» photos: Lori Robinson » model: Cami

Sourpatch

By Corrina Ferguson

I think little girls look sweetest in empire style tops and dresses. I had an idea in my mind, but I couldn't quite envision the yoke until the day one of my favorite LYS customers visited the shop. She was wearing a cardigan trimmed in an adorable bubble stitch pattern that looked like little pieces of candy. Stitched up in fruity candy-coated colors this top is perfect for summer – you could even lengthen it to make a sweet little dress!

Sizes

2T [4T, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14]
Size Shown in Picture: 2T

Finished Measurements

Chest: 22[24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34] inches
Length from underarm to hem: 11[12, 12, 13, 13, 14] inches

Materials

Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino [55% Wool, 33% Microfiber, 12% Cashmere; 137 yards/125 meters per 50 gram/1.75 ounce skein];

#031 Spruce (MC); 2 [2, 3, 3, 3, 4] skeins
#602 Old Rose – 1 skein
#022 – Apricot – 1 skein
#001 – Yellow – 1 skein
#002 – Spring Green – 1 skein

Recommended needle sizes

US #4/3.5 mm in long length for magic loop or in a 20 inch circular plus dpns

Notions

Stitch markers
Tapestry needle
Waste yarn

Gauge

22 sts and 30 rows = 4 inches in St st in the round

Pattern Notes

The edgings in this pattern are all worked in seed stitch, where you work the first row as k1, p1 all the way around and then work the next row as p1, k1 all the way around.

The sweater is knit top down with raglan increasing. The sleeve edges are added after the rest of the sweater is completed.

k5b (knit 5 sts below) - Drop the next st on the left needle and allow st to unravel 4 times, creating 4 ladders. Then knit the 5th st, making sure to catch all 4 ladders up in the stitch. This is what creates the lovely bubble texture.

Skills Required

Knitting in the round and on dpns or magic loop (for the sleeves), dropping stitches to knit below

INSTRUCTIONS

COLLAR

With the main color (MC) and either the 20-inch circular or a longer circular for magic loop cast on 76[76, 92, 92, 92, 108, 108] sts. Work the following six rounds for the collar:
Rnd 1: Work in seed stitch, placing markers after each set of sts as follows: 9[9, 13, 13, 13, 17, 17] sts for first sleeve, pm, 29[29, 33, 33, 33, 37, 37] sts for the front, pm, 9[9, 13, 13, 13, 17, 17] sts for second sleeve, pm, 29[29, 33, 33, 33, 37, 37] sts for the back. If using a shorter circular to work in the round, place a 4th marker for the beginning of the round.
Rnd 2: * Kfb, work in seed stitch to one st before marker, kfb, slip marker (sm), repeat from * around: 84[84, 100, 100, 100, 116, 116] sts.
Rnds 3-6: Repeat Rnds 1 and 2, twice: 100[100, 116, 116, 116, 132, 132] sts.

BUBBLE STRIPE RAGLAN YOKE

It is a good idea to choose what colors you will work on each stripe before starting. For the smallest size, you will only work one stripe of each of 4 colors. For other sizes, you will either need more colors to repeat or you can work 2 stripes of the same color within the sequence. The bubble stitch is a multiple of 4 sts – a k5b, k3 combination. On the second stripe the k5b will be offset 2 sts.

Work 4[5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8] stripes, starting with stripe one. If you work more than four stripes, start back at stripe one and work in order until you have the necessary number of stripes: final st total = 196 [220, 236, 260, 284, 300, 324] sts.

Stripe One

Rnd 1: With new color, knit around.
Rnd 2: * Kfb, k to one st before marker, kfb, sm; repeat from * around: 108[108, 124, 124, 124, 140, 140] sts.
Rnd 3: Knit around.
Rnds 4 and 5: Repeat Rnds 2 and 3: 116[116, 132, 132, 132, 148, 148] sts.
Rnd 6: * Kfb, k2, (k5b, k3) until 4 sts remain before next marker, k5b, k2, kfb, sm; repeat from * around: 124[124, 140, 140, 140, 156, 156] sts.

Stripe Two

Rnds 1-5: Work same as Stripe One: 140[140, 156, 156, 156, 172, 172] sts.
Rnd 6: * Kfb, k3, (k5b, k3) until 5 sts remain before next marker, k5b, k3, kfb, sm; repeat from * around: 148[148, 164, 164, 180, 180] sts.

Stripe Three

Rnds 1-5: Work same as Stripe One: 164[164, 180, 180, 180, 196, 196] sts.
Rnd 6: * Kfb, k4, (k5b, k3) until 6 sts remain, k5b, k4, kfb, sm; repeat from * around: 172[172, 188, 188, 188, 204, 204] sts.

Stripe Four

Rnds 1-5: Work same as Stripe One: 188[188, 204, 204, 204, 220, 220] sts.
Rnd 6: * Kfb, k5, (k5b, k3) until 7 sts remain, k5b, k5, kfb, sm; repeat from * around: 196[196, 212, 212, 212, 228, 228] sts.

Repeat the stripes in order, making sure the k5b’s line up every other stripe until you have the necessary number of bubble stripes. If you have an even number of stripes to work, you can work two of each color to make wider stripes with fewer colors if desired.

DIVIDING SLEEVES AND BODY

Place each set of 39[45, 49, 55, 61, 65, 71] sleeve sts on waste yarn. and prepare the remaining 118 [130, 138, 150, 162, 170, 182] body sts to be worked in the round.
Switch to MC,
Next Rnd: Knit around.
Next 5 Rnds: Work in seed stitch.

Skirt Increase Rnd: * K3, kfb; repeat from * around to last 2 sts, k2: 147[162, 172, 187, 202, 212, 227] sts.

Knit around skirt measures 11 [12, 12, 13, 13, 14] inches from underarm. Work 6 rounds of seed stitch. Bind off loosely.

Sleeve Edgings

Place 39 [45, 49, 55, 61, 65, 71] sleeve sts on needles to work in the round, using either dpns or magic loop. Work one knit round and then work 4 rounds of seed stitch.
Bind off loosely.
Repeat for second sleeve.

FINISHING

Weave in all ends. Block lightly if desired.

Corrina didn't learn to knit until she moved to Florida where there are only about three sweater days a year. But she keeps knitting anyway. Some might call her foolish, she calls it optimism. You can read about her misguided optimism and other misadventures on her blog.