Snowman’s land

’Tis the season to be jolly, so wrap kids up in this fabulous festive sweater

A cute jumper for little girls, plus a festive knit that’s perfect for winter walks

MEASUREMENTS

To fit ages 2-3(3-4:4-5) years; Finished measurements: Chest 69(73:78)cm; Length to shoulder 37(41:45)cm; Sleeve length 22(25:28)cm

MATERIALS

3(3:4) 50g balls of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in Airforce 311 (A), 2(3:3) balls in White 100 (B) and small amounts in Sienna 67 (C) and Black 300 (D).

Pair each of 3mm and 3.25mm knitting needles.

TENSION

25 sts and 34 rows to 10cm square over st-st using 3.25mm needles.

ABBREVIATIONS

beg beginning; cm centimetres; cont continue; foll following; inc increase;

k knit; m1 make one st, by picking up and working into back of loop lying between st just worked and next st;

p purl; rem remaining; rep repeat; RS right side; ssk [slip 1] twice, insert tip of left-hand needle from left to right through the fronts of both slipped sts and work 2 tog; st(s) stitch(es); st-st stocking stitch; tog together; WS wrong side.

BACK

With 3mm needles and A, cast on 88(94:100) sts. Rib row [K1, p1] to end. This row forms the rib and is repeated. Rib a further 9(9:11) rows. Change to 3.25mm needles. Beg with a k row, work in st-st until back measures 24(27:30)cm from cast on edge, ending with a p row. Shape armholes Cast off 6 sts at beg of next 2 rows. 76(82:88) sts. Next row K2, ssk, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2. Next row P to end. Rep the last 2 rows 1(2:3) times more. 72(76:80) sts **. Work straight until back measures 37(41:45)cm from cast on edge, ending with a p row. Shape shoulders Cast off 8(9:9) sts at beg of next 2 rows and 7(8:9) sts on foll 2 rows. Leave rem 42(42:44) sts on a holder.

FRONT

With B, work as given for Back to **. 72(76:80) sts. Cont straight until 18 rows fewer have been worked than on Back to start of shoulder shaping, so ending with a p row.

Shape neck

Next row K28(30:31), turn and cont on these sts only, leave rem sts on a spare needle. Cast off 3 sts at beg (neck edge) of next row and foll WS row, 2 sts at beg of next 2 WS rows and 1 st at beg of foll 3 WS rows. 15(17:18) sts. Work a further 4 rows without shaping. Shape shoulder Cast off 8(9:9) sts at beg of next row. Work 1 row. Cast off rem 7(8:9) sts. With RS facing, slip 16(17:18) sts at centre front onto a holder, rejoin yarn to rem sts, cast off 3 sts, k to end. Next row P to end. Cast off 3 sts at beg of next row, 2 sts at beg of foll 2 RS rows and 1 st at beg of next 3 RS rows. 15(16:18) sts. Work a further 6 rows without shaping, so ending with a RS row. Shape shoulder Cast off 8(9:9) sts at beg of next row. Work 1 row. Cast off rem 7(8:9) sts.

SLEEVES

With 3mm needles and A, cast on 50(54:58) sts. Rib row [K1, p1] to end. This row forms the rib. Rib a further 9(9:11) rows. Change to 3.25mm needles. Working in st-st and stripes of 2 rows B and 2 rows A throughout, beg with a k row and work 6(8:10) rows. Inc row K3, m1, k to last 3 sts, m1, k3. Work 5 rows. Rep the last 6 rows 7(8:9) times more and the inc row again. 68(74:80) sts. Cont straight until sleeve measures 22(25:28)cm from cast on edge, ending with a p row. Shape sleeve top Cast off 6 sts at beg of next 2 rows. 56(62:68) sts. Next row K3, ssk, k to last 5 sts, k2tog, k3. Next

row P to end. Rep the last 2 rows 1(2:3) times more. 52(56:60) sts. Cast off.

NECKBAND

Join right shoulder seam. With 3mm needles and B, pick up and k24 sts down left front neck, k across 16(16:18) sts at centre front, pick up and k25 sts up right front neck, then k across 42(42:44) sts at back neck. 107(107:111) sts. 1st

and 5th rows (WS) With B, p1, [k1, p1] to

end. 2nd and 6th rows With A, k to end. 3rd and 7th rows With A, p1, [k1, p1] to end. 4th row With B, k to end. 8th row

With A, k1, [p1, k1] to end. 9th row As 3rd and 7th rows. Cast off in rib.

TO MAKE UP

Join left shoulder and neckband seam. Sew sleeves into armholes, easing to fit. Join side and sleeve seams.

EMBROIDERY

Swiss darn the ‘carrot’ nose in C and the ‘coal’ eyes and mouth in D . The chart should be placed centrally, with the top just below the armhole shaping. Using the eye motif, work 2 or 3 ‘coal buttons’ centrally below the mouth.