Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Autumn Leaves

In April, I made a sweater for my friend Rebecca's newborn baby. I gave it to her on the condition that she would give me a photograph of Baby Ella in said sweater, but motherhood got away from her, and Ella has now outgrown the sweater. Sadness. So the photos are babyless, but I think that now that the leaves are changing and apple pies are baking, it's finally time to post this pattern.


I came across a mysterious tweedy wool with all the colors of Fall, and loved it. Though of course the leaves on the yoke could easily be spring green or even flower petals.


Don’t be dismayed by the number of rows in this pattern—it’s actually very intuitive.


Sizes:

6-9 months, 9-12 months, (12-15 months)


Materials:

500, 500, (500) yards DK, DK or worsted weight depending on how tight you like your weave, (worsted weight) wool.

US 5 20-in circular needle, US 7, (US 9)

Tapestry needle

4 stitch markers

6, 7, (8) buttons


Gauge:

24.5 sts/32.5 rows=4 inches using US 5 needles, 18 sts/29 rows=4 inches using US 7 needles, (15.5 sts/23 rows=4 inches using US 9 needles).



Pattern:

Choose whichever needle size for whichever size sweater you are making, and follow the pattern from there.

CO 55 sts
Work 2 rows in seed stitch (Rows 1 & 2: *k1, p1; repeat from * to end of row, end k1.)
K1, p1, yo, p2tog, continue in seed stitch to end of row.
Work 3 rows in seed stitch.
R1: (WS): k1, p1, k1, p4, *k1, p3; repeat from * to last 4 sts, end p1, k1, p1, k1.
R2: k1, p1, k1, p1, *k1, (yo, k1) 2X, p1; repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k1, p1, k1. (79 stitches)
R3: k1, p1, k1, p6, *k1, p5; repeat from * to last 4 sts, end p1, k1, p1, k1.
R4: k1, p1, k1, p1, *k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, p1; repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k1, p1, k1. (103 sts)
R5: k1, p1, k1, p8, *k1, p7; repeat from * to last 4 sts, end p1, k1, p1, k1.
R6: k1, p1, k1, p1, *k7, p1; repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k1, p1, k1.
R7: Repeat row 5.
R8:k1, p1, k1, p1, *k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, p1; repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k1, p1, k1. (127 sts)
R9: k1, p1, k1, p10, *k1, p9; repeat from * to last 4 sts, end p1, k1, p1, k1.
R10: (buttonhole row) k1, p1, k1, p1, *k9, p1; repeat from * to last 13 sts, end k9, p2tog, yo, p1, k1.
R11: Repeat row 9.
R12:k1, p1, k1, p1, *k4, yo, k1, yo, k4, p1; repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k1, p1, k1. (151 sts)
R13:k1, p1, k1, p12, *k1, p11; repeat from * to last 4 sts, end p1, k1, p1, k1.
R14:k1, p1, k1, p1, *k11, p1; repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k1, p1, k1.
R15: Repeat row 13.
R16:k1, p1, k1, *p1, yo, skp, k7, k2tog, yo; repeat from * to last 4 sts, end p1, k1, p1, k1. (151 sts--stitch count unchanged)
R17:k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, *p9, k3; repeat from * to last 14 sts, end p9, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1.
R18:k1, p1, k1, p2, yo, skp, k5, k2tog, *yo, p3, yo, skp, k5, k2tog; repeat from * to last 5 sts, end yo, p2, k1, p1, k1.
R19:k1, p1, k1, p1, k2, p7, *k2, p1, k2, p7; repeat from * to last 6 sts, end k2, p1, k1, p1, k1.
R20: k1, p1, k1, p3, yo, skp, k3, k2tog, *yo, p2, k1, p2, yo, skp, k3, k2tog; repeat from * to last 6 sts, end yo, p3, k1, p1, k1.
R21:k1, p1, k1, p2, k2, p5, *k2, p3, k2, p5; repeat from * to last 7 sts, end k2, p2, k1, p1, k1.
R22:k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p2, yo, skp, k1 k2tog, *yo p2, k3, p2, yo, skp, k1, k2tog; repeat from * to last 7 sts, end yo, p2, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1.
R23: (buttonhole row): k1, p1, yo, p2tog, p2, k2, p3, *k2, p5, k2, p3; repeat from * to last 8 sts, end k2, p3, k1, p1, k1.
R24: k1, p1, k1, p1, k2, p2, yo, sl-k2tog-psso, *yo, p2, k5, p2, yo, sl-k2tog-psso; repeat from * to last 8 sts, end yo, p2, k2, p1, k1, p1, k1.
R25: k1, p1, k1, p4, k2, p1, *k2, p7, k2, p1;* to last 9 sts, end k2, p4, k1, p1, k1.
R26:k1, p1, k1, p1, k to last 4 sts, end p1, k1, p1, k1.

