Hey Diddle-Diddle Cardigan Sweater, Size 2 - 3

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MATERIALS:

6 oz. brown knitting worsted
2 oz. tan knitting worsted
1 pair No. 3 needles
1 pair No. 5 needles
Knitting Chart

GAUGE:

5 1/2 stitches = 1 inch
7 rows = 1 inch

BACK:

With brown yarn, using No. 3 needles, cast on 52 stitches and work in ribbing of knit 2, purl 2, for 12 rows. In the next row (a knit row) change to No. 5 needles and increase to 59 stitches by knitting in front and back of every 7th stitch across the row. Purl back. Attach tan yarn and follow chart for Pattern No. 1. When you have finished this pattern, break tan yarn, leaving several inches for finishing. Work even in stockinette stitch until work measures about 8 inches from top of ribbing or desired length to underarm.

Bind off 3 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows and then decrease 1 stitch each end of needle on next 2 knit rows. (49 stitches remain.) On next knit row, attach tan yarn and follow chart for Pattern No. 2. Use tan for background and work pattern in brown. Take off the 49 stitches on a stitch holder and leave.

FRONTS:

Each front has a 5 stitch border in garter stitch (knitting every row). For a boy's sweater, make buttonholes in border on left front and for a girl's sweater on right front. Make first buttonhole in 10th row and then every 18th row. The last buttonhole is made in the ribbing for the neck. (To make a buttonhole, knit 1, knit 2 together, yarn over, knit 2. On next row, knit over these 5 stitches.)

RIGHT FRONT:

With brown yarn and No. 3 needles, cast on 33 stitches (28 stitches plus 5 for garter stitch front band). Always knit these 5 border stitches in brown, even when the colors are reversed for the yoke.

Work as follows:

Row 1: Knit 5, then purl 2, knit 2, across remaining 28 stitches.

Row 2: Purl 2, knit 2, across first 28 stitches; then knit remaining 5 stitches. Work these 2 rows alternately until you have 12 rows in all.

Now change to No. 5 needles and work in stockinette stitch (keeping garter stitch border) and increasing to 36 stitches by knitting in front and back of every 11th stitch across first row (a knit row).

On next knit row begin Pattern No. 1, attaching tan yarn inside garter stitch front band. After you have completed this pattern, break tan yarn, leaving several inches for finishings and work even until back and front are same depth to underarm.

On next row bind off 3 stitches at armhole edge (opposite edge from border). Decrease 1 stitch on this same edge on next 2 knit rows (31 stitches left). Attach tan yarn and follow chart for Pattern No. 3, remembering to knit the five border stitches in brown but keeping background inside this border in tan. On first knit row after you have completed the pattern, knit the 5 brown stitches of the front band, then 10 tan stitches. Remove these 15 stitches to a stitch holder and leave. Break brown yarn. Knit to end of row in tan. Purl back. Decrease 1 stitch at beginning of next 4 knit rows. Put remaining 12 stitches on a stitch holder and leave.

LEFT FRONT:

Work the 12 rows of ribbing as follows:

Row 1: Knit 2, purl 2, across first 28 stitches, then knit 5.

Row 2: Knit 5, then knit 2, purl 2, across remaining 28 stitches.

Repeat these 2 rows alternately for 12 rows.

Work to correspond to right front. When starting all patterns, begin reading chart at lower lefthand corner on a knit row, reading from left to right on knit rows and from right to left on purl rows. This will reverse the pattern. Be sure to do shaping for armhole, neck and shoulders at opposite edges from first half.

Weave the shoulders to the back, leaving center 25 stitches of back on a holder. (See General Directions.)

NECK:

Holding right side of work toward you and using No. 3 needles and brown yarn, knit the 15 stitches of right front which were left on the holder, then pick up and knit 7 stitches over the right shoulder, then knit the 25 stitches from the back, then pick up and knit 7 over the left shoulder and then the 15 from the left front. You will have 69 stitches on your needle. Purl back, decreasing to 68 stitches by purling 2 stitches together at center back. Work in ribbing of knit 2, purl 2, for 5 rows, making a buttonhole over the other buttonholes in the 3rd row of the ribbing. Bind off.

SLEEVES:

Pick up 50 stitches around armhole, using No. 5 needles and brown yarn. Work in stockinette stitch, decreasing 1 stitch each end every 6th row until there are 32 stitches left and sleeve measures 7 1/2 inches. Attach tan yarn and work Pattern No. 1. Then work 1 row in brown, changing to No. 3 needles. Work in ribbing of knit 2, purl 2, for 12 rows. Bind off. Make other sleeve to correspond.


Other great patterns from Mother Goose Sweaters, Volume 50:

Knitting Patterns

Pussy Cat Sweater Vest
Little Pony Sweater Vest
Three Ships Pullover
Three Blind Mice Sweater Vest
Simple Simon Cardigan
Hey Diddle-Diddle Cardigan
Jack Be Nimble Sweater
Bobby Shaftoe Cardigan
Trip and Go Sweater
Butterfly, Butterfly Pullover
Dr. Foster Cardigan