» photos: Brandy Fortune » models: Graham and LG

Fun-in-the-Sun

By Joan Beebe

These timeless sun suits are reminiscent of those worn by my kids when they were little or even ones that I wore as a small child. Dress your little one with a tee underneath, or not. Either way, don't forget the sunscreen, and let your little one be cool while the weather is hot! The straps have multiple buttonholes worked in, so these sun suits can grow along with your kiddo all summer long.

Sizes

0-3 months[3-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months, 18-24 months]
Size Shown in Picture: 6-12 months

Finished Measurements

Shoulder to Crotch: 13¹/₂[15, 16¹/₄, 17, 17¹/₂] inches
Waist: Adjustable elastic

Materials

Schachenmayr Nomotta Catania [100% Cotton; 137 yards/125 meters per 1.75 ounce/50 gram skein];

Boy's Version
#0174 blue [MC]; 1[1, 1, 2, 2] skein(s)
#0106 white [CC1]; 1 skein for all sizes
#0110 black [CC2]; small amount

Girl's Version
#0208 yellow [MC]; 1[1, 1, 2, 2] skein(s)
#0106 white [CC1]; 1 skein for all sizes

Recommended needle sizes

US #4/3.5 mm and #2/2.75 mm needles
US #4/3.5 mm dpns (set of 2 for i-cord flower for Girl's Version)

Notions

2 st markers
4-6 inch length of snap tape or decorative hammered-on snaps for crotch
¹/₂ inch elastic – 18-24 inches
⁵/₈ inch flat button - 2
1 inch decorative button – 1 (Girl's version)
4-6 inch length of ³/₄ inch wide twill tape (Boy's Version)
embroidery floss or crochet thread (Boy's Version)
sewing needle for sewing on buttons
tapestry needle for grafting and weaving in ends
waste yarn

Gauge

26 sts and 33 rows = 4 inches in St st with larger size needles

Pattern Notes

The front and back of the bottom of the sunsuit are knit first, beginning at the waistband and working toward the crotch. The bib is picked up along the center of the waistband and worked toward the top. The straps are worked continuously from the top of the bib. Multiple buttonholes are worked in the strap to ensure that the sunsuit can be adjusted to fit all summer long.

Skills Required

Knit, Purl, changing color, picking up sts

INSTRUCTIONS

SHORTS BACK

With MC and smaller size needles, cast on 70[74, 78, 80, 82] sts.
Work 17 rows in k1, p1 ribbing.

Change to larger size needles.
Beginning with a knit row, work in St st until piece measures 6¹/₂[7, 8, 8¹/₄, 8¹/₂] inches from cast on edge, ending by working a purl row.

Leg Shaping

Bind off 1[2, 2, 2, 1] st(s) at the beginning of the next 2[8, 10, 8, 2] rows, work across: 68[58, 58, 64, 80] sts.
Bind off 2[3, 5, 3, 2] sts at the beginning of the next 8[2, 2, 2, 2] rows, work across: 52[52, 48, 58, 76] sts.
Bind off 4[4, 0, 4, 3] sts at the beginning of the next 2[2, 0, 2, 8] rows, work across: 44[44, 48, 50, 52] sts.
Bind off 11[11, 13, 14, 15] sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows, work across: 22 sts.
Change to smaller size needles.
Work in k1, p1 ribbing for 1 inch.
Bind off all sts in ribbing.

SHORTS FRONT

With MC and smaller size needles, cast on 70[74, 78, 80, 82] sts.
Row 1: [K1, p1] 11[11, 11, 12, 12] times, k0[0, 1, 0, 0], pm, p26[30, 32, 32, 34], pm, p0[0, 1, 0, 0], [k1, p1] across.
Row 2 (RS): Work in ribbing to marker, knit to marker, work in ribbing across.
Row 3: Work in ribbing to marker, purl to marker, work in ribbing across.
Rows 4-8: Repeat Rows 2 and 3 twice, then repeat Row 2 once more.
Row 9: Repeat Row 2. This row creates a turning ridge across the center sts. This is where the bib sts will be picked up later.
Rows 10-17: Repeat Rows 2 and 3, 4 times.

Change to larger size needles.
Beginning with a knit row, work in St st until piece measures 6¹/₂[7, 8, 8¹/₄, 8¹/₂] inches from cast on edge, ending by working a purl row.

