Playground Shirt Pattern: Top Down Raglan Construction for Seamless Knitting with Optional Colorwork and Embroidery

Shirt

Playground

By Elena Nodel Playground Shirt is a very good project to learn top down raglan construction.

The shirt is completely seamless, knitted in the round and top down. The basic design allows you to use your imagination. You can easily add color work (some are provided in the pattern), embroidery, and stripes (good way to use your left over yarns)... sky is the limit. This design is perfect for solid colors, variegates, self-stripping and gradients.

Techniques Required:

Working in the round Increases and Decreases Fair Isle (optional) Working with colors (optional) Embroidery (optional)

① Elena Nodel 2009

Suggested Yarns

Dia Sport by Colour Adventures (100% merino; 251m/274 yds in 100gr/3.5 0z.) Sweet Merino DK by Colour Adventures (100% merin0; 229 m/250 yds in 115 g/4.06 oz) Exquisite Sport by Colour Adventures (75% merino, 15% cashmere, 10% silk; 366 m/400 yds in 115 g/4 0z)

Gauge: 23 sts and 30 rows in 10 cm/4 inches over stockinette stitch in the round

Notions:

3.5 mm/US #4 circular needles (6o or 80 cm/24"or 32") or size needed to obtain gauge 3.5 mm/US #4 DPN's 0r 30 cm/12" circulars 2.75 mm/US #2 circular needles (6o cm or 24") 4 stitch markers 3 mm/US #2.5 crochet hook 2 - 4 novelty buttons (eg, ball, flowers, animal, etc.)

A (Finished chest measurement): 47 (56, 61, 65.5, 69) cm/18.5 (22, 24, 25.75, 27.25) inches B (Upper arm circumference): 16.5 (20.5, 21.5, 23, 25.5) cm/6.5 (8, 8.5, 9, 10) inches C (Sleeve length): 4 (6, 6.5, 6.5, 7) cm/1.5 (2.25, 2.5, 2.5, 2.75) inches D (Garment's Length): 19 (22, 27, 29.5, 33, 37) cm/7.5 (8.5, 10.5, 11.5, 13, 14.5) inches

Abbreviations

k = knit p = purl st(s) = stitch(es) kfb = increase by knitting into the front and back of the stitch m1 = make one, increase by knitting into the stitch below of the following stitch pm = place marker slipm= slip the stitch marker from the left needle to the right needle yo= yarn over the needle k2tog=knit 2 stitches together M1 = with left needle tip, lift strand between needles from front to back; knit lifted loop through the back skp= slip one stitch, knit the following stitch, pass the slipped stitch over the knitted one

\~Pattern Notes

The pattern is perfect for working with any color yarn. You can use solid color, variegated, or several solid colors to create your own unique stripes. See Reference Chapter on page 6 for Random Stripe Generator. You can easily introduce some basic Fair Isle to make the pattern more interesting and reflect your own creativity. See page 6 for some simple Fair Isle charts. If you do work with Fair Isle charts, make sure to adjust the number of sts you have to be a multiple of the Fair Isle repeat. Increase sts as M1 if necessary, do not decrease. See Reference Chapter on page 6 for how to increase sts evenly across. If you do work with Fair Isle chart it is also recommended to go up a needle size for the colorwork portion so that your knitting tension stays the same.

