Baby Fair Isle cardi and hat
Pretty Fair Isle colourwork and soft baby yarn make this versatile set a wonderful gift for a new mum. By Monica Russel
CARDIGAN BACK
Cast on 66 (72: 78: 84) sts using 3mm needles and Yarn A. Rows 1 to 8 *K1, P1; rep from * to end.
Change to 3.5mm needles.
MAIN PATTERN
Row 1 Knit using Yarn A.
Row 2 Purl using Yarn A.
Row 3 *K1B, K1C; rep from * to end. Row 4 *P1B, P1C; rep from * to end. Row 5 As Row 1.
Row 6 As Row 2.
Rows 7 to 23 Work Rows 1 to 17 from Chart A, working 6-st rep between red lines 11 (12: 13: 14) times across each row, and ignoring blue lines.
Row 24 Purl using Yarn C.
Cont working Rows 1 to 24 as set until Back measures 21 (24: 27: 30)cm, ending after a WS row.
SHAPE SHOULDERS
Cast off 10 (11: 12: 13) sts at beg of next 4 rows. Leave rem 26 (28: 30: 32) sts on a stitch holder.
RIGHT FRONT
Cast on 33 (36: 39: 42) sts using 3mm needles and Yarn A. Row 1 *K1, P1; rep from * to last 1 (0: 1: 0) sts, K1 (0: 1: 0). Row 2 P1 (0: 1: 0), *K1, P1; rep from * to end.
Rep Rows 1 and 2 a further 3 times.
Change to 3.5mm needles.
MAIN PATTERN
Row 1 Knit using Yarn A.
Row 2 Purl using Yarn A.
Row 3 *K1B, K1C; rep from * to last 1 (0: 1: 0) sts, K1B (0: 1B: 0). Row 4 P1C (0: 1: 0), *P1B, P1C; rep from * to end.
Row 5 As Row 1.
Row 6 As Row 2.
0-3M AND 6-12M SIZES ONLY
Rows 7 to 23 Work Rows 1 to 17 from Chart A, starting and ending at the blue lines and working 6-st rep between red lines 5 (-: 6: -) times across each row.
3-6M AND 12-18M SIZES ONLY
Rows 7 to 23 Work Rows 1 to 17 from Chart A, working 6-st rep between red lines - (6: -: 7) times across each row, and ignoring blue lines.
ALL SIZES
Row 24 Purl using Yarn C.
Cont working Rows 1 to 24 as set until Front measures 17 (19.5: 22: 24.5)cm, ending after a WS row.
SHAPE NECK
Cont in patt throughout as foll:
Cast off 4 (5: 5: 6) sts at beg of next row. [29 (31: 34: 36) sts] Patt 1 row.
Cast off 3 sts at beg of next row. [26 (28: 31: 33) sts]
Patt 1 row.
Cast off 2 sts at beg of next row and foll alt row. [22 (24: 27: 29) sts] Patt 1 row.
Cast off 1 st at beg of next row and every foll alt row until 20 (22: 24: 26) sts rem.
Cont in patt until Front meas same as Back to shoulder shaping, ending after a RS row.
SHAPE SHOULDER
Cast off 10 (11: 12: 13) sts at beg of next row and foll alt row.
"When it comes to dressing babies, you really can't be without a lightweight cardigan to bring warmth and colour - this sweet knit is bound to be loved by new mums "
NICOLA LYNN, ART EDITOR
LEFT FRONT
Cast on 33 (36: 39: 42) sts using 3mm needles and Yarn A.
Row 1 *K1, P1; rep from * to last 1 (0: 1: 0) sts, K1 (0: 1: 0). Row 2 P1 (0: 1: 0), *K1, P1; rep from * to end.
Rep Rows 1 and 2 a further 3 times.
Change to 3.5mm needles.
MAIN PATTERN
Row 1 Knit using Yarn A.
Row 2 Purl using Yarn A.
Row 3 *K1B, K1C; rep from * to last 1 (0: 1: 0) sts, K1B (0: 1: 0). Row 4 P1C (0: 1: 0), *P1B, P1C; rep from * to end.
Row 5 As Row 1.
Row 6 As Row 2. 0-3M AND 6-12M SIZES ONLY
Rows 7 to 23 Work Rows 1 to 17 from Chart B, starting and ending at the blue lines and working 6-st rep between red lines 5 (-: 6: -) times across each row. 3-6M AND 12-18M SIZES ONLY
Rows 7 to 23 Work Rows 1 to 17 from Chart B, working 6-st rep between red lines - (6: -: 7) times across each row, and ignoring blue lines.
ALL SIZES
Row 24 Purl using Yarn C.
Cont working Rows 1 to 24 as set until Front measures 17 (19.5: 22: 24.5)cm, ending after a WS row.
SHAPE NECK
Patt 1 row.
Cast off 4 (5: 5: 6) sts at beg of next row. [29 (31: 34: 36) sts] Patt 1 row.
Cast off 3 sts at beg of next row. [26 (28: 31: 33) sts]
Patt 1 row.
Cast off 2 sts at beg of next row and foll alt row. [22 (24: 27: 29) sts] Patt 1 row.
Cast off 1 st at beg of next row and every foll alt row until 20 (22: 24: 26) sts rem.
Cont in patt until Front meas same as Back to shoulder shaping, ending after a WS row.
SHAPE SHOULDER
Cast off 10 (11: 12: 13) sts at beg of next row and foll alt row.
SLEEVES (MAKE 2)
Cast on 42 (44: 46: 48) sts using 3mm needles and Yarn A. Rows 1 to 8 *K1, P1; rep from * to end.
