Antjie

Antjie

Saturday 28 April 2012

Toddler Sweaters


Hexagon 1
Hexagon 2













Size: 
Infant 18 - 24 months old

Measurements:
Chest: 19” - 20”

Gauge:
DK weight yarn: 4.5 “3 dc, ch 2” groups and 9 rows = 4”
Worsted weight yarn: 4 “3 dc, ch 2” groups and 7 rows = 4”

Materials
Yarn:
DK weight yarn, approximately 250 yards. Yarn used for green and yellow sweater is Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece (80% cotton, 20% merino wool; 3.5 oz; 215 yards) – 2 skeins of “Rue”, 1 skein of “Buttercream.”
Worsted weight yarn, approximately 250 yards. Yarn used for variegated sweater is Plymouth Boku (95% wool, 5% silk; 50 grams; 99 yards) – 3 skeins of color 13.

Crochet hook:
F - 5 (3.75 mm) hook for DK weight yarn
G - 6 (4 mm) hook for worsted weight yarn

Tapestry needle

Stitch markers

Abbreviations:
ch = chain (s)

sc = single crochet
st(s) = stitch(s)
dc = double crochet
sl st = slip stitch
FPDC = front post double crochet
yo = yarn over
* = repeat instructions following the asterisk as directed
RS = right side
WS = wrong side BPDC = back post double crochet
sp = space
[ ] = repeat instructions inside brackets the number of times indicated.


Special Stitch:

Front Post Double Crochet (FPDC) and Back Post Double Crochet (BPDC). FPDC and BPDC are worked on a row of double crochet stitches.


  • FPDC: YO, insert hook to the right of the stitch (or post) on the row below to the back of the fabric, go around the post and bring the hook to the front of the fabric on the left side of the post (hook shaft is in back of post, hook is on the front side of the fabric) yo, pull yarn across the back of the post to the right side and through to the front of the fabric, yo, pull through two loops, yo, pull through remaining two loops.
  • BPDC: YO, insert hook to the right of the stitch (or post) on the row below, coming from the back of the fabric to the front, go across the front of the post and bring the hook through to the back of the fabric on the left side of the post (hook shaft is in front of post, hook is on the back side of the fabric) yo, pull yarn across the front of the post to the right side of the post at the back of the fabric, yo, pull through two loops, yo, pull through remaining two loops.


Notes:
  1. Read pattern instructions carefully before beginning.
  2. For a newborn-size sweater, use fingering weight yarn and a D or E hook. Crochet the same number of rounds as you would when using DK weight yarn.
  3. The length of the sleeve on all versions of the sweater is three-quarter length.
  4. Hexagons are worked in the round. Always end rounds at a “3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc” corner. Do not turn at the end of rounds. The right side should always be facing you.
  5. On each successive round, you will be adding one 3-dc group between corners.
  6. For two-colour sweater, use contrasting color for rounds 5 and 6.
  7. Button holes are added on right side of sweater front for a girl’s sweater. Add button holes on left side for boy’s sweater.
  8. To accommodate larger buttons, ch 3 instead of ch 2 when making button holes.


Instructions:
Hexagon 1:
Make a loose slip knot; fold tail over circle created by the knot.
Round 1: Working over the slip knot and yarn tail, ch 3 (1st dc), 2 dc to create “3 dc group,” ch 2, *3 dc, ch 2. Repeat from * 4 more times, sl st to top of beginning ch 3 (6 “3 dc, ch 2” groups).
Round 2: Sl st to the 1st ch-2 sp, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in the ch-2 sp (one corner made), ch 2, *3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2. Repeat from * 4 more times, sl st to top of ch 3 of previous round.
Round 3: Sl st to the 1st ch-2 sp, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in the ch-2 sp(corner made), ch 2, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp (1 “3-dc” group between corners), ch 2, *3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp (corner made), ch 2, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2. Repeat from * 4 more times, sl st to top of ch 3 of previous round.
Round 4: Sl st to the 1st ch-2 sp, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in the ch-2 sp(corner made), ch 2, [3 dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2] twice (2 “3-dc” groups between corners), *3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2, [3 dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2] twice. Repeat from * 4 more times, sl st to top of ch 3 of previous round, sl st to top of ch 3 of previous round.
Rounds 5 – 10 (11 for DK weight yarn): Repeat Round 4, increasing 1 “3 dc, ch 2” group on each round. Use contrasting color for rounds 5 and 6 if making two-color sweater. The final round should have 8 (9 if working in DK weight yarn) “3-dc” groups between each corner. Fasten off.

