Sunday, January 17, 2010

Girl's Crocheted Cowl Neck Sweater

Here’s another sweater I made for my daughter.  She wanted me to make something purple for her to wear while cheering on the Vikings and this is what I made.  It looks so cute on her I think I’m going to make more in other colors for her.  This pattern is for children’s size 6, with sizes 8 and 10 in brackets.

Materials:12 oz medium worsted weight yarn
Size K crochet hook
Stitch markers or pieces of contrasting yarn
Yarn needle


Back:  Chain 40 [44, 48]
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch of hook and in each ch across, turn. (39 [43, 47] sc after row 1)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in first sc, * ch1, skip next sc, sc in next sc; repeat from * across, turn. (20 [22, 24] sc and 19 [21, 23] ch1 spaces after row 2)
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in first sc, sc in first ch1 space, * ch1, skip next sc, sc in next ch1 space; repeat from * across, sc in last sc, turn. (21 [23, 25] sc and 18 [20, 22] ch1 spaces after row3)
Row 4: Ch1, sc in first sc, * ch1, skip next st, sc in next ch1 space; repeat from * across, sc in last sc, turn.
Repeat rows 3 and 4 for stitch pattern, work even in stitch pattern until piece measures 14 [15, 15 1/2]” from beginning.  Fasten off.
Front:  Work as for back until piece measures 12 [13, 13]” from beginning.
Neck shaping:  Continuing in pattern, beginning at armhole edge, work across 14 [15, 17] sts, turn.
At neck edge, sl st across 2 sts, work in pattern to end, turn (12 [13, 17] sts remain for shoulder).
Work even for 6 [6, 7] rows.  Fasten off.  Join yarn at opposite armhole edge; work as for first side.
Sleeves:  Ch 20 [22, 24].
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each sc across, turn.  19 [21, 23] sc after row 1.
Row 2: Ch1, sc in first sc, * ch1, skip next sc, sc in next sc; repeat from * across, turn.
Row 3: Ch1, sc in first sc, sc in first ch1 space, * ch1, skip next sc, sc in next sc; repeat from * across, sc in last sc, turn.
Row 4: Ch 1, sc in first sc, * ch1, skip next st, sc in next ch1 space; repeat from * across, sc in last sc, turn.
Shape sleeve:Row 5: Ch1, inc 1 (work 2 sc in first st), work in pattern across to last st, inc 1, turn (3 sc at each end instead of 2 sc).
Row 6: Work even in pattern.
Repeat rows 5 and 6 a total of 8 [9, 10] times - 35 [39, 43] sts.
Work even in pattern until piece measures 12 [14, 15]” or desired length, allowing for cuff to be turned up 1 1/2″ to 2″.  Fasten off.
Finishing:Using yarn needle, sew shoulder seams.  Measure down each side, front and back, 6 [6 1/2, 7]“; place a marker on each side for underarm.  Sew sleeves between markers.  Sew sleeve and side seams.
Collar: (Note: if you’d like a less floppy collar, use a size I or J crochet hook instead.)
Round 1: With right side facing, beginning at left shoulder seam, work 28 [30, 32] sc evenly around front neck shaping, and 20 [22, 22] sc across back neck; join with a sl st to first sc - 48 [52, 54] sts; place a marker for beginning of round and move up each round.
Round 2: Sc in each sc around, do not join.
Working in continuous rounds and placing a marker at the beginning of each round, repeat round 2 until collar measures 8 1/2″ from beginning.  Fasten off, leaving a long yarn tail.
Turn collar over in half toward the right side and turn up sleeve cuffs approx. 1 1/2 to 2″