Change to 3.5mm needles.
Work the 24-row main patt as for Back, AND AT SAME TIME inc 1 st at each end of next row, foll 4th row and 4 (5: 7: 8) foll 4th (4th: 6th: 6th) rows, taking inc sts into patt. [54 (58: 64: 68) sts]
Note By the time you reach Row 7 of the main patt, which is worked as a 6-st Chart repeat, you will have worked 2 incs already to give a stitch count of 46 (48: 50: 52) sts. Therefore on Row 7 of patt, begin row on stitch 5 (1: 6: 5) of Chart, rep patt 7 (8: 8: 8) times and then work any rem sts in Chart patt as set. As you make further incs take inc sts into patt, ensuring patt stays correct.
When incs are complete, cont straight in patt until work measures 12 (15: 18: 21)cm from cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.
Cast off.
BUTTON BAND
Cast on 8 sts using 3mm needles and Yarn A.
Row 1 *K1, P1; rep from * to end.
Last row forms rib.
Cont in rib until band measures 17 (19.5: 22: 24.5)cm. Place sts on a holder.
BUTTONHOLE BAND
Work 3 rows as for Button Band.
Next row (WS) K1, P1, K1, p2tog, yo, P1, K1, P1.
Mark a further 2 (2: 3: 4) evenly spaced buttonholes on band, noting that 1 more buttonhole will be placed on the neckline.
Cont in rib working buttonhole rows to match marked positions on band, until piece measures 17 (19.5: 22: 24.5)cm.
Place sts on a holder.
MAKING UP
Sew shoulder seams. Sew button and Buttonhole Band to sides of Front using mattress stitch.
NECKBAND
With RS facing using 3mm needles and Yarn A, work 8 sts in rib on right Buttonhole Band, pick up and knit 21 sts up front to shoulder seam, knit across 26 (28: 30: 32) sts on holder for Back, pick up and knit 21 sts down left-hand side of Front and rib across rem 8 sts on hold for Button Band. [84 (86: 88: 90) sts]
Row 1 (WS) *K1, P1; rep from * to end.
Last row forms rib.
Work 3 more rows in rib.
Next row (WS) Work in rib to Buttonhole Band, K1, P1, K1, p2tog, yo, P1, K1, P1.
Cont in rib for 2 more rows.
Cast off.
Line up centre top Sleeve with shoulder seam and sew Sleeve tops to body. Sew Sleeve and side seams. Sew on buttons opposite buttonholes. Block gently to measurements, following any yarn care instructions on the ball band.
HAT EAR FLAPS (MAKE 2)
Cast on 13 (15) sts using 3.5mm needles and Yarn A.
Row 1 K1, M1, K to last 2 sts, M1, K1. [15 (17) sts]
Row 2 Purl using Yarn A.
Row 3 K1B, M1A, *K1B, K1A; rep from * to last 2 sts, K1B, M1A, K1B. [17 (19) sts]
Row 4 P1A, *P1B, P1A; rep from * to end.
Row 5 Using Yarn A, K1, M1, K to last 2 sts, M1, K1. [19 (21) sts] Row 6 Purl using Yarn A.
Row 7 Knit using Yarn D.
Row 8 Purl using Yarn D.
Row 9 K1D (1), M1D, work Row 3 from Chart A working 6-st rep between red lines twice, work first 5 sts of 6-st rep between red lines once more M1D, K1D (3). [21 (23) sts]
Work Rows 4 to 10 from Chart A with spacing as set.
Place sts on a holder.
MAIN BODY
Using 3.5mm needles and Yarn C, cast on 11 (11) sts for the back of the Hat, K across 21 (23) sts from one Ear Flap, cast on 28 (33) sts for the front of the Hat, K across 21 (23) sts from the second Ear Flap and cast on 11 (13) sts for the back of the Hat. [92 (103) sts] Next row Purl using Yarn C.
Cont working from Chart A starting at Row 11 with the foll spacing: Next row K1C (1), work across 6 sts between red lines from Chart A 15 (17) times, K1C (0).
Cont working the 24-row patt as for back of Cardigan with the spacing as now set until Hat measures approx 7 (10)cm from the start of the main part of the Hat ending after a WS row and with the next row being Row 1, 5, 13 or 23 of the patt.
SHAPE CROWN
Cont in patt as set working the following dec rows on Rows 1, 5, 13, 23 of the patt, until all 5 decs are complete.
Dec row 1 K2 (3), *K9 (10), k2tog; rep from * to last 2 (4) sts, K2 (4). [84 (95) sts]
Dec row 2 K2 (2), *K6 (7), k2tog; rep from * to last 2 (3) sts, K2 (3). [74 (85) sts]
Dec row 3 K2 (1), *K3 (4), k2tog; rep from * to last 2 (0) sts, K2 (0). [60 (71) sts]
Dec row 4 K6 (3), * K1 (2), k2tog; rep from * to last 6 (4) sts, K6 (4). [44 (55) sts]
Dec row 5 *K2tog; rep from * to last 0 (1) st, K0 (1). [22 (28) sts] Purl 1 row.
Cont straight in patt until Hat measures 14 (19)cm from the start of the main part of the Hat, ending after a WS row.
Next row *K2tog; rep from * to end. [11 (14) sts]
Thread the tail through the rem sts and pull tight.
MAKING UP
Using Yarn A and 3mm needles with RS facing, pick up and knit 104 (108) sts around the Back, first Ear Flap, Front, second Ear Flap and rest of Back.
Cast off.
Sew Back seam. Block lightly if required and weave in ends. See ball band for further care instructions.