Little deer
Discover the magic of traditional Fair Isle knitting with Val Pierce’s classic winter warmer set!
These snowflakes are knitted over a quick six-stitch pattern repeat!
This Scandi-inspired jumper and hat will be a firm favourite with little ones this winter. If you’re new to colourwork knitting, two- colour Fair Isle is the best place to start. By the time you’ve whizzed through those first two simple charts and reached the reindeers, you’ll be an expert! You’ll need to break the yarn when you work the deer, so perhaps start with the hat to build your confidence first. This classic design will never go out of fashion!
JUMPER BACK
Cast on 80 ( 86) sts using 3¾mm needles and Yarn B. Row 1 (K2, P2) to last 0 ( 2) sts, K0 ( 2). Row 2 P0 ( 2), (K2, P2) to end. Last 2 rows set K2, P2 rib. Change to Yarn A and continue in K2, P2 rib for a further 14 ( 16) rows, dec 1 st in the centre of the last row. [79 ( 85) sts] Change to 4½mm needles and working in st st, work Rows 1-7 of Chart A. Begin Chart B, repeating Rows 1-14 until work measures 31 ( 37) cm.
SHAPE SHOULDERS
Cast off 3 sts at beg of next 4 rows. [67 ( 73) sts] Cast off 8( 9) sts at beg on next 4 rows. Leave remaining 35 ( 37) sts on holder for back neck.
FRONT
Work as for Back until piece is 34 ( 38) rows less than Back to shoulder shaping, ending after a WS row. Cont in Chart B patt as set, and joining in separate balls of contrast when needed place Chart C as follows:
Row 1 Patt Chart B as set for 18 ( 21) sts, work Row 1 of Chart C, patt Chart B as set for 18 ( 21) sts. Continue until the 18 rows of Chart C are complete, AT THE SAME TIME keeping continuity of the Chart B patt on the 18 ( 21) sts at either side. Work a further 4 ( 6) rows in Chart B patt.
SHAPE NECK
Patt 26 ( 29), turn and continue on these sts only. Dec 1 st at neck edge on next row and every following alt row until 22 ( 24) st remain. Work a further 4 rows.
SHAPE SHOULDERS
Cast off 3 sts at beg of next and following alt row.
[16 ( 18) sts] Cast off 8( 9) at beg of following 2 alt rows. Slip centre 27 sts onto a stitch holder. Work other side of neck to match, reversing shaping rows.
SLEEVES
Cast on 44 ( 50) sts using 3¾mm needles and Yarn B. Work 2 rows in K2, P2 rib as for Back. Change to Yarn A and work a further 14 ( 16) rows in K2, P2 rib, dec 1 st in centre of last row. [43 ( 49) sts] Change to 4½mm needles and st st and working from Chart A and then Chart B as before, inc 1 st at each of the next row and following 4th ( 6th) rows until 61 ( 63) sts remain. Continue straight in pattern until work measures 32 ( 34) cm, ending on a WS row. Cast off.
NECKBAND
Join right shoulder seam. Using 3¾mm needles and Yarn A pick and knit 13 ( 17) sts down left side of neck, 27 ( 27) sts from front neck, 13 ( 17) sts up front side of neck and 35 ( 37) sts from back neck. [88 ( 98) sts] Work 9 rows in K2, P2 rib as set for Back. Change to Yarn B and work 4 rows in K2, P2 rib. Cast off loosely.
TO MAKE UP
Work in all ends neatly. Press all pieces lightly using a warm iron and a damp cloth to even out and set patterning. Join left shoulder seam. Fold Neckband in half to wrong side, catch down making sure you maintain the elasticity of the ribbing to enable ease of putting sweater on. Take Sleeve and fold in half lengthways, mark the centre of the
Sleeve. Place centre of Sleeve to shoulder seam, pin Sleeve in position evenly to Back and Front. Sew in place with a fine backstitch seam. Repeat for other Sleeve. Now sew side and Sleeve seams, matching patterning as you do.
HAT
Cast on 110 sts using 3¾mm needles and Yarn B. Row 1 (K2, P2) to last 2 sts, K2. Row 2 P2, (K2, P2) to end. Last 2 rows set K2, P2 rib. Change to Yarn A and work in K2, P2 rib for a further 8cm, dec 1 st on last row. [109 sts] Change to 4½mm needles and Yarn B. Working in st st, work Rows 1-7 of Chart A. Purl 1 row. Begin Chart B and work until piece measures 10 ( 12) cm from start of st st, ending on a WS row.
CROWN SHAPING
Cont in Yarn A only and st st, shaping Crown of Hat as follows. Row 1 K1, (k2tog, K4) to end. [91 sts] Row 2 Purl. Row 3 K1, (k2tog, K3) to end. [73 sts] Row 4 Purl. Row 5 K1, (k2tog, K2) to end. [55 sts] Row 6 Purl. Row 7 K1, (k2tog K1) to end. [37 sts] Row 8 Purl. Row 9 K1, k2tog to end. [19 sts] Row 10 Purl. Repeat Rows 9 and 10 once more. [10 sts] Break yarn and run through remaining stitches on needle, draw up tight and fasten off.
TO MAKE UP
Sew side seam, matching pattern.
HOW TO USE OUR CHARTS
Start at the bottom right-hand corner. Read right-side rows from right to left and wrong-side rows from left to right. A row of squares represents a row of knitting.