Easy Pullover for Babies, Toddlers and Kids
January 12, 2012
The Easy Baby Cardigan from Joelle's More Last-Minute Kitted Gifts has become a Purl Soho classic.. but it wasn't the original! Before she knit up that worsted weight cardigan, Joelle first conceived of a lightweight, all-season pullover. At 7 stitches to the inch, it wasn't exactly a "last minute knitted gift" and so it evolved; but Joelle never forgot the adorable prototype she had decided to shelve!
The inspiration behind both sweaters was always Joelle's intrigue with an over-the-top construction. Starting at the bottom back, knitting up and over the shoulders and sleeves, then down the front, this sweater is a one-piece engineering wonder! The Easy Baby Pullover may not be as quick as its cardigan cousin, but it's just as easy! And just as beautiful, with the gorgeous hand dyed subtlety of Koigu Premium Merino. Wonderfully soft, machine washable and as gorgeous as yarn comes, KPM is one of our all time favorites!
This timeless design is filled with design details that make it cozy for tots and easy for parents: a roomy neck opening for quick on and off, cuffs designed for rolling, and a loose, casual style for busy little bodies! A new classic? We think so! P.S. Curious about the cute hat too? It's our Little Fair Isle Hat and you can find out all about it right here!
THE MATERIALS
· 4 (5, 5, 6) skeins of Koigu's Koigu Premium Merino, 100% merino. This color is pictured here is 1010.5. A US #4, 24 (24, 32, 32) inch circular needle THE PATTERN GAUGE 7 stitches = 1 inch in stockinette stitch SIZES to fit most 12 to 24 month (2 year, 4 year, 6 year) olds FINISHED SIZE Chest Circumference: 20 1/2 (23, 26, 30) inches Length: 13 (15, 17, 19) inches Length from Cast on to Underarm: (8 1/2, 10, 11 1/2, 13) inches Arm Hole: 4 1/2 (5, 5 1/2, 6) inches Arm Length 8 1/2 (10 1/2, 12 1/2, 14 1/2) inches PATTERN NOTES Seed Stitch: (multiple of 2 stitches + 1) K1, \*p1, k1, repeat from \*. ockinette Stitch: Knit the Right Side (RS) and purl the Wrong Side (W This pullover is worked flat. It is worked in one piece from the bottom edge of the Back, over the shoulders and sleeves, down to the bottom edge of the Front. BEGIN: BACK Cast on 71 (81, 91, 105) stitches, leaving a 30 inch tail for finishing. Work in Seed Stitch for 1 1/4 inch. Next Row: Work in Seed Stitch for 5 stitches, work in Stockinette Stitch to last 5 stitches, work in Seed Stitch to end. Repeat the last row until the piece measures 2 1/2 inches from the cast on edge. Change to Stockinette Stitch. Work even until piece measures 8 1/2 (10, 11 1/2, 13) inches from the cast on edge, ending with a WS row. SLEEVES With right side facing, use a Cable Cast On to cast on 60 (74, 88, 102) stitches. Row 1 (RS): Work across cast on stitches in Seed Stitch for 25 (29, 33, 37) stitches, place a marker (pm), knit to end. (131, 155, 179, 207 stitches) rong side facing, use a Cable Cast On to cast on 60 (74, 88, 102) stitche: Row 2 (WS): Work across cast on stitches in Seed Stitch for 25 (29, 33, 37) stitches, pm, purl to end next marker, work in Seed Stitch to end (191, 229, 267, 309). Row 3: Work in Seed Stitch to first marker, work in Stockinette Stitch to next marker, work in SeedStitchto end. Repeat Row 3 until piece measures 4 1/2 (5, 5 1/2, 6) inches from beginning of sleeve, ending with a WS row. SHAPE BACK NECK Row 1 (RS): Work in Seed Stitch to first marker, k51 (64, 76, 91), pm, work in Seed Stitch over next 39 (43, 49, 53) stitches, pm, knit to next marker, work in Seed Stitch to end. Row 2: Work in Seed Stitch to first marker, work in Stockinette Stitch to the next marker, work in Seed Stitch to following marker, work in Stockinette Stitch to the last marker, work in Seed Stitch to end. Repeat Row 2 for a total of 3/4 inch. Next Row (RS): Work in pattern to second marker, work 5 stitches in pattern, bind off 29 (33, 39, 43) stitches in pattern, work in pattern to end. (81, 98, 114, 133 stitches remaining for each side)
LEFT FRONT
Now working only the Left Front and Sleeve stitches (leaving the remaining stitches on needle), work even for 1 % inches, ending with a WS row. SHAPE FRONT LEFT NECK Row 1 (RS): Work in pattern to first marker, slip marker (sm), knit into front and back of next stitch (kfb), work in pattern to end. (82, 99, 115, 134 stitches) Row 2: Work in pattern to 1 stitch before second marker, kfb, work in pattern to end. (83, 100, 116,135 stitches) Repeat Rows 1 and 2 six (7, 8, 9) more times, working increased stitches in Stockinette Stitch as they become available. (95, 114, 132, 153 stitches). Work even until piece measures 9 (10, 11, 12) inches from beginning of Sleeve, ending with a RSrow.
FINISH LEFT SLEEVES
Next Row (WS): Bind off 60 (74, 88, 102) stitches in pattern (removing marker), work in pattern to end. (35, 40, 44, 51 stitches) Cut yarn and place stitches on stitch holder or scrap yarn. RIGHT FRONT With WS facing, rejoin yarn to stitches on needle. Work even for 1 1/2 inches, ending with a WS row. SHAPE FRONT RIGHT NECK Row 1 (RS): Work in pattern to 1 stitch before second marker, kfb, work in pattern to end. (82, 99,115,134 stitches) pattern to first marker, sm, kfb, work to end. (83, 100, 116, 135 stitche: Repeat Rows 1 and 2 six (7, 8, 9) more times, working increased stitches in Stockinette Stitch as they become available. (95, 114, 132, 153 stitches) Work even until piece measures 9 (10, 11, 12) inches from beginning of Sleeve, ending with a WSrow.
FINISH RIGHT SLEEVE
Row 1 (RS): Bind off 60 (74, 88, 102) stitches in pattern (removing marker), work in pattern to end, Cable Cast On 1 (1, 3, 3) stitches, work these stitches in Seed Stitch, then work the 35 (40, 44, 51) stitches of Left Side in established pattern. (71, 81, 91, 105 stitches) FRONT Row 1 (WS): Work in Stockinette Stitch to first marker, work in Seed Stitch to next marker, work in Stockinette Stitch to end. Repeat Row 1 for 1 inch, ending with a WS row. Next Row (RS): Work entire row in Stockinette Stitch (removing markers). Work even for 5 (6 1/2, 8, 9 1/2) inches, ending with a WS row. Next Row (RS): Work in Seed Stitch for 5 stitches, work in Stockinette Stitch to last 5 stitches, work in Seed Stitch to end. Repeat the last row for 1 1/4 inches. Next Row: Work entire row in Seed Stitch. Repeat last row for 1 1/4 inches, ending with a WS row. Bind off in Seed Stitch pattern, leaving a 30 inch long tail for finishing. FINISHING Block if desired. Using mattress stitch and long tails from Cast On and Bind Off, sew side seams, starting above the Seed Stitch edging. Also sew the Sleeve seams. Weave in your ends and you're all finished!
