There’s nothing more frustrating than spending months knitting up a beautiful heirloom-quality jumper for a kid that grows out of it 3 weeks later. This top is not for knitting snobs. It is for parents that want to knit up something quickly for their kid, that is reasonable quality and a little different, but won’t break the bank.
It’s also great for people who hate sewing up seams. You need to use double-pointed needles to knit in the round but this is a skill well-worth learning as it gives a seamless professional looking result and saves a lot of fiddly seam-sewing.
As it was a stash-burner project for me, I can’t guarantee that the yarns I used are even still available but I’ve tried to give enough information for you to easily substitute another yarn.
Materials
5 x 50 gram balls super-chunky (6mm needles) merino wool/acrylic 50:50 blend (I used Filatura di Crosa ZarOne, shade 1006) – Main Colour
1 x 50 gram ball super-chunky novelty yarn (I used Emotive Sensual, colour 3) – Contrast
40cm 6mm circular needle
1 pair 6mm straight needles
1 set (4) 6mm double-point needles
2 stitch holders
1 yarn needle (with head big enough to thread your yarn through)
Tension: 13 stitches to 10cm using 6mm needles (stocking stich)
Size 3 - (suits child with chest of 58cm)
Body
Using Main Colour, cast on 88 stitches on circular needle and join. Place marker (scrap of contrast colour wool is fine).
First 6 rounds: *Knit 2, Purl 2** (repeat from * to ** to end of round)
Rounds 7-32 : Knit (As you are knitting in the round, you automatically create stocking stitch)
Round 33: *Knit 7, Knit 2 together, Yarn Forward** (repeat from * to ** to end of round)
Round 34: Knit
Round 35: Knit 2, *Knit 2 together, Yarn Forward, Knit 7** (repeat from * to ** until there are 5 stitches left) Knit 5.
Rounds 36-52: Knit
(Make Back)
***Knit 44 stiches onto a straight 6mm needle.
Now turn and do a row of Purl stiches onto the other straight needle****
Repeat from *** to **** another 7 times
Cast off 15 stiches knit-ways and knit to the end
Turn and cast off 15 stiches purl-ways and purl to the end.
Slip the remaining 14 stiches onto a stich-holder
(Front)
***Using contrast yarn, knit 44 stiches onto a straight 6mm needle
Now turn and do a row of purl stiches onto the other straight needle****
Repeat from *** to **** another 6 times
Knit one more row using contrast (15 rows in total)
Change back to Main colour and purl the next row
(Make front neckline)
Knit 17 stitches and turn work
Purl 2-together and purl to end
Knit 16 stitches and turn work
Purl 2-together and purl to end
Cast off 15 stiches knit-ways.
Slip next 10 stitches onto a stich holder
Knit to end. Turn work.
Purl 15 stitches, purl 2-together and turn work
Knit to end and turn work
Purl 14 stiches, purl 2-together and turn work
Cast off 15 stitches knit-ways.
The only sewing you have to do (aside from weaving in the ends of yarn): Turn the jumper inside-out and sew the front and back shoulder seams together. If your yarn is too thick to sew with, try using an 8-ply yarn in a similar shade.
Neckline
Using main colour and double-pointed needles, pick up 40 stitches evenly around the neckline, including the 24 you have on the stich holders. Place a stich-marker. Knit 3 rounds of “knit 2, purl 2” rib.
Change to contrast colour and knit one round “knit 2, purl 2” rib.
Cast off in rib.
Sleaves
Using double-pointed needles and main colour, pick up 32 stiches evenly around the armhole. Place stich-marker. Knit 8 rounds.
Knit 14 stiches, knit 2-together, knit 14stiches, knit 2-together. (30 stiches)
Knit 6 rounds
Knit 13 stiches, knit 2-together, knit 13 stiches, knit 2-together. (28 stiches)
Knit 6 rounds
Knit 12 stiches, knit 2-together, knit 12 stiches, knit 2-together. (26 stiches)
Knit 6 rounds
Knit 11 stiches, knit 2-together, knit 11 stiches, knit 2-together. (24 stiches)
Knit 6 rounds
Knit 10 stiches, knit 2-together, knit 10 stiches, knit 2-together. (22 stiches)
Knit 6 rounds
Knit 9 stiches, knit 2-together, knit 9 stiches, knit 2-together. (20 stiches)
Knit 3 rounds of “knit 2, purl 2” rib
Change to contrast colour and knit a round of “knit 2, purl 2” rib
Cast off in rib
Variations:
This pattern is not set in stone. Vary it to suit your taste, the yarns available, etc. For example:
Omit the contrast yarn altogether and just use 6 balls of the main colour
Omit the eyelet pattern (rounds 33 to 35 of the main body)
Alternatively, also include the eyelet pattern in the sleaves
Thread a strand of the novelty yarn through the eyelet holes
© Copyright 2005 Margaret Bozik. May be used for any non-commercial purpose. Not to be reproduced without written permission of the author.
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