Holly Hymn Skirt: Free Knitting Pattern and Complete Guide
There is something undeniably magical about knitting a garment that feels both timeless and utterly wearable. The Holly Hymn Skirt is exactly that kind of project — a flowing, elegant skirt worked from the waist down with beautiful texture details that evoke the delicate, layered look of holly leaves in their most graceful form. Whether you are a seasoned knitter looking for your next satisfying project or an adventurous intermediate knitter ready to move beyond simple rectangles and scarves, this free knitting pattern will guide you through every stitch, row by row, with all the clarity and encouragement you need.
This pattern produces a skirt with a comfortable, stretchy waistband, a graceful A-line silhouette, and a lace-inspired hem that catches the light beautifully. It works up in a worsted weight yarn that knits quickly without sacrificing the refined look of a more intricate design. Read on for everything you need to know about materials, gauge, sizing, step-by-step instructions, and finishing tips that will make your Holly Hymn Skirt something you reach for again and again.
About the Holly Hymn Skirt
The name of this pattern comes from the way the stitch work mimics the look of holly leaves — pointed, graceful, slightly architectural — arranged in a repeating motif that builds into something that feels almost hymn-like in its rhythm. Knitters who love texture work will appreciate the interplay between smooth stockinette sections and the raised, leafy panels that run vertically down the skirt’s body.
The skirt is knitted in the round, which means there are no seams to sew up at the end and the fabric lies beautifully flat without any unsightly joins at the sides. The waistband is worked with a simple 2×2 ribbing that provides just enough stretch for comfortable wear. The body is then expanded with evenly spaced increases before settling into the main holly leaf panel pattern. The hem finishes with a picot bind-off that adds a delicate, handmade touch perfectly in keeping with the overall aesthetic.
This is a pattern that suits a wide range of styles. Pair the Holly Hymn Skirt with a tucked-in fitted top and ankle boots for a put-together autumn look, or wear it with a breezy linen blouse and sandals in the warmer months. The silhouette is versatile, the length is easily adjustable, and the texture is interesting enough to make the skirt a conversation piece on its own.
Materials You Will Need
Before you cast on, gather everything you need so the project flows without interruption. Here is a complete list of materials for the Holly Hymn Skirt.
Yarn: You will need approximately 800 to 1,200 yards of worsted weight yarn (CYCA weight 4), depending on your chosen size. A yarn with some natural fiber content — wool, alpaca, a wool-cotton blend — will hold the stitch definition best and give the holly leaf panels their crispest look. A recommended choice is a smooth, plied worsted such as a merino single or a wool-acrylic blend for those who prefer easy care. Avoid very fluffy or highly textured yarns for this pattern, as the stitch definition is part of the beauty of the design.
Needles: US size 7 (4.5mm) circular knitting needles, 32 inches or 40 inches long, depending on your size. You may also want a set of double-pointed needles in the same size for working the waistband if you prefer, though a long circular works fine with the magic loop method.
Notions: A set of stitch markers (at least 8), a cable needle or spare double-pointed needle for the holly leaf cable crosses, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and a length of waste yarn or stitch holder for the optional waistband channel if you are adding an elastic waistband.
Elastic (optional): One yard of 1-inch wide non-roll waistband elastic if you prefer the security of elastic inside your waistband rather than relying purely on the ribbing.
Gauge
Gauge matters in garment knitting, and the Holly Hymn Skirt is no exception. Before you begin the full pattern, knit a gauge swatch of at least 4 inches by 4 inches in stockinette stitch, wash and block it the way you intend to care for your finished skirt, and measure carefully.
Gauge: 18 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch on US size 7 (4.5mm) needles after blocking.
If your gauge is too loose (fewer stitches per inch), try a smaller needle size. If your gauge is too tight (more stitches per inch), move up a needle size. Taking this step before you begin can mean the difference between a skirt that fits perfectly and one that ends up several sizes off from what you intended.
Sizes and Finished Measurements
The Holly Hymn Skirt is written in five sizes to fit a range of waist and hip measurements.
Size 1: Waist 26–28 inches / Hip 36–38 inches
Size 2: Waist 29–31 inches / Hip 39–41 inches
Size 3: Waist 32–34 inches / Hip 42–44 inches
Size 4: Waist 35–37 inches / Hip 45–47 inches
Size 5: Waist 38–40 inches / Hip 48–50 inches
The skirt is designed with 2 inches of positive ease at the waist and 4 inches of positive ease at the hip for comfortable wear. If you are between sizes, choose the larger size for a looser fit or the smaller size if you prefer a more fitted silhouette.