Hexagon 2:
Work same as Hexagon 1, but crochet one round less for a total of 9 (10 for DK weight yarn) rounds.
Center Back Seam:
  • Hold two sides of the hexagons together, WS facing each other. The hexagon with the fewer rounds should be closest to you.
  • Join yarn with sl st to the corner ch-2 sp of the hexagon closest to you. Ch 3, 2dc in the corner ch-2 sp, ch 1, sc in corner ch-2 sp of the other hexagon, ch 1.
  • 3 dc in the next ch-2 sp of the first hexagon, ch 1, sc in next ch-2 sp of the second hexagon, ch 1.
  • Continue in this manner until you reach the corner ch-2 space of the first hexagon. 3 dc in the corner ch-2 sp, ch 1, sc in the corner ch-2 space of the second hexagon, ch 1, 3 dc in corner ch-2 sp of the first hexagon, ch 2, 3 dc in the next ch 2 sp of the first hexagon.
  • Continue crocheting the last round of the 1st hexagon as established, sl st to the top of the ch 3 at the beginning of the round. Fasten off.
  • Position the sweater so that the RS of the center back seam is laying vertically on a flat surface (WS facing you). Holding the bottom of the sweater on either side of the center back seam, move your hands outward along the bottom edge until you reach the right and left ends. Pick up each corner ch-2 space and fold them over so that they line up with the bottom of the center back seam. From there you will be able to complete the folding to create the sweater shape.

 Shoulder Seam
  • Lay the folded sweater flat, front side facing you. Align the right sleeve so that the front and back ch-2 corner spaces at cuff edge are facing each other. Join the two sides by placing a stitch marker in the corner ch-2 space at the sleeve edge. Do the same for the left sleeve.
  • Next, align the corner ch-2 sp at the front, left and right edges with the corresponding ch-2 corner sp on either side of the center back seam.
  • Counting from the front edge to the right sleeve cuff, place a stitch marker in the third ch-2 space of the front and back sides of the sleeve. Do the same on the left sleeve.
  • Working on the right sleeve, Join yarn with sl st to the corner ch-2 space at the cuff edge, sc in ch-2 space, ch 3 loosely, sc in the next ch-2 space being sure to work the stitch over the ch-2 sp of the front and back of the sleeve. Continue in this manner, working the final sc in the ch-2 sp with the stitch marker. Fasten off. 
  • Join yarn with sl st on the left side of the sweater in the ch-2 sp with the stitch marker, sc in this ch-2 sp, ch 3 loosely, sc in the next ch-2 sp. Continue in this manner, working the final sc in the corner ch-2 sp at the cuff edge. Fasten off.
  • Collar:
  • Open the sweater fronts and lay WS of sweater on a flat surface, RS facing you. Join yarn with sl st to the corner ch-2 sp at the top of front edge of the sweater.

Row 1: Ch 3, *1 dc in each dc of 3-dc group, 1 dc in ch-2 sp. Repeat from *. At center seam, 1 dc in corner ch-2 sp, 1 dc around sc at top of center seam, 1 dc in corner ch-2 sp on other side of seam. Continue as established, working 1 dc in each dc of the 3-dc group and 1 dc in ch-2 sp. 1 dc at top turning ch. Ch 3, turn.
Row 2: 1 dc in 1st dc of previous row (1 increase made at beginning of row), 1 dc in each st across row, 2 dc in top of turning ch (1 increase made at end of row). Ch 3, turn.
Rows 3-5: Repeat Row 2. Fasten off.
Left Sleeve Cuff:
With RS back of the sweater facing you, locate the ch-2 space that is closest to the bottom fold of the sleeve. Join yarn with a sl st to the last dc of the 3-dc group to the right of this ch-2 sp.
Round 1: Ch 3, 1 dc in next ch-2 sp, *1 dc in 1st dc of next 3-dc group, 1 dc in last dc of the 3-dc group, 1 dc in next ch-2 sp. Repeat from *. At the shoulder seam, work 1 dc in ch-2 sp on both sides of the seam. Continue as established, working 1 dc in the 1st and last dc of the 3-dc group and 1 dc in ch-2 sp. Join with sl st at top of ch 3 at beginning of round.
Round 2: Ch 3, work 1 FPDC around the 1st st of the previous row, *1 BPDC around the next st, 1 FPDC around the next st. Repeat from *. Join with a sl st at top of ch 3 at beginning of round.
Rounds 3: Ch 3, *1 BPDC around BPDC of the previous round, 1 FPDC around the FPDC of the previous round. Repeat from *. Join with sl st to top of ch 3 at beginning of round.
Round 4: Ch 3, work a FPDC around the FPDCs of previous round and a BPDC around the BPDCs. Join with sl st to top of ch 3 at beginning of round. Fasten off

