Knitty: Spring 2007

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by Marjorie Brigham

It's a vest and tee shirt combined. Basic sweater features raglan shaping, garter rib pattern and a retro shawl collar. Options are for long sleeves and a hood!

These sweaters and their four variations are adaptable to a toddler's busy schedule. My favorite is the hooded, short-sleeved version. It's cosy and comfortable to wear indoors and for car rides
in winter - then outdoors through the spring months.

model: Mary, 12 months; Grace, 20 months photos: Donna Robb

SIZE

To fit 12[18] months

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest: 21[23] inches
Length: 11.25[12] inches

MATERIALS

Note: Yarn requirements given are for a short-sleeved sweater with a shawl collar. For long sleeves or a hood, add 1 ball of yarn; for both long sleeves and a hood, add 2 balls.

Light blue-grey sweater shown in:

Queensland Kathmandu DK; [85% merino wool, 10% silk, 5% cashmere; 147yd/134m per 50g ball]; color: #414; 3[4] balls

Blue sweaters shown in:

Berroco Pure Merino; [100% Extra Fine Merino Wool; 92yd/85m per 50g ball]; color: #8586 Subtropic; 5[6] balls

1 US #7/4.5mm circular needle, 24-inch or 29-inch

1 spare circular needle, US #7/4.5mm or smaller, at least 24 inches long
Note: While both of the yarns used were knit at the gauge given, one of the yarns was knit at a tighter gauge than recommended to achieve a firmer fabric, and the other was knit at a looser gauge, to achieve a more drapey fabric. The needle size given is only a recommended size; depending on the yarn you choose, you may require a different size needle to achieve the given gauge.

Stitch markers

1 large stitch holder

GAUGE

20 sts / 26 rows = 4 inches in Garter Rib

PATTERN NOTES

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

Garter Rib (Worked over a multiple of 3 sts + 2 sts):
Row 1 [WS]: P all sts.
Row 2 [RS]: K2, [p1, k2] to end.
Repeat these 2 rows for Garter Rib.

1x1 Rib (Worked over an even number of sts):
Row 1: [K1, p1] to end.
Repeat this row for 1x1 Rib.

Three-Needle Bind Off
Hold both pieces of knitting with right sides together.
Insert needle into first st on front needle and first st on back needle, and knit them together. *Repeat this for the next st on the front and back needles. Draw the first st worked over the second st.*
Repeat from * to * until all sts have been bound off. Break yarn and draw through remaining st.

PATTERN

BACK
CO 56[59] sts.
Work in Garter Rib until work measures 6[6.5] inches, ending with a WS row.

BO 3 sts at beginning of next 2 rows. 50[53] sts.

Break yarn, leaving a 12-inch tail. Place all sts on spare circular needle.

FRONT
Work as for Back.

When Front is complete, do not break yarn; place all sts on st holder.
Set aside and work either Short Sleeves or Long Sleeves.

SHORT SLEEVES (Make 2)
Using a new ball of yarn, CO 41[44] sts.
Beginning with a RS row, work 4[6] rows in Garter Rib.

Increase Row [RS]: K1, m1, work in pattern to last st, m1, k1.
Work 5 rows in Garter Rib.

Work Increase Row once more. 45[48] sts.
Work 1[3] rows in pattern. Work measures approx. 2[2.5] inches.

BO 3 sts at beginning of next 2 rows. 39[42] sts.

Break yarn, leaving a 12-inch tail. Place all sts on spare circular needle. Place 1 sleeve on either side of the Back, so that the RS of all pieces are facing the same direction.

LONG SLEEVES (Make 2)
Using a new ball of yarn, CO 36[38] sts.
Work in 1x1 Rib until work measures 1.25 inches, ending with a WS row.

Next Row [RS]: K6[4], m1, [k12(10), m1] 2[3] times, k6[4]. 39[42] sts.
P 1 row.
Next Row [RS]: K1, [p1, k2] to last 2 sts, p1, k1.

Work 7 rows in Garter Rib as set.
Increase Row [RS]: K1, m1, work in pattern to last st, m1, k1.
Repeat these 8 rows twice more. 45[48] sts.

Continue in pattern until work measures 6.5[7] inches, ending with a WS row.

BO 3 sts at beginning of next 2 rows. 39[42] sts.

