Holly Hymn Skirt: Free Knitting Pattern and Complete Guide

There is something deeply satisfying about knitting a garment from the hem up, watching the fabric grow stitch by stitch until it becomes something you can actually wear. The Holly Hymn Skirt is one of those patterns that makes you fall in love with knitting all over again. Whether you are a seasoned knitter looking for your next wearable project or an adventurous intermediate knitter ready to step beyond scarves and dishcloths, this pattern offers the perfect balance of beauty and accessibility. Today I am sharing the complete free knitting pattern for the Holly Hymn Skirt, along with tips, yarn suggestions, sizing guidance, and everything else you need to cast on with confidence.

What Is the Holly Hymn Skirt?

The Holly Hymn Skirt is a graceful, flowing knitted skirt inspired by the rich textures of winter foliage and the timeless elegance of handmade garments. The name comes from the way the stitch pattern echoes the layered, pointed leaves of a holly branch — each row building on the last to create something that feels both structured and organic. Despite its intricate appearance, the construction is surprisingly approachable once you understand the rhythm of the repeating motif.

The finished skirt features a gently flared silhouette that drapes beautifully from the waist to just below the knee, though you can easily adjust the length to suit your preference. A simple ribbed waistband finishes the top edge and accommodates an elastic insert for a comfortable, no-fuss fit. This is the kind of skirt you will reach for on crisp autumn mornings, holiday gatherings, and every occasion in between.

Materials You Will Need

Before you begin, gather your supplies. Having everything ready before you cast on makes the knitting process much more enjoyable and uninterrupted.

Yarn: You will need approximately 800 to 1,200 yards of a DK weight yarn, depending on your size. The Holly Hymn Skirt works best in a smooth yarn with good stitch definition, which allows the leaf motifs to stand out clearly. Natural fibers like merino wool, alpaca blends, or cotton-linen blends are all excellent choices. For a warmer skirt suited to fall and winter wear, choose a merino or wool blend. For a lighter, breathable version perfect for transitional seasons, a cotton or bamboo blend is lovely.

Needles: US size 4 (3.5mm) circular needles, 24 to 32 inches in length. Circular needles are essential here because the skirt is knitted in the round.

Notions: You will also need a set of stitch markers (at least 8 to 10), a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors, and a measuring tape. For the waistband, you will need approximately 1.5 inches of non-roll elastic cut to your waist measurement plus about half an inch for seaming.

Gauge: 22 stitches and 30 rows per 4 inches in stockinette stitch after blocking. Always swatch before beginning a garment. Gauge determines how your finished skirt will fit, and a skirt that is even one inch off at the waist can result in a garment that does not fit at all. If your gauge is tighter than specified, go up a needle size. If it is looser, go down a needle size.

Sizing

The Holly Hymn Skirt is written for the following finished waist measurements: 26 inches, 30 inches, 34 inches, 38 inches, 42 inches, and 46 inches. This covers a wide range of body types, and because the waistband uses elastic, there is natural stretch and flexibility built into the design.

To choose your size, measure your natural waist and select the size closest to your measurement. If you are between sizes, go up to the larger size for a more relaxed fit or down to the smaller size for a more fitted look. The stitch pattern has some inherent stretch, but the overall silhouette is designed to skim rather than cling.

For the pattern below, numbers for each size are listed in this order: 26 (30, 34, 38, 42, 46). When only one number appears, it applies to all sizes.

Abbreviations

Before diving into the pattern, here is a quick reference guide to the abbreviations used throughout:

CO — cast on
BO — bind off
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
sl — slip stitch
rep — repeat
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
rnd — round
st(s) — stitch(es)
BOR — beginning of round

The Holly Hymn Stitch Pattern

The heart of this skirt is a simple but striking leaf lace motif. It is worked over a multiple of 10 stitches plus 2, which you will see reflected in the cast-on numbers below. Once you have worked the pattern two or three times through, you will find it becomes intuitive and meditative — one of those stitch patterns you can carry with you while watching a film or sitting in conversation with friends.

Holly Hymn Stitch Pattern (worked in the round over a multiple of 10 stitches):

Round 1: k5, yo, k1, yo, k2, ssk; rep from to end
Round 2 and all even rounds: knit all stitches
Round 3: k4, yo, k1, yo, k1, ssk, k1, ssk; rep from to end — wait, this pattern is worked as follows, continuing below
Round 3: k3, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k1, ssk, k2; rep from to end
Round 5: k2, k2tog, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, k2tog, ssk, k1; rep from to end
Round 7: k1, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, ssk; rep from to end
Round 9: k2tog, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, ssk; rep from to end
Round 10: knit all stitches

These 10 rounds form one complete repeat of the Holly Hymn motif. You will work this repeat multiple times throughout the body of the skirt, interrupted only by the shaping rounds that create the skirt’s gentle flare.

Pattern Instructions

Waistband

Using your circular needles, CO 144 (166, 188, 210, 232, 254) stitches. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist your cast-on. Place your BOR marker.

Work in 2×2 rib (k2, p2) for 2 inches. This forms the upper waistband casing where your elastic will later be inserted.

After completing the ribbed section, purl one round. This creates a turning ridge that makes folding the waistband for the elastic casing much easier.

Work another 1 inch in 2×2 rib. This forms the inner portion of the waistband casing.

Do not bind off the waistband yet. Place these stitches on hold using a length of waste yarn or a spare circular needle. You will return to close the waistband once the body is complete.

Body Setup

At this point you should have 144 (166, 188, 210, 232, 254) stitches on your needle and the body will grow downward from the waistband. If your stitch count does not fall on a clean multiple of 10, you will need to work a single increase or decrease round here to adjust. For the sizes written above, you will note the stitch counts are already written to accommodate the motif repeat.

