Lion Brand^® Martha Stewart Crafts^TM/MC Extra Soft Wool Blend

GAUGE:

18 sts + 25 rows = 4 in. (10 cm) in Little Birds st.

BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE. When you match the gauge in a pattern, your project will be the size specified in the pattern and the materials specified in the pattern will be sufficient. If it takes you fewer stitches and rows to make a 4 in. [10 cm] square, try using a smaller size hook or needles; if more stitches and rows, try a larger size hook or needles.

STITCH EXPLANATION:

M1 (make 1) An increase worked by lifting the horizontal strand lying between needles and placing it onto the left needle. Knit this new stitch through the back loop - 1 st increased. RT (Right Twist) K2tog and leave on left needle, then with right needle, go between the 2 sts and k the first st again. sk2p (slip 1 st-k2tog-pass slipped st over) A double decrease worked as follows: 1. Insert right needle as if to knit, and slip the next st from the left needle to the right needle. 2. Knit the next 2 sts together. 3. With tip of left needle, lift the slipped st (the 2nd st on right needle) up and over the k2tog (first st on right needle) and off the needle - you have decreased 2 sts. ssk (slip, slip, knit) Slip next 2 sts as if to knit, one at a time, to right needle; insert left needle into fronts of these 2 sts and knit them tog - 1 st decreased. yo (yarn over) An increase that also creates a small hole (for eyelet or buttonhole) in the fabric, worked as follows: 1. Bring yarn to front, between the needles. 2. Take yarn to back, over the right needle. This makes the new st.   PATTERN STITCHES K1, p1 Rib (multiple of 2 sts) Row 1: *K1, p1; rep from * to end of row. Row 2: K the knit sts and p the purl sts. Rep Row 2 for K1, p1 Rib.   Little Birds Stitch (multiple of 14 sts + 10 additional sts) Row 1 (WS): Purl. Row 2: Knit. Row 3: Purl. Row 4: K11, *sl 2 wyib, k12; rep from * to last 13 sts, sl 2 wyib, k11. Row 5: P11, *sl 2 wyif, p12; rep from * to last 13 sts, sl 2 wyif, p11. Row 6: K9, *sl 2 wyib, drop first sl st of previous row to front of work, sl first 2 sl sts back to left-hand needle, pick up dropped st and knit it, k2, drop next sl st of previous row to front of work, k2, pick up dropped st and knit it, k8; rep from * to last st, k1. Rows 7-9: Rep Rows 1-3. Row 10: K4, *sl 2 wyib, k12; rep from * to last 6 sts, sl 2 wyib, k4. Row 11: P4, sl 2 wyif, p12; rep from * to last 6 sts, sl 2 wyif, p4. Row 12: K2, *sl 2 wyib, drop first sl st of previous row to front of work, sl first 2 sl sts back to left-hand needle, pick up dropped st and knit it, k2, drop next sl st of previous row to front of work, k2, pick up dropped st and knit it, k8; rep from * to last 8 sts, sl 2 wyib, drop first sl st of previous row to front of work, sl first 2 sl sts back to left-hand needle, pick up dropped st and knit it, k2, drop next sl st of previous row to front of work, k2, pick up dropped st and knit it, k2. Rep Rows 1-12 for Little Birds st.

NOTES:

1. Cardigan is designed with a generous amount of ease which allows it to continue to be wearable as the child grows.
2. Cardigan is worked in one piece, beg at lower edge. At underarm, piece is divided and back is worked for about 1 in. (2.5 cm) to add extra length to back. Sts are then cast-on for sleeves and work continues over all sts.
3. Cardigan is worked back and forth in rows. A circular needle is used to accommodate the large number of sts.

BODY
Cast on 94 (108, 122) sts.
Work in Garter st (k every row) for 8 rows, end with a RS row.
NOTES
1. End with a RS row means that the last row you work should be a RS row, and the next row that you are ready to work will be a WS row.
2. Either side of Garter st can be the RS.
Just decide which you like best!

Beg with Row 1, work in Little Birds st until piece measures 5 (6, 8) in. (12.5 (15, 20.5) cm) from beg, end with a Row 3 or Row 9 of Little Birds st.

Divide for Armholes
Next Row (RS): K20 (23, 25) and sl sts to a holder for right front, bind off next 6 (8, 10) sts, k42 (46, 52) for back, join second ball of yarn and bind off next 6 (8, 10) sts, k to end of row, sl last 20 (23, 25) sts to holder for left front - 42 (46, 52) sts remain on needle for back.
Work in St st (k on RS, p on WS) for 6 rows. Cut yarn and sl sts to a holder.

Shape Sleeve Caps
Next Row (WS):With WS facing, p20 (23, 25) left front sts from st holder, cast on 30 (32, 34) sts for sleeve cap, p42 (46, 52) back sts from st holder, cast on 30 (32, 34) sts for sleeve cap, p20 (23, 25) right front sts from st holder - 142 (156, 170) sts at the end of this row.

Shape Yoke (Top of Cardigan)
Row 1 (RS):K20 (23, 25), work in K1, p1 rib over 30 (32, 34) sts, k42 (46, 52), work in K1, p1 rib over 30 (32, 34) sts, k20 (23, 25).

