DIY Baby Sweater
by Nette Compton
Yarn:
Knit Picks Cotlin (50g, 123 yds), $70\%$ Tanguis cotton, $30\%$ Linen One Skein each of Royal Plum (color 1), Key Lime (2), and Moroccan Red (3)
Needles:
#7 circular needle $(16^{\circ}+)$ #7 dpns (set of 5) stitch markers (4) Gauge (in garter stitch): 18 sts and 36 rows over 4"
Custom Baby Sizing:
Ialways find the sizes for babies strange- how can you size clothes by age when they vary so much? What about longer arms or legs? Measure your own (or someone else's) baby, and custom size the sweater for optimum sizing and baby enjoyment.
Measurements:
A- Around the neck, loosely (basically, measure the length that you want the sweater to be B- Length from the neck to the arm pit (this will determine how long you work the top yoke increases C- Length of the sweater (determines, not surprisingly, the length of the sweater D- Around the arm (really a double-check, to make sure the sleeves will be big enough- measure your sleeves when separating the sleeve sts from the body) E- Length of the arm (measure thisfrom the arm pit along the bottom of the arm- it will determine how long you work the sleeves for.
Calculations:
Calc $1\colon\mathrm{A}^{\ast}\,4.5$ (gauge sts/inch) $=$ Round up to next number divisible by 6 Calc 2: Divide Calc 1 by 6 Calc $3\colon\mathbf{B}^{\mathrm{~*~}}9$ (gauge rows/inch) $=$ — Round up to even number Calc 4: (Calc $2{\mathrm{~x~}}4)+({\mathrm{Calc~}}3-4){\mathrm{~x~}}(2)=.$ Calc 5: Take next lowest number from Calc 4 that is divisible by $12=$ Calc 6: Calc 4 - Calc $^5=-$ , then divide that number by $2=..$ (use second number) Calc 7: $\left(\mathbf{C}-\mathbf{B}\right)\mathbf{x}\ 6$ (gauge rows/inch in stitch pattern) $=$ 一 Calc 8 $:(\mathrm{Calc~2})+(\mathrm{Calc~3}-4)=\_$ Calc 9: $\boldsymbol{\mathrm{E}}^{\ast}\boldsymbol{9}$ (gauge rows/inch) $=$ Calc 10: Take next lowest number from Calc 8 that is divisible by $12=$ Calc 11: Calc 8 - Calc $10=$ -, then divide that number by $2=..$ (use second number)
Stitch Pattern:
Right Side: \*Kfb, k3, ssk, k2tog, k3, kfb, repeat from \* to end Wrong Side: P all sts
Pattern:
Use your own calculations to fill in the patte. [Numbers used for sample sweater are also given (sized for 8 month old)] In Color 1, cast on (calc 1) [48 sts] 1: (Wrong side)K 2: (Right side) P 3: K 4: P 5: In color 2, K (calc 2) [8], pm, k (calc 2) [8], pm, k _ (calc 2 x 2) [16], pm, K _ (calc 2) [8], pm, K _ (calc 2) [8] 6: K to 1 before marker, kfb, sl m, kfb, repeat to last marker, k to end 7: In color 3, k 8: K to 1 before marker, kfb, sl m, kfb, repeat to last marker, kto end 9: In color 1, k 10: K to 1 before marker, kfb, sl m, kfb, repeat to last marker, k to end 11: In color 2, k 12: K to 1 before marker, kfb, sl m, kfb, repeat to last marker, k to end Continue repeating rows 7-12 until —(caic 3) number of rows have been worked [34 total rows] Separate Sleeves & Center Band Next row: (wrong side) With color 1, k to 1 st before m, kfb, remove m, over 2 dpns, kfb, k to 1 before m, kfb, remove m, onto original needle kfb, k to 1 before next m, kfb, remove m, over 2 dpns, kfb, k to 1 before m, kfb, remove m, onto original needle kfb, k to end (you have separated the sleeve sts and will continue to work on the body over (calc 4) [88] sts). NR: P NR: KNR: P Begin working stitch pattern In color 2, K _ (calc 6) [2], work stitch pattern over next (calc 5), k _ (calc 6) [2] NR (and all wrong side rows): P Continue working the next two rows, changing colors every 4 rows, for rows (calc 7) [32 rows] Next Row: (right side) In color 1, k NR: K NR: P Bind off Sleeves (2)- Over 2 dpns, begin working sleeve over. (calc 8) [38 rows]: 1: In color 1, p 2: In color 2, K 3: P 4: In color 3, K 5: P 6: In color 1, K Continue repeating rows 1-6 for rows (calc 9) [30 rows] Next Row: In color 1, k (calc 11) [1], work stitch pattern, k (calc 11) [1] NR: K Reneat these two rows. then bind off. Front edging and ties Along edge,pickupapproximately 2 sts for eveyrows along bottm stitchpatt portioand s for every 2 rows along top (garter sts portion) With color 1 and right side facing, k to last sts, bring yarn to front, sl 1 NR: K to last sts, bring yarn to front, sl 1 NR: K to last sts, bring yarn to front, sl 1 Left Side: K3, BO to center for garter panel [BO 6], k3, BO to center color 1 band [BO 6], k3, BO to end Right Side: BO to center band sts [BO to last 21 sts], k3, BO to center for garter panel [BO 6], k3, BO to last 3 sts, k3 Using dpns, work each set of 3 sts in I-cord until measures $7^{\circ}$ or desired length (To work I-cord, k3, slide sts to other end of right hand needle, more needle to left hand, repeat) FinishingWeave in all ends, block. $\copyright$ 2008 Nette Compton Please don't use this pattern for anything but personal/non-profit applications. Thanks!
