Knitting & Crochet
Knit a striped pullover sweater for kids
Knitting & Crochet
Knit a striped pullover sweater for kids
In one of our previous books,
The Yarn Girls' Guide to Beyond the Basics, we knit a cardigan with the single-stripe method using multiple colours. Julie was wearing that sweater the day Roz came in. Roz wanted to knit a fun, yet practical sweater for her granddaughter, and she also wanted to learn something new. After pouring through many pattern books, Roz still couldn't find anything she was crazy about, so Julie suggested making a smaller version of the sweater she had on. Roz smiled and said, "Why didn't you suggest that before I wasted my time looking through all those books? I love it, but how about making it as a pullover?" She chose some fun colours and then sat down and learned the simple technique.
Click to view larger image
Click to view pattern piece measurements
Yarn
Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran (95 yds / 50g ball), 55% merino wool/33% microfibre/12% cashmere
Girl version: A-603, B-611, C-602, D-617, E-102
Boy version: A-207, B-102, C-502, D-205, E-300
Amount: 2 (2, 3, 3) balls colour A; 2 (2, 3, 3) balls colour B; 2 (2, 3, 3) balls colour C; 2 (3, 3, 3) balls colour D; 2 (2, 3, 3) balls colour E; Total yardage: 190 (190, 285, 285) yds colour A; 190 (190, 285, 285) yds colour B; 190 (190, 285, 285) yds colour C; 190 (285, 285, 285) yds colour D; 190 (190, 285, 285) yds colour E
Gauge
4-1/2 sts = 1 inch; 18 sts = 4 inches
Needle size
US #9 (5.5mm) or size needed to obtain gauge; US #8 (5mm) for ribbing; circular 16" US #8 (5 mm) for neck ribbing
Sizes: 4-5 (6-7, 8-9, 10 )
Knitted measurements
Width = 16" (17", 18", 19"); Length = 17" (18", 19", 21"); Sleeve length = 11-1/2" (12-1/2", 14", 15")
Single-row striping
Unlike the usual technique for making wider stripes, for single row striping you need to work each colour over an odd number of rows. This means that your yarn will never be in the correct place to use again unless you cut it and then tie it on at the other end where you need it. Doing that, however, leaves lots of unwanted ends, which will need to be woven in. Our method for single-row striping allows knitters to carry the yarn up their work as they would with even-row striping. This method actually works with any striping that involves an odd number of rows.
Note: You cannot use straight needles when employing this technique; you must use circular needles.
1. Knit with colour A.
2. Slide stitches to the right end of the needle.
3. Knit with colour B.
4. You are now ready to purl. Colour A and colour B are now at the same end of the needle.
5. Purl with colour A.
6. Colour A and colour B are now at different ends of the needle. Slide stitches to the right end of the needle where colour B is.
7. Purl with colour B.
Note: When you begin armhole shaping you cannot carry the yarn over all rows. You will need to cut and reattach the yarn when needed. You will not be using the single-stripe method of sliding the yarn back and forth. Once you finish the armhole decreases you can continue in the single-stripe method. This is also the case for the neck shaping.
Striped St st:
1 row A
1 row B
1 row A
1 row D
1 row C
1 row E
1 row C
1 row D
1 row B
1 row A
1 row B
1 row D
1 row E
1 row C
1 row E
1 row D
Page 1 of 3 -- Find continued instructions for knitting this pullover sweater on page 2
Excerpted from
The Yarn Girls' Guide to Knits for Older Kids by Julie Carles and Jordana Jacobs, with photography by Ellen Silverman. Copyright 2006 by Julie Carles and Jordana Jacobs. Excerpted with permission from Potter Craft, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced except with permission in writing from the publisher.
Back:
With #8 needle and colour D, cast on 72 (76, 82, 86) sts. Work in seed stitch ribbing for 6 rows as follows: Row 1 (RS): K1, P1. Row 2 (WS): P1, K1.
Change to #9 needle and work in Striped St st until piece measures 10" (10-1/2", 11", 12-1/2") from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.
Shape armholes:
Bind off 3 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. Bind off 2 sts at the beginning of the following 2 rows. Then decrease 1 st at each edge, every other row 4 (4, 5, 5) times until 54 (58, 62, 66) sts remain. (See step-by-step instructions below.) Continue working in Striped St st until piece measures 17" (18", 19", 21") from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row. Bind off all sts loosely.
