Knitty: Winter 2007 - Laughing Carrots

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by SaRi

Looking for a cardigan for your son, daughter, nephew, niece or your grandchild? This may be it -- a wonderful warm and funny kids cardigan.

What do you see in the cables? Barbara Walker called it the "Laughing cables" pattern in her fourth treasury; my husband thinks these are drops with faces; my daughter believes it to be little ghosts or Jack O’Lanterns and my son is quite positive they are laughing carrots.

The yarn is so soft, that it turns into a wonderful garment for children and it knits up quickly, you can still knit it for Christmas. The cardigan has a hemline around the body, but none on the sleeves. On the short bit of the sleeve cuff the waffle stitch does not need a hem facing to stay flattish, however, it will curl a little at the bottom of the sweater. I love it as is. If you're bothered, a simple stockinette hem facing will make the curl go away.

model: Samson photos: Michael Riefler

SIZE

6[7, 8, 9, years old] (shown in size 7)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest: 28.75[29, 30.25, 32] inches
Length: 17.25[18, 19, 19.75] inches

MATERIALS

Austermann Inka color [70 % Alpaca Arequipa Suri Fleece, 30 % Peruvian Highland wool; 109 yards/100 m per 50g skein]; color: #17 Green; 7[7, 8, 9] skeins

Recommended needle size:
1 set US #6/4mm double-point needles
1 set US #7/4.5mm double-point needles
1 US #6/4mm circular needle, 24 inches or longer
1 US #7/4.5mm circular needle, 24 inches or longer
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]

Cable needle
Stitch holders
Stitch marker
Safety pins
7 buttons; buy buttons after sweater is complete to ensure correct size

GAUGE

19 sts/26 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch using smaller needles

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty’s list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here]

S2KP: Sl next 2 sts together, knitwise, as if working a k2tog; k next st, pass slipped sts, together, over st just knit. Forms a centered double decrease.

C4B: Sl next 2 sts to cable needle and hold to back of work; k2, k2 from cable needle.

Waffle Stitch (Worked back and forth over an odd number of sts):
Row 1 [RS]: K1, [p1, k1] to end.
Row 2 [WS]: P all sts.
Row 3 [RS]: K all sts.
Row 4 [WS]: P1, [k1, p1] to end.
Row 5 [RS]: K all sts.
Row 6 [WS]: P all sts.
Repeat Rows 1-6 for Waffle Stitch.

Waffle Stitch (Worked in the round over an even number of sts):
Rounds 1-2: K all sts.
Round 3: [K1, p1] to end.
Repeat these 3 rounds for Waffle Stitch.

Three-Needle Bind Off
Hold both pieces of knitting with right sides together.
Insert needle into first st on front needle and first st on back needle, and knit them together. *Repeat this for the next st on the front and back needles. Draw the first st worked over the second st.*
Repeat from * to * until all sts have been bound off. Break yarn and draw through remaining st.

PATTERN

LOWER BODY
Using US #6/4mm circular needle, CO 143[147, 151, 159] sts. Do not join work.
Work 11 rows in stockinette st, beginning with a RS row.

K 1 WS row to form turning ridge for hem facing.
Work 12 rows in Waffle Stitch.

Note: Read ahead. Shaping directions and stitch pattern directions are worked at the same time.

Work in stockinette st until work measures 11.25[12, 13, 13.75] inches from turning ridge, ending with a WS row.

Work 11 rows in Waffle Stitch (referred to below as "Waffle Stitch band").
AT THE SAME TIME: When work measures 11.75[12, 13, 13.25] inches from turning ridge, ending with a WS row, divide for armholes as follows:
Next Row [RS]: Work 36[37, 38, 39] sts in pattern, then place them on st holder for right front; work 71[73, 75, 81] sts in pattern; place remaining 36[37, 38, 39] sts on st holder for left front. Upper back is worked over 71[73, 75, 81] sts on needle.

UPPER BACK
Once Waffle Stitch band is complete, switch to US #7/4.5mm needle and set up for chart pattern as follows:

Size 6 Only:
Set-Up Row [WS]: [K3, p4, k3, p7] to last 3 sts, k3.
Next Row [RS]: Work Row 1 of chart, working pattern repeat 4 times.
Continuing in pattern as set, work through all rows of chart once, then work Rows 1-12 once more.
Place 21 sts on one st holder, 29 sts on a second st holder, and 21 sts on a third st holder.

