Cardigan with Borders Pattern

Directions are for 1-year size. Changes for 2, 3 and 4 years are in parentheses.

MATERIALS:
NOMOTTA Mothproof Zephyr Fingering Yarn (matched dye lots)
3 (4-4-5) 1-oz. balls Main Color (MC)
1 1-oz. ball Contrasting Color (CC)
1 pair needles each of size 1 and 2
6 Buttons

GAUGE: 8 sts = 1 inch; 12 rows = 1 inch

PATTERN FOR BORDER:
ROW 1: With CC, knit across.
ROW 2: Purl 1 CC and 1 MC across row—always carry yarn not in use loosely on wrong side of work.
ROW 3: Knit across row, working CC over MC and MC over CC. Repeat last 2 rows once more.
ROW 6: With CC, purl across row.

BACK: With MC and size 1 needles, cast on 84 (88-92-96) sts. Work firmly in ribbing of K 1, P 1 for 1½ (l½-2-2) ins. Change to size 2 needles. Knit 1 row, purl 1 row, work Border. With MC, continue in Stockinette-st until back measures 7 (7½-8-8½) ins from start.

Shape Armholes: Bind off 3 (4-4-5) sts at beginning of next 2 rows. Bind off 1 stitch at beginning of next 6 rows; 72 (74-78-80) sts remain. Work straight until armholes measure 4 (4½-4¾-5) ins straight up from bound-off sts.

Shape Shoulder and Neck: Work across 23 (24-26-26) sts, slip next 26 (26-26-28) sts on a holder for back of neck. Both sides may be worked at the same time, using 2 balls of yarn. Bind off 7 (7-8-8) sts at armhole edge every other row 3 (2-3-3) times; 0 (8-0-0) sts once, at the same time, decrease 1 stitch at neck edge every other row, twice.

NOTE: Buttonholes are worked on Right Front border for girl and on Left Front border for boy. It is suggested that the front without buttonholes be made first.

RIGHT FRONT (For Boy): With MC and size 1 needles, cast on 49 (51-53-55) sts. Work 8 sts (front border) in Seed- st (K 1, P 1 across first row, then K over a P st and P over a K st every row thereafter), work remaining 41 (43-45-47) sts in ribbing of K 1, P 1 for 1½ (1½-2-2) ins. Change to size 2 needles and keeping Seed-st edge, knit 1 row, purl 1 row. Work the 6-row Border. Next row, work as follows: Work Seed-st, then, K 2, work Border across next 6 sts, work to end of row. Note: When starting and ending Border, always pick up new yarn from underneath to avoid making a hole. Con­tinue in this manner until front measures 7 (7½-8-8½) ins from start.

Shape Armhole: Bind off 3 (4-4-5) sts at beginning of armhole edge, then bind off 1 stitch at same edge, every other row 3 times; 43 (44-46-47) sts remain. Work straight until armhole measures 2½ (2¾-3-3¼) ins straight up from bound-off sts.

Shape Neck and Shoulder: Slip 16 (16-16-17) sts at front edge on a holder for neckband. On remaining 27 (28- 30-30) sts, decrease 1 stitch at neck edge every other row 6 times. Work straight until armhole measures 4 (4½-4¾-5) ins straight up from bound-off sts. Shape Shoulder same as for back.

With pins, mark position of 6 (6-7-7) buttons as a guide in working buttonholes, placing first pin about ¾ inch from bot­tom and 5th (5th-6th-6th) pin about 1¼ ins below neck edge (last buttonhole is worked in center of neck ribbing).

LEFT FRONT: Work to correspond with Right Front, re­versing shaping, making 6 (6-7-7) buttonholes as follows: Starting at front edge, work 3 sts, bind off next 2 sts, work to end of row. On next row, cast on 2 sts over the bound-off sts on row below.

SLEEVES: With MC and size 1 needles, cast on 44 (44-48-48) sts. Work in ribbing for 2 ins. Change to size 2 needles. Knit next row increasing 6 sts evenly spaced across; 50 (50-54-54) sts. Purl back. Attach CC and work 6-row Border. With MC, continue in Stockinette-st increasing 1 stitch at each side every 8th row 7 (9-7-9) times; 64 (68-68-72) sts. Work straight until sleeve measures 7 (8-9-9½) ins from start.

Shape Cap: Bind off 3 (4-4-5) sts at beginning of next 2 rows, then bind off 1 stitch at beginning of every row until 34 (32-30-28) sts remain. Bind off 3 (2-2-2) sts at beginning of next 6 (8-8-8) rows; bind off remaining 16 (16-14-12) sts.

FINISHING:Press each piece and sew seams. Neck Border: With MC and right side facing you, using size 2 needles, pick up and knit about 96 (100-104-108) sts around neck edge including sts on holders. Keep 8 sts at each end in Seed-st, purl back. Work 10 sts, attach CC and work 6-row Border across next 76 (80-84-88) sts, with MC, work to end of row. With MC knit 1 row, purl 1 row. Neckband: Change to size 1 needles and keeping 8 sts at each end in Seed-st, work in ribbing of K 1, P 1 for ¾ inch working a buttonhole in center of band. Bind off in ribbing.