(note: I discovered and fixed a major error in the calculator. Anybody who saved a personal copy before 26th May 2020 inclusive should ideally save a new copy. Message or email me if you’ve already made a start and want me to check if the error might have affected the pattern for you)

This is a calculator and pattern for a wool soaker designed with two things in mind:

• simplicity, to keep the pattern as straightforward and easy as possible. It requires only basic techniques and should be manageable for beginner knitters. It doesn’t require short rows (while managing to have plenty of room in the back) or picking up stitches for leg cuffs.

• adaptability, to fit any size and shape of child, fit preference, yarn weight, and knitting gauge. You input the measurements you need and the gauge you knit at and the pattern tells you what to do. You can choose the rise, waistband height, hip circumference, thigh circumference, and crotch width.

The soaker is knit on flat needles in garter stitch, and then the sides are sewn together. It works best with 8-10ply yarn but could reasonably be made with anything from 4-16ply, though a soaker made from fine yarn might only be suitable for daytime use and a soaker from thick yarn would be chunky.

Ideally use the recommended needle size for the yarn weight, and needles 3/4 the size for the waistband.

Amount of yarn required will be dependent on the measurements you put in so is a little tricky to estimate. Weighing a soaker the same size you intend to make can give a ballpark idea.

This pattern is in a beta phase and I would LOVE your feedback and constructive criticism. Let me know how easy you found the calculator to use and the pattern to follow, whether it turned out exactly to your measurements, how you found the fit, and anything else you’d like to mention.