Crocheted Women's Mittens

After a particularly cold week I decided my gloves were just not warm enough, so I made these mittens.  Using a variegated yarn creates the striping effect.  These could easily be made in any solid or variegated yarn.
This pattern fits an average-sized woman's hand.  You could easily adjust the size of the mittens by using a larger or smaller crochet hook.  Use size G crochet hook and medium worsted weight yarn (approx. 3-4 oz).  The pattern is worked in continuous rounds - do not join unless specifically stated.  Use a stitch marker or contrasting piece of yarn to mark the beginning of each round.
Starting at the top of the mitten, ch4.  Join with a sl st to form a ring.
Round 1: Work 7 sc in ring
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc (14 stitches)
Round 3: 2 sc in each sc (28 stitches)
Round 4: sc in each sc (28 stitches)
Repeat round 4 until piece measures 5 1/2″ from the beginning.
Thumb opening: ch6, skip next 6 sc, sc in each sc until you reach the chain, sc in each ch.  Continue to work even in sc until piece measures 3″ from chain.  Do not cut yarn.
Cuff:  The cuff is worked at right angles to the rest of the mitten.  Chain 10 stitches starting with the stitch you have left on the hook.
Row 1:  Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch, then sc in each of the next 2 sc st at wrist.  Turn
Row 2: Skip 2sc just worked; working in back loop only (the loop away from you) of each st, sc in each sc of row 1.  Ch1, turn.
Row 3: Working in back loop only, sc in each sc, then sc in each of next 2 sc at wrist.  Turn
Repeat Row 2 and 3 around the entire wrist.  Do not cut yarn.  Turn mitten inside out, loosely join last row of wrist ribbing to first row with sl st.  Fasten off yarn.
Thumb:  Turn mitten right side out, hold piece with cuff at bottom.  Join yarn at right of thumb opening with a sc.  Sc in each st across to the left side of opening; sc in each st to right corner, sc in corner (total of 14 sts).  Work even in sc (do not join rounds - place marker at beginning of each round) for 1″.  On next round, dec 2 sts.  Work even in sc until thumb measures 3″.  Cut yarn leaving a long tail.  Use a yarn needle to weave through each st at the top, pull tightly, fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Child's Knit Pullover Sweater

This is a sweater I made for my daughter a while ago but kept forgetting to take a picture so I could post it. I like the random variations in color and the striping effect made by the variegated yarn, but you could use any solid or variegated yarn that you like. This sweater was knitted using mainly a basic stockinet stitch, but it would also look nice in a seed stitch. Hmmm… I might have to add that to the list of projects on my to-do list. :) 
My daughter is 5 and this fits her perfectly - you’ll want to add or subtract stitches and/or rows to fit the child you’re making this for.
Materials:
  • Size 8 needles
  • Additional needle for 3-needle BO at shoulder seams
  • 16″ or 24" circular needle - I used size 6 but size 8 would work also.
  • Approx 12 oz medium worsted weight yarn
  • Stitch holders (you can buy stitch holders or use large diaper pins or scrap yarn)
Instructions:
Back:
  Cast on 66 sts.
Row 1 (Right Side): *K2, P2; repeat from * across to last 2 sts, K2
Row 2 (Wrong Side): *P2, K2; repeat from * across to last 2 sts, P2
Rows 3 & 5: repeat row 1
Rows 4 & 6: repeat row 2
Row 7: K each stitch across
Row 8: P each stitch across
Repeat rows 7 & 8 (stockinet stitch) until the back is 15″ long, ending with a wrong side row.
Neck and shoulder row: K20 and place these stitches on a stitch holder. BO (bind off) center 26 sts, then K remaining 20 sts and place on a stitch holder.  These stitches will be worked when attaching front to back at shoulder seams.
Front: Work as for back until front is 13″ long.  Begin neck shaping.
Left Front: Work across 24 sts and turn work (leaving the remaining sts on your needle to be worked with the right front).  Working these 24 sts only, dec 1 st at neck edge every RS row 4 times.
Continue in st stitch until the front is as long at the shoulder as the back.  Place these stitches on a stitch holder.
Right front: Join a new ball of yarn and BO the center 18 sts and work across remaining sts.  Dec 1 st at neck edge every RS row 4 times.  Continue in st stitch until the front is as long at the shoulder as the back.  Place remaining stitches on a stitch holder.
Sleeves (make 2):  Cast on 36 sts and work K2, P2 ribbing as for the back.  Begin st stitch and inc 1 st at each side every 6th row 10 times.  When the sleeve is 13″ long take a safety pin or piece of contrasting yarn and mark the center of the sleeve and BO all sts.
Finishing:  Do three-needle BO for shoulders:  Transfer the shoulder stitches for both the front and back onto separate needles and with the right sides facing, both needles in your left hand, knit together 1 st from each needle, do this one more time and then bind off as usual.  Continue to knit together 1 st from each needle and BO until no more sts remain.  Repeat for second shoulder.
Set in sleeves, using the safety pin or contrasting yarn as a guide, line up the center of the sleeve with the shoulder seam and sew in sleeves.  Sew up side seams and sleeve seams.
Neck:  Using circular needle, pick up 80 stitches evenly around neck and work 5 rounds of K2-P2 ribbing.  BO loosely.