Front:
Work as for back until piece measures 10" (10-1/2", 11", 12-1/2") from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.
Shape armholes:
Bind off 3 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. Bind off 2 sts at the beginning of the following 2 rows. Then decrease 1 st at each edge, every other row 4 (4, 5, 5) times until 54 (58, 62, 66) sts remain. Continue working in Striped St st until piece measures 14-1/2" (15-1/2", 16-1/2", 18-1/2") from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.
Shape crew neck:
Bind off centre 16 (18, 18, 20) sts and then begin working each side of the neck separately. At the beginning of each neck edge, every other row, bind off 3 sts once, 2 sts once, 1 st twice. Continue to work on remaining 12 (13, 15, 16) sts with no further decreasing until piece measures 17" (18", 19", 21") from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row. Bind off all sts loosely.
Sleeves:
With #8 needle and colour D, cast on 34 (36, 38, 40) sts. Work in seed stitch ribbing for 6 rows as follows:
Row 1 (RS): K1, p1.
Row 2: P1, k1.
Change to #9 needle and work in Striped St st. AT THE SAME TIME, increase one st at each edge every 6th row 9 (10, 11, 12) times until you have 52 (56, 60, 64) sts.
Note: Increase leaving 2 edge sts on either side of work. This means you should knit 2 sts, increase 1 st, knit to the last 2 sts, increase 1 st, and then knit the remaining 2 sts. Increasing like this makes it easier to sew up your seams.
When sleeve measures 11-1/2" (12-1/2", 14", 15") from cast-on edge, end with a WS row.
Shape cap:
Bind off 3 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. Bind off 2 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. Then decrease 1 st at each edge, every other row 4 (4, 5, 5) times. Bind off 2 sts at the beginning of the next 14 (16, 16, 18) rows until 6 (6, 8, 8) sts remain. Bind off all sts loosely.
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Page 2 of 3 -- Complete your pullover sweater with finishing instructions on page 3
Excerpted from
The Yarn Girls' Guide to Knits for Older Kids by Julie Carles and Jordana Jacobs, with photography by Ellen Silverman. Copyright 2006 by Julie Carles and Jordana Jacobs. Excerpted with permission from Potter Craft, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
No part of this excerpt may be reproduced except with permission in writing from the publisher. Finishing:
Sew shoulder seams together. Sew sleeves on and then sew up side and sleeve seams. With a circular 16" #8 needle, RS facing and colour D, pick up 79 (83, 83, 85) sts around the neck and work in seed stitch ribbing for 6 rows as follows: k1, p1 every row. Bind off all sts loosely.
Step-by-step guide to shaping the armholes
Row 1 (RS): Bind off 3 sts. Knit to end of row.
Row 2: Bind off 3 sts. Purl to end of row.
Row 3: Bind off 2 sts. Knit to end of row.
Row 4: Bind off 2 sts. Purl to end of row.
Row 5: K2, ssk, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
Row 6: Purl.
Repeat rows 5 and 6 3 (3, 4, 4) more times.
Step-by-step guide to shaping the crew neck
Remember that after binding off the centre stitches, you will work one side at a time.
Row 1 (RS): Pattern 21 (22, 24, 25) sts; with the 20th (21st, 23rd, 24th) st begin to bind off the centre 16 (18, 18, 20) sts. For example, for the 4-5 size, this means you should pull the 20th st over the 21st st, and this is your first bind-off. When you are done binding off the centre 16 (18, 18, 20) sts, check to make sure you have 19 (20, 22, 23) sts on each side of the hole, including the st on the right-hand needle. Knit to end of row. Turn work.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: Bind off 3 sts. Knit to end of row.
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: Bind off 2 sts. Knit to end of row.
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: Bind off 1 st. Knit to end of row.
Row 8: Purl.
Repeat rows 7 and 8 once more.
• When you are done the bind-off instructions, compare the length of the front piece to the length of the back. If the front and back measure the same, bind off the remaining sts loosely. If the front is too short, continue working in Striped St st until the pieces are of equal length, then bind off all sts loosely.
• For the other side of the neck edge, attach yarn to the remaining sts at the centre of the work (not at the side edge) and begin binding off sts immediately. You will now be binding off with a WS row facing you. Finish neck shaping as on other side, but purling to the end of the row and knitting the even-numbered rows. Bind off remaining sts.
Your kids will love this Harry Potter sweater.
Find more great knitting patterns here.
