Abbreviations:

• - PM: place marker

• - SM: slip marker

We’re starting the piece by the legs. Knit one leg at a time and join them later to make the rest of the piece. The piece is worked flat and seamed later.

Legs (knit both separately): Cast-on 74 stitches on 4.5 mm needles and work 4 rows in garter stitch, then 7 cm in stockinette stitch.

Crotch:

Right side: k1, M1L, k until 1 stitch left, M1R, k1.

Wrong side: purl all stitches.

Repeat both rows 4 more times. You should end with 84 stitches on the needles.

Shorts construction: place both panels on the circular needles and, starting at the center: k 42, PM, k 84, PM and k 42 more stitches to end the row. The markers are going to separate front and back. You should have 168 stitches on the needles. Knit 20 cm in stockinette, then decrease on the right side as follows, to shape the back: {k6, ssk}; repeat { } until you reach the first marker. Now you should have 144 stitches on the needles. In the next row, {yo, p2tog} to the end of the row, then work 3 more cm in 1x1 rib. Bind-off all 73 back stitches and go on to work on the front panel only.

Front panel: 71 stitches in total.
1st row: p6, k8, p5, PM, {k3, p3} for 33 stitches, PM, p5, k8, p6.
2nd and all even rows: p18, SM, work in pattern, SM, p18.
3rd, 5th, 9th, 19th, 21st, 23rd rows: p6, k8, p5, PM, {k3, p3} for 33 stitches, PM, p5, k8, p6.
7th, 17th, 25th rows: p6, hold 4 stitches to the back of the work, k4, k the stitches on hold; p5, PM, {p3, k3} for 33 stitches, PM, p5, hold 4 stitches to the front of the work, k4, k the stitches on hold, p6.
11th, 13th and 15th rows: p6, k8, p5, PM, {p3, k3} for 33 stitches, PM, p5, k8, p6. Repeat the pattern, starting from row 1 for 10 cm.

Straps: work on the 19 first stitches according to the cable pattern on each side and bind-off the 33 center stitches. Reserve the first 19 stitches on a stitch holder and work on the last 19 for 15 cm. Bind-off, then knit the first 18 stitches for 15 cm as well. Seam the straps to the back of the piece and attach the decorative buttons.

Finishing: seam from the legs to the end of the back and weave in all ends.

Designer: Mateus Moraes

Pattern translator: Beatriz Magalhães