Size 7 Only:
Set-up Row [WS]: P1, [k3, p4, k3, p7] to last 4 sts, k3, p1.
Next Row [RS]: K1, work Row 1 of chart, working pattern repeat 4 times; k1.
Continuing in pattern as set, work through all rows of chart once, then work Rows 1-12 once more.
Place 22 sts on one st holder, 29 sts on a second st holder, and 22 sts on a third st holder.

Size 8 Only:
Set-up Row [WS]: P1, k1, [k3, p4, k3, p7] to last 5 sts, k4, p1.
Next Row [RS]: K1, p1, work Row 1 of chart, working pattern repeat 4 times; p1, k1.
Continuing in pattern as set, work through all rows of chart once, then work Rows 1-7 once more.

Next Row [RS]: Continuing with next row of chart, work 23 sts in pattern, join a second ball of yarn and BO 29 sts, work in pattern to end.
Working each section of 23 sts separately, work 4 more rows in pattern, ending with Row 12 of chart. Place each section on a st holder.

Size 9 Only:
Set-up Row [WS]: [K3, p7, k3, p4] 4 times, k3, p7, k3.
Next Row [RS]: Work Row 1 of chart, working pattern repeat 4 times, then working first 10 sts of repeat once more. Do not work the 3 sts shown outside of the pattern repeat.
Continuing in pattern as set, work through all rows of chart once, then work Rows 1-5 once more.

Next Row [RS]: Continuing with next row of chart, work 24 sts in pattern, join a second ball of yarn and BO 33 sts, work in pattern to end.
Working each section of 24 sts separately, work 6 more rows in pattern, ending with Row 12 of chart. Place each section on a st holder.

RIGHT FRONT
Replace held 36[37, 38, 39] sts of right front on US #6/4mm needle with WS facing and rejoin yarn at armhole edge. Work to end of Waffle Stitch band as for back, then switch to US #7/4.5mm needle and set up for chart pattern as follows:

Size 6 Only:
Set-Up Row [WS]: K2, [p4, k3, p7, k3] to end.
Next Row [RS]: Work Row 1 of chart, working pattern repeat twice, omitting last st of chart.
Work Rows 1-20 of chart once; neckline shaping below will begin on Row 1 of chart.

Size 7 Only:
Set-Up Row [WS]: [K3, p4, k3, p7] to last 3 sts, k3.
Next Row [RS]: Work Row 1 of chart, working pattern repeat twice.
Work Rows 1-20 of chart once; neckline shaping below will begin on Row 1 of chart.

Size 8 Only:
Set-Up Row [WS]: P1, [k3, p4, k3, p7] to last 3 sts, k3.
Next Row [RS]: Work Row 1 of chart, working pattern repeat twice; k last st.
Work Rows 1-18 of chart once; neckline shaping below will begin on Row 19 of chart.

Size 9 Only:
Set-Up Row [WS]: P1, [k3, p4, k3, p7] to last 4 sts, k3, p1.
Next Row [RS]: K1, work Row 1 of chart, working pattern repeat twice; k last st.
Work Rows 1-18 of chart once; neckline shaping below will begin on Row 19 of chart.

All Sizes:
Continuing in chart pattern as set, shape neckline as follows:
Row 1 [RS]: BO 4 sts, work in pattern to end.
Even-Numbered Rows 2-6 [WS]: Work in pattern to last 2 sts, ssp.

Row 3 [RS]: BO 3 sts, work in pattern to end.

Row 5 [RS]: BO 2 sts, work in pattern to end.

When Row 6 of neckline shaping is complete, 24[25, 26, 27] sts remain.

Next Row [RS]: Ssk, work in pattern to end.
Work 1 row in pattern.
Repeat these 2 rows twice more. 21[22, 23, 24] sts.

Sizes 8 and 9 Only:
Work 2 rows in pattern.

All Sizes:
Join sts on needle to sts of back right shoulder using Three-Needle Bind Off.

