Basic Wool Sweater
US 9 and US 8, for the ribbing. I used circular needles and double pointed needles both.
Knit Picks Swish Worsted Yarn in Lemongrass (100% merino wool, washable) This was really nice to work with. I used about 2.5 skeins.
Top Down
gauge 4.5 sts and 5.5 rows per inch.
I just felt like knitting some mindless stockinette, in a color that I think will be very good on my nephew. I tried several versions of decorative pockets, but nothing looked nice. I added the "J" for a little visual interest at the end, because my sister likes things personalized. This was made to fit a 12 to 18 month old. The finished chest measurement is 22". You can of course, vary the sizing by increasing more or less stitches at the chest and by making the sweater longer or short etc.
I was looking for a 4" neck opening and then the slit in the front will give extra ease for getting the sweater over the baby's head. Cast on to US 9 needles like this (pm = place marker) 9pm6pm18pm6pm9pm. At first you will be knitting back and forth until the slit is long enough and then you join in the round. In order for the slit to lay nicely and not roll, the first and last three stitches on the row look like this from the right side -p1, k1, p1.
So, I will give you the first right side row and the first wrong side row and then you continue like that.
Row 1 P1, k1, p1, *knit til one before the place marker and k1f/b move pm, k1f/b, repeat from * until there are three stitches left. P1, k1, p1.
Row 2 k1, p1, k1 *purl without any increases at the placemarkers until three stitches remain k1 p1 k1.
Further rows: Continue like this, increasing on all the right side rows until the slit in the front measures about 3 inches long.
Then on a right side, join in the round.
Continue the pattern in stockinette, (but no more purling because we are in the round now) and increase every other row until the 'sleeve portion' (which was the 6 stitches on cast on) equals 32 stitches. On the next round, separate out the 32 stitches for each sleeve onto waste yarn to do later.
Join the front and back sections to work in the round. Under the arms, as you are joining K1f/b twice so that you create two new stitches under both armpits. (4 total)
The rest of the sweater is knit in stockinette until the ribbing. We are now at the chest and must increases the stitches so that the chest measures 22 inches around or whatever measurement you have decided on. 102 stitches equals 22" around in my gauge, so that means I have to increase 10 stitches. 10 stitches is a little much to increase in one row, so I increased 5 stitches in the next row by doing a kf/b about every 18 stitches. Then I knit a row plain and on the next row, increased another 5 stitches using k1f/b increases about every 19 stitches.
Knit even in stockinette for 12" (My sister wanted it extra long. If you don't, you could stop at 11"). Change to US 8 needles for the ribbed border. Start under an arm, where it will be less visible and do 4 rows of k2 p1 ribbing.
Bind off during the fourth row.
Finishing the sleeves.
Pick up the sleeve stitches and put them back on US 9 dpn needles. Pick up two extra stitches where we added them, under the armpit, for a total of 34 stitches. Knit in the round, stockinette, until the sleeve measures 6 inches from underarm to cuff. K2 together on the next round to bring the stitch count to 33. Change to US 8 dpn needles and do four rows of ribbing, binding off on the fourth row, k2, p1. This will give you a 6.5 inch sleeve, if you prefer longer, you can change it. Repeat for the other sleeve.
Collar
Pick up 44 stitches evenly around the neck on US 8 dpn needles. K2 p1 (wrong side is p2, k1) for as many rows as you like to make the collar. I stopped at 8 rows and bound off in pattern and the collar stands up. More rows and I imagine it would flop over.
Detailing. I just embroidered a J on the front chest in a different color for an accent.
Weave in ends, block and you're DONE!
(PS- Actually...I thought more about that collar comment. If you want to make the collar flop over I think you would have to increase the stitches evenly around at the point you want it to flop over. I'm not sure about this but I will try next time increasing every fourth stitch with a k1f/b at about the 5th row. I would GUESS that that would make the collar flop over to the outside and then you could just continue for another 5 row or so before binding off. If someone tries it, please let me know if it works.)
Exotic Variation Alert!
If you like the look of this, more textured stitch pattern, better than simple stockinette, it would be easy to substitute it in.
Row 1: knit thru the back loop
Row 2: purl
If you use it, keep the edges of the neck slit as p1 k1 p1 to control the roll still and then, when you start knitting IN THE ROUND to maintain this pattern row two would become a simple knit row.
Crossed Stockinette in the round:
Row 1: knit thru the back loop (in the round)
Row 2: knit normal (in the round).
Add a place marker under an arm to designate the change in rows. I wouldn't do it center front if I were you, too noticeable.