Finished skirt length: approximately 24 inches from waistband to hem. Instructions for lengthening or shortening are included in the pattern notes.
Abbreviations and Stitch Guide
The following abbreviations are used throughout the Holly Hymn Skirt pattern.
k — knit
p — purl
k2tog — knit two stitches together (right-leaning decrease)
ssk — slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
yo — yarn over
pm — place marker
sm — slip marker
m1r — make one right (right-leaning increase)
m1l — make one left (left-leaning increase)
C4F — slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold in front, knit 2, then knit 2 from cable needle
C4B — slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold in back, knit 2, then knit 2 from cable needle
rep — repeat
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
Holly Leaf Panel (worked over 12 stitches):
This is the signature motif of the skirt. Each panel is 12 stitches wide and is repeated every 6 rounds for the body of the skirt.
Round 1: k1, yo, k3, ssk, k1, k2tog, k3, yo, k1 — 12 stitches
Round 2 and all even rounds: knit all stitches
Round 3: k2, yo, k2, ssk, k1, k2tog, k2, yo, k2 — 12 stitches
Round 5: k3, yo, k1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1, yo, k3 — 12 stitches
Round 6: knit all stitches
Repeat rounds 1 through 6 for the holly leaf panel pattern.
Pattern Instructions
Waistband
Using your circular needles, cast on the following number of stitches for your size using a long-tail cast on, which provides a firm but stretchy edge perfect for a waistband.
Size 1: Cast on 120 stitches
Size 2: Cast on 132 stitches
Size 3: Cast on 144 stitches
Size 4: Cast on 156 stitches
Size 5: Cast on 168 stitches
Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist your cast-on edge. Place a marker to indicate the beginning of the round.
Work in 2×2 rib (k2, p2) for 2.5 inches. This creates a snug, stretchy waistband that sits comfortably at your natural waist.
If you are adding elastic: On the final round of the ribbing, purl all stitches to create a turning ridge. Work one additional inch of 2×2 ribbing. Fold the waistband along the turning ridge and, after completing the skirt, tack the folded edge to the inside using your tapestry needle, leaving a small gap to thread the elastic through.
Setting Up the Body
After completing the waistband, work a setup round that places your stitch markers and begins the increases to shape the hip.
Setup Round for all sizes:
Divide your total stitch count evenly into 6 sections by placing a marker every 20 stitches (Size 1), 22 stitches (Size 2), 24 stitches (Size 3), 26 stitches (Size 4), or 28 stitches (Size 5). The beginning of round marker counts as one of these division markers.
Work in stockinette (knit every round) while working the following increase round every 8 rounds, 6 times total:
Increase Round: Knit to 1 stitch before marker, m1r, k1, sm, k1, m1l; repeat from to end of round.
This adds 12 stitches per increase round (2 stitches at each of 6 marker points) for a total of 72 additional stitches across all increase rounds, creating the A-line shape that flows beautifully from waist to hip.
After completing all 6 increase rounds, your stitch count will be as follows.
Size 1: 192 stitches
Size 2: 204 stitches
Size 3: 216 stitches
Size 4: 228 stitches
Size 5: 240 stitches
Introducing the Holly Leaf Panels
Once your increases are complete, it is time to introduce the holly leaf panels that give this skirt its name. Remove all markers except the beginning of round marker.
Set up the holly leaf panels as follows on the next round:
K6, pm, work Holly Leaf Panel over next 12 stitches, pm; repeat from to end of round, placing a total of one panel every 18 stitches around the full circumference of the skirt. This distributes the panels evenly so that the holly leaf motifs appear at regular intervals.
Work the 6-round Holly Leaf Panel repeat as established, knitting all stitches between the panels in stockinette, until the body of the skirt measures approximately 18 inches from the top of the waistband or until the skirt reaches your desired length minus 4 inches for the hem section.
Adjusting length: To make the skirt longer, simply continue working the Holly Leaf Panel repeat until the body reaches your desired length minus the 4-inch hem allowance. To make the skirt shorter, stop the body section earlier. Each additional 6-round repeat of the holly panel adds approximately 1 inch of length.