Leg Shaping

Bind off 10[10, 13, 13, 13] sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows, work across: 50[54, 52, 54, 56] sts.
Bind off 4[5, 5, 4, 4] sts at the beginning of the next 2[2, 2, 2, 4] rows, work across: 42[44, 42, 46, 40] sts.
Bind off 3 sts at the beginning of the next 2[4, 2, 6, 4] rows, work across: 36[32, 36, 28, 28] sts.
Bind off 2 sts at the beginning of the next 6[4, 6, 2, 2] rows, work across: 24 sts.
Bind off 1 st at the beginning of the next 2 rows: 22 sts.
Change to smaller size needles.
Work in k1, p1 ribbing for 1 inch.
Bind off all sts in ribbing.

BIB

Cut a 5 yard length of MC and set aside for Seed St at second edge of Bib. For Boy's version, cut an additional 5 yard length for Truck. With RS of Shorts Front facing, holding bottom edge toward you, using MC and larger size needles, pick up one st in each loop of turning ridge on Row 9 of waist ribbing: 26[30, 32, 32, 34] sts.
Row 1: [K1, p1] across.
Row 2 (RS): [P1, k1] across.
Rows 3 and 4: Repeat Rows 1 and 2 (Seed st).
Row 5: K1, p1, k1, with CC1 purl across to last 3 sts, with second strand of MC p1, k1, p1.
Row 6: P1, k1, p1, with CC1 knit across to last 3 sts, with MC k1, p1, k1.

Girl's Version

Repeat Rows 5 and 6 until Bib measures 3¹/₂[4³/₄, 5¹/₂, 6, 6¹/₄] inches from picked up sts, ending by working Row 6; cut CC1 and short strand of MC.

Chart

Boy's Version

Repeat Rows 5 and 6 until Bib measures 1[1¹/₄, 1³/₄, 1³/₄, 2¹/₄] inches from picked up sts, ending by working Row 5. Work across next 13[13, 15, 15, 15] rows following chart. After completing chart, repeat Rows 5 and 6 until Bib measures 3¹/₂[4³/₄, 5¹/₂, 6, 6¹/₄] inches from picked up sts, ending by working Row 6; cut CC1 and short strand of MC.

Both Versions

With MC work 4 rows in Seed st.
Last Row (Strap Setup): Work across 7 sts, slip sts just worked onto st holder or scrap yarn, bind off next 12[16, 18, 18, 20] sts, work across last 6 sts: 7 sts on needle.

FIRST STRAP

Row 1: K4, wyif slip last 3 sts pwise.
Row 2: Give yarn a slight tug, k4, wyif slip last 3 sts pwise.
Repeat Row 2 until Strap measures 5[6¹/₄, 8, 8¹/₂, 8³/₄] inches. This creates a strap with i-cord edges and a single Garter st in the center.
Buttonhole Row: K2, k2tog, yo wrapping yarn completely around needle, wyif slip last 3 sts pwise.
Next 9 rows: Repeat Row 2.
Repeat last 10 rows until Strap measures 10[11¹/₄, 13, 13¹/₂, 13³/₄] inches.
Bind off 3 sts, wyif slip last 3 sts pwise.
Bind off 3 sts; cut yarn and pull through last st.

SECOND STRAP

Slip sts from holder onto needle and work same as First Strap

LEG RIBBING

With RS facing and smaller size needles, pick up 76[80, 84, 86, 88] sts evenly across leg opening.
Work in k1, p1 ribbing for 1 inch.
Bind off all sts in ribbing.
Repeat for second leg.

FINISHING

Weave Shorts Front and Back together at side edges.
Fold ribbing to inside and whipstitch cast on edge to last row of ribbing to form elastic casing, leaving last 2 inches open.
Measure child's waist and cut a length of elastic 1 inch longer than measurement. Thread elastic through casing. Overlap ends by 1 inch and stitch together securely. Whipstitch remaining seam of elastic casing.

Sew flat buttons to inside of back waistband opposite the edges of the Bib.
Sew snap tape to lower front ribbing, with corresponding snaps on RS of lower back ribbing or hammer 4 snaps evenly spaced across lower ribbing.

Boy's Version

Using embroidery floss or crochet cotton, embroider 'Dirt Works' on a length of twill tape. Stitch tape to Bib above truck.

Fun-in-the-Sun Suits

Girl's Version

With MC and dpns, cast on 3 sts.
Row 1: Slide sts to opposite end of needle, k3.
Repeat Row 1 (i-cord) until cord measures 15 inches.
Beginning in center of bib with one end of cord, loop i-cord in and out to form petals. Stitch petals in place from WS of fabric. Sew decorative button to center of petals.

Fun-in-the-Sun Suits

Joan Beebe, a.k.a SSKnits, has been knitting, crocheting and tech editing nearly non-stop for more years than she cares to admit. She tech edits and plays with yarn from her home in windy Wichita, KS where she lives with her husband and 2 youngest kids. You can follow her musings on her sporadically updated blog.