Ewok Sweater

ETA:  New sizes are available!  Scroll down to see details…

Yay!  A free pattern!

This sweater is based on one of my favorites from when my son was tiny.  Since it no longer fits him (babies grow so fast!), I decided to create my own version for his first birthday.  It is made from inexpensive, warm and snuggly merino wool (all natural- just be careful not to felt it) and is perfect for cool fall mornings or snowy winter days around the house.

It is a fairly standard ribbed sweater, with a bit of interest thrown in with the center cable panels and broad stripes.  My neck is finished with a rolled edge for durability and snaps at the shoulder for easy removal.  It is VERY stretchy to last many months.

Errata is marked in red:

Materials

1 3.5oz/100g ball each of Patons Classic Wool Merino in A (Taupe 00227), B (Paprika 00238 ) and C (Rich Red 00207)

Pair each of size 4.5mm(US 7) and 5mm(US 8 ) knitting needles

Tapestry needle

Stitch holders

Cable needle

3 snaps

Sizes

to fit 3 mos (6 mos, 12 mos, 18 mos, 24 mos)

actual measurements:

chest 20(21, 22, 23, 24) inches/50.5(53, 56, 58.5, 61) cm

length 10(11, 11.5, 12, 14) inches/25.5(28, 29, 30.5, 35.5) cm

sleeve seam 6.5(7, 8, 8.5, 9) inches/16.5(17.5, 20, 21.5, 23) cm

Note:  Due to the extremely stretchy fabric that ribs make, you will not actually change your stitch count when making the sweater to change width size.  Width size will be determined during blocking and wearing.  Your finished sweater should fit all ages.  How versatile!  Your only changes will be in length of the body and sleeve.  See Stripe Sequence for details on working length.

Tension/Gauge

21 sts and 28 rows to 10cm/4in over 3×3 rib using 5mm(US 8 ) needles

Abbreviations

beg- beginning

kfb- knit front and back

C6B (cable 6 back)- sl next 3 sts onto cable needle and hold at back, k3, ten k3 from cable needle

dec- decrease

inc- increase

CO- cast on

BO- bind off

k- knit

p- purl

rep- repeat

RS- right side

WS- wrong side

tog- together

sts- stitches

pu- pick up and knit

Stripe Sequence:

16 rows each color (including bottom edge) in CABC plus 8A(CABCA, CABCA plus 6B, CABCAB plus 2C, CABCABC plus 14A) for front and back- ending on a WS row.

16 rows each color (including wrist edge) in CA plus 12B(CAB, CAB plus 8C, CAB plus 10C, CABC) for sleeves.

To avoid obvious mixing of colors, knit all stitches on the first row of a color change.  Then return to rib pattern on the second row of the color change.

Back

With 4.5mm(US 7) needles and C, CO 66 sts.

Row 1: P2, [k2, p2] to end.

Row 2: K2, [p2, k2] to end.

Repeat these 2 rows (2×2 rib) for 1in/2.5cm, ending with row 2.

Dec row: (RS): Using 5mm(US 8 ) needles, [K3, p3] 5 times, (k2tog) 3 times, [p3, k3] 5 times. 63 sts.

Row 2 (WS): P3, [k3, p3] to end.

Row 3 (RS): K3, [p3, k3] to end.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 (3×3 rib) for 6.5(7.25, 8, 8, 9)in/16.5(18.5, 20, 20, 23)cm, changing colors as indicated in stripe sequence.

BO 5 sts at beg of next 2 rows.

Continue 3X3 rib, following stripe sequence, over 53 sts until piece measures 10(11, 11.5, 12, 14)in/25.5(28, 29, 30.5, 35.5)cm.

BO 12 sts at beg of next 2 rows.  Place remaining 29 sts on stitch holder.

Front

With 4.5mm(US 7) needles and C, CO 66 sts.

Row 1: P2, [k2, p2] to end.

Row 2: K2, [p2, k2] to end.

Repeat these 2 rows (2×2 rib) for 1in/2.5cm, ending with row 2.