LEFT FRONT
Replace held 36[37, 38, 39] sts of right front on US #6/4mm needle with RS facing and rejoin yarn at armhole edge. Work to end of Waffle Stitch band as for back, then switch to US #7/4.5mm needle and set up for chart pattern as follows:

Size 6 Only:
Set-Up Row [WS]: [K3, p4, k3, p7] to last 2 sts, k2.
Next Row [RS]: Work Row 11 of chart, working pattern repeat twice, omitting first st of first pattern repeat.
Work Rows 12-20 of chart once, then work Rows 1-9; neckline shaping below will begin on Row 10 of chart.

Size 7 Only:
Set-Up Row [WS]: [K3, p4, k3, p7] to last 3 sts, k3.
Next Row [RS]: Work Row 11 of chart, working pattern repeat twice.
Work Rows 12-20 of chart once, then work Rows 1-9; neckline shaping below will begin on Row 10 of chart.

Size 8 Only:
Set-Up Row [WS]: [K3, p4, k3, p7] to last 3 sts, k3, p1.
Next Row [RS]: K1, work Row 11 of chart, working pattern repeat twice.
Work Rows 12-20 of chart once, then work Rows 1-7; neckline shaping below will begin on Row 8 of chart.

Size 9 Only:
Set-Up Row [WS]: P1, [k3, p4, k3, p7] to last 4 sts, k3, p1.
Next Row [RS]: K1, work Row 11 of chart, working pattern repeat twice; k last st.
Work Rows 12-20 of chart once, then work Rows 1-7; neckline shaping below will begin on Row 8 of chart.

All Sizes:
Continuing in chart pattern as set, shape neckline as follows:
Row 1 [WS]: BO 4 sts, work in pattern to end.
Even-Numbered Rows 2-6 [RS]: Work in pattern to last 2 sts, k2tog.
Row 3 [WS]: BO 3 sts, work in pattern to end.
Row 5 [WS]: BO 2 sts, work in pattern to end.
When Row 6 of neckline shaping is complete, 24[25, 26, 27] sts remain.

Work 1 row in pattern.
Next Row [RS]: Work in pattern to last 2 sts, k2tog.
Repeat these 2 rows twice more. 21[22, 23, 24] sts.

Work 1[1, 3, 3] rows in pattern.
Join sts on needle to sts of back right shoulder using Three-Needle Bind Off.

SLEEVES (Make 2)
Using US #6/4mm double-point needles, CO 30[32, 34, 36] sts.

Divide sts between needles and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist.

Work 12 rounds Waffle Stitch.

K 5 rounds.
Increase Round: K1, m1, k to last st, m1, k1.
Repeat these 6 rounds 10[11, 11, 12] times more. 52[56, 58, 62] sts.

Continue in stockinette st until sleeve measures 14.25[14.75, 15.25, 15.75] inches or desired length to underarm.

Loosely BO all sts.

FINISHING

Fold hem to WS and sew invisibly in place.

Buttonhole Band:
Use safety pins to mark locations of 6 buttonholes, evenly spaced along left front. The first and last buttonholes should be located 0.5 inch from the upper and lower edges.
With RS facing and using US #7/4.5mm circular needle, pick up and k 3 sts for every 4 rows along left front edge. Work 3 rows Waffle Stitch.

Buttonhole Row [RS]: [Work to 1 st before location of buttonhole, k2tog, yo] 6 times, work to end.
Work 2 more rows Waffle Stitch.
BO all sts loosely in pattern, alternating k sts and p sts.

Button Band:
On right front edge, work as for Buttonhole Band, omitting buttonholes.

Neckband:
With RS facing and using US #7/4.5mm circular needle, pick up and k 1 st n each held or bound off st, and 1 st in each row, around neckline edge.
Work 3 rows Waffle Stitch.
Next Row [RS]: Work in pattern to last 5 sts, k2tog, yo, work to end.
Work 2 more rows Waffle Stitch.
BO all sts loosely in pattern, alternating k sts and p sts.

Weave in all ends and block as desired.
Sew buttons to button band, opposite buttonholes.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

SaRi has been a knitter for over 20 years now. She admits being a knitting addict. In winter she saves heating because her home is stuffed with yarn.

Read her musings on knitting on her blog!