This design was totally unexpected. Soon after I finished Three Braids I looked at the huge 115g ball of Arroyo sitting on my desk. It just had to be this cardigan for my little girl. Here's Mousie. This version is in one size only and it's free for you to enjoy! Unfortunately I haven't written down a word while knitting, so this is what I remember doing. Happy knitting!
Mousie is a seamless cardigan for girls worked from top to bottom.
Size: 2 years. To fit chest: 53-55 cm /21-22". Finished chest: 58 cm / 23.25". Length from back neck: 35 cm / 14".
Yarn: Malabrigo Arroyo (100 g, 306 m / 335 y, 100% merino) or any other sport weight yarn which gives you correct gauge. Approx yardage: 350-380 m / 380-400 y.
Needles: US 5 / 3.75 mm (80 cm / 32", or dpns - optional for sleeves) or appropriate size to get gauge. US 4 / 3.5 mm (80 cm / 32") or one size smaller than main needles. US 3 / 3.25 mm (80 cm / 32", or dpns - optional for sleeves) or two sizes smaller than main needles.
Other: waste yarn or stitch holder, 4 stitch markers, 4 small buttons, tapestry needle.
Gauge (after blocking): 23 sts x 32 rows = 10 cm / 4" in Dotted Stitch with larger size needle. Take time to save time - check your gauge.
Notes: The cardigan is worked flat from top to bottom and is completely seamless. You will begin by CO sts for neck opening. After setting up raglan markers you will increase sts in every RS row, thus creating the yoke. Once you reach the armholes, you will divide the yoke for body and sleeves. Shortly after the split, you will create a tunnel for an I-cord string. From then on the body will be worked even until you reach bottom hem. All hems are worked in Garter stitch, while the body and sleeves are worked in a very simple Dotted stitch. The sleeves are worked in the round and finish with Garter hems as well. At the end you will make I-cord string to tie the cardigan.
Dotted Stitch - worked flat over a multiple of 4 sts + 3 sts. Row 1 (RS): k1 , *k2, p1, k1*, repeat to last 2 sts, k2. Rows 2 and 3 (WS): purl across. Row 4 (RS): k1, *p1, k3*, repeat to last 2 sts, p1, k1. When worked in the round, Rounds 2 and 4 should be knit around. It's worked over a multiple of 4 sts then.
INSTRUCTIONS
YOKE Beginning at the neck edge, using smaller size needle, US 3 / 3.25 mm, CO 79 sts. Knit 5 rows. Next row (RS) - making 1st buttonhole: k until last 5 sts, ssk, yo, k3. From now make 3 more buttonholes in every 14th row (there should be 7 Garter ridges between them). Knit 3 rows. Next row - set-up raglan markers and increase sleeves (RS): k4, kfb (front band), k12, pm, k2, kfb x6, k2, pm, k25, pm, k2, kfb x6, k2, pm, k12, kfb, k4 (front band) (14 sts increased) = 93 sts. Change to larger size needle, US 5 / 3.75 mm. Next row (WS): k6, p to last 6 sts, k6. Row 1 - shape raglan and begin Dotted St (RS): k6 (front band), k1, *k2, p1, k1*, repeat to 3 sts before m, k2, m1R, k1, sm, k1, m1L, *k2, p1, k1*, repeat to 1 st before m, m1R, k1, sm, k1, m1L, *k2, p1, k1*, repeat to last 4 sts, k2, p1, m1R, k1, sm, k1, m1L, *k2, p1, k1*, repeat to 1 st before m, m1R, k1, sm, k1, m1L, k1, *k2, p1, k1*, repeat to last 8 sts, k2, k6 (front band) (8 sts increased) = 101 sts. Row 2 (WS): k6, p to last 6 sts, k6. Row 3 - shape raglan and continue Dotted St (RS): k6 (front band), k1, *p1, k3*, repeat to 4 sts before m, p1, k2, m1R, k1, sm, k1, m1L, k1, *p1, k3*, repeat to 2 sts before m, p1, m1R, k1, sm, k1, m1L, k1, *p1, k3*, repeat to 1 st before m, m1R, k1, sm, k1, m1L, k1, *p1, k3*, repeat to 2 sts before m, p1, m1R, k1, sm, k1, m1L, k2, *p1, k3*, repeat to last 8 sts, p1, k1, k6 (front band) (8 sts increased) = 109 sts. Repeat the last 2 rows as established 15 more times, then work WS row once more. Please remember that on each side of every raglan marker there are k1's, which will never become a part of Dotted Stitch - they create raglan seams. The remaining sts should be worked in Dotted Stitch, thus use m1R or m1L if you need to create a knit stitch, and m1P if you need to make a purl stitch (the dot). You should have: 35 sts for each front, 50 sts for each sleeve and 59 sts for back = 229 sts total. Please remember about making buttonholes! They should be worked in the following way now (RS): work in pattern until last 6 sts, k1, ssk, yo, k3.
