An intermediate level project. Supplies: 1 ball Bernat SofteeBaby, US size 2 and 4 straight needles, size 2 and 4 dpn's, 5 stitch holders (one 6-inch, 4 small), crochet hook, 5 ½-inch buttons
Gauge: 22 rows = 2", 13 st = 2" approx. Finished size: 10" across chest, buttoned, 10 ½" long, collar-to-cuff about 10" If you want a sweater about 1" wider, go up to #3 and #5 needle sizes. For a tiny, newborn size, use Lion Baby Soft and sizes #1 and #3 needles
c/o 145 st. on smaller needle. First and last 5 sts form garter stitch buttonhole bands. Every garter stitch ridge is made up of 2 rows.
1. K 5, K 1, P 1 across, end K 5
2. K 5, P 1, K 1 across, end K 5
3. As Row 1
4. As Row 2
5. Buttonhole row— as Row 1. Work buttonhole at beginning of row for girl (K2, y/o, K2tog, K1) or for boy at the end of the row. Place contrasting wool markers at opposite end of buttonhole row to facilitate counting rows. Work a buttonhole every 12th garter stitch ridge. (24 rows)
6. As row 2
7. As Row 1
8. As Row 2
9. As Row 1
10. As Row 2
11. As Row 1: Work 73 sts (half a row) , increase in next stitch, finish row. (=146 sts)
12. Change to larger needle. (w.s.) K 5, P across, K last 5
13. K 5, P 6, K 4, *P 8, K 4* Repeat between *'s across, ending P 6, K 5
14. K 5, K the K's, P the P's across, end K 5
15. As Row 13
16. K 5, P across, end K 5
17. K 5, K 4, *P 8, K 4* across, end K 5
18. K 5, P the P's, K the K's across, end K 5
19. As Row 17
20. K 5, P across, end K 5
Work pattern Rows 13 through 20 until there are 54 rows over ribbing, ending on w.s. Be sure to put in a buttonhole every 12th garter ridge (24 rows). The basket-weave pattern will show 13½ reeds and ribs (think of those beautiful Longaberger baskets!).
Left Front: (r.s.) Work 35 sts in pat. Put on holder. Work 4 st, put on holder. Work 68 st, put on holder. Work 4 st, put on holder. 35 sts remain on needle. This will be the left front. Be sure to put in buttonholes at same interval. Line up pattern repeats carefully and always work within pattern!
K 2 tog., work to end in pattern.
Work 1 row (w.s.).
K 2 tog., work to end in pattern.
Work 1 row (w.s.).
K 2 tog., work to end in pattern.(=32 sts)
Work even on these 32 sts always staying in pat,.until there are 8 full garter ridges (16 rows) over Buttonhole #4. Work one more row, ending on w.s.
Work 17 sts. Place last 15 sts on holder for neck without working.
Turn work. P 2 tog., work to end.
Work 1 row.
P 2 tog., work to end (=15 sts)
Work even for 9 rows, ending at neck edge. Score:
(w.s. ) Work 8, turn
Work 8, ending at neck edge. Leaving a 24" tail, cut yarn. Place 15 sts onto a dpn, and secure stitches with a rubber band.
Right Front: Join yarn at armhole edge. Begin work on w.s. Do the three decreases on the w.s. and work shaping to mirror the left front. When same length as the left front, on r.s., work 15 st., place on holder. Then do the 2 neck decreases and shoulder shaping to correspond to the opposite front.
Back: Put 68 sts from holder back on needle. Join yarn to be able to begin on w.s.
Decrease at beginning of this row, and 5 subsequent rows. (=62 sts)
Work even on 62 sts until armhole depth is the same as for the front pieces, where shoulder shaping starts, ending on r.s
Shape shoulders: w.s. work to within 7 sts of end. Turn
r.s. Work to within 7 ts. of end. Turn
w.s. Work to within 15 sts of end. Turn
r.s. Work to within 15 sts of end.
Place center neck 32 sts on holder. Cut off yarn.
Shoulder seaming: Put each set of 15 shoulder sts onto a #4 dpn. With the wrong sides of sweater facing out, hold right front and back shoulders together and using the 24-inch tail, do a 3-needle bind-off. (Google "3-needle bind-off" if you do not know this technique) I like to use a crochet needle to do this. Repeat for other shoulder.
Collar: Turn sweater right-side-out. Put the 15 sts that are on the holder for the left front collar on to needle. Attach yarn at neck edge and work these 15 st (r.s.) in pattern, ending at the button band. (This should finish out pattern sequence)
Next row: w.s. Using smaller needle, K 5, P 10, pick up and Purl 12 sts., put the center back sts onto free needle and P across, pick up and P 13 sts from right side of neck, put right neck holder stitches back on needle and P to within 5 sts of end, K 5. (=87 sts). You want to have an odd number.
Next row: (r.s.) K 5, do K 1 P 1 ribbing across the row, end K 5
Continue ribbing, putting in the 6th buttonhole where needed. Work a few more rows to desired collar depth and bind off.
Sleeve: At armhole— using the smaller dpn's to pick up stitches, pick up 48 sts (22 from front, 22 from back, 4 underarm) onto needles without working. Arrange the needles so that the starting point will be at the center of the 4 live underarm stitches.
Join yarn at center of underarm stitches. Place marker. Using the larger dpn's, begin working pattern. Note: When working in the round, the P rows in the body pattern will now be done as all K rows.
1. K 1 round
2. K 2 *P 8, K 4* around, end K 2
3. Repeat Rnd 2
4. Repeat Rnd 2
5. K 1 round
6. P 4, *K 4, P 8* around, end P 4
7. Repeat Rnd 6
8. Repeat Rnd 6
Continue to work even on 48 sts, repeating Rounds 1 through 8 until
about 1½ " short of desired length, ending on Round 4 or 8.
Next round: Change to smaller needles. K 4, K 2 tog around (=40 sts)
Work K 1, P 1 ribbing to desired depth. Bind off loosely in ribbing.
Do second sleeve to match.
Work in loose ends and sew buttons on securely.
This basket weave knit baby sweater is appropriate for a boy or girl. The textured knit looks best in solid colors. My personal favorite is yellow or off-white.
