Holly Hymn Skirt: A Free Knitting Pattern for the Season

There is something quietly magical about knitting a skirt. Unlike a hat that takes a weekend or a cowl that flies off the needles in an evening, a skirt asks for your sustained attention, your rhythm, and a little patience. The Holly Hymn Skirt is the kind of project that rewards that patience generously. With its flowing lines, gentle lace motifs inspired by holly leaves, and a silhouette that flatters a wide range of body types, this skirt is both a joy to knit and a treasure to wear.

Whether you are a seasoned knitter looking for your next meaningful project or an adventurous intermediate knitter ready to move beyond scarves and hats, this pattern is designed to guide you every step of the way. Pull up a chair, brew something warm, and let’s dive into everything you need to know to knit your very own Holly Hymn Skirt.

About This Pattern

The Holly Hymn Skirt is a free knitting pattern worked from the waistband down in the round. It features a simple but elegant lace panel running vertically down the skirt that mimics the pointed, graceful shape of holly leaves. The rest of the fabric is worked in a modified stockinette with subtle texture, giving the skirt drape without making it too lightweight or sheer.

The skirt falls just below the knee at its natural gauge, though you can easily adjust the length by working more or fewer rounds before the cast-off. An elastic waistband gives a comfortable, secure fit, and the A-line shaping means it will skim gracefully over hips and thighs without clinging.

This pattern is sized to fit a range of waist measurements, and instructions are provided for sizes Small through 3X, so there is room for everyone at the knitting table.

Materials You Will Need

Getting your materials together before you sit down to knit makes the whole experience smoother. Here is what you will need for the Holly Hymn Skirt.

Yarn: Approximately 800 to 1,600 yards of DK weight yarn, depending on your size and desired length. A yarn with good drape works best here. Blends that include a touch of bamboo, Tencel, or silk will give you that lovely fluid quality that makes a knitted skirt fall beautifully. Pure merino wool also works well and is a wonderful choice for cooler seasons. If you want the Holly Hymn Skirt to carry a truly festive feeling, consider a deep forest green, a rich cranberry, or an elegant charcoal. Of course, a creamy natural white or a soft sage would be equally stunning for a more understated look.

Needles: US size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needles, 32 inches or longer. You may also want a set of US size 4 (3.5 mm) circular needles for the ribbed waistband, to keep it from flaring. A set of double-pointed needles or a shorter circular in the same size is helpful for adjusting if stitches get tight near the top.

Notions: Stitch markers (at least 8, with one in a different color for the beginning of round), a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors, a length of 1-inch wide elastic cut to fit your waist comfortably, and a sewing needle and thread to secure the elastic.

Gauge: 22 stitches and 30 rounds per 4 inches in stockinette stitch on US size 5 needles, blocked. Gauge is important for a fitted garment like a skirt, so please take the time to swatch. A correctly sized swatch will save you from the frustration of a skirt that is either too snug or too wide when you finish.

Sizing Information

Before you cast on, measure your natural waist or the point where you want the skirt to sit. The skirt is worked with about 2 inches of negative ease at the waist, meaning the knitted fabric will stretch slightly to hug your body.

Size Small: 26–28 inch waist, cast on 144 stitches.
Size Medium: 30–32 inch waist, cast on 164 stitches.
Size Large: 34–36 inch waist, cast on 184 stitches.
Size XL: 38–40 inch waist, cast on 204 stitches.
Size 2X: 42–44 inch waist, cast on 224 stitches.
Size 3X: 46–48 inch waist, cast on 244 stitches.

If your measurements fall between sizes, cast on for the larger size and trust the elasticity of the ribbing at the waist to do its work.

Abbreviations and Stitch Guide

This pattern uses standard knitting abbreviations. Here is a quick reference to keep close as you work.

k — knit
p — purl
k2tog — knit two stitches together (right-leaning decrease)
ssk — slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
yo — yarn over (creates a lace eyelet)
sl1 — slip one stitch purlwise with yarn in back
m1R — make one right (right-leaning increase)
m1L — make one left (left-leaning increase)
pm — place marker
sm — slip marker
BOR — beginning of round

The lace panel in this pattern is built on a simple 8-row repeat. Each holly leaf motif is created using yarn overs paired with decreases, which keeps the stitch count consistent throughout the lace section. You will not need to count increases and decreases separately as long as you work the repeats carefully.

