Easy square sweater - knit or crochet

by Leslie
(Bennington, VT, USA)

To make any size sweater in knit or crochet:

Can use up scraps for a striped pattern. I make mine different solid colors. This way there is no front or back.

I "sew" my seams by crocheting the pieces together in a different color along the outside of the piece. Or you can join your seams together any way you like.

Can use sc or any type of stitch pattern that you like. Each piece could have a different pattern to it.

I like a stretchy pattern that will grow with the child. I use the simple stitch of sc in the back loop of each stitch across and repeating this row. If you use this stitch then will be working from side to side and not bottom to neck.

There is no gauge as each person will use different yarns and needles or hooks to match.

Front & Back: Make two squares the same size.

I crochet the shoulder seams together and then make the sleeves.

Sleeves (make 2): I pick up stitches along the edge of the sweater on each side of the shoulder seam as wide as I want the sleeves to be. I make these in two different colors also. I make them extra long as the cuffs can be rolled up to accommodate for shorter arms or left longer.

Starting at the wrist, I crochet the arm seams and the continue down the side seam. I use the yarn from the sleeve for this as it makes for less finishing.

Your sweater is finished.

Added: You can crochet a border around the bottom.

You can pick up stitches around the neck to make a stand up collar or turtle neck effect.

KNITTING A STRETCHY SWEATER.

I found this pattern in an old knitting booklet. Of note: I cannot find the book that I found the pattern in originally but there is a very similar pattern to this found in the Bear Brand Baby Book, Infants to 4 years, Volume 339, Copyright 1950. This pattern has 3 purls in between each cable.

It is a mock cable. 4 row pattern. Very easy. The front looks like the cable. The back looks like a K2, P2 rib and it does stretch when pulled. So this one will grow with the child for a bit. Can be either for boy or girl.

I made a blanket of stripes for my grandson with this pattern and a sweater or two.

Would also make an intesting hat.

I add one selvedge stitch at each edge to make sewing seams together easier.

Front and Back:

Cast on Multiples of 4 plus 2 if just doing the regular plain pattern.

Cast on Multiples of 4 if adding the selvedge stitches.

Row 1: *Purl 2 stitches, K1, yarn over, K1* repeat from * to * across ending with P2. (if added the selvedge stitch, I slip the first st as if knitting thru the back loop and knit the last stitch thru the back loop on each row - this gives a nice edge to sew seams together)

Row 2: *K2 sts, P3* repeat from * to * across, end with K2.

Row 3: *P2 sts, slip 1, K2 sts, psso (pass slip stitch over the K2 stitches* repeat from * to * across ending with P2.

Row 4: *K2, P2* repeat across ending with P2.

Repeat these four rows for the pattern.

Sleeves: I have done these just in garter stitch to make life simpler. Your choice. Looks fabulous either way.

Variations: Can do the mock cable pattern up the armholes and then switch to garter stitch or stockinette stitch for the top part to the neck.