Row 1 (RS): Using 5mm(US 8 ) needles, [K3, p3] 5 times, k6, [p3, k3] 5 times.

Row 2 (WS): [P3, k3] 10 times, p6, [k3, p3] to end.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 for 6.5(7.25, 8, 8, 9)in/16.5(18.5, 20, 20, 23)cm, following stripe sequence.

At the same time, C6B over the center 6 knit sts every 12 rows, beginning with row 19 (third row of color A).

Continue in pattern until piece measures 6.5(7.25, 8, 8, 9)in/16.5(18.5, 20, 20, 23)cm.  BO 5 sts at beg of next 2 rows.  Cont in pattern, following stripe sequence over 56 sts until piece measures 8.25(9.25, 9.5, 10, 12)in/21(23.5, 24, 25.5, 30.5)cm.

On next row, work 22 sts in pattern and turn.

Left front: BO 2 sts at beg of next 2 WS rows.  Then BO 1 st at beg of next 4 WS rows (14 sts remain).  Continue in pattern, following stripe sequence, until piece measures 10(11, 11.5, 12, 14)in/25.5(28, 29, 30.5, 35.5)cm.  BO all sts.

Right front: Place next 12 sts (cable panel and surrounding 6 sts) on stitch holder.  Join yarn and BO 2 sts at beg of next 2 RS rows.  Then BO 1 st at beg of next 4 RS rows (14 sts remain).  Continue in pattern, following stripe sequence, until piece measures 10(11, 11.5, 12, 14)in/25.5(28, 29, 30.5, 35.5)cm.  BO all sts.

Sleeves (make 2):

With 4.5mm(US 7) needles and C, CO 32 sts.

Row 1: [k2, p2] to end.

Row 2: [k2, p2] to end.

Repeat these 2 rows (2×2 rib) for 1in/2.5cm, ending with row 1.

Inc row: K1, kfb, p3, k3, p3, kfb, k1, p6, k1, kfb, p3, k3, p3, kfb, k1. (36 sts)

Row 1: Using 5mm(US 8 ) needles, p3, [k3, p3] 2 times, k6, [p3, k3] 2 times, p3.

Row 2: k3, [p3, k3] 2 times, p6, [k3, p3] 2 times, k3.

Continue in pattern, following stripe sequence.  At the same time, C6B over the center 6 knit sts every 12 rows, beginning with row 19 (third row of color A).  Also at the same time, inc 1 stitch each end every 3(3, 4, 4, 4) rows 10 times, starting with row 3, ensuring continuation of 3X3 rib until you have reached 56 sts.

Work straight until piece measures 6.5(7, 8, 8.5, 9)in/16.5(17.5, 20, 21.5, 23)cm and BO.

Shoulder Placket:

With 4.5mm(US 7) needles and B, CO 4 sts.

K 12 rows and BO.  Sew long side to left back shoulder.

Sew right shoulder seam.

Neck:

With 4.5mm(US 7) needles and A, pick up and knit as follows:

Starting at left front shoulder, pick up and knit 20 sts down left front neck edge, k across 12 sts at center front, pick up and knit 20 sts up right front neck edge, pick up and knit 1 at back right shoulder, k across 29 sts at center back, pick up and knit 2 on placket edge. (84 sts)

Row 1 (WS): K2, [p2, k2] to end.

Row 2 (RS): P2, [k2, p2] to end.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 for 1in/2.5cm, ending with a WS row.  Change to stockinette stitch (k on RS, p on WS) for 4 rows and BO.

Finishing:

Sew sleeves into armholes, making sure cable panel is centered on the shoulder seam.  Sew side and arm sleeves, matching color changes and sleeve increases.  Sew snaps onto top of placket and underside of right front shoulder.  Weave ends.  Snuggle your wee one in warmth.

If you find errors, please let me know!

** This is a free pattern.  You may use it for all the non-commercial purposes you like.  You may not reproduce this pattern to sell, but you may sell what you make with it with credit given to me as designer.