Mi Escuelita kids cardigan - Knitty: Fall 2009

by Rosi Garmendia

When my kids are in school, I always want them to have a little piece of me with them all day. I love to knit them sweaters and hats that they can brag about to their friends. Hence Mi Escuelita.

It's a comfy cardigan with a large shawl collar that makes my kids feel like my arms are wrapped around them when they wear it in their chilly classrooms, or as they go on school trips to the zoo or the museum. Make your favorite kid a little piece of you, too.

Old School Song
Mi escuelita, mi escuelita,
yo la quiero con amor
porque en ella,
porque en ella
es que aprendo mi lección.

Por la mañana temprano
lo primero que yo hago
saludar a mi maestra
y despues a mi trabajo.

model: Rossani

photos: Rosi Garmendia

SIZE
6 years [8 years, 10 years, 12 years, 14 years]
(shown in size 8 years)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 26[28, 30, 32, 34] inches
Length: 14[16, 18, 20, 22] inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
Cascade Yarns Bollicine Dolly [100% Superwash Merino; 153 yd/140m per 50g skein]; color: #454 Pink; 5[6, 7, 9, 10] skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 US #5/3.75mm circular needle, 24 inches or longer
1 set US #5/3.75mm double-point needles
1 spare circular needle or set of double-point needles, US #5/3.75mm or smaller

Tools
Stitch markers
Yarn needle
Cable needle
5[5, 5, 6, 6] safety pins
5[5, 5, 6, 6] buttons, 0.5 inch diameter (buy buttons after sweater is complete to ensure correct size)

GAUGE
24 sts/32 rows = 4 inches in stockinette st

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

The Long-Tail cast on method is recommended for this project.

Slip first st of every row as follows:
At beginning of RS row, sl 1 knitwise with yarn held to back of work.
At beginning of WS row, sl 1 purlwise with yarn held to front of work.

C6F: Sl 3 sts to cable needle and hold to front of work; k3 from left needle, k3 from cable needle.
C6B: Sl 3 sts to cable needle and hold to back of work; k3 from left needle, k3 from cable needle.

2x2 Rib (Worked back and forth over a multiple of 4 sts + 2):
Row 1 [RS]: Sl 1, k1, p2, [k2, p2] to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 2 [WS]: Sl 1, p1, k2, [p2, k2] to last 2 sts, p2.
Repeat these 2 rows for 2x2 Rib.

2x2 Rib (Worked in the round over a multiple of 4 sts):
All Rounds: K1, p2, [k2, p2] to last st, k1.

Right Front Cable Panel (Worked over 10 sts):
Row 1 [RS]: P2, k6, p2.
Even-Numbered Rows 2-8 [WS]: K2, p6, k2.
Row 3 [RS]: P2, C6F, p2.
Rows 5, 7 [RS]: P2, k6, p2.
Repeat Rows 1-8 for Right Front Cable Panel.

Leftt Front Cable Panel (Worked over 10 sts):
Row 1 [RS]: P2, k6, p2.
Even-Numbered Rows 2-8 [WS]: K2, p6, k2.
Row 3 [RS]: P2, C6B, p2.
Rows 5, 7 [RS]: P2, k6, p2.
Repeat Rows 1-8 for Left Front Cable Panel.

Back Cable Panel (Worked over 18 sts):
Row 1 [RS]: P2, [k6, p2] twice.
Even-Numbered Rows 2-8 [WS]: K2, [p6, k2] twice.
Row 3 [RS]: P2, C6B, p2, C6F, p2.
Rows 5, 7 [RS]: P2, [k6, p2] twice.
Repeat Rows 1-8 for Back Cable Panel.

DIRECTIONS

LOWER BODY
Using circular needle and long-tail method, CO 158[170, 182, 194, 206] sts. Slipping first st of each row as directed (see Pattern Notes above), work in 2x2 Rib until work measures 1.5 inches, ending with a WS row.

Set-up Row [RS]: Sl 1, k1, work Row 1 of Right Front Cable Panel, k44[50, 56, 62, 68], work Row 1 of Back Cable Panel, k10, work Row 1 of Back Cable Panel, k44[50, 56, 62, 68], work Row 1 of Left Front Cable Panel, k2.

This row sets pattern for body. Work cable panels as set, work all other sts in stockinette st, slipping first st of each row.

Continue in pattern until work measures 8.5[9.5, 11, 12.5, 14] inches or desired length to underarm, ending with a RS row.

Next Row [WS]: Work 35[38, 41, 44, 47] sts in pattern, BO 9 sts, work 69[75, 81, 87, 93] sts in pattern (70[76, 82, 88, 94] sts after last set of bound off sts), BO 9 sts, work in pattern to end. 140[152, 164, 176, 188] sts: 35[38, 41, 44, 47] sts for each front, 70[76, 82, 88, 94] sts for back.

Do not break yarn. Set aside and work sleeves.

SLEEVES
Using double-point needles, CO 36[40, 42, 46, 48] sts. Divide sts between needles and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist.

Work in 2x2 Rib until work measures 1.25 inches.

Next Round: K1, m1, work in pattern to last st, m1, k1.
Work 5 rounds in pattern, working increased sts into pattern.
Repeat these 6 rounds 10[10, 11, 11, 12] times more. 58[62, 66, 70, 74] sts.

