Knitty: editorial spring 06

Knitty: little purls of wisdom

© Knitty 2002-2006. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. This means you.

mesilla anatoliaungranny smith t-twist jamesey jardin anglais
exchequered tendrils nagano sakura convertible topi reiddouble scoop
tiny tether pedicure socks hedera nautieblossomkatjafelted tea cosy

by Tisra Fadely

Babies are inspiration for numerous things: paintings, poetry, laughter… more babies (as our firstborn was to a couple we know). In this case, it was knitting.

Baby Katja was born this year to friends of ours that live in sunny Southern California. The not-so-chilly climate was the impetus for a shoulder-baring cotton garment that wouldn’t feel too hot.

Being a quick knit with small amounts yarn and little seaming (none, if worked in the round), makes this the perfect baby gift for the stylish girlie in your life.

model: Lael photos: Tisra Fadely

SIZE

3 months[6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months] (shown in size 12 months)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest: 16[17, 18.5, 19.5, 20.5] inches
Length: 7.25[8, 8.5, 9.25, 9.75] inches (measured from top of triangle cups to lower edge of garment)

MATERIALS

2nd Time Cotton by Knit One, Crochet Too [75% recycled cotton, 25% acrylic; 180yd/165m per 100g skein]; color: 231 Tahiti; 1 [1, 1, 2, 2] skeins

1 set US #7/4.5mm straight needles
2 US #7/4.5mm double-point needles (used for working I-Cord)|
Crochet hook
Waste yarn
Tapestry needle

GAUGE

20 sts/28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES

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

Katja may be worked in the round using a circular needle of appropriate size. After making the cups and casting on the additional stitches, join your work to begin working in the round, rather than turning your work. This creates an entirely seam-free garment! Instructions here are for knitting it flat, so remember that if a WS row indicates the a purl stitch should be worked, work a knit stich instead, and vice-versa.

Crochet Cast On
Using waste yarn, work a crochet chain several sts longer than the number of sts to be cast on. Starting 1 or 2 sts in from end of chain and using working yarn, pick up and k 1 st in the back loop of each st until the required number of sts have been worked. Later, the chain will be unraveled and the resulting live sts picked up.

DIRECTIONS

Cups [Make 2]
Using straight needles and Crochet Cast On or other provisional cast on method, CO 23[27, 27, 31, 31] sts.

Row 1 [RS]: K2, ssk, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
Row 2 [WS]: K2, p to last 2 sts, k2.
Repeat these 2 rows 7[9, 9, 11, 11] times more. 7 sts rem.

Next Row [RS]: K2, k3tog, k2. 5 sts rem.
Next Row [WS]: K2, p1, k2.
Next Row [RS]: K1, k3tog, k1. 3 sts rem.

Work rem sts in I-Cord until cord measures 16[16, 16, 18, 18] inches.

Continuing in I-Cord, finish cord as follows:
Next Row: K1, k2tog. 2 sts.
Next Row: K2tog. 1 st rem.

Break yarn, draw through last st and pull tight.

Body
Using straight needles, CO 22[21, 25, 24, 27] sts.

Remove waste yarn from CO edges of cups and place each cup on one double-point needle.

Row 1 [RS]: K all sts on straight needle, k first 14[16, 16, 18, 18] sts of first cup, k next st of first cup together with first st of second cup, [k next st of first cup together with next st of second cup] 8[10, 10, 12, 12] times (all sts of first cup have been worked), k rem 14[16, 16, 18, 18] sts of second cup, CO 22[21, 25, 24, 27] sts. 81[85, 93, 97, 103] sts.

Rows 2-4: K all sts.
Row 5 [RS]: [K3, kfb] to last 1[1, 1, 1, 3] sts, k1[1, 1, 1, 3]. 101[106, 116, 121, 128] sts.

Work 3[7, 11, 15, 17] rows in stockinette st.

Next Row [RS]: P all sts.
Work 7 rows in stockinette st.

Next Row [RS]: P all sts.
Work 3 rows in stockinette st.

P 3 rows.

Work 6 rows in stockinette st.

K 5 rows.

BO all sts.

FINISHING

Sew edges of body together, matching ends of purl ridges and garter st bands.

Weave in ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Homeschooling wife and mother to three little ones, Tisra does more brainstorming than actual knitting. She credits her mom and grandmother with giving her creative side a good kick start.

Her website can be found here.

Pattern & images © 2006 Tisra Fadely. Contact Tisra