Child’s Fair Isle onesie
Cast on this classic colourwork onesie in budget-friendly DROPS Karisma and create the ultimate heirloom gift.
Little ones and parents alike will love this snuggly onesie knitted in 100% wool. Worked from the top down on a circular needle, you can check the fitting as you go, easily adjusting the length of the sleeves and legs by adding a few extra rows. Knit it in just two weeks!
ONESIE
Note The Onesie is worked back and forth on a circular needle, from mid-front. To make it easier to adjust the length of the Sleeves and Legs, it is worked from the top down. The first and last 5 sts of every row make up the garter st button band.
YOKE
Cast on 84 ( 88: 92: 96) sts using a 3mm circular needle and Yarn D. Purl 1 row. Row 2 (RS) K5, (K2, P2) to last 7 sts, K2, K5. Row 3 ( WS) K5, (K2, P2) to last 7 sts, K2, K5. Rep Rows 2-3 until work measures 1.5cm, ending with WS facing for next row.
Buttonhole row (RS) K5, (K2, P2) to last 7 sts, K3, k2tog, yo, K2.
Repeat Buttonhole row 5 ( 5: 6: 6) more times every 7.5 ( 8: 7.5: 8) cm, AT THE SAME TIME working as folls:
Cont to work as set until work measures 3cm, ending on a RS row.
Change to a 4mm circular needle.
Purl 1 row, decreasing 7 ( 5: 4: 1) sts evenly. [77 ( 83: 88: 95) sts]
Next 2 rows K to last 12 ( 13: 14: 15) sts, turn, tighten yarn and P until 12 ( 13: 14: 15) sts remain on the other side, turn.
Next 2 rows Tighten yarn and K until 20 ( 22: 24: 26) sts remain, turn, tighten yarn and P until 20 ( 22: 24: 26) sts remain on the other side, turn.
Next 2 rows Tighten yarn and K until 28 ( 31: 34: 37) sts remain, turn, tighten yarn and P until 28 ( 31: 34: 37) sts remain on the other side, turn.
Next row Tighten yarn and K to end of row. Next row K5, P to last 5 sts, K5.
BEGIN CHARTS
Note When working the Chart, on the rows where there are stripes or pattern, work the first and last 5 sts (the button band sts) using the main colour of that row. Change colour between the 5 sts and the Chart.
Cont to work bands in garter st, work as folls:
Next row K5, work Onesie Chart for your size to last 6 sts, repeating the 6 ( 6: 7: 7) stitch repeat 11 ( 12: 11: 12) times across the row, K first st of Chart once more (ignoring increase), K5.
Cont to work as set by last row, working the first and last sts in garter st, increasing where indicated and working the colour of the first st on the last st before the left button band to keep the
pattern symmetrical. [187 ( 203: 220: 239) sts when Chart is complete]
Cont in st st with garter st button bands as set, work 0 ( 1: 0: 1) cm using Yarn A.
Piece now measures approx 13 ( 14: 15:
16) cm along the mid-front (measured without rib in the neck).
Next row (RS) Knit using Yarn A, increasing 7 ( 7: 10: 7) sts evenly across the row (do not increase over garter st button bands). [194 ( 210: 230: 246) sts]
Cont in st st with garter st button bands, work as folls:
Next row ( WS) Patt 29 ( 31: 34: 36), slip the next 42 ( 46: 50: 54) sts onto a holder for Sleeve, cast on 6 sts, work 52 ( 56: 62: 66) sts for Back, slip the next 42 ( 46: 50: 54) sts onto a holder for Sleeve, cast on 6 sts, patt 29 ( 31: 34: 36) sts to end. [122 ( 130: 142: 150) sts]
BODY
Place a marker 32 ( 34: 37: 39) sts in from each side; 58 ( 62: 68: 72) sts between markers.
Cont working back and forth in st st and garter st until piece measures 10 ( 10: 12: 12) cm from armhole, ending with a WS row.
Inc row *Patt to 2 sts before sm, yo, K2, sl sm, K2, yo; rep from * once more. [4 sts inc’d] Next row Patt to end, working P1tbl into yarn overs to avoid holes. [4 sts inc’d]
Cont as set without increasing until piece measures 20 ( 20: 24: 24) cm from armhole, ending on a WS row.
Rep Inc row once more. [130 ( 138: 150: 158) sts]
Cont until piece measures 29 ( 31: 35: 38) cm from armhole, ending with a WS row.
Cast off 3 sts at the beg of the next 2 rows. [124 ( 132: 144: 152) sts]
Next round K to end, PM and join to work in the round.
Cont in st st in the round over all sts for 3cm. Piece now measures 32 ( 34: 38: 41) cm from armhole and 45 ( 48: 53: 57) cm from mid-front (measured without rib in neck).