Continue in pattern until work measures 12.5[13, 14.5, 16, 16.5] inches or desired length to underarm, ending last round 4 sts before end of round.

Next Round: BO 8 sts (4 sts before end of round, 4 sts after end of round), continue in pattern to end. 50[54, 58, 62, 66] sts.
Break yarn, leaving a tail approx. 8 inches long. Place all sts on hold on spare needle(s).

Make second sleeve in the same way. When sleeve is complete, leave sts on working needles.

YOKE
In the next round, all sts of lower body and sleeves will be joined on circular needle. Work all sts in pattern as set, as follows:
Using circular needle and ball of yarn attached to lower body, work 35[38, 41, 44, 47] sts of right front, place marker, work 50[54, 58, 62, 66] sts of one sleeve, place marker, work 70[76, 82, 88, 94] sts of back, place marker, work 50[54, 58, 62, 66] sts of remaining sleeve, place marker, work 35[38, 41, 44, 47] sts of left front. 240[260, 280, 300, 320] sts.

Work 1 row in pattern.
Raglan Decrease Row [RS]: [Work in pattern to 2 sts before marker, ssk, slip marker, k2tog] four times, work in pattern to end.
Repeat these 2 rows 3 times more. 208[228, 248, 268, 288] sts.

Note: Raglan and neckline shaping will eventually encroach on cable panels. When there are too few sts to work the 6-st cable twist, work the sts of the panel in stockinette st and reverse stockinette st as set.

Shape neckline as follows:
Work 1 WS row in pattern.
Neckline Decrease Row [RS]: Sl 1, ssk; continue in pattern, working raglan decreases as set, to last 3 sts; k2tog, k1.
Repeat these 2 rows 4[4, 4, 6, 8] times more. 158[178, 198, 198, 198] sts.

Work 3 rows in pattern, working raglan decreases as set.
Work Neckline Decrease Row.
Repeat these 4 rows 5[6, 7, 6, 5] times more. 50[52, 54, 72, 90] sts.

Work 1 row in pattern. Work Raglan Decrease Row.
Repeat these 2 rows 1[1, 1, 3, 5] times more. 34[36, 38, 40, 42] sts: 1 st for each front, 4 sts for each sleeve, and 24[26, 28, 30, 32] sts for back.

Work 1 row in pattern.
BO Row [RS]: K2tog tbl, [sl st from right needle back to left needle, k2tog tbl] until 1 st remains. Break yarn and draw through remaining st.

FRONT BANDS AND COLLAR
Buttonhole Band:
Using circular needle and with RS facing, beginning at lower right front corner and working up right front edge, pick up and k 1 st in first slipped st, [pick up and kfb in next slipped st, pick up and k 1 st in next slipped st] to beginning of neckline shaping.

You will have picked up 3 sts for every 2 slipped sts along edge.

Count sts; if necessary, increase or decrease up to 2 sts when working next row to obtain a multiple of 4 sts + 2.

Work 3 rows in 2x2 Rib, ending with a WS row.

Use safety pins to mark locations of 5[5, 5, 6, 6] buttonholes along right front edge, placing one buttonhole each near upper and lower edges and spacing remaining 3[3, 3, 4, 4] buttonholes between them.

Buttonhole Row 1 [RS]: [Work in pattern to 1 st before buttonhole location, BO 2 sts] 5[5, 5, 6, 6] times, work in pattern to end.

Buttonhole Row 2 [WS]: Work all sts in pattern, casting on 2 sts over each set of bound off sts.

Work 4 more rows in pattern, ending with a WS row. BO all sts as for yoke.

Button Band:
Using circular needle and with RS facing, beginning at base of neckline shaping and working down left front edge, pick up and k same number of sts as for buttonhole band.
Work 9 rows in 2x2 Rib, ending with a WS row. BO all sts as for yoke.

Shawl Collar:
Beginning at upper right front corner, pick up and k 1 st in first slipped st along edge of buttonhole band, [pick up and kfb in next slipped st, pick up and k 1 st in next slipped st] along edge of buttonhole band and right front neckline edge; pick up and k 1 st in each BO st around tops of sleeves and back neckline, placing a st marker at each side of 24[26, 28, 30, 32] sts of back neck; [pick up and k 1 st in next slipped st, pick up and kfb in next slipped st] along left front neckline edge and along top of button band.

Count sts; if necessary, increase or decrease up to 2 sts when working next row to obtain a multiple of 4 sts + 2. Be sure that you have the same number of sts for right and left fronts.

Work 3 rows in 2x2 Rib, ending with a WS row.

Short Rows:
Row 1 [RS]: Work in pattern to second marker, remove marker, W&T.
Row 2 [WS]: Work in pattern across back neck sts to marker, remove marker, W&T.
Next Row: Work in pattern to last wrapped st, work wrapped st, work following st, W&T.
Repeat this row until all sts have been worked, ending with a WS row.

Work 2 rows in pattern over all sts.
BO all sts as for yoke.

FINISHING
Sew sleeves to lower body at underarm edges. Weave in ends and block as desired.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

designername Rosi is the proud mother of 2 boys and 2 girls ages 2 through 14. She creates her beautiful designs out of her home in Brooklyn, New York, and gets most of her inspiration from her loving family. She has been knitting since the age of 8 and has created original designs for both adults and children. She thanks her husband daily for supporting her in her craft.

If you want to know more about Rosi and her crew, you can catch them all on her blog.