Pattern by Keri Williams, based on a design by Ingrid deHoop

Inspiration comes from all sorts of places. In this case the original design came out of the planning for an upcoming ski trip to Idaho. Seeing as baby couldn't go on the ski field, clearly some fabulous après ski wear was needed for crawling around the chalet.

Full of great little design features, like the garter stitch side seams, and cute shaped hood this is a sweater for junior to snuggle into, once you've had the fun of knitting it. The sleeves are worked top down from stitches picked up around the armhole, with the shoulder cap shaped by short rows, and then continued in the round, to make a seamless piece. In addition, because of the use of three-needle bind-off throughout the pattern there are almost no seams to sew at the end.

SIZE
1 year [18 mths, 2 yr, 3 yr, 4 yr]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 25[27, 29, 32, 34] inches
Length: 13[14, 15, 17.25, 20] inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
[Color 1] Cascade Yarns 128 Superwash [100% superwash merino; 128 yd/ 117 m per 100g skein]; color: 845, Light Blue; 2 [2, 3, 3, 4] skeins
[Color 2] Cascade Yarns 128 Superwash [100% superwash merino; 128 yd/ 117 m per 100g skein]; color: 1926, Light Brown; 2 [2, 3, 3, 4] skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #10.5/6.5mm needles
US #J-10/6mm crochet hook

Notions
yarn needle
Stitch markers
Safety pins or removable locking stitch markers for Japanese short rows.
Stitch holders or waste yarn

GAUGE

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

Instructions for the long tail cast on method can be found here

Instructions for the three needle bind off method can be found here.

Instructions for working Japanese short rows can be found here.

Instructions for making a tassel can be found here.

Color pattern (in St st):
12 rows Color 2.
12 rows Color 1.
Break and rejoin yarns when changing colors.

DIRECTIONS
BACK
Using Color 1 and long-tail method, CO 50[54, 58, 64, 68] sts.

K 4 rows.

Break yarn and join Color 2.
From here, you will work in color pattern throughout.

K 4 rows.

Decrease row [RS]: K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 2 sts decreased.

Work 5[7, 7, 7, 9] rows even in stockinette stitch, starting with a purl row.

Repeat the last 6[8, 8, 8, 10] rows (changing colors every 12 rows) 3[3, 3, 4, 4] more times. 42[46, 50, 54, 58]

Decrease row [RS]: K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 2 sts decreased. 40[44, 48, 52, 56] sts.

Maintaining color pattern, continue in stocking stitch until you have completed 36[40, 46, 56, 64] st st rows, ending with a WS row.

Shape for armholes
Bind off 2 sts at beg of next 2 rows.

Decrease row [RS]: K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 34[38, 42, 46, 50] sts.

Work until there are 24[24, 26, 28, 30] rows from the start of the armhole.
Place sts on holder.

Work in St st for 14[14, 16, 16, 18] rows, ending with a WS row. Break yarn and place sts on holder.

Work pocket cuffs
As you work this section, maintain decreases and color pattern as set.

Row 1 [WS]: P6[8, 8, 6, 9] sts, pm, k 12[12, 14, 16, 16] sts (pocket cuff), p8[10, 10, 12, 12] sts, pm, k12[12, 14, 16, 16] sts, p to end of row.

Row 2 [RS]: Knit.

Row 3 [WS]: P to first marker, k 12[12, 14, 16, 16] sts, p to second marker, k12[12, 14, 16, 16] sts, p to end.

Row 4 [RS]: Knit.

Row 5 [WS]: P to first marker, remove marker and bind off 12[12, 14, 16, 16] sts, p to second marker, remove marker and bind off 12[12, 14, 16, 16] sts, p to end. 

Place pocket linings
Next row: Knit, working decreases as required, to beg of first pocket opening.

Ensuring RS is facing, k first pocket facing off stitch holder; k to next pocket opening; k second pocket off stitch holder.; knit to end of row, working decreases as required.

Continue working front, maintaining color pattern and working side decreases, until front matches back to armholes, ending with a WS row.

Shape for armholes and front opening
Bind off 2 sts at beg of next row, k until there are 15[17, 19, 21, 23] sts on the right needle. Turn work.

Left side of front
Bind off 1 st at beginning of next row, k to end. Turn work. 14[16, 18, 19, 21] sts.