You should still have 151 sts on the needle at this point.

Sleeves:
R1: k1, p1, k1, p15. Slip next 36 sts onto a stitch holder, p43, slip next 36 sts onto stitch holder, p15, k1, p1, k1.
R2: k1, p1, k1, p1, k13, m1, place marker, k1, k stitch on left needle across from held stitches, place marker, m1, k41, m1, place marker, k1, k stitch on left needle across from held stitches, place marker, m1, k13, p1, k1, p1, k1. (83 sts on needle).
R3: k1, p1, k1, p to last 3 sts, end k1, p1, k1.
R4: k1, p1, k1, p1, k to marker, m1, sl marker, k2, sl marker, m1, k to marker, m1, sl marker, k2, sl marker, m1, k to last 4 sts, end p1, k1, p1, k1.

Repeat rows 3 & 4 two times more.

R5: k1, p1, k1, p to last 3 sts, end k1, p1, k1.
R6: (buttonhole row) k1, p1, k1, p1, k to last 4 sts, end p2tog, yo, p1, k1.

Repeat rows 3-6 until piece measures 8.5, 10.5, (12.5) inches from back of neck, or whatever length you prefer.
AT THE SAME TIME, after your first row 6, every 13 rows/every two inches, create a buttonhole as you have done throughout.

Knit 3 rows in seed stitch.
Work buttonhole row in seed stitch.
Knit 2 rows in seed stitch.

BO all sts.

Sleeves, continued:

Place held stitches for right sleeve on needle.
With RS facing, attach yarn.
K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Purl one row.
Work three rows in seed stitch.
BO all sts.

Repeat for left sleeve.

Sew sleeve seams, stitch up arm holes under the arms. Weave in all ends. Block as needed, and sew on buttons opposite buttonholes.



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43 comments:

Janet said...

A beautiful sweater...just what I was looking for. Thanks for sharing!

Deborah said...

What a pretty baby sweater. I have a little girl in mind for this beautiful pattern. Thank you!

Kim said...

This is so pretty! I have been trying without success to find the Leaf Yoke Cardigan by Nashua Handknits at several local yarn shops. I like yours better. Thanks very much:)

Jodi said...

Thanks for sharing the pattern! It's so cute. I'm going to knit one up after I finish my tomten jacket.

Anonymous said...

A very beautiful sweater. I love the leaf design. My girls are 7 & 5 yrs. old. I'm going to make a bigger one. Thank you for sharing the pattern. Melca

HAINAngel2000 said...

Love the sweater!!! Very cute!

reB said...

This is a lovely sweater..no baby girl in mind, but will have to knit this next...Thank you!

Yvette said...

Thank you for sharing the pattern! By the way - I love the little green booties on your blog - what is the pattern for those?

Nikki Van De Car said...

It's a pattern called Saartje's Bootees--super cute and free!

http://www.saartjeknits.nl/

Anonymous said...

I love this sweater,could you make the sleeves long?

Nikki Van De Car said...

Absolutely--you could simply keep knitting the sleeves in stockinette, probably decreasing every 6 rows or so, until you've reached the desired length and width, work the seed stitch cuff, and bind off!

Anonymous said...

I love this pattern so much! Thank you for posting it and I love that you posted varying needle sizes instead of just having more stitches for bigger sizes! awesome

Cathy said...

Help. Does anyone have any errata for this pattern? Maybe I'm just confused, but I had trouble getting rows 13 and 16 to come out right (that's as far as I've got).

picperfic said...

I love this design, I have been looking for something similar to this for years....clever you! My daughter, now 33, was given a hand knitted cardigan similar to this when she was born!

KarenK said...

That is *so* sweet. Thank you for sharing your pattern.

Smellyann said...

I'm up to row 16 and loving this pattern so far! I'm using straights instead though. I don't know why people are having problems with rows 13 and 16? They work fine for me. Although some of the directions are wrong for keeping the seed stitch borders right - k1p1 are reversed. But it's no problem to fix. Thanks for sharing it!

katspats said...

lovely pattern!

but i think there's a mistake in row 10, it should be rep to last 13 stitches, not 15

Mary G said...

This sweater is to DIE for - Thanks so much for posting the pattern!

I've done a little tinkering on it... my great-niece is due in late August, so I wanted a long sleeve version, but I hate sewing up seams... soooo.... I picked up the arm stitched onto my long circ's, and used Magic Loop technique to knit the arms long, with no seam to sew. It's come out just great! You can check out the results by viewing my project pictures at Ravelry.com
I'm listed as "marybahai9"

Thanks again for a BEAUTIFUL sweater!

Kirsten said...

Thanks for this very cute pattern - I'm just finishing the sleeves on one in apple green!

