Simple stripes of double crochet and trebles combine for this sweater. Make it in jolly stripes of three shades for a comfy classic your little one will wear again and again

Excerpted from Easy to Crochet - Cute Clothes For Kids by Sue whiting, priced £14.99, published by New Holland Publishers.

Materials

materials

• Rowan RYC Cashsoft DK (50 g balls): 2 [2:3] balls in Ballad Blue 508 (A), 2 [2:3] balls in Poppy 512 (B), and 2 [2:2] balls in Lime 509 (C)
• 3.50 mm and 4.00 mm crochet hooks

abbreviations

dc2tog - (insert hook as indicated, yarn over hook and draw loop through) twice, yarn over hook and draw through all 3 loops on hook
tr2tog - *yarn over hook and insert hook as indicated, yarn over hook and draw loop through, yarn over hook and draw through 2 loops, rep from * once more, yarn over hook and draw through all 3 loops on hook.

Tension

18 stitches and 12½ rows to 10 cm measured over pattern using 4.00 mm hook. Change hook size if necessary to obtain this tension.

Note: For a plain sweater, you'll need 4 [4:5] x 50 g balls. Work as given for the striped sweater, but using same colour throughout.

Sweater back

With 4.00 mm hook and B, make 52 [58:64] ch.
Foundation row (RS): 1 dc into 2nd ch from hook, 1 dc into each ch to end, turn. 51 [57:63] sts.
Cont in patt as follows:
1st row: Using B, 3 ch (counts as first tr), miss dc at base of 3 ch, 1 tr into each dc to end, turn.
Join in C.
2nd row: Using C, 1 ch (does NOT count as st), 1 dc into tr at base of 1 ch, 1 dc into each tr to end, working last dc into top of 3 ch at beg of previous row, turn.
3rd row: As 1st row but using C.
Join in A.
4th row: As 2nd row but using A.
5th row: As 1st row but using A.
6th row: As 2nd row but using B.
These 6 rows form patt.
Cont in patt for a further 11 [15:19] rows, ending after 2 rows using A [C:B] and a WS row. (Back should measure 14 [18:21] cm.)

Shape armholes

Shape back neck

Return to last complete row worked before shaping first side of neck, miss next 21 [23:25] sts, rejoin yarn to next st and cont as follows:
Next row: 1 ch (does NOT count as st), 1 dc into tr at base of 1 ch, 1 dc into each st to end, working last dc into top of 3 ch at beg of previous row, turn. Dec 1 st at neck edge of next row. 7 [8:9] sts.
Fasten off.

Front

Work as for Back to **.
Cont in patt for a further 5 [6:7] rows, ending after 2 rows using C and a WS row.

Shape front neck

Sleeves

With 4.00 mm hook and C [C:B], make 28 [30:32] ch.
Work foundation row as for Back. 27 [29:31] sts.

Cont in patt as for Back as follows:
Work 1 row.
Next row (RS): 1 ch (does NOT count as st), 2 dc into tr at base of 1 ch - 1 st increased, 1 dc into each tr to last st, 2 dc into top of 3 ch at beg of previous row - 1 st increased, turn. 29 [31:33] sts.
Working all increases as set by last row, inc 1 st at each end of 2nd and foll 2 [4:4] alt rows. 35 [41:43] sts.
Work 2 rows, ending after a RS row.
Next row (WS): 3 ch (counts as first tr), 1 tr into dc at base of 3 ch - 1 st increased, 1 tr into each dc to last dc, 2 tr into last dc -
1 st increased, turn. 37 [43:45] sts.
Working all increases as now set, inc 1 st at each end of 3rd and 1 [1:3] foll 3rd rows. 41 [47:53] sts.
Cont in patt for a further 4 rows, ending after 2 rows using A [C:B] and a WS row. (Sleeve should measure 18 [21:26] cm.)

Shape top

Making up

Join shoulder seams. Join side seams. Join Sleeve seams. Insert Sleeves into armholes.

Neck Edging

Hem Edging

Cuff Edging