Right Sleeve Cuff:
With the front of the sweater facing you, work same as left sleeve cuff.

Bottom Edging:
With WS of bottom edge of sweater facing you, join yarn to corner ch-2 sp on the right edge and ch 3.
Row 1: *1 dc in 1st dc of 3-dc group, 1 dc in 3rd dc of 3-dc group, 1 dc in ch-2 sp. Repeat from *. At center back seam, 1 dc in corner ch-2 sp, 1 dc around last sc of back seam, 1 dc in next corner ch-2 sp. Continue as established, working 1 dc in 1st and 3rd dc of 3-dc group, and 1 dc in ch-2 sp. Work 1 dc in corner ch-2 sp at the sweater edge. Ch 3, turn.
Row 2: Work 1 FBDC around 1ST st of previous row, *1 BPDC around next st of previous row, *FPDC around the next st. Repeat from *, 1 dc in top ch of ch 3 at end of previous row. Ch 3, turn.
Row 3: *1 BPDC around 1st BPDC of previous round, 1 FPDC around FPDC of previous row. Repeat from *. Join with sl st to top of ch 3 at beginning of previous row. Ch 3, turn.
Row 4: Work a FPDC around the FPDCs of previous round and a BPDC around the BPDCs. 1 dc in top of ch 3 at beginning of row. Fasten off.

Left Front Edging:
With RS facing you, join yarn with sl st to ch-2 corner sp at top left edge of sweater.
Row 1: 1 sc in same space, sc across row. Ch 1, turn.
Row 2: Sc across row. Fasten off.

Right Front Edging:
With RS facing you, join yarn with sl st to bottom right edge of sweater.
Row 1: 1 sc in same sp. Work 6 more sc evenly spaced along the end of the 4 rows of ribbing that constitute the bottom edge of the sweater. 1 sc in corner ch-2 sp, *1 sc in each dc of 3-dc group, 1 sc in ch-2 sp. Repeat from * across, 1 sc in 3rd dc of the last 3-dc group at top of sweater. Ch 1, turn.
Row 2: 1 sc in each st of previous row, evenly spacing button holes (ch 2, skip 2 sts, 1 sc in next st) along the front edge. Evenly sp 7 sc along the end of the 4 rows of ribbing that constitute the bottom edging. Ch 1, turn.
Row 3 (worked around entire sweater): 1 sc in each st across row with 2 sts in each ch-2 button hole space. 3 sc in last st of row to create corner. Work 1 sc at top edge of sweater and 1 sc in ch-2 sp before the first collar row. Then work 9 sc evenly spaced along the edge of the collar rows, 3 sc in the 1st st of the last collar row, 1 sc in each st across top of collar, 3 sc in last st, 9 sc evenly spaced along edge of the 5 collar rows, 1 sc in ch-2 sp and 1 sc in top edge of collar, 3 sc in 1 st of row 2 of left front edge, 1 sc in each st across. Fasten off.

Finishing
  • Weave in all ends.
  • Hand wash in mild soap, cold water. Rinse and squeeze gently to remove excess water. Wrap in towel to remove remaining water.
  • Lay flat, block to measurements, and allow to dry.
  • If you used acrylic yarn, machine wash in cold water, delicate setting. Machine dry on low setting with fabric softener sheet.
  • Sew on buttons.