HOPe STreeT OveraLLS
These overalls are knit in the round from the bottom up. The original pair was knit by my mother-in-law (who lived on Hope Street) for my daughter in 1979. I have recreated this pattern (\*with lots of help) in anticipation of the birth my daughter's first child due in September 2011!
Size
0-3 (3-6) months
Yarn
Sport or DK weight yarn - 308 (420) yards a few suggested yarns.... Cascade 220 Superwash Sport Diamond Luxury Superwash Merino DK Knit Picks Swish DK
Gauge
22 stitches and 28 rows = 4"/10cm in stockinette stitch with the larger needles HOPe STreeT OVeraLLS
Needles and Notions
US 4 (3.5mm) double-pointed needles for ankle ribbing, bib and straps US 4 (3.5mm) 16" (40cm) circular for the buttonhole band US 6 (4mm) double-pointed needles for legs US 6 (4mm) 16" (40cm) circular needle for body stitch marker, 2 small buttons, stitch holder, waste yarn
Abbreviations
BO bind off co cast on DPNS double-pointed needles Kknit LHN left-hand needle Ppurl REM remain RHN right-hand needle RND round S1 slip one purl-wise ST stitch
PATTERN
LEGS (make 2) Using smaller DPNs CO 52 (56) sts (use the long tail cast-on for stretchiness) Join in the round being careful not to twist the stitches Work in (K2 P2) rib for 1.5 (1.5)" / 4 (4)cm Switch to larger DPNs Work in stockinette (knit every round) until piece measures 7 (8)"/18 (20.5)cm
Next Rnd:
BO last 2 sts of rnd BO first 2 sts of next rnd and stop knitting Slip the st that remains after doing the final BO back onto the LHN Cut the yarn leaving a 10" tail for seaming the crotch Place all stitches on waste yarn, or on spare DPNs Make a second leg following the above instructions until you have bound off the 4 sts for the crotch - do not cut the yarn or move sts to waste yarn Leave these sts on the DPNs JOINING THE LEGS AND MAKING THE BODY Slip the first st of the second leg (the st that remained after the final BO you are slipping it because it's already been knit) onto the larger circular needles Knit all the sts of that leg onto the circular needle TURN and CO 8 sts using the Cable Cast-On TURN Slip the first st of the first leg (the st that remained after the final BO) onto the circular needle Then knit all sts of that leg onto the circular needle TURN CO 8 sts using the Cable Cast-On TURN Join to work in the round 112 (120) sts Note - this is NoT the beginning of the round K next 24 (26) sts, place marker to indicate beginning of the round - this wil be at the side of the pant leg Work in stockinette until piece measures 11(13)"/28(33)cm measuring from the cO edge of the leg
BUTTONHOLE BAND
Switch to smaller circular needle Work in (K2 P2 rib) for .5"(1.25cm) Buttonholes: Rnd 1: Rib 12 (14) sts, B0 2 sts, rib 27(25) sts, B0 2 sts, rib to end of rnd Rnd 2: Rib 12 (14), TURN, CO 2 sts with Cable Cast-On, TURN, rib 28 (26), TURN, CO 2 sts with Cable Cast-On, TURN, rib to end of rnd Continue in (K2 P2) rib until buttonhole band measures 1"(2.5 cm)
BIB
Work 1 more partial rnd - rib until 12 (10) sts rem in rnd, B0 final 12 (10) sts of rnd and 1st 68 (70) sts of next rnd in rib pattern (32 (40) sts rem on needles to knit the bib) Using smaller DPNs or smaller circular needle and working in rows, knit the bib: HOPe STreeT OVeraLLS Row1: K1, (P2, K2) till 2 sts rem, P2 Row2: S1, K1, (P2, K2) till 2 sts rem, P2 Rep Row 2 until bib measures 4 (5)"/10 (12.5) cm including the buttonholeband.
STRAPS
Straps are worked over 8 sts RoW 1: S1, K1, P2, K2, P2, TURN Place remaining 24 (32) sts on stitch holder or waste yarn Rep Row 1 until strap measures 9 (10)"/23 (25.5)cm BO in rib pattern Move sts from waste yarn (or holder) back to a needle and reattach yarn to 1st st adjacent to the 1st strap. B0 16 (24) sts in rib pattern, rib to end of row With rem 8 sts, rep Row 1 above to make 2nd strap. BO in rib pattern
FINISHING
(See drawing on next page) To finish the crotch, hold the 2 cast-on edges together Sew the 4 centre sts from one side to the 4 centre sts on the other side, using the mattress stitch On one leg, fold the bound-off edge inwards so the centre of the 4 bound-off sts connects with the seam you just sewed Using mattress stitch, sew the 4 bound-off sts to the 4 remaining cast-on sts Repeat on the other leg Sew buttons to the ends of the straps
The crotch opening before sewing up
The crotch after sewing up
Thanks to:
Bonnie ('entrelaccat') for her skilled test-knitting and for designing a much improved crotch (and drawings) My sister Lib for coming up with the name Natalie (Leeleetea') at Lettuce Knit for figuring out that the original pair were knit from thebottom up Liane at Knitomatic ('knitomatic') for sewing up the crotch of the first pair I knit Dr. Knit ('DoctorKnit') for her encouragement at the Knitter's Frolic Connie ('g-maknits') for finding Bonnie, sourcing yarn, Ravelry know-how and great enthusiasm and support!