Hem Section
The hem section adds a final beautiful flourish to the skirt with a flowing lace border that complements the holly leaf panels above it.
Remove all panel markers and work as follows.
Round 1: K1, yo, k2tog; repeat from to end of round.
Round 2: Knit.
Round 3: K2tog, yo, k1; repeat from to end of round.
Round 4: Knit.
Round 5: K1, yo, k2tog; repeat from to end of round.
Round 6: Knit.
Repeat these 6 rounds twice more for a total of 3 repetitions of the lace hem section, giving the hem approximately 3 inches of delicate openwork.
After completing the lace hem, work 4 rounds of plain stockinette.
Bind-Off
Finish the skirt with a picot bind-off for a beautifully decorative edge that echoes the lace of the hem section.
Picot Bind-Off: Cast on 2 stitches using the knitted cast-on method, then bind off 4 stitches; slip the remaining stitch on the right needle back to the left needle. Repeat from until all stitches have been bound off.
This creates a series of small picot points around the hem that catch the light and give the skirt a heirloom quality entirely in keeping with its name.
Finishing
Weave in all ends carefully using your tapestry needle, taking care to secure them well so they do not work free during wear or washing. If you are adding elastic to the waistband, thread it through the channel now, overlap the ends by one inch and sew them securely, then sew the opening of the waistband channel closed.
Block your finished skirt by soaking it in cool water with a small amount of wool wash or gentle soap. Press out the excess water by rolling the skirt in a clean towel — never wring or twist it. Lay it flat on a blocking mat and pin the hem out gently to open up the lace and picot edge. Allow it to dry completely before wearing.
Blocking transforms this skirt. The holly leaf panels will open up and show their full detail, the lace hem will spread into its intended openwork, and the entire fabric will drape with the soft, fluid quality that makes hand-knitted garments so different from anything you can buy.
Tips for Success
Working in the round on a project this size can feel a little unwieldy at first, but a 40-inch circular needle gives you plenty of room to spread the stitches comfortably. If you find the needle too long at the waistband stage, use the magic loop method or switch to a 32-inch circular once the stitch count grows with the hip increases.
Keep a stitch count as you go, particularly through the increase section. It is easy to accidentally skip a marker or add an increase in the wrong place, and catching any errors early saves a great deal of frustration later.
The holly leaf panel chart is easier to memorize than it looks at first glance. The leaf shape is created by a simple rule: yarn overs add stitches on the outer edges, and decreases remove them toward the center, so the total stitch count in each panel never changes. Once this logic clicks, you will find yourself moving through the pattern rounds almost without thinking.
If you are substituting yarn, keep texture and fiber content in mind. Smooth, plied yarns show stitch detail best. A single-ply yarn can work beautifully if it has good stitch definition, but very loosely spun singles may cause the holly leaf panels to look muddy rather than crisp.
Yarn Substitution Ideas
The Holly Hymn Skirt works beautifully in a wide range of yarns within the worsted weight category. Some lovely options to consider include a classic wool-blend worsted for warmth and durability, a cotton-wool blend if you are knitting for warmer weather and want the skirt to breathe, or a luxurious merino for a softer hand and beautiful drape. For a more budget-friendly option, a high-quality acrylic worsted is fully machine washable and will hold up exceptionally well with frequent wear.
If you choose a yarn outside the worsted weight category, remember to swatch carefully and adjust your needle size accordingly to meet gauge. Going up to a bulky weight will produce a chunkier, warmer skirt in less time, while dropping to a DK weight will create a lighter, more delicate fabric that may benefit from an additional inch of ease.
Sharing Your Finished Holly Hymn Skirt
Once your Holly Hymn Skirt is finished and blocked and you have slipped it on for the first time, take a moment to enjoy what you have made. Hand-knitted garments are rare things — they carry the investment of real time and attention, and they reward that investment with a quality of fit and texture that mass production simply cannot replicate.
If you share photos of your finished skirt on social media or on Ravelry, consider tagging it with the pattern name so other knitters can find your project for inspiration. Notes about your yarn choice, needle size, any adjustments you made, and your experience of the pattern are all valuable to the knitting community.
This pattern is free to use for personal projects. If you knit Holly Hymn Skirts to sell, please do so in small quantities and always credit the pattern. Sharing