SIZE 6-12 months ONLY:
Row 2: P 20, work in K1, p1 rib over 30 sts, p20, p2tog, p19, work in K1, p1 rib over 30 sts, p to end of row - 141 sts.

SIZE 12-18 months ONLY:
Row 2: P 23, work in K1, p1 rib over 32 sts, p46, work in K1, p1 rib over 32 sts, p to end of row - 156 sts.

SIZE 18-24 months ONLY:
Row 2: P25, work in K1, p1 rib over 34 sts, p26, M1, p26, work in K1, p1 rib over 34 sts, p to end of row - 171 sts.

Row 3: P2, *k2, p6, k1, p6; rep from * to last 4 sts, k2, p2.
Row 4: K2, *p2, k6, p1, k6; rep from * to last 4 sts, p2, k2.
Row 5: P2, *RT, p5, k3, p5; rep from * to last 4 sts, RT, p2.
Row 6: K2, *p2, k5, p3, k5; rep from * to last 4 sts, p2, k2.
Row 7: P2, *k2, p4, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, p4; rep from * to last 4 sts, k2, p2.
Row 8: K2, *p2, k4, p5, k4; rep from * to last 4 sts, p2, k2.
Row 9: P2, *RT, p2tog, p1, k2tog, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, ssk, p3; rep from * to last 4 sts, RT, p2 - 132 (146, 160) sts.
Row 10: K2, *p2, k3, p7, k2; rep from * to last 4 sts, p2, k2.
Row 11: P2, *k2, p1, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, ssk, p2; rep from * to last 4 sts, k2, p2.
Row 12: K2, *p2, k2, p9, k1; rep from * to last 4 sts, p2, k2.
Row 13: P2, *RT, p1, yo, ssk, k5, k2tog, yo, p2tog; rep from * to last 4 sts, RT, p2 - 123 (136, 149) sts.
Row 14: K2, *p2, k1, k1 tbl, p7, k1 tbl, k1; rep from * to last 4 sts, p2, k2.
Row 15: P2, *k2, p2, yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, p2; rep from * to last 4 sts, k2, p2.
Row 16: K2, *p2, k2, k1 tbl, p5, k1 tbl, k2; rep from * to last 4 sts, p2, k2.
Row 17: P2, *RT, p2tog, p1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, p3; rep from * to last 4 sts, RT, p2 - 114 (126, 138) sts.
Row 18: K2, *p2, k3, k1 tbl, p3, k1 tbl, k2; rep from * to last 4 sts, p2, k2.
Row 19: P2, *k2, p3, yo, sk2p, yo, p4; rep from * to last 4 sts, k2, p2.
Row 20: K2, *p2, k4, k1 tbl, p1, k1 tbl, k3; rep from * to last 4 sts, p2, k2.
Row 21: P2, *RT, p3, k3, p2, p2tog; rep from * to last 4 sts, RT, p2 - 105 (116, 127) sts.
Row 22: K2, *p2, k3, p3, k3; rep from * to last 4 sts, p2, k2.
Row 23: P2, *k2, p2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, p2; rep from * to last 4 sts, k2, p2.
Row 24: K2, *p2, k2, p5, k2; rep from * to last 4 sts, p2, k2.
Row 25: P2, *RT, p1, k2tog, k3, ssk, p1; rep from * to last 4 sts, RT, p2 - 87 (96, 105) sts.
Row 26: K2, *p2, k1, p5, k1; rep from * to last 4 sts, p2, k2.
Row 27: P2, *k2, p1, k2tog, k1, ssk, p1; rep from * to last 4 sts, k2, p2 - 69 (76, 83) sts.
Row 28: K2, *p2, k1, p3, k1; rep from * to last 4 sts, p2, k2.
Row 29: P2, *RT, p1, sk2p, p1; rep from * to last 4 sts, RT, p2 - 51 (56, 61) sts.
Row 30: K2, *p2, k1, p1, k1; rep from * to last 4 sts, p2, k2.
Row 31: P2, *k2, p1, k1, p1; rep from * to last 4 sts, k2, p2.
Row 32: K2, *p2, k1, p1, k1; rep from * to last 4 sts, p2, k2.
Row 33: P2, *RT, p1, k1, p1; rep from * to last 4 sts, RT, p2.
Row 34: K2, *p2, k1, p1, k1; rep from * to last 4 sts, p2, k2.
Bind off.

FINISHING
Left Front Band
With RS facing, join yarn at top left front neck edge, pick up and k50 (54, 64) sts evenly spaced along left front edge.
Work in Garter st for 4 rows.
Bind off.

Right Front Band
Place markers for 3 buttons evenly spaced along right front edge of yoke with first marker 1/2 in. (1.5 cm) below neck edge, last marker at beg of yoke and remaining marker evenly spaced between the first two.
With RS facing, join yarn at lower right front corner, pick up and k50 (54, 64) sts evenly spaced along right front edge.
Knit 1 row.
Buttonhole Row (RS): (Knit to marker, k2tog, yo) 3 times, k to end.
Knit 2 rows.
Bind off.

Sew buttons opposite buttonholes. Weave in ends.

  Learn to Knit instructions:  http://learnToKnit.LionBrand.com