On Christmas morning
A jolly little waistcoat for the lucky 3 year old who is having a new toy engine or or aeroplane.
... what little boy wouldn't be thrilled to receive this attractive woolly on Christmas morning, teaming up with his new toys. Quickly knitted in tough Fair Isle Fingering, and you can use up your odds and ends for the various motifs.
How far away those days seem - or actually "are"! Even in my era - as attested by James May in Top Toys - boys (not girls of course!) were fixated by rockets and action men - though Airfix was as popular as ever.
Nonetheless - a "jolly little waistcoat" - for retro 3 years olds and their retro parents.
Instructions:The waistcoat is worked in one piece and in one size - stated as a 3 year old but remembering that children tend to be larger than they were in the early 1950s. As usual, you could probably increase the size successfully by using a heavier wool and larger needles. Back and Fronts in oneUsing No 12 (2¾mm) needles and main shade (MS) cast on 145 stitches, and work 1½ inches in k1/p1 rib - rows on the right side having k1 and each end. Change to No 10 (3¼mm) needles and stocking stitch, and work in pattern from chart, reading knit rows from right to left and purl rows from left to right.
Work the 24 pattern stitches 6 times across with last stitch on knit rows
and first stitch on purl rows as indicated. Work the 52 rows once, then, continuing to work motifs from the chart, and with right side facing, divide for armholes thus: Next row: pattern 36, turn, and
leave remaining stitches on a spare needle or stitch holder. Continue in pattern on these 33 stitches for the right front, decreasing 1 stitch at the armhole edge on the next 6 rows. [27 sts] Work straight in pattern to the end of the 34th row of the chart. With right side facing, continue in MS only, shaping neck by casting
off 4 stitches at the beginning of the next row, then k2tog at the neck
edge on the next 5 rows. With wrong side facing, shape shoulder by casting off 9 stitches at the beginning of the next and following alternate row, (armhole edge). With right side facing, join wool to the remaining stitches. Continue on these 67 stitches for back, decreasing 1 stitch at each end of the next 6 rows. Work straight to end of the 34th row of the chart. Change to MS only and work 8 rows straight, then with right side facing, shape shoulders by casting off 9 stitches at the beginning of the next 4 rows; cast off remaining stitches loosely. With right side facing, join wool to last 36 stitches, armhole edge, and cast off 3, pattern to end, then work to correspond with right front. Ribbed Front BordersUsing No 12 (2¾mm) needles and main shade (MS) cast on 11 stitches
and working in k1/p1 rib, with rows on the right side having a k1 at each
end, make a strip to go up the right front when slightly stretched. Make a similar strip for left front with the addition of 7 buttonholes,
the first to come in the 3rd and 4th rows from the bottom edge, and the
7th about 1 inch from the top (allowing for 8th to be worked in the neckband
later), and the remaining 5 at equal intervals. To make a buttonhole: Neck BorderJoin shoulder seams. Using No 12 (2¾mm) needles and main shade (MS), rib the 11 stitches from the right front border, pick up and knit 43 stitches all round the neck, then rib the remaining 11 stitches from the left front border. [65 sts] Work ½ inch in k1/p1 rib making the 8th buttonhole after ¼ inch has been done. Cast off in rib. Armhole BordersWith right side facing, using No 12 (2¾mm) needles and main shade
(MS), pick up and knit 89 stitches round each armhole. Making UpOmitting ribbing, press each piece carefully on wrong side using a warm
iron and a damp cloth. |
Materials 2 oz Fair Isle Fingering in main shade and 1 oz each in emerald and
scarlet. A pair each No 12 (2¾mm) and No 10 (3¼mm) needles. Eight buttons. Tension32 sts to 4 inches on No 10 (3¼mm) needles over Fair Isle pattern. Size mattersOne size - width all round under arm 22 inches. Abbreviations:k1: knit 1. A word on the woolOriginal called for Patons Fair Isle Fingering about which there is some information available on Ravelry. This pattern is in ounces but it seems the yarn
stuck around for a while as some vintage stocks can be seen in 25g balls. Jamiesons are Kings (or Queens) of Fair Isle and Shetland knitting - their Spindrift yarn sounds a good substitute: equivalent to a traditional 4ply; ideal for Fair Isle knitting; extensive colour pallet of over 220 colours; supplied in 25g Balls (105m); tension: 30sts x 32 rows on 3¼mm needles. Disclaimer
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