Watch baby steal the spotlight in this darling knit sweater and hat set featuring a beautiful star design. The star lace pattern on the sweater yoke and hat are knit in our smooth Red Heart Soft Baby Steps yarn, following the pattern or the chart. It’s a stellar gift idea in favorite shades to please both parents and baby!
What you will need:
RED HEART® Soft Baby Steps®: 2 (2, 2, 3) balls 9505
Aqua Knitting Needles: 5mm [8 US] circular needle, 24” (60 cm) long Yarn needle, stitch marker, 3 stitch holders (2 medium-length and one large), 7 (8, 8, 9) buttons
GAUGE: 17 sts = 4” (10 cm); 24 rows = 4” (10 cm) in Seed st. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needles to obtain the gauge.
Cardigan directions are for size 3 months.
Changes for sizes 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months are in parentheses Hat directions are for size 3–6 months. Changes for size 12–18 months are in parentheses
Finished Chest: 20½ (22½, 24½, 26½)” (52 (57, 62, 67.5) cm), buttoned Finished Hat Circumference: 15 (18)” (38 (45.5) cm), slightly stretched
Special Stitches sk2p = Slip next stitch as if to knit to right needle, k2tog, lift slipped st over the k2tog st and off needle. ssk = Slip next two stitches, one at a time, as if to knit to right needle, insert point of left needle through front of sts
Pattern Stitches
Seed Stitch (over an even number of sts)
Row 1 (right side): *K1, p1; repeat from * to end of row.
Row 2: *P1, k1; repeat from * to end of row. Repeat these 2 rows for Seed st.
(begins over 4 sts and increases to 12 sts)
Row 1 (right side): P1, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1. Row 2: P5, k1. Row 3: P1, k5. Row 4: P5, k1. Row 5: P1, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2. Row 6: P7, k1. Row 7: P1, k7. Row 8: P7, k1. Row 9: P1, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3. Row 10: P9, k1. Row 11: P1, k9. Row 12: P9, k1. Row 13: P1, k4, yo, k1, yo, k4. Row 14: P11, k1. Row 15: P1, k11. Row 16: P11, k1. Row 17: K1, yo, ssk, k7, k2tog, yo. Row 18: P11, k1. Row 19: K1, p1, yo, ssk, k5, k2tog, yo, p1. Row 20: P1, k1, p7, k1, p1, k1. Row 21: K1, p1, k1, yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, k1, p1. Row 22: P1, k1, p7, k1, p1, k1. Row 23: [K1, p1] twice, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, p1, k1, p1. Row 24: [P1, k1] twice, p3, [k1, p1] twice, k1. Row 25: [K1, p1] twice, k1, yo, sk2p, yo, [k1, p1] twice. Row 26: *P1, k1; repeat from * to end of row.
Notes
1. Cardigan is worked in one piece from neck down to underarms. Piece is then divided for fronts, back, and sleeves.
2. Body is worked from underarm down to lower edge. Sleeves are worked from underarm down to cuff, then seamed.
3. Markers are used to separate front band stitches from Star Lace pattern. If desired, markers can be placed between repeats of the Star Lace pattern. Count stitches to ensure that there are the same number of stitches between markers.
4. Hat is worked from top of hat down to lower edge.
5. Star Lace pattern can be worked by reading chart or following written instructions. Read right side rows of chart from right to left, and wrong side rows from left to right. Repeat the pattern as many times as needed across each row.
CARDIGAN
Cast on 55 (59, 63, 67) sts. Work back and forth in rows as if working with straight needles. Rows 1 and 2: Knit.
Row 3 (buttonhole row – wrong side): K1, k2tog, yo (buttonhole made), knit to end of row. Rows 4 and 5: Knit.
Row 6: K3, *p1, k3; repeat from * to end of row. Row 7: K4 (for front band), *p3, k1; repeat from * to last 3 sts, k3 (for front band). Begin Star Lace Pattern Row 1 (right side): K3, place marker, work Row 1 of chart over next 48 (52, 56, 60) sts, place marker, p1, k3. Row 2: Knit to marker, slip marker, work next row of chart to next maker, slip marker, knit to end of row. Row 3: Knit to marker, slip marker, work next row of chart to next marker, slip marker, p1, k3.