The Holly Hymn Lace Panel

The heart of this skirt is the lace panel. It runs vertically along the front of the skirt, spanning 21 stitches. You can place one panel at the center front, or if you are feeling ambitious and have experience with lace, you can work two panels symmetrically placed about 30 stitches apart for a more elaborate look.

Here is the 8-row lace repeat that forms the holly leaf motif:

Round 1: k9, yo, k1, yo, k11. (23 sts in panel)
Round 2 and all even rounds: Knit all stitches in the panel.
Round 3: k8, ssk, k1, k2tog, k10. (21 sts)
Round 5: k7, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k7. (23 sts)
Round 7: k6, ssk, k1, k2tog, ssk, k1, k2tog, k6. (19 sts)
Round 9: k5, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, k5. (21 sts)
Round 11: k4, ssk, k1, (k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk) x2, k1, k2tog, k4. (21 sts)
Round 12: Knit all stitches in the panel.

Note that the stitch count within the panel fluctuates between rounds as you add yarn overs and remove them with decreases. This is normal and expected for lace knitting. The panel always begins and ends each 12-round repeat at 21 stitches. Use stitch markers on either side of the panel to keep yourself oriented.

Pattern Instructions

Waistband

Using your US size 4 needles, cast on the appropriate number of stitches for your size using a stretchy cast-on method. The long-tail cast-on works well here, or try the German twisted cast-on for extra stretch. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist, and place your BOR marker.

Work in 2×2 ribbing (k2, p2) for 16 rounds. This creates approximately 2 inches of ribbing, which will fold over to create a channel for the elastic waistband.

Switch to your US size 5 needles.

Setting Up the Lace Panel

Round 1 (setup): Knit to the center of the round (or to your preferred panel placement point), pm, work the first round of the holly lace panel over the next 21 stitches, pm, knit to end of round.

From this point forward, you will knit all stitches outside the lace panel markers and work the 12-round lace repeat within the panel markers.

Body of the Skirt

Work even in stockinette outside the lace panel, continuing the lace repeat inside the panel markers, until the skirt measures approximately 3 inches from the top of the waistband.

Begin A-line shaping: The skirt is widened gradually by working a paired increase (m1R before a marker and m1L after a marker) at two side “seam” markers spaced evenly around the round. Place two additional markers at what will be the left and right sides of the skirt, roughly dividing the round into front and back halves.

Increase round: Knit to 1 stitch before side marker, m1R, k1, sm, k1, m1L, repeat from to once more, knit to end of round.

Work this increase round every 10 rounds, 8 times total. This adds 32 stitches to your skirt over the course of the shaping section, giving the skirt its gentle flare. After all increases are complete, continue working even until the skirt measures your desired length. A length of approximately 22 to 24 inches from the top of the folded waistband to the hem is typical for a just-below-the-knee skirt on an average height.

Hem

When the skirt reaches your desired length, switch back to your US size 4 needles and work 6 rounds of 2×2 ribbing for a neat hem that will not curl. Bind off loosely using a stretchy bind-off, such as the Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off.

Finishing

Weave in all ends using your tapestry needle. Block the skirt by soaking it in cool water with a drop of wool wash, gently squeezing out excess water, and laying it flat on a blocking mat. Pin the lace panel open gently to reveal the holly leaf shapes. Allow to dry completely before removing the pins.

Elastic waistband: Fold the ribbed waistband to the inside of the skirt along the natural fold line, creating a channel. Using a sewing needle and matching thread, whipstitch the edge of the folded waistband to the inside of the skirt, leaving a 2-inch gap. Thread your elastic through the channel using a large safety pin, overlap the ends by about an inch, and sew them securely together. Stitch the gap closed.