Page 3 of 3
Excerpted from
The Yarn Girls' Guide to Knits for Older Kids by Julie Carles and Jordana Jacobs, with photography by Ellen Silverman. Copyright 2006 by Julie Carles and Jordana Jacobs. Excerpted with permission from Potter Craft, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
No part of this excerpt may be reproduced except with permission in writing from the publisher.
Click to view larger image
Click to view pattern piece measurements
Yarn
Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran (95 yds / 50g ball), 55% merino wool/33% microfibre/12% cashmere
Girl version: A-603, B-611, C-602, D-617, E-102
Boy version: A-207, B-102, C-502, D-205, E-300
Amount: 2 (2, 3, 3) balls colour A; 2 (2, 3, 3) balls colour B; 2 (2, 3, 3) balls colour C; 2 (3, 3, 3) balls colour D; 2 (2, 3, 3) balls colour E; Total yardage: 190 (190, 285, 285) yds colour A; 190 (190, 285, 285) yds colour B; 190 (190, 285, 285) yds colour C; 190 (285, 285, 285) yds colour D; 190 (190, 285, 285) yds colour E
Gauge
4-1/2 sts = 1 inch; 18 sts = 4 inches
Needle size
US #9 (5.5mm) or size needed to obtain gauge; US #8 (5mm) for ribbing; circular 16" US #8 (5 mm) for neck ribbing
Sizes: 4-5 (6-7, 8-9, 10 )
Knitted measurements
Width = 16" (17", 18", 19"); Length = 17" (18", 19", 21"); Sleeve length = 11-1/2" (12-1/2", 14", 15")
Single-row striping
Unlike the usual technique for making wider stripes, for single row striping you need to work each colour over an odd number of rows. This means that your yarn will never be in the correct place to use again unless you cut it and then tie it on at the other end where you need it. Doing that, however, leaves lots of unwanted ends, which will need to be woven in. Our method for single-row striping allows knitters to carry the yarn up their work as they would with even-row striping. This method actually works with any striping that involves an odd number of rows.
Note: You cannot use straight needles when employing this technique; you must use circular needles.
1. Knit with colour A.
2. Slide stitches to the right end of the needle.
3. Knit with colour B.
4. You are now ready to purl. Colour A and colour B are now at the same end of the needle.
5. Purl with colour A.
6. Colour A and colour B are now at different ends of the needle. Slide stitches to the right end of the needle where colour B is.
7. Purl with colour B.
Note: When you begin armhole shaping you cannot carry the yarn over all rows. You will need to cut and reattach the yarn when needed. You will not be using the single-stripe method of sliding the yarn back and forth. Once you finish the armhole decreases you can continue in the single-stripe method. This is also the case for the neck shaping.
Striped St st:
1 row A
1 row B
1 row A
1 row D
1 row C
1 row E
1 row C
1 row D
1 row B
1 row A
1 row B
1 row D
1 row E
1 row C
1 row E
1 row D
Page 1 of 3 -- Find continued instructions for knitting this pullover sweater on page 2
Excerpted from
The Yarn Girls' Guide to Knits for Older Kids by Julie Carles and Jordana Jacobs, with photography by Ellen Silverman. Copyright 2006 by Julie Carles and Jordana Jacobs. Excerpted with permission from Potter Craft, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced except with permission in writing from the publisher.
Back:
With #8 needle and colour D, cast on 72 (76, 82, 86) sts. Work in seed stitch ribbing for 6 rows as follows: Row 1 (RS): K1, P1. Row 2 (WS): P1, K1.
Change to #9 needle and work in Striped St st until piece measures 10" (10-1/2", 11", 12-1/2") from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.
Shape armholes:
Bind off 3 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. Bind off 2 sts at the beginning of the following 2 rows. Then decrease 1 st at each edge, every other row 4 (4, 5, 5) times until 54 (58, 62, 66) sts remain. (See step-by-step instructions below.) Continue working in Striped St st until piece measures 17" (18", 19", 21") from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row. Bind off all sts loosely.
Front:
Work as for back until piece measures 10" (10-1/2", 11", 12-1/2") from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.
Shape armholes:
Bind off 3 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. Bind off 2 sts at the beginning of the following 2 rows. Then decrease 1 st at each edge, every other row 4 (4, 5, 5) times until 54 (58, 62, 66) sts remain. Continue working in Striped St st until piece measures 14-1/2" (15-1/2", 16-1/2", 18-1/2") from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.