Place markers every 10 stitches around to help you track the pattern repeat. Having markers in place makes it much easier to spot mistakes early and keep your motif aligned round after round.

Body

Begin working the Holly Hymn Stitch Pattern as written above. Work through the 10-round repeat three times in full (30 rounds total) without any shaping. This establishes the motif rhythm before you begin the flare shaping.

Flare Shaping:

The skirt’s A-line silhouette comes from periodic increase rounds worked between motif repeats. After every three complete motif repeats (every 30 rounds), work a flare increase round as follows:

Flare Increase Round: k to 1 st before marker, m1L, k1, sm, k1, m1R; rep from to end

This places a left-leaning increase before each marker and a right-leaning increase after, adding 2 stitches per panel in a way that keeps the motif balanced. After each flare increase round, adjust your stitch count and re-space your markers to account for the new stitches, spreading them evenly across the additional stitches.

Work flare increase rounds a total of 4 times as you work toward the hem, adding approximately 4 to 5 inches of circumference with each round of increases. By the time you reach the hem, the skirt should measure roughly 10 to 12 inches wider in circumference than the waistband, creating that beautiful, swishy flare.

Continue working the Holly Hymn Stitch Pattern between increase rounds until the skirt measures your desired length from the turning ridge at the waistband. A length of 18 to 22 inches from waistband to hem is typical and gives a flattering just-below-the-knee finish on most adults, but you can adjust to any length you prefer. If you want a mini length, stop earlier. If you want a midi or maxi skirt, simply purchase more yarn and keep going.

Hem

Once you have reached your desired length, work a final round of the Holly Hymn pattern if you are mid-motif, completing the repeat cleanly.

Then work 5 rounds of 1×1 rib (k1, p1) for a tidy, slightly stretchy hem finish. Bind off all stitches using a stretchy bind off method. The German Twisted bind off or the standard elastic bind off (k1, k1, slip both stitches back to left needle, knit them together through the back loop; rep from ) works wonderfully here and prevents the hem from pulling in and ruining the flare you worked so hard to create.

Finishing the Waistband

Return to your held waistband stitches. Using your tapestry needle and a length of yarn, whip stitch or mattress stitch the inner ribbed edge to the wrong side of the waistband, leaving a gap of about 2 inches open for inserting the elastic.

Cut your elastic to your waist measurement plus half an inch. Thread it through the casing using a safety pin attached to one end, pulling it through the tunnel created by the folded waistband. Overlap the ends of the elastic by half an inch and stitch them together securely using a needle and thread or your sewing machine if you have one. Ease the joined elastic back inside the casing, then close the remaining gap with a few stitches.

Weave in all remaining ends using your tapestry needle, working them securely into the fabric so they do not work their way loose with wear and washing.

Blocking Your Holly Hymn Skirt

Blocking transforms this skirt from a pretty piece of knitting into something that looks truly professional. Fill a basin with cool or lukewarm water and a small amount of wool wash or gentle dish soap. Submerge your skirt and allow it to soak for at least 20 minutes, then gently squeeze out the excess water without wringing or twisting the fabric.

Roll the skirt in a clean towel to remove more moisture, then lay it flat on a blocking mat or a clean carpeted surface. Gently shape it to your desired dimensions, smoothing out the lace motifs and evening out the hem. Allow it to dry completely before wearing or storing. The difference in stitch definition and drape before and after blocking is remarkable and well worth the extra step.

Yarn Suggestions

If you are looking for specific yarn recommendations to make your Holly Hymn Skirt, here are some beautiful options across a range of budgets:

For a luxurious version, Malabrigo Rios in any of their gorgeous hand-dyed colorways is a dream to work with and produces a skirt with incredible depth of color. Quince and Co. Chickadee is another excellent choice — it is a 100% American wool with a smooth, round twist that shows lace beautifully.

For a mid-range option, Paintbox Yarns Simply DK is a budget-friendly acrylic-blend yarn that comes in a huge range of colors and is fully machine washable, which is a practical bonus for a garment that will see regular wear.

For a summer-weight version of this skirt, look into Rico Design’s Creative Cotton or Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton. Both are smooth, washable, and come in plenty of cheerful colors that suit the lighter aesthetic of a warm-weather skirt.

Tips for Success

A few final thoughts before you cast on. First, take your gauge swatch seriously. It takes only 20 minutes to swatch and block a small square, and it can save you hours of frustration later. Second, use removable stitch markers or locking markers when you place them at the start of each pattern repeat — they make it much easier to shift them as needed when you work the increase rounds. Third, if you find yourself losing track of which round of the motif you are on, keep a small row counter or a simple tally in a notebook beside you. The motif only takes a moment to memorize, but having a reference saves you from having to tink back when life interrupts your knitting session.

If you share your finished Holly Hymn Skirt on social media, consider tagging it so other knitters can find the pattern and be inspired by your version. This kind of community sharing is one of the things that makes the knitting world such a warm and generous place.

Caring for Your Finished Skirt

If you knitted your Holly Hymn Skirt in a wool or wool-blend yarn, hand wash it in cool water with a gentle wool wash and lay it flat to dry. Most superwash wool can be machine washed on a gentle cold cycle, but always check the label of your specific yarn to be sure. Cotton and bamboo versions can typically be machine washed on cold and laid flat or hung to dry.

Store your skirt folded rather than hung, especially if it is made from a heavier fiber, as hanging can cause the fabric to stretch out of shape over time.

The Holly Hymn Skirt is the kind of project you will find yourself returning to again and again — first for yourself, then as gifts for the people you love. It is beautiful enough to feel special and practical enough to wear regularly, which is exactly what the best handmade garments always are. Cast on with joy, knit with intention, and enjoy every single stitch of this lovely skirt.