DutchOrchid Designs

Gingerbread Baby Sweater

This pattern has ribbing that runs the front and back length of the sweater, giving it tremendous stretch., allowing it to fit a growing child for a long time. Cabled braids that travel the underarm create visual interest, as well as making it a fun knit. The cabled braids also have the advantage of being unisex, so this sweater would look appropriate on a boy or a girl.

Size: 6-9 months (pattern is very stretchy, so it can possibly expand to 12 months)

Materials: 6 oz. Red worsted weight yarn (pattern was knitted with Caron's Simply Soft); 24” US size 8 circular needle; 4 US size 8 double-pointed needles; two stitch holders; cable needle; yarn needle.

Sleeves (make 2): With double-pointed needles, CO 24 sts. (8 sts. per needle). Work in K1, P1 ribbing for 1 ½”. K around once, adding 6 more stitches evenly distributed.

Row 1: (K4, place marker, P1, K9, P1) 2 times. NOTE: it is useful to use two different colors of stitch markers to indicate when one round has been completed.

Row 2: (K4, P1, C6F, K3, P1) 2 times

Rows 3-4: Repeat row 1

Row 5: (K4, P1, K3, C6B, P1) 2 times

Row 6: Repeat row 1

Repeat rows 1-6, increasing 1 stitch before each stitch marker every 1^st row 5 times (40 sts.). Continue in pattern, working until sleeve is 7”. Loosely BO.

Sweater Body (Back):

CO 88 stitches with circular needle. Place stitch marker and work K1, P1 ribbing for 1 ½”. INCREASE ROW: {(K2, M1) 2 times, K3, P1, K4, P1, K4, M1, K4, P1, (K1, P1) 5 times, (K2, M1) 3 times, P1, K4, P1} 2 times (100 sts.)

Row 1: {Place stitch marker, K9, P1, K4, P1, K9, P1, (K1, P1) 5 times, K9, P1, K4, P1} 2 times

Row 2. {C6F, K3, P1, K4, P1, C6F, K3, P1, (K1, P1) 5 times, C6F, K3, P1, K4, P1} 2 times

Rows 3-4: Repeat row 1

Row 5: {K3, C6B, P1, K4, K3, C6B, P1, (K1, P1) 5 times, K3, C6B, P1, K4, P1} 2 times

Row 6: Repeat row 1

Continue rows 1-6 until sweater measures 6 ½” from bottom.

• Armhole: *At the first stitch marker, BO 8 and continue in pattern to next stitch marker*. Put stitches just worked on a stitch holder (43 sts.). Repeat instructions * to * once, working back and forth on the circular needle as on a straight needle. Continue working in pattern until armhole measures 3 ½”. NOTE: some cable rows will occur on the wrong side of the sweater. Be sure to keep the cabled braid correct.

• Shoulder Shaping: BO 5 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows, then BO 4 stitches at the beginning of next 4 rows. Place remaining 17 stitches on a stitch holder. These will be picked up later when working the turtleneck.

Sweater Body (Front): Reattach yarn and place stitches from stitch holder onto the circular needle. Continue to work as for back until front measures 1 ¼” from armhole BO. From the front of the sweater, knit 26 stitches across. Place last 9 knitted stitches on a stitch holder. Work across to end of needle. Attach second skein of yarn (or yarn from the other end of the same skein) at right neck edge and work both sides at the same time. Continue working in pattern, (decreasing 1 stitch each side of neck edge every front row) 4 times (13 sts.). Work should shaping same as for back.

Turtleneck: Using the double-pointed needles, K or P stitches from front stitch holder, PU 16 stitches at neck edge, K stitches from back stitch holder, PU 16 stitches along neck edge (58 sts.). Keeping K1, P1 ribbing on the front consistent (ribbing should run uninterrupted the length of the sweater), work K1, P1 ribbing around for 3”. Loosely BO.

~ This pattern was written and designed by Rachel Leverton, with title permission from children's book author and illustrater Jan Brett. Please leave a comment on Rachel's blog, http://alohaknitter.blogspot.com if you knit this pattern.