DIVIDE FOR BODY AND SLEEVES Next row (RS): work in pattern until m, remove m, transfer 50 sts to waste yarn, CO 2 sts, remove m, work in pattern across back until next m, transfer 50 sts to waste yarn, CO 2 sts, work in pattern until the end. You should have 133 sts for body and 50 sts for each sleeve. Next row (WS and all WS rows): k6, purl across to last 6 sts, k6. Next row (RS and all RS rows): k6, work in Dotted Stitch to last 6 sts, k6. Make sure to incorporate underram sts into Dotted st. Repeat last 2 rows 3 more times, finishing with RS row.
TUNNEL FOR I-CORD Next row (WS): knit across. Next row (RS): k6, sl1 wyb, k to last 6 sts, turn. Next row (WS): sl1 wyf, purl to last 6 sts, turn. Work @ rows in Stockinette st across all non-band sts. Break yarn. Now, slip the 6 sts from left front band back to LH needle, and using smaller size neeedle, US 4 / 3.5 mm, work as follows: k6, pick up and knit 121 sts through the purl bumps at the bottom of the previous 4 rows (the bottom of tunnel on WS side), k6. Next row (WS): k6, p to last 6 sts, k6. Next row (RS): knit across. Next row (WS): k6, p to last 6 sts, k6. Now, you will join the tunnel as follows: k6, place both LH needles close to each other and knit 121 sts by working from both needles at the same time, k6. Next row (WS): knit across.
SKIRT Using the same needle, US 4 / 3.5 mm, work as follows (RS): k6 (front band), k14, kfb x4, k41, kfb x4 k1, kfb x4, k41, kfb x4, k14, k6 (front band) (16 sts increased) = 155 sts. Change to larger size needle, US 5 / 3.75 mm. Next row (WS and all WS rows): k6, purl across to last 6 sts, k6. Next row - resume Dotted st (RS): k6, k1, *k2, p1, k1* repeat to last 8 sts, k2, k6. Work as established until skirt measures about 16 cm / 6.5", finishing with RS row. In the next row (WS) change to smaller size needle, US 3 / 3.25 mm, and knit 8 rows. BO knitwise on WS.
SLEEVES Transfer 48 sts from waste yarn to bigger size dpns, US 5 / 3.75 mm, and pick up and knit 4 sts for underarm, placing marker in the middle of the picked-up sts. You should have 52 sts. Work 4 rnds even, making sure to incorporate the underarm created sts into Dotted Stitch. Decrease rnd: work 19 sts in Dotted St, k2tog x 4, ssk x4, work in Dotted st to end = 44 sts. Change to smaller size needle, US 3 / 3.25 mm. Next rnd: purl around. Next rnd: knit around. Repeat last 2 rnds once more. In the next rnd BO all sts purwise, fairly loosely or with a bigger size needle. Repeat for other sleeve.
I-CORD Using larger dpns, US 5 / 3.75 mm, CO 3 sts and begin working as follows: *k3, do not turn work, slide sts to other end of needle*, repeat always keeping RS facing and pulling working yarn snugly across back of work at the beginning of each round. Work even until I-Cord measures about 90-100 cm / 36-40". BO as follows: sl1 st, k2tog, psso.
FINISHING Weave in loose ends. Sew buttons in the correct position. Block the cardigan ligthly. When it's dry, insert the I-cord into the tunnel using a safety pin. Enjoy!
Copyright (c) Justyna Knits. Pattern is for personal use only. Please respect designer's copyright.