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by Josie Mercier

For the little chaos-maker in your life!

New to cables? Want to do a fantastic, all-over cable pattern but feel intimidated by following a complicated chart? This baby's pullover has a striking, all-over cable pattern with no chart at all. Instead, this sweater is covered in a chaotic, random cable pattern generated by rolling a die -- great fun for a little (or big) helper!

This sweater has a loose fit to allow for easy movement, but has a ribbed waist and cuffs to keep baby warm, plus buttons at the shoulder to allow for easy dressing. Chaos is knit in Tivoli Woolbend 400, a durable, washable blend of acrylic and wool. I chose a sophisticated, dirt-hiding shade of charcoal heather, though many other shades are available. 

Read about the origins of the random cable pattern at Mary Griffin's website.

model: Cameron photos: Josie Mercier, Janet Mercier
SIZE

XS[S, M, L]
To fit 6 months [12 months, 18 months, 2 years]
 
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest: 23[25, 27, 29] inches
Length: 10[11, 12, 13] inches
 

MATERIALS

Tivoli Woolblend 400 [80% acrylic, 20% wool; 822yd/752m per 400g skein];
color: #378; 1 skein
Note: If you wish to substitute yarns, you will need approximately 290[355, 420, 500] yd/265[325, 385, 455]m of aran (or heavy worsted) weight yarn.

1 set US #8/5.0mm needles
 1 set US #7/4.5mm needles
 Cable needle
 1 die
 Stitch marker
 Stitch holder
 Safety pins
 Tapestry needle
 Three 3/8 inch/15mm buttons

GAUGE

19 sts/24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
23 sts/24 rows = 4 inches in cable pattern (average gauge; will vary)

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations can be found here]

The first and last two sts of every row are knit. Do not work a cable twist over the last 4 sts of a row.

It may be necessary to "cheat" a little if you get a large or small number of cables in succession. If your knitted fabric was infinitely large, any cluster of cable stitches would be balanced out in the long run by clusters of knit stitches. But since this sweater is made using a limited number of stitches, especially when dividing for the neck, you may need to ignore or insert a cable to keep the fabric fairly flat and even. For example, if you roll 1-1-1-1, you may change this to 1-1-3-3-1. Or if you roll 3-3-4-4-3-3 you may change this to 3-3-2-3-3. However, don't give in to the temptation to "cheat" too often (more than once per row or so) or you may compromise the randomness of the pattern. Treat this cable pattern like the child you're knitting it for; don't be completely unbending with the rules, but don't be overly permissive, either.

W2tog: Work 2 sts together in pattern. (If next st is a k st, k2tog; if it is a p st, p2tog.)

1x1 Rib (Worked over an even number of sts):
Row 1: [K1, p1] to end.
Every row is the same.

Random Cable Pattern
Row 1 [RS]: K2, [roll die and work next 2-4 sts corresponding with outcome of die roll] to last 2 sts, k2. (See below for details.)
Rows 2 & 4 [WS]: P all sts.
Row 3 [RS]: K all sts.

Working from Die Rolls:
If you roll a 1: Slip next 2 sts to cable needle and hold to front of work, k2, k2 from cable needle.
If you roll a 2: Slip next 2 sts to cable needle and hold to back of work, k2, k2 from cable needle.
If you roll a 3: K2.
If you roll a 4: K2.
If you roll a 5: Roll again.
If you roll a 6: Roll again.
DIRECTIONS

Back
*Using smaller needles, CO 54[60, 64, 68] sts.
Work 10 rows in 1x1 Rib.

Next Row [RS]: Using larger needles, k5[8, 6, 4], [m1, k4] 12[12, 14, 16] times, k1[4, 2, 0]. 66[72, 78, 84] sts.
P 1 row.

Begin working Random Cable Pattern.
Work in patt until work measures 6[6.5, 7, 7.5] inches, ending with a RS row.

Shape Armhole
Next Row [WS]: P2, p2tog, p to last 4 sts, p2tog, p2.
BO 6[6, 8, 8] sts at beg of next 2 rows. 52[58, 60, 66] sts rem.*

Cont in patt until work measures 10[11, 12, 13] inches (armhole measures 4[4.5, 5, 5.5] inches), ending with a RS row.

Next Row [WS]: [P3, p2tog] to last 2[3, 0, 1] sts, p to end.
BO all sts.

Front
Work as for Back from * to *.

Cont in patt until work measures approx. 8[9, 10, 11] inches, ending with Row 1 of Random Cable Pattern.

Next Row [WS]: P22[25, 25, 28], p2tog, p4[4, 6, 6], p2tog, p22[25, 25, 28]. 50[56, 58, 64] sts rem.
Next Row [RS]: K17[19, 19, 21], ssk, k1, place 19[21, 21, 23] sts just worked on st holder, BO 10[12, 14, 16] sts, K1, k2tog, k to end. 19[21, 21, 23] sts on needle.

