I’m not a pattern designer but I am a lover of Elizabeth Zimmerman’s February Baby Sweater. It’s an ingenious pattern with little or no sewing up. So here is the version I made for Ella. She’s 6 in this picture but has been wearing it for a year and will likely get at least another year out of it. The beauty of this pattern is that it’s made top down, so you can just stop knitting when it’s the right length for your girlie.
You will need:
950 yds DK/sport yarn -I used 4 balls of Bernat Satin Sport
Gauge:
5 sts to the inch on 4.5mm in garter stitch
Lace Pattern (7 sts)
Row 1: K1, K2tog, yo, K1, yo, K2tog, K1
Row 2: purl (these rows will be knit when working sleeves)
Row 3: K2tog, yo, K3, yo, K2tog
Row 4: purl (these rows will be knit when working sleeves)
Now to begin:
Cast on 81 sts and knit 4 rows.
Increase: K2, yo, K2tog, K10, m1, place marker (pm), K1, m1, K14, m1, pm, K1, m1, K20, m1, pm, K1, m1, K14, m1, pm, K1, m1, K11, K2tog, yo, K2 (89 sts) –you will note this row makes a buttonhole on both sides of the sweater, that makes button placement a no brianer.
Knit next row plain.
Next row: Knit to marker, * m1, slip marker (sm), K1, m1, knit to marker, repeat from * to end of row.
Next row: knit plain
Repeat these last 2 rows until there are 241 sts on your needle.
Work one row plain and then another row with 1 increase at the centre to make a total of 242 sts.
Don’t forget to put in buttonholes every couple of inches -as you like (Ella’s sweater has 5 in the yoke part).
Next row: K5, (K7, m1) 4 times, knit to marker, sm, K27, m1, knit to marker, sm, K20, m1, K20, m1, knit to marker, sm, K27, m1, knit to marker, sm, m1, (K7, m1) 4 times, knit to end. 255 sts.
Knit one more row (WS) plain.
K5, pattern to marker, slip next 56 sts onto a stitch holder for sleeve, pattern next 63 sts, slip next 56 sts onto a stitch holder, pattern until last 5 sts, K5.
Now you should have 143 sts left on your needle. Continue working pattern (keeping 5 sts on either end in garter stitch) until body (from underarm) measures 9 inches, ending with row 4. Work 7 rows garter stitch and cast off loosely.
Now to finish the sleeves. You can use double pointed needles or really short circulars.
Slip first 56 sts onto needle. Pick up 7 stitches for under arm and start lace pattern -since we are working circular now, the even rows of the pattern will be knit
Work in pattern for 10 inches then work 7 rows garter stitch and cast off.
Work second sleeve the same way.
Tuck in your ends and sew on your buttons and give to your favourite little girl.
Thanks Paula. You ROCK!
so cute ! many thanks!
Agnès (from France)
I am in the process of knitting this sweater. You start with 81 sts and the increases are in increments of 8 sts. Doing the math, I don’t understand how you can get to 242 sts on the needle. I get 241. What am I missing?
Anne Gilchrist
waterloo, On
Thanks Anne, you are right. Funny no one has caught that before. Just increase another stitch. Please let me know if you find anything else. I know this has been knit a number of times and the rest of the math has always worked out. Hope you enjoy it.
Thanks I did add another stitch after I finished all the increases.
Do you use DPNs, straights, or circulars?
I use circular needles instead of straight.
I wanted to use the project page on Ravelry to my project page but did not find this listed under February little Ladys sweater how is it listed? Enjoying making this for a 6 year old .
I am so sorry I went back and found I had spelled February wrong . Getting it set up now. Thanks
🙂
do you have any tips on how to size this up for a 10 year old girl? I’m reading the EZ pattern and the Paula Fletcher one, but am struggling with how to get the right size for my daughter. Thanks!
Have you seen the adult sized one in the new EZ Knitter’s Almanac (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/february-lady-sweater). It goes down to 35″, so depending on the size of your 10 year old,it might fit. Also, Ella’s original ‘Little Lady’ sweater still fits and she’s nearly 10.
Paula Fletcher 🙂