Break yarn, leaving a 12-inch tail. Place all sts on spare circular needle. Place 1 sleeve on either side of the Back, so that the RS of all pieces are facing the same direction.

Join Pieces
Replace held sts of Front on working needle. In the following round, you will be working the other sweater pieces from the spare needle onto the working needle, then joining them to work the yoke in the round.

Joining Round: Beginning with RS facing and using attached ball of yarn, work all sts of Front in pattern, place marker, work all sts of one Sleeve in pattern, place marker, work all sts of Back in pattern, place marker, work all sts of remaining Sleeve in pattern, place marker. Use a marker of a different color, size, or type for this last marker; it will mark the end of the round.
Join to begin working in the round. 178[190] sts.

Shape Yoke
K 1 round.
Next Round: [K1, ssk, k to 3 sts before next marker, k2tog, k1] 4 times. 8 sts decreased.
Repeat these 2 rounds once more. 162[174] sts.

Next Round: K19[20], BO 8[9] sts, k to end-of-round marker. Break yarn. 154[165] sts.

Slip first 19[20] sts of Front (up to bound-off sts) to right needle, and reattach yarn to the first st after the bound-off sts.

This point will now be the beginning of the row, and the remainder of the Yoke will be worked back and forth in rows.

Note: Read ahead; raglan shaping and neckline shaping are worked at the same time.

Row 1 [RS]: [Work in pattern to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k2, ssk] 4 times, work in pattern to end.
Row 2 [WS]: P all sts.
For Shawl Collar, repeat Rows 1 and 2, 13[14] times more.
For Hood, repeat Rows 1 and 2, 12[13] times more, then work 2 rows without shaping.
AT THE SAME TIME When Front measures 8[8.5] inches, ending with a RS row, shape neckline edges as follows:
Next Row [WS]: P1, p2tog tbl, p to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1.
Work 5 rows in pattern.
Repeat these 6 rows once more, then work the first of these rows (decrease row) once more.

For Shawl Collar, when all raglan and neckline shaping has been worked, 36[39] sts remain. BO all sts.
For Hood, when all raglan and neckline shaping has been worked, 44[47] sts remain. When working next row, remove all markers.
Next Row [RS]: Work 11[12] sts in pattern, [kfb] in each of next 22[23] sts, work remaining 11[12] sts in pattern. 66[70] sts.
Work in Garter Rib until Hood measures 8[8.5] inches.

Slip last 33[35] sts of row to spare needle, and join two halves of Hood using Three-Needle Bind Off.

FINISHING

Shawl Collar
CO 34[36] sts.
Row 1 [WS]: Work in 1x1 Rib.

Row 2 [RS]: CO 4 sts, work all sts in 1x1 Rib.
Row 3 [WS]: CO 4 sts, work all sts in 1x1 Rib.
Repeat Rows 2 and 3, 11[10] times more. 82[76] sts.

Size 18 mos. Only:
Next Row [RS]: CO 6 sts, work all sts in 1x1 Rib.
Next Row [WS]: CO 6 sts, work all sts in 1x1 Rib. 88 sts.

All Sizes:
Continue in 1x1 Rib until work measures 1 inch, measured along short side edge.
BO all sts loosely in pattern.

Sew CO edge of collar along neckline of sweater, matching center back points of neckline and collar, and sewing short side edges of collar to bound-off sts at center front of neckline. Front edges of collar will partially overlap.

Hood Edging
With RS facing, beginning at right front neckline edge, pick up and k 3 sts for every 4 rows along right edge of neckline, around entire edge of hood, and along left edge of neckline.
Working back and forth in rows, work in 1x1 Rib until ribbing is 1 inch deep. BO all sts loosely in pattern.
Sew short side edges of ribbing to to bound-off sts at center front of neckline. Edges of ribbing will partially overlap.

Assembly
Block sweater as desired.
Sew sleeves to body at underarms.
Sew sleeve seams and side seams.
Weave in ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Marjorie Brigham learned to knit and crochet at age 7, and has been "artsy-crafty" all her life.

A semi-retired teacher, her current craft-related interests include the job of webmaster for the Friendship Knitting Guild, publishing a book set called, "Get Organized: A Workbook for Knitters and Crocheters", sewing handbags and making bead crochet jewelry.