Note: While working neckline shaping for Right Shoulder, when working Row 1 of Random Cable Pattern, count the sts on your left needle after working the decrease in that row. If there is an odd number of sts on your left needle, k1 before rolling your die. (You should only begin working cables if there is an even number of sts on your left needle.)

Right Shoulder
Next Row [WS]: P to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1.
Next Row [RS]: K1, k2tog, work in patt to end.
Repeat these 2 rows twice more. 13[15, 15, 17] sts rem.

Cont in patt until work measures 10[11, 12, 13] inches, ending with a RS row.

Next Row [WS]: [P3, p2tog] 2[3, 3, 3] times, p to end. 11[12, 12, 14] sts rem.
BO all sts.

Left Shoulder
Note: Left shoulder is 1 inch shorter than right shoulder to allow space for shoulder button band.

Replace held sts on needle with WS facing, rejoin yarn.

Next Row [WS]: P1, p2tog tbl, p to end.
Next Row [RS]: Work in patt to last 3 sts, ssk, k1.
Repeat these 2 rows twice more. 13[15, 15, 17] sts rem.

Next Row [WS]: [P3, p2tog] 2[3, 3, 3] times, p to end. 11[12, 12, 14] sts rem.
BO all sts.

Sleeves (Make 2)
Using smaller needles, CO 20[24, 28, 32]sts.
Work 10 rows in 1x1 Rib.

Sizes XS, S, M Only:
Next Row [RS]: Using larger needles, k4[6, 4, _], [m1, k4] 4[4, 6, _] times, k0[2, 0, _]. 24[28, 34, _] sts.

Size L Only:
Next Row [RS]: K2, [m1, k4] 7 times, m1, k2. 40 sts.

All Sizes:
P 1 row.
Next Row [RS]: K2, m1, place marker, work Row 1 of Random Cable Pattern to last 2 sts, m1, k2. 26[30, 36, 42] sts.

While working sleeve shaping, when working Row 1 of Random Cable Pattern, count number of sts before marker, after working increase. If the number of sts is odd, k1 before rolling your die. (If the marker ends up in the middle of a cable twist later on, remove it, then replace it after working the cable twist.)

Sizes XS, S, M Only:
P 1 row.
Next Row [RS]: K2, m1, work in patt to last 2 sts, m1, k2.
Repeat these 2 rows 6[5, 2, _] times more. 40[42, 42, _] sts.

Sizes S, M, L Only:
Work 3 rows in patt.
Next Row [RS]: K2, m1, work in patt to last 2 sts, m1, k2.
Repeat these 4 rows _[1, 4, 7] times more. _[46, 52, 58] sts.

All Sizes:
Cont in patt until work measures 5.25[6.25, 7.25, 8.25] inches, ending with a RS row.

Next Row [WS]: [P3, p2tog] to last 0[1, 2, 3] sts, p to end.
BO all sts.
 
FINISHING

 

Block all pieces to measurements given in schematics.

With RS of back facing, measure 2.5[2.75, 2.75, 3] inches in from corners along bound-off shoulder edge, and mark with safety pins. Sew right shoulder seam from armhole edge to front neck edge, matching front neck edge to safety pin near right shoulder. Remove this safety pin.

Neckband
With RS facing, using smaller needles and beg at left front neckline, pick up and k 3 sts for every 4 rows and 1 st in each bound off st around front neckline, and along back neckline to remaining safety pin.

Work 7 rows in 1x1 Rib. BO loosely using larger needles.

Button Band
With RS facing and using smaller needles, pick up and k 5 sts along edge of neckband and 1 st in each bound off st along left back shoulder. 16[17, 17, 19] sts.

Work 7 rows in 1x1 Rib. BO all sts.

Buttonhole Band
With RS facing and using smaller needles, pick up and k 1 st in each bound off st along left front shoulder, and 5 sts along edge of neckband. 16[17, 17, 19] sts.

Work 3 rows in 1x1 Rib.

Next Row [RS]: Work 2[3, 3, 3] sts in patt, yo, w2tog, [work 3[3, 3, 4] sts in patt, yo, w2tog] twice, work rem 2 sts in patt.

Work 3 more rows in patt. BO all sts.

Sew buttons to button band opposite buttonholes. Fasten buttons and pin armhole edge of button band and buttonhole band together.

Sew sleeves into armholes. Sew sleeve and side seams.

Weave in ends.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Josie is a full-time mom in Belleville, ON, where her husband, toddler, two cats and a closet full of yarn all vie for her time.

 
Pattern & images © 2005 Josie Mercier. Contact Josie