Friday, July 29, 2011
TOP DOWN SEAMLESS BABY JERKIN
(back view)
Thank you Virginia for testing this pattern.
1/25/2013 Row 17 edited to make a neater increase.
TOP DOWN SEAMLESS BABY JERKIN
Jer·kin [jur-kin]
–noun
a close-fitting jacket or short coat, usually sleeveless
This close fitting garment is super stretchy, worked in rib and broken rib stitches. It will fit the average child from about 3 to 12 months. First as a long garment, a jerkin, and as the child grows taller the garment will fit as a sweater.
Sweaters above are knit of Caron One Pound and Paton’s Decor. The difference in size is due to yarn weight and needle size.
MATERIALS:
About 3-4 ounces of worsted weight (4) yarn
16 inch circular knitting needle see notes for information on sizes
US F (4.0mm) crochet hook
Marker
Tapestry needle
5/8 -3/4 inch button
SIZE: 3 month to 1 year
ABBREVIATIONS:
K = Knit
P = Purl
PM = Pace marker
PM = Pace marker
PU = pick up and knit
YO = yarn over
K2tog = Knit two stitches together
Kfb = Increase by knitting in front and back of the same stitch
K1 tbl = Knit 1 through the back loop
SPECIAL STITCHES:
K1 tbl = knit 1 through the back loop. Here’s a video:
GAUGE:
16 yoke rows = about 2.75 inches
NOTES:
- Read instructions all the way through before beginning.
- Garment is knit from the top down with opening in the back, or the front if that is your pleasure.
- Measurements above are for the garment knit with a light worsted weight yarn and US 8 (5.0 mm) needle. Although those yarns (Simply Soft and Paton’s Decor) are classified as 4 they are more like a DK.
Knit on a US 9 (5.5 mm) needle with a heavier worsted weight like Red Heart Super Saver the measurements are 17-23 inches and 11 3/4 inches.
Knit on US 10 (6.0 mm) needle and an even heavier worsted weight like Caron One Pound the measurements are 18-24 inches and 12 ½ inches. With the heavier yarns and larger needles it may fit up to about two years old.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Cast on 59 sts, leaving about an 10 inch tail. More about the tail later.
Row 1 (right side): *K1, P1. Repeat from *across. K1. (59 sts)
Row 2: *P1, K1. Repeat from * across. P1. (59 sts)
Rows 3-4: Repeat rows 1 and 2. (59 sts)
Row 5: *K1, YO. Repeat from * across. K1. (117 sts)
Row 6: *P1, K1 tbl. Repeat from * across. P1. (117 sts)
Row 7: *K1, P1. Repeat from * across. K1. (117 sts)
Row 8: *P1, K1. Repeat from * across. (117 sts)
Rows 9-16: Repeat rows 7 and 8. (117 sts) Should measure about 2.75 inches
Row 17: K1, Kfb once, P1. *K2, P2.
Repeat from * across. K2. (118 sts)
Row 18: *P2, K2. Repeat from * across. P2. (118 sts)
Row 19: K. (118 sts)
DO NOT TURN
Place marker.
Switch to working in the round. We will keep the same numbering sequence.
Round 20: P. (118 sts)
Round 21: K2tog, *P2, K2. 4 times. Bind off 24 sts, *P2 (the st on the right needle counts as the first P), K2. 8 times. P2. Bind off 24 sts. *K2 (the st on the right needle counts as the first K), P2. 4 times. K2tog. (68 sts)
Picking up one stitch in the first bound off sleeve stitch makes a smoother transition.
Round 22: K1, *P2, K2. 4 times. PU 1 st (pick up and knit) in the first bound of st, cast on 5 sts. *P2, K2. 8 times. P2. PU 1 st in the first bound of st, cast on 5 sts. *K2, P2. 4 times. K1. (80 sts)
Round 23: K16, K2tog, K4, K2tog, K32, K2tog, K4, K2tog, K16. (76 sts)
Round 24: P. (76 sts)
Round 25-26: K1, *P2, K2. Repeat from * around. P2, K1. (76 sts)
Round 27: K. (76 sts)
Round 28: P. (76 sts)
Repeat rounds 25-28 until jerkin is about 1 inch shorter than you desire. I knit mine with 9 pattern repeats at the underarm.
Next 6 rounds: K1, *P2, K2. Repeat from * around. K1. (76 sts)
Bind off in rib.
Fasten off and weave in end.
BUTTON LOOP:
With your crochet hook, put hook through cast on row and pull up a loop using the beginning tail. Chain 6. Test to be sure your button will fit through loop. Fasten off and weave end into row 1 or 2.
Sew on button.