Should there be a few rows of plain knitting after row 26, and before dividing for the sleeves? The pictures look like there are more than two rows between the leaf pattern and the moss stitch, which is what I ended up with when following the pattern.

Nikki Van De Car said...

There actually aren't any extra rows in there--it's an illusion of the yoke. However, you could totally make the sleeves as long as you want, and put in a few more rows before going into the seed stitch...

Anonymous said...

Thanks for such a great pattern! I'll make one for our first baby, I'm due in about 4 weeks. Off to the yarn store...

Anonymous said...

Thank you very much for this nice sweater...
I hope I ll be able to translate because English is quiet difficult for me...

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for the beautiful pattern! I am on row 16 and am unsure how to skp (skip I think). Can you recommend the best way to skip a stitch for this pattern? Thanks again for sharing your wonderful design.

Nikki Van De Car said...

Hi there,

skp is slip one st, k1, pass slipped stitch over. Basically you slide the next stitch over to your right hand needle as if you were going to knit it, knit the next stitch, and then using your left hand needle, pass the slipped stitch over the stitch you just knit--one stitch decreased.

Other people probably have better explanations--google skp, or slip-knit-pass

Anonymous said...

Back to row 16, I'm past the skp. But between the *'s you are to decrease and increase 2 stitches. If I follow the directions and yo ofter the k2tog and then p, you don't increase. Should I go directly from a k to a p without a yo? Please help, I just found out I need to make two more of these as my niece is having twins in Aug!!

Nikki Van De Car said...

Hi there,

I'm not sure exactly what trouble it is you're having. Looking at R16, there are two yarnovers within the repeat section: the one right before the skp, and the one right after the k2tog.

I guess a problem you may be having (and this is one I used to have all the time) is that you're yarnovering so that there is no yarnover when you go to work the purl stitch; in that instance, all you do for the yarnover before the p1 is leave the yarn at the back of the work, and p1, bringing it around and creating a yarnover that way. Does that help at all?

R16:k1, p1, k1, *p1, yo, skp, k7, k2tog, yo; repeat from * to last 4 sts, end p1, k1, p1, k1. (151 sts--stitch count unchanged)

Anonymous said...

Thank you. I always yo when changing from k to p. Learned when I was a litle girl. It's a beautiful sweater. Thank you for sharing.

Anonymous said...

I was still having problems until I decided to yo twice. Problem solved. Thank you.

Daryl said...

What an incredibly beautiful sweater. How genearous to share it with the public at large. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Please could you tell me how many grams (or ounces) of wool you used for this, for the smallest size? I've tried converting it, but that seems to be way too much wool and I can't work it out.

LT Silverman said...

So beautiful. Making it for my first grandchild!!!

THANKS!

Yvette said...

Thanks so much for posting this pattern - it is so cute - there are a lot of "Leaf" patterns around but this is particularly nice.

(No1grandma on Ravelry)

~Cecile said...

Thank you for this pattern... I've been looking for a sweater pattern for my new-born fourth baby. This is it!

pucette1102 said...

Hello,

beginner knitting, I love your design very original, but I can not make because my English is too approximate. a French translation is envisaged?
Again sorry for my approximate English
thank you very much

Laurence

Nikki Van De Car said...

Dear Laurence,

I'm afraid my French is 8th grade level at best and not up to the job! I believe it has been knit by a French person before...perhaps if you do a google search for the pattern, you can find them and see if they can help you out.

Sorry!

Liz said...

I am a little confused with the seed stitch at the beginning. Do you work 2 rows of K1,P1 and then one row with K1, p1, yo, p2tog at the beginning followed by K1,P1 for the remainder of the row. And then another 3 rows of k1,p1 - which would make 6 rows in total?? Does R1, R2, etc apply to the main pattern (not seed stitch)?

Nikki Van De Car said...

Hi Liz,

You've got it exactly right--the seed stitch collar goes on for six rows, including a buttonhole row, and then R1 begins the yoke pattern.

gayathri said...

hi,the sweater looks very cute.I am planning to do for my daughter.IS this the whole parttern or there is seprate for back and front?

angeeza said...

So beautiful ! Thank you ! for this pattern !

Robes Sleepwear said...
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
Salma :) said...

Hi,

Is there any way to alter this pattern for a 5 year old?

I wanted to make one for my little niece - it looks SO cute! But not sure if I should just use a bigger size needles, or make changes to the actual pattern when knitting.

Can anyone help please?

Thanks! :)

Dinah said...

I have a stupid question. Do you attach separate balls of yarn when you place the sleeve stitches on a stitch holder to continue working down each side of the body? Thanks for you help!

Nikki Van De Car said...

Hi Trish,

You work R3, R4 twice, and then R3, R4, R5, R6.

Nikki