REGIA 6 ply BABY SWEATER

Sized for 3 month olds. More sizes to be added later.

Yarn: Regia 6 ply 3 balls (This is mostly needed for matching, use the rest of the 3rd skein for baby socks)
Notions: 3 buttons 9/16 inch or 14mm.
Needles: US 4 (optional US 2 or 3 needles for ribbing)
Gauge: 5sts and 7 rows per inch

Back:

**Cast on 56 sts
Work the first row in k1,p1 over the entire row, turn
Work this way until the piece measures 1.5 inches, ending on a RS row.
Work in stockinette stitch until the entire piece measures 6 inches.
BO 4 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows. (remember to BO purlwise for the purl row)**
Work in stockinette until the entire piece measures 10 inches.

K12, k2tog, turn
Put the rest of the stitches on a stitch holder
P2tog, p11 break yarn and put these 12 sts on a holder.

Leave the next 20 sts on a holder

Join yarn
K2tog, knit across the 12 sts, turn
P11, p2tog, turn
Knit for 6 rows making a garter stitch band for your shoulder buttons
Bind off.

Front:

Work same as back from ** to **
Work in stockinette until piece measures 9 inches. Ending on a WS row.
P16, P2tog, turn
Put the rest of the stitches on a holder
K2tog, k across the rest, turn
P14, p2tog, turn
K2tog, k across the rest, turn
P12, p2tog, turn
K2tog, k across the rest, turn
These stitches can be put on a holder or you can attach them to the back shoulder now. Since its such a small sweater I attached the front and back at this point using a 3 needle bind off.

Leave the next 12 stitches on a holder

K2tog, k across the rest, turn
P16, P2tog, turn
K2tog, k across the rest, turn
P14, P2tog, turn
K2tog, k across the rest, turn
P12, P2tog, turn
K2tog, k across the rest, turn
Knit 3 rows
Next row K4, YO, k2tog, k3, yo, k2tog, k1 (this is for your button holes)
Knit 2 more rows
Bind off.

Sleeves: (make 2)

Cast on 28sts
Work in k1,p1 ribbing
Make 2 inches like this, ending on a RS row

Next row increase by 8 stitches evenly

Next row purl all
Next row knit all
Next row purl all
*Next row knit twice in first stitch, knit to the last stitch, knit twice in the last stitch
Next row purl all
Next row knit all
Next row purl all.*
Continue repeating the rows *to* until the sleeve has 52 stitches.

Continue working in stockinette until the sleeve measures 6.5 inches, end on RS row. (this 6.5 inches is measured up the middle. If you measure along the edge it will be longer, about 7.5 inches)

Continue working in stockinette knitting and purling the appropriate rows.
Bind off the first 3 stitches of the next 6 rows.
Bind off the first 5 stitches of the next 6 rows.
Bind off the remaining stitches.

Finishing and neck:

Block the pieces

If you haven’t done the 3 needle bindoff of the right shoulder, do that now. Baste the left shoulder together. You don’t want the stitches to stay because you want to be able to button and unbutton it, but you want it together as it will be so you can put the sleeve on.

Attach the sleeves

Sew the sleeve and the side of the sweater closed.

Neck:
Undo the shoulder basting.

Starting at the front and working across around to the back (rs facing)
Join yarn
Pick up and knit 12 sts, knit the 12 sts from the holder, pick up 14 and knit over the right shoulder to the back, knit the 20 sts off of the holder, pick up and knit 8 sts. (64 sts)*note If you slip the first stitch of each row you will have a neater edge.
Next row k4 purl until there are 4 sts left k4, turn
Next row knit all, turn
Next row k4 purl until there are 4 sts left k4, turn
Next row k2, yo, k2tog, knit the rest around decreasing 8 sts evenly (56 sts)
Next row k4 purl until there are 4 sts left k4.

Next row k4 purl until there are 4 sts left k4.
The next 4rows, work in stockinette on all stitches.

Bind off.

Weave in any ends
Sew on 3 buttons

Hints:
Some people find they make a nicer ribbing and collars if the go down a needle size or 2. So for the ribbing on the waist, sleeves and the rolled collar you can use a size 2 or 3 needle.

If you find you have little holes around your neckline where you have picked up stitches and then knit off the holder. You can pick up an extra stitch and then on the next row around just K2tog at that spot to

All patterns pictures and ideas are copyright property of The boogie, Amy King 2004