yo: Yarn over – bring the yarn forwards
Stitch holder under the right needle, then take it
Lockable stitch markers over the needle to the back to create
2 buttons approx. 1.5 cm/ ½ʺ (for shoulder straps) a new loop (stitch) on the needle.
Work the next stitch on the left
needle as normal.
*please note this pattern uses the simple ‘turn’ technique for creating short
rows. There are other more complex turning techniques such as the ‘wrap
and turn’ method. Please feel free to use your preferred method*

© PIPPY EVE 2017 LENNY BLOOMERS PAGE 2

 Instructions

SHOULDER STRAPS BLOOMERS

BLOOMERS FRONT

Using 4 mm / US 6 needles cast on 15 [17, 17, 17] stitches.

Row 1 (rs): knit.
Row 2 (ws): purl.
Rows 1-2 make up stocking stitch.
Work in stocking stitch for a further 2 [4, 4, 4] rows.

Increases for leg shaping

Continue in stocking stitch, increase by 1 stitch at beginning and end of every row, as follows:
Row 1 (rs): kfb, knit to last 2 stitches, kfb, k1.
Row 2: pfb, purl to the last 2 stitches, pfb, p1.
You now have 19 [21, 21, 21] stitches on your needle.

Repeat Rows 1-2, until there are 51 [53, 57, 61] stitches on your needle.
Place a lockable stitch marker in the first and last stitch of the row. This will help when it comes to
sewing the side seams later in the pattern.

Continue in stocking stitch without shaping for a further 6 [6, 8, 8] rows, ending with a ws row.

Decreases for waist shaping

Continuing in stocking stitch, decrease by 1 stitch at beginning and end of next and every following
th
6 [6, 8, 8] row, as follows:
st nd
1 & 2 sizes only
Row 1 (rs): k2tog, knit until the last 2 stitches, k2tog.
Rows 2-6: continue in stocking stitch.
Row 7 (rs): k2tog, knit until the last 2 stitches, k2tog.
Rows 8-12: continue in stocking stitch.
Row 13 (rs): k2tog, knit until the last 2 stitches, k2tog.
rd th
3 & 4 sizes only
Row 1 (rs): k2tog, knit until the last 2 stitches, k2tog.
Rows 2-8: continue in stocking stitch.
Row 9 (rs): k2tog, knit until the last 2 stitches, k2tog.
Rows 10-16: continue in stocking stitch.
Row 17 (rs): k2tog, knit until the last 2 stitches, k2tog.

You now have 45 [47, 51, 55] stitches on your needle.

For all sizes

Continue in stocking stitch without shaping until your work measures 17 [18, 19, 21] cm /
6 ½ [7, 7 ½, 8 ½]ʺ from cast on edge, ending with a ws row.

**
Work 2 more rows in stocking stitch, ending with a ws row.
You have 45 [47, 51, 55] stitches on your needle.

© PIPPY EVE 2017 LENNY BLOOMERS PAGE 3

 Ribbed waistband & shoulder straps
Change to 3.25 mm / US 3 needles and work 6 rows in 1 x 1 ribbing, as follows:
Row 1 (rs): k1, (p1, k1) to the end.
Row 2: p1, (k1, p1) to the end.
Rows 3-6: continue in rib.
Row 7: cast off 8 [8, 10, 10] stitches, (p1, k1) 3 times, slip the 7 worked stitches onto a stitch holder, cast off
15 [17, 17, 21] stitches, (p1, k1) 3 times, cast off remaining 8 [8, 10, 10] stitches. Break off yarn.
Remember when casting off a specific number of stitches an extra stitch needs to be worked,
consequently after casting off there will be one worked stitch remaining on your right needle.

You now have 7 stitches on a stitch holder and 7 stitches on your needle.

Straps
Using 3.25 mm / US 3 needles re-join the yarn to the wrong side and work the 7 stitches on your needle
as follows:
Row 1 (ws): p1, (k1, p1) 3 times.
Row 2: k1, (p1, k1) 3 times.
Repeat Rows 1-2 until the strap measures 30 [32, 34, 36] cm / 12 [12 ½, 13 ½, 14]ʺ, ending with a ws row.

Make eyelet button hole, as follows:

Row 1 (rs): k1, p1, k1, yo, k2tog, p1, k1.
Rows 2-5: continue in rib.
Row 6: cast off 7 stitches. Break off yarn.

Slip the 7 stitches off the stitch holder onto your needle and rejoin yarn making sure the next row to be
worked is the wrong side.
Work as the previous strap.

BLOOMERS BACK

Work as BLOOMERS FRONT beginning to **

Short rows for back shaping

Row 1 (rs): knit to last 6 [6, 7, 8] stitches, turn.
Row 2: purl to last 6 [6, 7, 8] stitches, turn.
Row 3: knit to last 12 [12, 14, 16] stitches, turn.
Row 4: purl to last 12 [12, 14, 16] stitches, turn.
Row 5: knit to last 18 [18, 21, 24] stitches, turn.
Row 6: purl to last 18 [18, 21, 24] stitches, turn.
Row 7: knit to the end.
Row 8: purl.

You have 45 [47, 51, 55] stitches on your needle.

##

Ribbed waistband
Change to 3.25 mm / US 3 needles and work 6 rows in 1 x 1 ribbing, as follows:
Row 1 (rs): k1, (p1, k1) to the end.
Row 2: p1, (k1, p1) to the end.
Rows 3-6: continue in rib.
Row 7: cast off all stitches in rib.