Shape crew neck:
Bind off centre 16 (18, 18, 20) sts and then begin working each side of the neck separately. At the beginning of each neck edge, every other row, bind off 3 sts once, 2 sts once, 1 st twice. Continue to work on remaining 12 (13, 15, 16) sts with no further decreasing until piece measures 17" (18", 19", 21") from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row. Bind off all sts loosely.
Sleeves:
With #8 needle and colour D, cast on 34 (36, 38, 40) sts. Work in seed stitch ribbing for 6 rows as follows:
Row 1 (RS): K1, p1.
Row 2: P1, k1.
Change to #9 needle and work in Striped St st. AT THE SAME TIME, increase one st at each edge every 6th row 9 (10, 11, 12) times until you have 52 (56, 60, 64) sts.
Note: Increase leaving 2 edge sts on either side of work. This means you should knit 2 sts, increase 1 st, knit to the last 2 sts, increase 1 st, and then knit the remaining 2 sts. Increasing like this makes it easier to sew up your seams.
When sleeve measures 11-1/2" (12-1/2", 14", 15") from cast-on edge, end with a WS row.
Shape cap:
Bind off 3 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. Bind off 2 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. Then decrease 1 st at each edge, every other row 4 (4, 5, 5) times. Bind off 2 sts at the beginning of the next 14 (16, 16, 18) rows until 6 (6, 8, 8) sts remain. Bind off all sts loosely.
Do you love crafts? Sign up for Get Crafty, our e-newsletter, and you'll get great craft ideas every month.
Page 2 of 3 -- Complete your pullover sweater with finishing instructions on page 3
Excerpted from
The Yarn Girls' Guide to Knits for Older Kids by Julie Carles and Jordana Jacobs, with photography by Ellen Silverman. Copyright 2006 by Julie Carles and Jordana Jacobs. Excerpted with permission from Potter Craft, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
No part of this excerpt may be reproduced except with permission in writing from the publisher. Finishing:
Sew shoulder seams together. Sew sleeves on and then sew up side and sleeve seams. With a circular 16" #8 needle, RS facing and colour D, pick up 79 (83, 83, 85) sts around the neck and work in seed stitch ribbing for 6 rows as follows: k1, p1 every row. Bind off all sts loosely.
Step-by-step guide to shaping the armholes
Row 1 (RS): Bind off 3 sts. Knit to end of row.
Row 2: Bind off 3 sts. Purl to end of row.
Row 3: Bind off 2 sts. Knit to end of row.
Row 4: Bind off 2 sts. Purl to end of row.
Row 5: K2, ssk, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
Row 6: Purl.
Repeat rows 5 and 6 3 (3, 4, 4) more times.
Step-by-step guide to shaping the crew neck
Remember that after binding off the centre stitches, you will work one side at a time.
Row 1 (RS): Pattern 21 (22, 24, 25) sts; with the 20th (21st, 23rd, 24th) st begin to bind off the centre 16 (18, 18, 20) sts. For example, for the 4-5 size, this means you should pull the 20th st over the 21st st, and this is your first bind-off. When you are done binding off the centre 16 (18, 18, 20) sts, check to make sure you have 19 (20, 22, 23) sts on each side of the hole, including the st on the right-hand needle. Knit to end of row. Turn work.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: Bind off 3 sts. Knit to end of row.
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: Bind off 2 sts. Knit to end of row.
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: Bind off 1 st. Knit to end of row.
Row 8: Purl.
Repeat rows 7 and 8 once more.
• When you are done the bind-off instructions, compare the length of the front piece to the length of the back. If the front and back measure the same, bind off the remaining sts loosely. If the front is too short, continue working in Striped St st until the pieces are of equal length, then bind off all sts loosely.
• For the other side of the neck edge, attach yarn to the remaining sts at the centre of the work (not at the side edge) and begin binding off sts immediately. You will now be binding off with a WS row facing you. Finish neck shaping as on other side, but purling to the end of the row and knitting the even-numbered rows. Bind off remaining sts.
Your kids will love this Harry Potter sweater.
Find more great knitting patterns here.
Page 3 of 3
Excerpted from
The Yarn Girls' Guide to Knits for Older Kids by Julie Carles and Jordana Jacobs, with photography by Ellen Silverman. Copyright 2006 by Julie Carles and Jordana Jacobs. Excerpted with permission from Potter Craft, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
No part of this excerpt may be reproduced except with permission in writing from the publisher.
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