DIVIDE FOR LEGS
Change to 4mm DPNs.
Round 1 K62 ( 66: 72: 76) sts, leaving rem 62 ( 66: 72: 76) sts on the circular needle.
Join to work in the round and PM to mark beg of round.
Cont to work in st st until Leg measures 2cm from Divide for Legs.
Dec round K1, skpo, K to 3 sts before sm, k2tog, K1. [2 sts dec’d]
Repeat Dec round every 3rd ( 4th: 6th:
7th) round 9 ( 9: 10: 10) more times. [42 ( 46: 50: 54) sts]
Cont without shaping until Leg measures 13 ( 18: 25: 31) cm.
Next round Knit, inc 10 sts evenly. [52 ( 56: 60: 64) sts]
Change to 3mm DPNs. Round 1 (K2, P2) to end of round. Rep Round 1 until rib measures 8 ( 8: 10: 10) cm (or desired length).
Next round (K2, Pfb, P1) to end. [65 ( 70: 75: 80) sts]
Cast off all sts as they appear. Using 4mm DPNs rejoin yarn to 62 ( 66:
72: 76) sts on circular needle and work the other Leg the same way.
SLEEVE (MAKE 2)
Slip sts from one Sleeve holder onto 4mm DPNs and pick up and knit 1 st in each of the 6 sts cast on under the Sleeve, placing a marker in the middle of these 6 sts. [48 ( 52: 56: 60) sts]
Work in st st using Yarn A until Sleeve measures 2 ( 2: 1: 1) cm.
Work Dec round 1 and 2 as for Body.
Repeat Dec round every 3rd ( 3rd: 4th: 4th) round 6 ( 8: 9: 11) more times. [34 ( 34: 36: 36) sts]
When Sleeve measures 10 ( 12: 15: 18) cm,
inc 6 ( 6: 8: 8) sts evenly. [40 ( 40: 44: 44) sts]
CUFF
Change to 3mm DPNs. Round 1 (K2, P2) to end of round. Rep Round 1 until rib measures 8 ( 8: 10: 10) cm (or desired length).
Next round (K2, Pfb, P1) to end. [50 ( 50: 55: 55) sts]
Cast off all sts as they appear.
TO MAKE UP
Place right button band over left button band and fasten at the bottom with small stitches. Sew the buttons onto the left button band. Weave in ends and gently block to measurements.
HAT
Note The Hat is worked in the round on a circular needle, from the bottom up. Switch to DPNs when needed.
Cast on 96 ( 112) sts using a 3mm circular needle and Yarn D then join to work in the round, taking care not to twist sts. PM to mark beg of round. Knit 1 round. Next round (K2, P2) to end of round. Rep last round until rib measures 3cm.
Change to 3 mm circular needle.
Knit 1 round, dec 12 ( 16) sts evenly. [84 ( 96) sts]
BEGIN CHART
Work Hat Chart, repeating the 12-st repeat 7 ( 8) times across the round.
When Hat Chart is complete, cont in st st with Yarn A until Hat measures 15 ( 17) cm.
DECREASE FOR CROWN
Set up round *K14 ( 16), PM; rep from * to end. Round 1 *Skpo, K to sm, sl sm; rep from * to end. [6 sts dec’d] Round 2 Knit. Rep last 2 rounds 4 more times, then work Round 1 only, 3 more times. [36 ( 48) sts]
Next 2 rounds (K2tog) to end. [9 ( 12) sts]
Break off the yarn and pull it through the remaining sts. Weave in ends.
EAR FLAP (MAKE 2)
Cast on 40 ( 44) sts using 3mm DPNs and Yarn D and join to work in the round. PM to mark beg of round.
Work in st st until Flap measures 5 ( 6) cm, placing a second marker after st 20 ( 22) on the final round.
Dec round *Skpo, K to 2 sts before sm, k2tog, sl sm; rep from * once more. [4 sts dec’d] Next round Knit.
Rep last 2 rounds 4 more times, then work Dec round only, 4 ( 5) more times. [4 sts]
I-CORD TIE
Using 2 DPNs, *Knit 4 sts, slide to other end of needle without turning work; rep from * until i- cord measures 20 ( 25) cm.
Break off the yarn and pull it through sts. Weave in ends. Knit another Ear Flap the same way.
FINISHING
Place Ear Flaps approx 3cm in, under rib on Hat, and sew onto the wrong side. There should be approx 13 ( 15) cm between Ear Flaps at the front and approx 7 ( 9) cm at the back. Make a pompom with Yarn A, 4 ( 5) cm in diameter, and fasten pompom at the top of the Hat.
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.