Pattern Instructions

Cast on 43 (53, 65, 71, 75, 81) stitches, I suggest using the long tail cast on method. Row 1 (WS): In this row, you will be adding stitch markers to show you where to increase. 6-12 m: p4, pm, P7, pm, p21, pm, P7, pm, P4. 1-2T: p6, pm, p8, pm, p25, pm, p8, pm, p6. 3-4T: p7, pm, p11, pm, p29, pm, p11, pm, p7. 5-6: p9, pm, p11, pm, p31, pm, p11, pm, p9. 7-8: p10, pm, p12, pm, p31, pm, p12, pm, p10. 9-10: p11, pm, p13, pm, p33, pm, p13, pm, p11. Next you will start shaping the raglan as well as the front neck: Row 2 (RS): ktb, (knit to one stitch betore the marker, yo, k1, slipm, k1, yo) 4 times, knit to the last stitch, kfb. E.g. for size 1-2T: kfb, k4, yo, k1, slipm, k1, yo, k6, yo, k1, slipm, k1, yo, k23, yo, k1, slipm, k1, yo, k6, yo, k1, slipm, k1, yo, k4, kfb. (63 sts). Essentially, you increase in the first stitch of each row, before and after each stitch marker and in the last stitch of the row. Row 3 (WS): kfb, purl to last stitch, kfb. Repeat rows 2-3 till your stitches are arranged as (you will end with RS, i.e. Row 2): 6-12 m: 12/13/27/13/12 1-2T: 14/14/31/14/14 3-4T: 18/19/37/19/18 5-6: 20/19/39/19/20 7-8: 21/20/39/20/21 9-10: 22/21/41/21/22 Sizes 6-12 months and 1-2T only: (WS): purl. (RS): Repeat Row 2 only. You should have: 6-12 months: 14/15/29/15/14 1-2T: 16/16/33/16/16 All sizes: You willcontinue with raglan shaping only. You won't be knitting into the front and back of the first and last stitch on the needles anymore. However, you will be increasing before and after each stitch marker as before. Row 1 (WS): purl. Row 2 (Rs): (knit to one stitch before the marker yo, k1, slipm, k1, yo) x4, knit to the end. E.g. for size 1-2T: k15, yo, k1, slipm, k1, yo,k14, yo, k1, slipm, k1, yo,k31, yo, k1, slipm, k1, yo, k14, yo, k1, slipm, k1, yo, k15. Row 3 (WS): purl. Repeat Rows 2-3 for 4 (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) more times; 5 (7, 8, 9, 10, 11) total. End with Row 2. You should have: 6-12 m: 20/27/41/27/20 (135 sts) 1-2T: 23/30/47/30/23 (153 sts) 3-4T: 26/35/53/35/26 (175 sts) 5-6: 29/37/57/37/29 (189 sts) 7-8: 31/40/59/40/31 (201 sts) 9-10: 33/43/63/43/33 (215 sts) With RS facing, cast on 1 st, join in the round and k19 (23, 26, 28, 31, 33) sts. This is now the beginning of the round (first stitch marker you placed; you might want to change this marker to a different color). Rnd 1: knit to the last stitch before beginning of the rnd marker, yo, k1. Rnd 2: (k1, yo, knit to one stitch before the marker, yo, k1, slipm) x3, k1, yo, knit to the end of the rnd. Repeat Rnds 1-2 for 4 (5, 5, 5, 6, 7) times total. End with Rnd 2. Knit one rnd. You should have the following number of sts between markers: Each section is increased by 6 (10, 10, 10, 12, 14) sts. 6-12 m: 35/49/35/49 (168 sts) 1-2T: 40/57/40/57 (194 sts) 3-4T: 45/63/45/63 (216 sts) 5-6: 47/67/47/69 (230 sts) 7-8: 52/71/52/74 (249 sts) 9-10: 57/77/57/81 (272 sts) Next Rnd: remove marker, place next 35 (40, 45, 47, 52, 57) sts on stitch holders/waste yarn, cast on 2 (4, 4, 4, 5, 5)sts, remove marker, kfb, knit 47 (55, 61, 65, 69, 75) sts, kfb, remove marker, put next 35 (40, 45, 49, 52, 57) sts on stitch holders/waste yarn, cast on 2 (4, 4, 4, 5, 5)sts, remove marker, kfb, knit next 47 (55, 61, 67, 79) sts, kfb, place marker for beginning of round. You should have 106 (126, 138, 148, 160, 172) sts on your needles. For Roll Up hem: knit till work measures 20.5 (23, 28, 30.5, 33, 38) cm/8 (9, 11, 12, 13, 15) or till desired length minus 4cm/1.5". Bind off loosely knitwise. For Garter Edge hem: knit till work 16.5 (19, 24.5, 27, 30.5, 34.5) cm/6.5 (7.5, 9.5, 10.5, 12, 13.5) inches from the underarm or till desired length minus 2.5 cm/1". Then work as follows: Rnd 1: purl. Rnd 2: knit. Repeat these two rnds three more times. Bind off purlwise.

