Basic Baby Sweater by Elizabeth Morrison
Sometimes you need a baby sweater in a hurry, like when you're expecting a new niece and a nephew turns up instead! Times like this call for a dependable basic pattern at a reasonable gauge. You can dress it up with stripes or color-blocks, or work it plain. At 5 stitches an inch, the knitting goes quickly and the sweater is done while it stillfits the baby. The specific details for Laura's Version (in picture) are at the end of the pattern.
sample knit by Laura Prescott photos by Leland model: Logan $\mathrm{k}2\mathrm{tog}=.$ knit two stitches together: a right leaning decrease ssk $\equiv$ slip, slip, knit: a left leaning decrease
ABBREVIATIONS
DIRECTIONS
BACK
With smaller needles, cast on 50[54, 60] sts. Work ribbing for 1.5 inches or desired length. Switch to larger needles and work even in stockinette st until piece measures 6[7, 8] inches from beginning.
DIFFICULTY RATING
SHAPE ARMHOLES
Bind off first 5 sts, then work until end of row. Next row: Bind off first 5 sts and work until end ofrow. Work even until piece measures 10.5[11.5, 12.5] inches from beginning. Easy GAUGE 20 stitches and 28 rows $=4$ inches/10 cm. in St. st. on larger needles SIZES 6[12, 18] months FINISHED MEASUREMENTS 20[22, 24] inches at chest MATERIALS Worsted weight cotton. 3[4, 4] $50\;\mathfrak{g m}/88$ meter skeins Shown in Tahki Cotton Twist, a discontinued yarn. US $\#4/3.5\;\mathrm{mm}$ : straights. US $\sharp4/3.5\:\mathrm{mm}$ double points or $12^{\ast}$ circular. US #6/4 mm straight needles, or size needed for gauge. Either place on waste yarn or bind off.
Basic Baby Sweater by Elizabeth Morrison
FRONT
Work as for back until 2 inches less than completed back length.
SHAPE NECK
On a right side row, work first 13[15, 15] sts. Place center 14[14, 20] sts. on holder. Attach second ball of yarn on other side of neck and work even across remaining 13[15, 15] sts. Work each side of neck with separate balls of yarn, at same time. Wrong side rows: work even. On next three right side rows, knit until 3 sts. from neck edge. K2tog, k1. on other side of neckline, k1, ssk (or other left leaning decrease). Work even to match back. Graft shoulder seams, work three needle bind off, or bind off and sew.
SLEEVES
With smaller needles cast on 24 sts. Work 1X1 ribbing for 1.5 inches, or desired length. Switch to larger needles. Increase 10 sts evenly across row. (M1 increase is least conspicuous.) \*Work even 3 rows. Increase Row: k2, M1, k to last 2 st. M1, k2 Repeat from \* until a total of 44 sts. Work even until desired length. Bind off.
FINISHING
Sew tops of sleeves onto body. Sew long seams on sleeves and down sweater sides.
NECKLINE
Using smaller needles, place or pick up 20 [20, 26] sts from center back onto needle; pick up 2 sts for every three rows on left side of neckline; place 14[14, 20] center front sts on needle, pick up same number of sts on right side of neckline as left. Work 1X1 ribbing for 1 inch or desired length. Bind off loosely. Darn in all ends. Wash and block according to yarn manufacturer's instructions. Enjoy!
LAURA'S VERSION
Yarn Notes for 6 month size Cotton Twist: $100\%$ cotton 50 g, 88 m per ball Color A: Blue, 55 grams Color B: White, 82 grams
BACK
With color A and smaller needles, cast on 50 [54, 60] sts. Work ribbing for 1.5 inches or desired length. Switch to larger needles and color B and work even in st st until piece measures 6[7, 8] inches from beginning.
SHAPE ARMHOLES
Bind off first 5 stitches, then work until end of row. Next row: Bind off first 5 sts. and work until end of row.
Basic Baby Sweater by Elizabeth Morrison
Change to color A and work even until piece measures 10.5[11.5, 12.5] inches from beginning. Either place on waste yarn or bind off.
FRONT
Work as for back until 2 inches less than completed back length.
SHAPE NECK
On a right side row, work first 13[15, 15] sts. Place center 14[14, 20] sts on holder. Attach second ball of yarn on other side of neck and work even across remaining 13[15, 15] sts. Work each side of neck with separate balls of yarn, at same time. Wrong side rows: work even. On next three right side rows, knit until 3 st. from neck edge. K2tog, kl. on other side of neckline, k1, sk (or other left leaning decrease). Work even to match back. Graft shoulder seams, work three needle bind off, or bind off and sew.
SLEEVES
All sizes: With color A and smaller needles cast on 24 sts. Work k1, p1 ribbing for 2 inches, or desired length. Switch to larger needles and color B. Increase 10 sts evenly across row. (M1 increase is least conspicuous.) \*Work even 3 rows. Increase Row: k2, M1, k to last 2 st. M1, k2 Repeat from \* until a total of 44 stitches. Work even until desired length.
Bind off.
FINISHING
Sew tops of sleeves onto body. Sew long seams on sleeves and down sweater sides.
NECKLINE
Using smaller needles and color B, place 20 [20, 26] sts from center back onto needle; pick up 2 stitches for every three rows on left side of neckline; place 14[14, 20] center front sts on needle, pick up same number of sts on right side of neckline as left. Work 1X1 ribbing for .75 inches or desired length. Bind off loosely. Darn in all ends. Wash and block according to yarn manufacturer's instructions. Enjoy!
