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© Knitty 2002-3. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. This means you.

 

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.surf & turf.brisa.twins. eyelet . white trash . easybreezy
..lacecap.vintage . broadripple . jane . childHood
.daisy .tasha .aline.puppers . fairway.sigma.cleo



by Stephanie Pearl McPhee

A simple cotton baby cardigan with options to please all newcomers and their parents.

Knit it with hood or without, with embroidery or whatever. This sweater knits up fast, so you can make one for every baby in town.

Daisy Baby is the basic hooded sweater with the addition of backstitch daisies.

Snake Charmer sports the addition of I-Cord snakes.

 

model: Max Alaric photos: Jacqui Alaric, Stephanie Pearl McPhee
SIZE
0-3 months [3-6m, 6-12m]
 
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest: 20[21, 22.5] inches
Length: 9[10, 11.5] inches

Arm Length from shoulder to wrist: 8[9, 10] inches
 

MATERIALS

Plain

[MC] Butterfly Super 10 [100% mercerized cotton; 230m per 125g skein]; color: turquoise 3782; without hood 1[1, 2] skeins, with hood 2[2, 2] skeins.

1 set[s] US #7/4.5mm straight needles, or size needed to get gauge
3 buttons
darning needle
3 stitch holders

Daisy Baby

[MC] Butterfly super 10 cotton; color: cream, without hood 1[1, 2] skeins, with hood 2[2, 2] skeins.
[CC] a few yards of scrap yarns in dk weight. I used Paton's Look at me in 6362 [green apple], 6381 [pink] and 6357 [hot pink].

1 set[s] US #7/4.5mm straight needles, or size needed to get gauge.
3 buttons
darning needle
3 stitch holders
daisy template
straight pins to pin daisy template to sweater

Snake Charmer

[MC] Butterfly super 10 cotton; wedgewood 3824, without hood 1[1, 2] skeins, with hood 2[2, 2] skeins.
[CC] a few yards of scrap yarns in dk weight. I used Patons Astra in 2941[school bus yellow], 2849[navy blue], and 2939[kelly green]

1 set[s] US #7/4.5mm straight needles, or size needed to get gauge.
2 DPNs US #6/4mm, or size needed to get gauge.
3 buttons
darning needle
3 stitch holders

 
GAUGE

20 sts/28 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch
 
DIRECTIONS

Both versions are knit identically until the addition of the hood. Daisies or snakes are added when your sweater is finished. Simply choose your base color and size to begin. This sweater is knit in one piece to the armholes.

CO 103[109, 117].

Row 1. *k1, p1 repeat from * across row. repeat this row twice more.
For first and third sizes only: k2tog at center of the next row only.
Next row: [RS] K1, p1, k to last 2 sts, p1, k1 --102[109, 116] sts on needle.
Next row [WS] K1, p1, k1, p to last 3 sts, k1, p1, k1.

Repeat these 2 rows, knitting RS rows, and purling WS rows, always keeping the first and last 3 stitches in seed stitch until your work measures 5.5[6.5, 7.5] inches.
End with a WS row.

The Great Divide

The work splits here for 2 fronts and a back.
First, the Right Front, home of the buttonholes.

Row 1: K1, yo, k2tog, k23[25, 27]. TURN [the rest of the sts sit and wait].
Row 2: BO 1 st, p to last 3 sts, k1, p1, k1.
Row 3: K1, p1, k to end.
Row 4: P to last 3 sts, k1, p1, k1.
Row 5: K1, p1, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 [start of raglan shaping].
Row 6: P to last 3 sts, k1, p1, k1.
Repeat rows 5 and 6 twice more.
Next row [second buttonhole]: K1, yo, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Next row: P to last 3 sts, k1, p1, k1.
Repeat rows 5 and 6 three times.
Next row[last buttonhole]: k1, yo, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Next row: Repeat row 6.

Begin neck shaping:

Row 1:BO 6 sts, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Row 2 [and all wrong side rows]: Purl.
Row 3: BO 2 sts, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Row 5: BO 1 st, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Continue purling WS rows, and repeat Row 5 1[ 2, 3] times-- 4 sts remain [all sizes].
Next row: K1, k2tog, k1.
Next row: Purl.
Next row: Sl 1, k2tog, psso, fasten off.

Back

Rejoin yarn with RS facing, BO 1, k49[52, 55] TURN.
Next row: BO 1, p to end.
Next row: Knit.
Next row: Purl.

Begin raglan shaping:

Row 1: K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Row 2: Purl.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until 21[23, 26] sts remain.
Place these sts on a holder.