© PIPPY EVE 2017 LENNY BLOOMERS PAGE 4

 FINISHING

Rib leg borders – same for both legs

Using mattress stitch sew both side seams from top to stitch markers.
The leg borders run from the crotch to the side-seam and back to the crotch, not including the crotch
itself. Identify the border for the left leg, you will work this from the front crotch to the back.
With right side facing towards you, using 3.25 mm / US 3 needles, pick up and knit 44 [48, 52, 56] stitches
evenly along this edge – this works out as 22 [24, 26, 28] stitches either side of the side seam.

Work 6 rows in 1 x 1 ribbing, as follows:

Row 1 (ws): (k1, p1) to the end.
Rows 2-6: as Row 1.
Row 7: cast off all stitches in rib.

Repeat for the right leg border, working the picked up stitches from the back crotch to the front.

Using mattress stitch, sew the crotch seam.

Sew two buttons onto the back of the romper on the waist band, each approx. 6 [6, 7, 7] cm /
2 ½ [2 ½, 3, 3]ʺ from the side seams.
Weave in all loose ends.

Pressing
Press the finished romper in accordance with the instructions on the ball band. If pressing instructions
are not given my preferred method is to lay the romper out flat making sure the seams are flat and then
cover the knitted piece with a damp white cloth and leave to dry away from direct heat.

Congratulations! You have finished your Lenny Bloomers xx

Style Inspiration

You can really put your own creative stamp onto the Lenny Bloomers by working stripes when making
the front and back pieces. I suggest changing yarn colour every 6 rows, i.e. swapping the colours at the
th
beginning of every 6 row. In the version below, the short rows were omitted to keep the stripes
uniform. If short rows were worked there would be a thicker stripe of one colour at the top back of the
bloomers. Short rows can be worked, it just comes down to personal preference.

© PIPPY EVE 2017 LENNY BLOOMERS PAGE 5

 TIE WAIST BLOOMERS – variation

These bloomers are worked similar the previous pair but instead of shoulder straps they feature a tie
around the waist. Eyelets for the tie are placed on the last row of stocking stitch before the waist ribbing
begins.

TIE WAIST BLOOMERS FRONT

Work as Shoulder Strap Bloomers FRONT from beginning to **

You have 45 [47, 51, 55] stitches on your needle.

^^
Eyelets for ties
st
1 size only
Row 1 (rs): knit.
Row 2: p3, p2tog, yo, (p3, p2tog, yo) 3 times, p5, (yo, p2tog, p3) 3 times, yo, p2tog, p3.
nd
2 size only
Row 1 (rs): knit.
Row 2: p2, p2tog, yo, (p4, p2tog, yo) 3 times, p3, (yo, p2tog, p4) 3 times, yo, p2tog, p2.
rd
3 size only
Row 1 (rs): knit.
Row 2: p3, p2tog, yo, (p4, p2tog, yo) 3 times, p5, (yo, p2tog, p4) 3 times, yo, p2tog, p3.
th
4 size only
Row 1 (rs): knit.
Row 2: p5, p2tog, yo, (p4, p2tog, yo) 3 times, p5, (yo, p2tog, p4) 3 times, yo, p2tog, p5.

Ribbed waistband
Change to 3.25 mm / US 3 needles and work 6 rows in 1 x 1 ribbing, as follows:
Row 1 (rs): k1, (p1, k1) to the end.
Row 2: p1, (k1, p1) to the end.
Rows 3-6: continue in rib.
Row 7: cast off all stitches in rib.

© PIPPY EVE 2017 LENNY BLOOMERS PAGE 6

 TIE WAIST BLOOMERS BACK

Work as Shoulder Strap Bloomers BACK from beginning to ##

Now continue as Tie Waist Bloomers FRONT from ^^ to end.

FINISHING

Rib leg borders & Pressing

Follow instructions as given for Shoulder Strap Bloomers.

Waist Tie – twisted cord method

Cut a length of yarn approx. 6 m / 6 yrds long. Fold in half and tie a knot at the folded end to create a
loop. Hook the loop over a door handle, hold the opposite end and stretch out the yarn until it is straight.
Now twist the yarn continuously in one direction until the yarn becomes extremely taut and decreased
in length. Fold the yarn in half letting the yarn twist onto itself. Straighten out the twisted yarn.
Measure your desired length, knot and trim. Thread twisted cord through the eyelets on the bloomers
starting at the front of the bloomers.

Congratulations! You have finished your Lenny Bloomers xx

Style Inspiration

An easy way to add some fun to your Lenny Tie Waist Bloomers is to pick a contrasting yarn for the
ribbing. When working through the pattern simply swap to your contrasting yarn colour when the
pattern asks for you to swap needle size for the waist and leg border ribbing.
A candy-striped twisted cord can be created by following the instructions above but switching the single
length of yarn for a 3 m / 3 yrds of each coloured yarn.

© PIPPY EVE 2017 LENNY BLOOMERS PAGE 7

 A little bit about pippy eve

I am Samantha the knitwear designer behind pippy eve patterns. I live in Northamptonshire, England
with my husband, three children and an over-excitable cocker spaniel called Bertie.

Thank you for choosing to make the Lenny Bloomers. There is a matching Lenny Vest which is perfect
to pair up with your `Bloomers. The pattern can be found in my Etsy store at www.pippyeve.etsy.com

Here are some additional notes on the pattern….

Pattern use

pippy eve knitting patterns including the Lenny Bloomers are purchased for personal use only. This
pattern may not be copied, shared or reproduced in any format.

Sharing your makes

I am delighted you have decided to make one of my designs and I would love to see your creations.

I can be found hanging out on Instagram @pippy_eve so feel free to tag me in your pictures.
Please have a look at our #pippyeve hashtag for knitting inspiration.

Contact

If you need any assistance, advice or just fancy a chat! please send me an email at:
hello@pippyeve.com

with love,
Samantha xx

© PIPPY EVE 2017 LENNY BLOOMERS PAGE 8