Rows 4–7: Repeat last 2 rows 2 times. Row 8 (buttonhole row – wrong side): K1, k2tog, yo, k1, slip marker, work next row of Star Lace pattern to next marker, slip marker, knit to end of row. Row 9: Repeat Row 3.
Rows 10–19: Repeat Rows 2 and 3 five times. Row 20 (buttonhole row): Repeat Row 8.
Rows 21–26: Repeat Rows 9 and 10 three times—151 (163, 175, 187) sts. Star Lace pattern should now be complete. Beginning with a right side row, work in Seed st, maintaining front bands, until yoke measures 5½ (6, 6½, 7)” (14 (15, 16.5, 18) cm), and AT THE SAME TIME continue to work a buttonhole at the beginning of every 12th row as established, end with a wrong side row.
Divide for Fronts, Back, and Sleeves Dividing Row (right side):
K3, p1, work in Seed st over next 20 (22, 24, 26) sts, slip these 24 (26, 28, 30) sts to a holder (for left front); work in Seed st over next 30 (32, 34, 36) sts (for left sleeve); slip remaining 97 (105, 113, 121) sts to large holder (for back, right sleeve, and right front).
LEFT SLEEVE
Work over 30 (32, 34, 36) left sleeve sts only. Work in Seed st as established for 7 rows. Decrease Row (right side): K1, k2tog, work in Seed st as established to last 3 sts, ssk, k1—28 (30, 32, 34) sts. Repeat last 8 rows 2 (2, 3, 3) more times—24 (26, 26, 28) sts remain. Work even in Seed st as established until sleeve measures 5 (5½, 6, 6½)” (12.5 (14, 15, 16.5) cm), end with a wrong side row. Knit 5 rows. On wrong side, Bind off loosely as if to knit.
RIGHT SLEEVE
With right side facing, work in Seed st as established over first 43 (47, 51, 55) sts from large holder, slip these sts to another holder (for back), work in Seed st as established over next 30 (32, 34, 36) sts from large holder (for right sleeve). Work over 30 (32, 34, 36) right sleeve sts only in same manner as for left sleeve.
BODY
With right side facing, work across next 24 (26, 28, 30) sts on larger holder as follows: work in Seed st as established over next 20 (22, 24, 26) sts, p1, k3 (for right front).
Next Row (wrong side): K4, work in Seed st as established over right front sts, continue in Seed st over 43 (47, 51, 55) back sts from holder, continue in Seed st over first 20 (22, 24, 26) left front sts from holder, knit last 4 sts from holder—91 (99, 107, 115) sts. Continue in pattern as established, maintaining front bands, and working a buttonhole at beginning of every 12th row until a total of 7 (8, 8, 9) buttonholes have been made, end with a wrong side row. Knit 5 rows. On wrong side, Bind off loosely as if to knit.
FINISHING CARDIGAN
Sew sleeve seams. Sew buttons opposite buttonholes. Weave in end.
HAT
Cast on 6 (7) sts. Row 1 (wrong side): Knit. Row 2: K1, *yo, k1; repeat from * to end of row—11 (13) sts. Row 3: Knit. Row 4: Repeat Row 2—21 (25) sts. Row 5: K1, *p3, k1; repeat from * to end of row. Begin Star Lace Pattern Row 1: Work Row 1 of Star Lace pattern to last st, p1—31 (37) sts. Row 2: K1, work next row of Star Lace pattern to end of row. Row 3: Work next row of Star Lace pattern to last st, p1. Repeat last 2 rows until all rows of Star Lace pattern have been worked—61 (73) sts. Beginning with a right side row, work in Seed st for 1 (2)” (2.5 (5) cm), end with a wrong side row. Knit 5 rows. On wrong side, bind off loosely as if to knit.
FINISHING HAT
Sew side edges together for back seam, gathering top stitches. Weave in ends.
ABBREVIATIONS k = knit; k2tog = knit 2 stitches together; p = purl; st(s) = stitch(es); yo = yarn over; * = repeat whatever follows the * as indicated.
Baby will deserve to be the center of everyone’s attention in this darling sweater set. The Star Lace pattern that encircles baby’s face and the hat can be knit following the pattern or the chart.