Tips for Knitting Success

Lace can feel intimidating if you are newer to it, but the holly motif in this pattern is built on a simple structure that becomes very intuitive after the first few repeats. Here are some suggestions to make your experience smoother.

Use a row counter or mark off your lace rounds as you complete them. It is very easy to lose track of where you are in a lace repeat, especially if you put the project down between sessions. A sticky note on a printed chart can be your best friend.

Lifelines are a knitter’s insurance policy. Before you begin each new lace repeat, thread a thin piece of smooth contrasting yarn through your live stitches using a tapestry needle. If you make an error and need to rip back, you can safely rip to the lifeline without losing ground.

Blocking is not optional with lace. Before blocking, your holly leaf motifs may look somewhat muddled. After blocking, they will open up into their full, elegant shape. The transformation is genuinely rewarding, and it is one of the best parts of finishing a lace project.

If you are working this skirt in a slippery yarn like a bamboo blend, consider using bamboo or wooden needles rather than metal ones. The extra grip will help keep your stitches from sliding off unexpectedly.

Yarn Substitution Suggestions

While any DK weight yarn with good drape will work beautifully for the Holly Hymn Skirt, here are a few specific suggestions to inspire your yarn search.

A merino-bamboo blend in the DK weight range gives you warmth from the merino and elegant drape from the bamboo, which makes it ideal for a skirt that will be worn through autumn and into the holiday season. Look for yarns with a smooth, even ply for the cleanest stitch definition in the lace panel.

Linen-cotton blends are a wonderful choice if you want to knit a version of this skirt for warmer weather. The resulting fabric will have beautiful drape and a relaxed, slightly textured appearance that reads as effortlessly stylish.

Alpaca blended with silk is a more luxurious option that produces a breathtakingly soft fabric with a subtle sheen. This combination is particularly stunning for the holly motif, as the slight sheen catches the light and makes the lace details glow.

Making It Your Own

One of the best things about a pattern with a simple structure is how easy it is to personalize. Here are a few ways you might adapt the Holly Hymn Skirt to make it entirely your own.

You can omit the lace panel entirely and work the skirt in simple stockinette for a more minimalist look. You could also replace the holly lace with any 21-stitch lace panel from your pattern library, as long as it works on a 12-row repeat.

If you want a maxi-length skirt instead of a knee-length version, simply continue working the body for as many more rounds as you need. Keep in mind that a longer skirt will use significantly more yarn, so purchase extra before you begin.

Adding pockets is always a good idea. You can add simple afterthought pockets by marking two spots on the skirt body, cutting into the knitting after the skirt is finished, and picking up stitches to work pocket linings and openings in a coordinating yarn.

For a more structured waistband, you might work the waistband section on a needle one or two sizes smaller than recommended and skip the elastic altogether, relying on the tight ribbing to stay put. This works best for knitters whose waists are not much wider than their hips.

A Few Words About the Name

The name Holly Hymn comes from the quiet, reverent feeling that settled over this pattern during its design process. There is something about knitting during the colder months, with their shorter days and longer evenings, that feels ceremonial. The holly leaf, with its sharp, elegant points and its association with winter celebrations across many traditions, seemed like exactly the right motif. And the repetitive rhythm of a lace pattern, round after round, has always felt to this designer like a kind of quiet song.

Whether you knit this skirt as a gift for someone you love, as a treat for yourself, or simply as a way to spend some peaceful hours in the company of yarn and needles, the Holly Hymn Skirt is designed to bring a little beauty into the making as well as the wearing.

Sharing Your Holly Hymn Skirt

When you finish your skirt, please share it. Tag your photos on Instagram or Ravelry and use the hashtag #HollyHymnSkirt so that other knitters can find inspiration and see how differently this pattern looks in different yarns and colorways. Seeing a community of knitters bring a pattern to life in their own way is one of the deepest joys of designing, and your finished object is worth celebrating.

If you have questions as you work through the pattern, leave a comment below or reach out through Ravelry. Knitting communities are warm and generous, and there is almost always someone nearby who has worked through a similar challenge and is happy to help.

Happy knitting, and may your needles always glide smoothly through whatever yarn you choose.