Sunday 5 September 2010

A very sweet baby hoodie


This pattern is an amendment to the Baby co-ordinates pattern posted on the Bernat website (http://www.bernat.com/pattern.php?PID=1189). When I found this pattern it was perfect for my friend Jamie's new arrival baby Charlie. Jamie is a jeans and hoodie kind of a guy and overworked, lacy baby items really wouldn't have been a great gift. So I amended this item to make it into a sweater rather than a button up jumper.

Follow the pattern on the Bernat website above until you get to the front left and right pieces. Instead of working two front pieces just work the following instead;

FRONT

With smaller needles, cast on 52 (58-64-70) sts. Knit 5 rows, noting first row is WS and inc 5 sts evenly across last row. 57 (63-69-75) sts.
Change to larger needles and proceed in stocking st until work from beg measures 6½ (7-7¾-) ins [16.5 (18-19.5-21.5) cm], ending with RS facing for next row.

Shape armholes: Cast off 5 (7-8-10) sts beg next 2 rows. 47 (49-53-55) sts. Cont even until armhole measures 2½ (3-3¼-) ins [6 (7.5-8-9) cm], ending with WS facing for next row.

Shape collar: Knit the first 16 (17-18-19) sts on the needle. Cast off 15 (15-17-17) stitches. Knit the remaining 16 (17-18-19) stitches. Turn and work the following using these 16 (17-18-19) stitches.

Work the following rows in stocking stitch dec 1 st at the end of the next 3 rows then every following alt row until 11 (12-12-13) sts remain. Continue even until work from beg measures same length as Back to shoulders, ending with RS facing for next row. Cast off and break yarn.

Reattach yarn to the right side of the 16 (17-18-19) sts on the holder, and repeat.

FINISHING: Pin garment pieces to measurements, cover with a damp cloth and allow cloth to dry.

Sew shoulder seams. Fold Hood in half at back and sew back seam. Pin and then sew shaped edge of Hood to neck opening, beg at center front and match back seam of Hood to center back neck edge. Sew in Sleeves placing rows above markers along armhole edges of Fronts and Back to form square armholes. Sew side and sleeve seams.

When I knitted this up I used Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino instead of the Bernat yarn due to difficulty obtaining it in the UK.

As always let me know how you get on!