MOCK CABLE BABY JERKIN

MOCK CABLE BABY JERKIN

Many thanks to Virginia J for testing this pattern.

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 mock cable 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 Simply Soft Baby Brights Ombre. 

MATERIALS:

About 3-4 ounces of worsted weight (4) yarn

16 inch circular knitting needle see notes for information on sizes

US F (4.0 mm) crochet hook

Marker

Tapestry needle

5/8 -3/4 inch button

SIZE:

3 months to 1 year

ABBREVIATIONS:

K = Knit

P = Purl

PM – Place marker

PU = pick up and knit

YO = yarn over

K2tog = Knit two stitches together

Sl 1 = Slip 1 stitch purlwise

Psso = pass the slip stitch over the two stitches just knit

NOTES:

1. Read instructions all the way through before beginning.
2. Garment is knit from the top down with opening in the back, or the front if that is your pleasure.
3. 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, POL 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 61 sts, leaving about an 10 inch tail.  More about the tail later.

Row 1 (right side):  *K1, P1.  Repeat from *across.  K1.  (61 sts)

Row 2:  *P1, K1. Repeat from * across.  P1. (61 sts)

Rows 3-4:  Repeat rows 1 and 2. (61 sts)

Row 5:  *K1, YO.  Repeat from * across. K1.  (121 sts)

Row 6:  *P1, K1. Repeat from * across. P1.  (121 sts)

Row 7:  *K1, P1.  Repeat from * across. K1.   (121 sts)

Row 8:  *P1, K1. Repeat from * across. P1.  (121 sts)

Rows 9-16:  Repeat rows 7 and 8.  (121 sts)

Row 17:  K.  (121 sts)

DO NOT TURN

Should measure about 3 inches

Switch to working in the round.  We will keep the same numbering sequence.

Place marker.

Round 18:  P.  (121 sts)

Round 19:  P2, (Sl 1, K2, psso, P2) 3x,  BO 23, (Sl 1 the st on the right hand needle counts first Sl 1, K2, psso, P2) 8x,  BO 23,  (Sl 1 the st on the right hand needle counts first Sl 1, K2, psso, P2) 3x. Sl 1, K2, psso.  (60 sts)

Picking up one stitch in the first bound off sleeve stitch makes a smoother transition.

Round 20:  P2.  (K1, YO, K1, P2) 3x.  PU, CO6.  (K1, YO, K1, P2) 8x.  PU, CO6.  (K1, YO, K1, P2) 3x.   K1, YO, K1 (89 sts)

Round 21:  (P2, K3) 3x, P2, K2tog, K2, P2,  K2tog.  K2, p2.   (K3, P2) 7x, K2tog, K2, P2, K2tog, K2.  (P2, K3) 3x.  (85 sts)

Round 22:  *P2, K3.  Repeat from * around. (85 sts)

Round 23:  P2, *Sl 1, K2, psso, P2.  Repeat from * around.  Sl 1, K2, psso.  (68 sts)

Round 24:  P2.  * K1, YO, K1, P2, repeat from* around.  K1, YO, K1 (85 sts)

Rounds 25-26:  *P2, K3 repeat from * around.  (85 sts)

Repeat rounds 23-26 until jerkin is about 1 inch shorter than you desire.  I knit mine with 9 pattern repeats at the underarm.

Next 6 rounds:  *P2, K3.  Repeat from * around.  (85 sts)

Bind off in P2, K3 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.