Girl's Cardigan Sweater Pattern #401

4 and (6) year old

REQUIREMENTS:
YARN: 10 (12) Ounces of 4-ply Knitting Worsted.
NEEDLES: 1-pr #3 single pointed. 1-pr. #5 single pointed.

GAUGE: 5½ sts to an inch. 15 rows make 2 inches.

BACK: With the #3 needles cast on 66 (74) sts; and work in ribbing as follows: 1st row: * P 2, k 2, repeat from * across ending with p 2. 2nd row: * k 2, p 2, repeat from * across ending with k 2. Repeat these 2 rows for 2¼  (2½) inches; ending with the 2nd row. Now change to the #5 needles and work in the following PATTERN: for both sizes. Row 1:  * p 2, k 6, repeat from * across row, ending with p 2. Row 2: * k 2, p 6, repeat from * across row, ending with k 2. Row 3: Repeat row 1. Row 4: Repeat row 2. Row 5: * p 2, k 2, repeat from * across row, ending with p 2. Row 6: * K 2, p 2, repeat from * across row, ending with k 2. Repeat these 6 rows for the pattern. Work until the piece measures 9 (9½) inches, or as long as you need up to the underarm. UNDERARM SHAPING: Bind off 4 (5) sts at the beginning of the 2 next rows, (once at each side). Decrease 1 stitch at each side of the work every other row 3 (4) times. Keeping the sts in the pattern work until the armhole measures 4¾ (5) inches above the underarm. SHOULDER SHAPING: Bind off 8 (9) sts at the beginning of the next 4 rows. 16 sts (18) sts for each shoulder. Bind off the remaining sts for the back of the neck.

LEFT FRONT: With the #3 needles cast on 38 (40) sts and work as follows: 1st row: K 6 (8) sts, border; * k 2, p 2, repeat from * across row, ending with p 2. 2nd row: * k 2, p 2, repeat from * across to the last 6 (8) sts; knit these last sts for border. Repeat these 2 rows for 2¼ (2½) inches, ending with the 1st row. Now change to the #5 needles and work in the following pattern: Row 1: * k 6, p 2, repeat from * 3 times more; k 6, (8) sts for border. Row 2: K 6 (8) sts, border; * k 2, p 6, repeat from * 3 times more. Row 3: Repeat row 1. Row 4: Repeat row 2. Row 5: * k 2, p 2, repeat from * to within the last 6 (8) sts, knit these last sts. Row 6: K 6 (8) sts, border, * k 2, p 2, repeat from * across row, ending with p 2. Repeat these 6 rows for the pattern. Work until the pieces measures 9 (9½) inches, or as long as you need up to the underarm to match the back. UNDERARM SHAPING: With the right side of the work facing you, at the underarm edge bind off 4 (5) sts once; finish the row, and do the next row. Decrease 1 stitch at the underarm edge every other row 3 (3) times. Continuing the sts in the pattern, work until the armhole measures 3¾ (4) inches, above the underarm. NECK SHAPING: At the neck edge (opposite the underarm), bind off 8 (9) sts, once; decrease 1 st at the neck edge every row 5 (5) times. When the armhole measures 4¾ (5) inches, from the armhole edge bind off 8 (9) sts twice. All sts are off the needle.

NOTE: BUTTONHOLES: On the right front, make the first buttonhole ¾ inches from the beginning. A buttonhole is made as follows: With the right side of the work facing you, k 2 sts, bind off 2 sts, finish the row NEXT ROW: Work back to where you bound off the sts, cast on 2 sts, knit the last 2 sts. Repeat every 2 inches. RIGHT FRONT: With the #3 needles cast on 38 (40) sts and start as follows: 1st row: * p 2, k 2, repeat from * to within the last 6 (8) sts, knit these last sts for border. 2nd row: K 6 (8) sts, border sts; * p 2, k 2, repeat from * to end of row. Repeat these 2 rows for the same as the right front band, ending with the first row. Don't forget your buttonholes. Now change to the #5 needles and start the pattern: Row 1: K 6 (8) sts, border; * p 2, k 6, repeat from * 3 times more. Row 2: * P 6, k 2, repeat from * 3 times more; knit last 6 (8) sts, border. Row 3: Repeat row 1. Row 4: Repeat row 2. Row 5: K 6 (8) sts border; * p 2, k 2, repeat from * across row, ending with k 2. Row 6: * p 2, k 2, repeat from * to within the last 6 (8) sts; knit these last sts for border. Repeat these 6 rows for the pattern. Finish the remainder of the front to correspond to the left one. Be sure and have the bind off and decrease at the opposite sides.

LONG SLEEVES: With the #3 needles cast on 36 (40) sts and work in ribbing of k 2, p 2 for 2 inches. Now change to the #5 needles and start the pattern as follows: Row 1: K 1 (3) sts; * p 2, k 6, repeat from * 3 times more, ending with p 2; k 1 (3) sts. Row 2: P 1 (3) sts, * k 2, p 6, repeat from * 3 times more, ending with k 2; p 1 (3) sts. Row 3: Repeat row 1. Row 4: Repeat row 2. Row 5: K 1 (3) sts; * p 2, k 2, repeat from * across row, ending with p 2; k 1 (3) sts. Row 6: P 1 (3) sts; * k 2, p 2, repeat from * across row, ending with p 1, (3) sts. Increase 1 stitch at each side of the work every one inch, the increased sts to be kept in stockinette stitch, until you have 50 (54) sts on the needle. Now work until the piece measures 11 (12) inches, or as long as you need up to the underarm. UNDER ARM SHAPING and CAP OF SLEEVE: Bind off 4 (5) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. Once at each side. Decrease 1 stitch at each side of the work every other row 9 (10) times. Decrease 1 stitch at each side of the work every row 4 times. Bind off the remaining sts.

FINISHING: Sew shoulder and underarm seams. Sew sleeves up and into the armhole matching the underarm seams, easing in any fullness towards the top. NECK BAND: With the #3 needles pick up and knit (64) sts around the neck. Work in ribbing of k 2, p 2 for (6) rows. Bind off loosely, knitting the knit sts, purling the purl sts. If necessary make a buttonhole in the neck band, on the 93rd row. in the same manner as on the front.