Work even until there are 24[24, 26, 28, 30] rows from the start of the armhole, ending with a RS row. Break yarn, leaving a long tail. Leave sts on holder.

Right side of front
With RS facing, rejoin yarn to rem sts for right front.
Bind off 6 sts, work to end of row. 17[19, 21, 23, 25] sts

Bind off 2 sts at beg of next row. 15[17, 19, 21, 23] sts
Next row [RS]: K to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 14[16, 18, 20, 22] sts.

Work until there are 25[25, 27, 29, 31] rows from the start of the armhole, ending with a RS row. Leave sts on holder; do not break yarn.

FINISHING
Shoulder seams
With right sides together, join left shoulder seam by binding off 6[7, 8, 9, 10] sts moving from shoulder edge to neck edge, using 3 needle bind off and the long tail from the back. Place 7[8, 9, 10, 11] remaining live front sts on a holder.

With right sides together, moving from shoulder edge to neck edge, join right shoulder seam by binding off 6[7, 8, 9, 10] sts using 3 needle bind off . Turn work so right side of work faces you. Place remaining right front sts and last live st from bind off onto the right needle, so the working yarn is ready to work. Work across back of neck and remaining left front sts. 36[40, 44, 48, 52] sts.

Hood
Maintaining color pattern as established in front and back, work 3 rows stocking stitch, ending with a WS row.

Row 1 [RS]: K 16[18, 20, 22, 24] sts, pm, M1L, k4, M1R, pm, k to end of row. 38[42, 46, 50, 54].

Row 2 [WS]: Purl.
Row 3 [RS]: K to marker, slip marker, M1 L, k to second marker, M1R, slip marker, knit to end of row. 2 sts increased.

Maintaining color pattern, repeat last 2 rows 10 more times. Remove markers. 60[64, 68, 72, 76] sts.

Continue in color pattern until hood measures 9[9.25, 9.5, 10, 10.5] inches from base of hood, ending with a WS row.

Move sts to circular needle. Fold hood in half with RS together, so 29[32, 36, 38, 40] sts are on front needle, and 29[32, 36, 38, 40] sts are on rear needle. BO, using 3 needle bind off.

Side seams
With RS of front facing, using color 1, pick up 33[37, 40, 47, 56] sts along one side, between the start of the armhole shaping and the cast-on edge.

K 5 rows.
Break yarn. Leave sts on needle.

With RS facing, pick up 33[37, 40, 47, 56] sts along back right side seam.

Place right sides of front and back together, and bind off live sts using 3-needle bind off.

Repeat for second side seam.

Sleeves
Using Color 1 and needles for working in the round, starting in the middle of the side seam, pick up and knit stitches as follows:

• 2[2, 2, 2, 2] sts from side seam,
• 6[6, 2, 6, 7] sts from first stripe,
• 18[6, 6, 6, 6] sts from second stripe,
• 6[6, 16, 16, 16] sts from third stripe,
• 0[6, 6, 6, 6] sts from fourth stripe,
• 0[6, 2, 6, 7] sts from fifth stripe,
• 2[2, 2, 2, 2] sts from side seam.
  
  34 [34, 36, 44, 46] sts total.

Distribute stitches on dpns and join for working in the round, marking the start of round at the center of the side seam with a stitch marker.

Round 1: Purl.
The sleeve is now worked back and forth, with Japanese short rows, until the cap shaping is complete.

Row 1 [RS]: Using Color 1 and dpns, and changing colors when you reach the start of a different color band, knit 19[19, 22, 25, 28] sts, turn & pin using the Japanese short row method.
Row 2 [WS]: P4[4, 6, 8, 10] sts, turn & pin.
Row 3 [RS]: K to previous turn, pick up wrap, turn & place new pin.
Row 4 [WS]: P to previous turn, pick up wrap, turn & place new pin.

Repeat Rows 3-4, working up to last pin placed, picking up wrap, then turning and placing new pin. Each stitch will be separated by a pin hanging to the back of the work. Change colors to match front and back color bands, until there are 4[4, 4, 6, 6] sts total remaining unknit in the middle.

Begin working in the round, picking up the 2 remaining wraps as you reach them.

Keri began knitting when she was 6 years old, and never really stopped. The arrival of her daughter has, however, slowed her down a bit. She feels uneasy if she doesn’t have something on the needles for her wee girl.


Keri can be found on Ravelry as Kiwicanuck.