Left Front

With RS facing, rejoin yarn to the remaining 26[ 28,30] sts.
BO 1, k to last 2 sts p1, k1.
Next row: K1, p1, k1, p to end.
Next row: K to last 2 sts, p1, k1.
Next row: K1, p1, k1 p to end.

Begin raglan shaping:

Row 1: K1, ssk, k to last 2 sts, p1, k1.
Row 2: Purl.
Repeat these two rows until work measures the same as right front to neck shaping. Work neck shaping to match right front, reversing all shapings.

Sleeves

Make 2 the same.

CO 37[ 39, 43] sts.
Row 1: *k1, p1 repeat from * across row.
Repeat this row 2 more times.
Next row [RS]: Knit.
Next row [WS]: Purl.
Repeat these 2 rows until work measures 4.5[5, 6] inches, ending with a WS row.
Next row: BO 1, k to end.
Next row: BO 1, p to end.
Next row: Knit.
Row 1[and all WS rows]: Purl.
Row 2: K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until 7[9, 11] sts remain.
Place these sts on holder.

Neckband/Hood

With RS facing, pick up and k 12[13, 14] sts evenly along the right front neck edge.
Pick up 1 st from the top point of the raglan and k tog with the 1st st of sleeve.
K5[7, 9] then k last st of sleeve tog with 1st st from back.
K across 19[21, 24] back sts, then k last back st tog with 1st st from the 2nd sleeve.
K across 5[ 7, 9] sleeve sts, then k last sleeve st tog with 1 st picked up from the top of the left front point.
Pick up and k 12[13, 14] evenly across left front. 57[65, 74] sts on needle.

Note: For third size only, k2tog at center of row 1.

Row 1: *K1, p1 repeat from * across row.
Repeat row 1 twice more.
If you don't want a hood, BO all sts, and eat chocolate before following the finishing directions for the version of your choice.

If you want a hood, don't cast off but instead:
Row 1: K1, p1, k2, m1, *k3, m1, repeat from * to last 5[4, 7] sts. K3[2, 5], p1, k1 -- 74[85,87] sts on needle.
Next row [WS]: K1, p1 ,k1, p to last 3 sts, k1, p1, k1.
Next row:[RS] K1, p1, K to last 2 sts, p1, k1.
Repeat the last 2 rows until hood measures 7[7.5, 8] inches from beginning of hood.

Divide stitches evenly onto 2 needles and graft, OR, if grafting makes you woozy, bind off and sew up.
FINISHING

All versions:
Sew raglan and sleeve seams.
Wash gently by hand and lay flat to dry.
I found that the Butterfly 10 cotton that I used "grew" out of shape badly when washed. It was completely restored by a trip through the dryer.
When it was almost dry, I pressed it very gently [with lots of steam] to get the seed stitch borders to lay flat.
If you use different cotton [or wool!] try the guidelines for blocking HERE.
When it is dry, add your buttons and the add-ons for the version of your choice, or stop and eat chocolate for the plain version.

Daisy Baby
Print and cut out daisy template [at left].
Pin the daisy shape to the sweater and backstitch around the shape with your contrast yarn and a darning needle.
The flowers are placed randomly on the front, back and hood, and worked in as many or as few colors as you wish.

Snake Charmer
To make I-cord snakes: Using 2 DPNs cast on 4 sts and work in I-cord.
To make I-cord, k the sts, then without turning, slide the stitches to the other end of the needle, pull the yarn across the back and knit them again. Repeat until your snakes are about 12 inches long.

To make head: continue in I-cord fashion, [slide stitches and bring yarn across back at the end of each row, so that the right side always faces you.]

Row 1: K1, m1, k2, m1, k1.
Row 2: Knit.
Row 3: Knit   
Row4: K1, m1, k4, m1, k1.
Knit 3 rows.
Row 8: K1, ssk ,k2, k2tog, k1.
Row 9: Knit.
Row 10: K1, ssk, k2tog ,k1.

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing the snake onto the sweater. Pull yarn through remaining sitiches and fasten off.

Make 5 snakes for sweater without hood, and 6 for version with hood.
Sew snakes randomly to sweater, following photo if you get worried.
Work french knots for eyes in the main sweater color.

 
ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Known as "the Knitting Sensei" among her friends, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee has been knitting since she was 4 years old. She cheerfully admits to being obsessed with all things wooly, recently started spinning and looks forward to the day when she can own her own sheep.

When not lost in her substantial stash, she may be found
painting, writing and attending to her day job in between perpetual loads of laundry.
Pattern & images © 2003 Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. Contact Stephanie.