A Baby Sweater Pattern

Yesterday when I weighed in, I was certain that I was going to have to tell you all that I had failed to lose my half a pound, but was surprised to find that I had lost a whole pound! I’m quite sure, however, that I will gain it all back since I made Jacob a belated birthday cake today. Chocolate mint cake-mmmmmm.

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And now----the sweater pattern!

I had the advantage of having a sweater made with this pattern in my hands when I made this sweater the 1st time. The little woman who had made the sweater for my daughter hand copied this for me. I know that each time I make it I puzzle over what she wrote and try to make it “work”. I have done the best I can to decipher it for you; her handwriting is typical of the women of that generation—flowery and beautiful, but also shaky with age. Sometimes little notes were scribbled into the margins, and I tried to get them all to fit into the correct order. I did my best to produce a coherent pattern! Enjoy! Jean

Baby Hooded Sweater

Size 1-2-3
Needles No. 5 & 8
Crochet hook No.00
5 buttons
Gauge 9 st=2”, 6 rows =1” (No. 8)

Cardigan
Neckband: No5 needle. Cast on 54(58-62) st. Work in ribbing of k1p1 for 1”. Change to No8 needles work as follows:

Yoke: Shape raglan
Row 1 (right side): K8. Inc 1 st in next st. Put a marker on needle. K1. Inc 1 st in next st. K4 (5-6). Inc 1 st in next st. Put a marker on needle. K1. Inc 1 st in next st. K 18 (20-22). Inc 1 st in next st. Put a marker on needle. K1. Inc 1 st in next st. K4(5-6). Inc 1 st in next st. Put a marker on needle. K1. Inc 1 st in next st. K8—(8 incs) Turn.

Row 2: Purl (slip markers).

Row 3: *K to within 1 st of marker. Inc 1 st in next st. Sl marker. K1. Inc 1 st in next st. Repeat from * 3 times. K across. Repeat last 2 rows 10 (11-12) times. (Makes a raglan sleeve.)

Next row: Purl—150 (162-174) sts.

Divide Work
K 21 (22-23). Place these sts on a holder (left front). K32 (35-38) (left sleeve): place next 44 (48-52) sts on a holder (back); place next 32 (35-38) st on 3rd holder (right sleeve). Place last 21 (22-23) sts on 4th holder (right front).

Left sleeve:
Cast on 2 sts. P across. Cast on 2 sts. Work in stockinette st. K 1 row; p next. Dec 1 st each side every 8th row 5 times—26 (29-32) sts. Work even until sleeve measures 6 (6-1/2”-7”) from underarm or 1-1/2 in. less cuff. Dec 0 (1-2) sts on last row 26 (28-30) st. Change to No5 needles work ribbing k1 p1 for 1-1/2”. Bind off loosely in ribbing.

Right Sleeve:
With No8 needles cast on 2 sts. K 32 (35-38) sts from sleeve holder cast on 2 sts—36 (39-42). Work same as left sleeve. (Note: I always do both sleeves on same needle using another ball of yarn—Then you’ll be sure they are the same.)

Body:
Sl sts off left front on No8 needle. Join yarn at left underarm. Cast on 4 sts. K across back sts. Cast on 4 sts. K across right front sts 94 (100-106) sts. Work even until piece measures 5-3/4” (6-1/4—6-1/2”) from underarm or 1-1/2” (ribbing allowance) less than desired length. Change to No5 needles. Work in ribbing k1 p1 for 1-1/2”. Bind off loosely in ribbing.

Left Center Band: (Crochet)
From right side work 1 row. Sc on left front edge working 1 sc in each row. Ch 1, turn each row. Work 4 more rows working 1 sc in each sc. End off.

(A note from Jean: I find that I need to make a few less st than one per row or the band is too big.)

Right Center Band:
Work 2 rows sc on right front edge as for left center band. With pins mark position of 5 buttonholes evenly spaced on right center band—first on ½” above lower edge, 5th on ½” below neck edge.

Row 3: (buttonhole row) *sc to within 1 sc of pin. Ch 2 st. Repeat from * 4 times. Finish row. Ch1. Turn.

Row 4: Sc in each sc across row working 2 sc in each buttonhole. Ch 1. Turn.

Row 5: Sc in each sc across. End off.

Hood
No5 needles—cast on 67 (69-71) sts.

Row 1: (right side): P1 *k1p1 repeat from * across.

Row 2: K1 *p1,k1. Repeat from * across.

Repeat last 2 rows for 3” (ribbing). End wrong side. Change to No8 needles. Work in stockinette st until piece measures 7 (7-1/2—8) ins from start.

Shape back: Bind off 10 sts at beg of next 2 rows. Bind off remaining 47 (49-51) sts.

Finishing
Block pieces (not ribbings). Fold hood in half. Weave back seam keeping seam flat. Fold ribbing in half to right side. With ends of hood 1-1/2” from front edge of sweater, sew hood to neck edge, easing in hood. Sew sleeve seams and underarms. Sew on buttons (5).


The Sweater, size 2. I used 4 ply, Worsted Weight. Since I was switching from the American to European style knitting throughout and picking it up sporadically, the stitch was very uneven :-(. Oh, well--it will wear :-).

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Thoughts from my Big Green Chair

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.”Psalm 90: 17

The footnote of my Concordia Study Bible says, “As you only have been our security in the world, so also make our labors to be effective and enduring—though we are so transient.”

I have no visions of ever appearing in the pages of history. I do, however, hope to make an impact upon my world by raising children of God who will serve Him throughout their lives and by reaching out to others through friendship, sharing God’s work in me. Many are searching for security—and we do not always find that God offers what we think we want. Yet our trust in Him is comforting to us and to those around us. Though we are here on earth as the shadow of a cloud passes over the land, He is, from generation to generation.

Blessings.