Monday, September 3, 2007

Play Park



My kids and I spend many long hours at the local play parks during the fall. I wanted a cute, fitted cardigan that I could slip on when the weather turns cool. When I couldn’t find what I wanted, I came up with this design. Play park falls just to the hips, is fitted at the waist, and has a scoop neck. Right now it is only in my size, to fit a 35-36” chest. If I get interest, I will provide other sizes. Enjoy!!


Materials

6 balls of Bellezza Collection Tesoro (100% wool, 87 yards/50 grams), lime (MC)

3 balls of Bellezza Collection Tesoro (100% wool, 87 yards/50 grams), lilac (CC)

Note: Any worsted weight wool would be fine. You can easily make this solid color. It would also look really cute with the seed stitch in one color and the remainder in a second.

US 8 circular needles, or size to obtain gauge

Zipper, mine was 10” but I suggest waiting until you are finished and measure for best fit

Gauge

18 st and 23 rows to 4 inches


Main Body

Cast on with CC 39 stitches, place marker (pm), 74 stitches, pm, 38 stitches.

Work in seed stitch as follows for 1 inch: K1 *P1, K1* repeat between the stars to the last stitch, K1.

Purl 1 row.

Change to MC and work 2 rows in st st.

NOTE: Colors are now changed every 6 rows.


Waist shaping

Decrease Rows

Row 1 (RS): * K to 3 st before marker, ssk, K2, slip marker, K2tog* repeat, then K to the end of the row

Row 2-4: Work even in st st.

Row 5-6: Change to CC. Work in st st.

Repeat rows 1-6 (keeping 6 rows per color) four times (135 stitches).

Work 4 rows even


Increase Rows

Row 1 (RS): *K to 2 st before the marker, m1, K2, slip marker, K2, m1* repeat, then K to the end of the row

Row 2-6: Work even in st st in stripe pattern

Repeat rows 1-6 four times (151 stitches).


Work even to 13” (~12 more rows) or desired length, ending with a WS row.You are now at the armholes and will be working each section separately.


RIGHT Front

Knit 1 row. BO 6.

Row 1: K to the last 4 stitches, K2tog, K2

Row 2: P

Repeat two more times.

BO 8 stitches for the neck.

Decrease 1 st at every end four times.


Work even to 6 ¾” from the armhole (19 ¾ total from cast on)


Shoulder

K one row. BO 8.

Repeat these two rows.


LEFT Front

Join yarn with RS facing. BO 6 stitches.

Row 1: P

Row 2: K2, K2tog, K to the end.

Repeat these two rows 2 more times.

BO 8 stitches for the neck.

Decrease 1 st at every end four times.


Work even to 6 ¾” from the armhole (19 ¾ total from cast on)


Shoulder

BO 8. Work one row.

BO 8.


BACK

Join with the RS facing.

BO 6 at the beginning of the next two rows.

Row 1: K2, ssk, K to four stitches from the end, K2tog, K2

Row 2: P

Repeat these 2 rows 2 more times.


Continue to 6 ½”.


Shoulders

BO 8 at the beginning of the next 4 rows.

BO 24.


Sleeves (make 2)

CO 36 stitches in CC. Work 1” seed stitch.


Increase Row 1: K3, m1, K to the last 3 stitches, m1, K3

Rows 2-6: Work even.


Switch to MC and repeat these 6 rows 7 times (62 stitches).


Continue straight to 16 inches (or ~ 1 inch less than desired length)


Shape top

BO 6 at the beginning of the next 2 rows.

Row 1: K2, ssk, K to the last 4 stitches, K2tog, K2.

Row 2: P

Repeat these 2 rows 2 more times. BO all stitches.


Finishing

Block all pieces. Join shoulder seams. Center sleeves and sew in place. Sew sleeve seams. Attach zipper. If desired, using CC, K 4 stitch strips to length of zipper. Sew in place to cover facing of the zipper. I think this gives a more finished look but it is completely optional!


Zip up and Enjoy!!