» model: BG » photos: Brandy Fortune

Them Apples

By Brandy Fortune

The quintessential summer cardigan for a breezy summer day or cool summer night, inspired by my daughters love of the many variations of this delicious fruit, "Them Apples" is meant to fit as a light layer to keep toddlers comfortable. Slightly belled sleeves add for a cute look and also function as a loose outer layer. Knit it in cotton or a cotton acrylic blend for easy care and maximum breathability. The green yarn represents my daughters favorite type of apple, a "Golden Delicious" with its pale green skin, and the red is reminiscent of a classic Granny Smith or Fuji variety.

An apple motif is added to the back with duplicate stitch, and an aptly named stem stitch can be used for the apples stem. Add matching apple buttons and the child receiving this cardigan will be delighted.

SIZE

12 months [18 months, 2T, 3, 4]
Shown in size 2T

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest: 22.5[23.5, 24.5, 25.5, 26.5] inches
Length: 9.25[10, 10.75, 12, 12.5] inches

MATERIALS

Lion Brand Cotton Ease [50% Cotton/50% Acrylic; 207 yards/188 meters per 3.5 ounce/100 gram skein]

194 Lime (MC); 2 skeins
113 Cherry (CC); 1 skein

Darker green and brown medium weight scrap yarn for apple leaf and for marking duplicate stitch chart placement

Recommended needle sizes

US #7/4.5mm 24 inch circular needle
US #8/5mm 24 inch circular needle

Notions

Stitch markers
5 buttons

GAUGE

17 sts and 26 rows = 4 inches in St st with larger size needle

PATTERN NOTES

Cardigan is worked from top down on circular needles. Front Bands and Neck Band are picked up to complete garment. Duplicate stitch apple is worked on completed garment.

INSTRUCTIONS

YOKE

With larger needle and MC, cast on 32[34, 36, 38, 40] sts.

Row 1 (RS): (K1, pm) twice, k5[5, 6, 6, 7], pm, k1, pm, k16[18, 18, 20, 20], pm, k1, pm, k5[5, 6, 6, 7], (pm, k1) twice.
Row 2: Purl across.
Row 3: Kfb, pm, k1, pm, kfb, k3[3, 4, 4, 5], kfb, pm, k1, pm, kfb, k14[16, 16, 18, 18], kfb, pm, k1, pm, kfb, k3[3, 4, 4, 5], kfb, pm, k1, pm, kfb: 40[42, 44, 46, 48] sts.
Row 4: Purl across.
Row 5: Kfb, * knit to within 1 st of next marker, kfb, pm, k1, pm, kfb; repeat from * 3 times more, knit across to last st, kfb: 50[52, 54, 56, 58] sts.
Row 6: Purl across.
Repeat Rows 5 and 6 1[2, 2, 3, 3] times: 60[72, 74, 86, 88] sts.
Next Row: Using cable cast on method, cast on 5 sts, * knit to within 1 st of next marker, kfb, pm, k1, pm, kfb; repeat from * 3 times more, knit across: 73[85, 87, 99, 101] sts.
Next Row: Cast on 5 sts, purl across: 78[90, 92, 104, 106] sts.
Increase Row: * Knit to within 1 st of next marker, kfb, pm, k1, pm, kfb; repeat from * 3 times more, knit across: 86[98, 100, 112, 114] sts.
Next Row: Purl across.
Repeat last 2 rows 6[6, 6, 6, 7] times: 134[146, 148, 160, 170] sts.

BODY

Row 1: Knit across to first marker, remove marker, k1, remove marker, cast on 6[4, 6, 4, 4] sts, slip next 27[29, 30, 32, 35] sts onto scrap yarn for sleeve, remove marker, k1, remove marker, knit across to next marker, remove marker, k1, remove marker, cast on 6[4, 6, 4, 4] sts, slip next 27[29, 30, 32, 35] sts onto scrap yarn for second sleeve, remove marker, k1, remove marker, knit across: 92[96, 100, 104, 108] sts.
Work in St st until Body measures 3.5[4, 4.5, 5, 5.5] inches from armhole, ending with a purl row.

LOWER BAND

With CC, knit 10 rows.
Bind off all sts knitwise.

SLEEVE

Using MC and dpns and beginning at center of cast on sts at armhole, pick up 4[3, 4, 3, 3] sts, slip sts from scrap yarn onto needles and knit around, pick up 4[3, 4, 3, 3] sts across second half of cast on sts at underarm, pm: 35[35, 38, 38, 41] sts.
Knit 4[6, 8, 10, 12] rnds around.

Increase Rnd: Kfb, knit around to last st, kfb: 37[37, 44, 40, 43] sts.
Continue to increase 1 st on each side of marker in same manner, every 6 rnds, 3 times more: 43[43, 46, 46, 49] sts.
Work even until Sleeve measures 4.5[4.75, 5, 5.25, 5.5] inches from armhole edge, ending with a purl row.

LOWER BAND

Rnd 1: With CC, knit around.
Rnd 2: Purl around.
Rnds 3-6: Repeat Rnds 1-2 twice.
Bind off all sts knitwise.
Repeat for second Sleeve.

FINISHING

NECK BAND

With RS facing and smaller needle, pick up 5 sts in cast on sts of right front, pick up 12[13, 14, 16, 17] sts evenly spaced across right front neck shaping and top of sleeve, pick up 16[18, 18, 20, 20] sts across back neck, pick up 12[13, 14, 16, 17] sts across top of sleeve and across left front neck shaping, pick up 5 sts in cast on sts of left front: 50[54, 56, 62, 64] sts.
Rows 1-13: Knit across.
Bind off all sts knitwise.

LEFT FRONT BAND

With RS facing and smaller needles, pick up 37[41, 46, 47, 51] sts across left front.
Rows 1-7: Knit across.
Bind off all sts knitwise.

RIGHT FRONT BAND

With RS facing and smaller needles, pick up 37[41, 46, 47, 51] sts across right front.
Rows 1-3: Knit across.
Row 4 (Buttonhole row): K3[3, 4, 4, 4], yo, k2tog, * k5[6, 7, 7, 8], yo, k2tog; repeat from * 3 times more, k4[4, 4, 5, 5].
k4
Rows 5-7: Knit across.
Bind off all sts knitwise.

DUPLICATE STITCH APPLE

With a stitch marker or scrap yarn and using photo as a guide, mark where you would like the center/top of your apple to be on the back of the sweater. Counting the marked stitch, count down 15 sts and place a second marker to mark the center bottom of the apple. Beginning at the bottom and using CC, follow the chart to duplicate stitch the apple. Use similar weight scrap yarn to embroider the stem and leaf.
Weave in all ends.

Brandy began knitting in 2003 when she took what she thought was a crochet class at a local yarn store. In 2007 Brandy gave birth to her daughter, and knit several sweaters throughout her pregnancy. While there were loads of darling patterns, she wanted something a little different. Thus began her adventures in designing knitwear for babies. You can read the Pixie Purls blog, and see her other knitwear designs by visiting her website.