Sleeves:

Place 35 (40, 45, 47, 52, 57) sts from hold onto DPN's 0r 30 cm/12" circular needles. Then pick up and knit 5 (6, 6, 8, 8, 8) sts from the underarm area. Place a marker in the middle of the underarm to mark the beginning of the round. Total of 40 (46, 51, 55, 60, 65) sts.

Decrease Rnd:

k1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, skp, k1. Knit 8 (13, 15, 15, 17) rounds and at the same time decreases will be done as follows: k1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, skp, k1. Do decreases on the 6-12 months and 1-2T: 5th round 3T to 5-6: 7th and 11th round 7-8 to 9-10: 7th , 11th , and 15th round For Roll Up sleeves: bind off loosely knitwise. For Garter Edge sleeves work as follows: Rnd 1: purl. Rnd 2: knit. Re peat these two rnds two more times. Bind off purlwise.

Collar:

With RS facing you, using US #2/2.75 mm needles and starting at the very top of the left neckline opening, attach yarn, then pick up and knit 2 sts out of 3 rows for the neckline opening, then pick up and knit every cast on stitch along to where you started. Place marker and join for knitting in the round. Purl one rnd. Bind off sts along the neckline opening, then knit to the end. Work 8 rows in garter stich (i.e. knit every row). Change to 3.5 mm /US #4 needles and work 5 (6, 7, 8, 10, 12) rows in garter stitch. Bind off loosely.

Neckline Edging:

With RS facing you, using US#2/2.75 mm needles and starting with where the right sleeve joins with the back, attach yarn, then pick up an knit every cast on stitch, and pick up and knit 2 sts out of 3 rows for the neckline opening, then pick up and knit every cast on stitch along to where you started. Place marker and join for knitting in the round. Purl one rnd. Bind off knitwise loosely.

Finishing Touches:

Weave in ends. Block. Sew on buttons through the collar edges and shirt (see picture above). Alternatively you can put one button under the collar on one side. Then make a crochet chain on another side 6-8 links long, then attach to the start of the chain, thus making a loop to use for button closure.

Copyright

Please respect my designer rights, and as such the 2 - 4 novelty buttons (eg, ball, flowers, animal, 2.75 mm/US #2 circular needles (6o cm or 24") use of this pattern is a violation of the copyright. Selling products made from this pattern or distributing this pattern in any manner is prohibited under the copyright unless I, Elena Nodel, have granted express written permission.

References:

How to increase stitches evenly across a

row: www.thedietdiary.com/knittingfiend/tools/Increas eEvenlySpace.html Random Stripe Generator: www.biscuitsandjam.com/stripe_maker.php Stranded Colorwork (Fair Isle): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2L4Fo82zw k&feature=relmfu Embroidery (Flowers): http://www.needlework-tips-andtechniques.com/embroidery-stitches.html

Contact Information:

Email: ElenaNodel@gmail.com Website: www.AnadiomenaDesigns.com Pattern Designs: www.ravelry.com/designers/Elena-Nodel Colour Adventures Yarns on Etsy: www.Anadiomena.Etsy.com Blog: www.AnadiomenaDesigns.blogspot.com Ravelry Username: Anadiomena Ravelry Group: Anadiomena's Adventures Facebook: www.Facebook.com/AnadiomenasDesigns Twitter: www.Twitter.com/AnadiomenasNews Instagram: www.instagram.com/AnadiomenasDesigns Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/ElenaNodel/

Colorwork Charts

Chart 1 (7-st repeat)

Chart 2 ( 6-st repeat)

Chart 3 (7-st repeat)

Chart 4 (2-st repeat) - shown on pattern pictures