Wisdom Yarns Wacki Saki, a sock-weight, faux-Fair Isle, space-dyed yarn, is so soft that it’s perfect for a baby sweater. I designed this pattern at a looser gauge than one would think was okay to do with sock-weight yarn, but it works perfectly. Yesterday, I shared a sock pattern with you and the day before, I showed you how Wacki Saki works up at different gauges. Let’s jump right into the pattern.
This is the 6-month size of the top-down Wacki Saki sweater.
Little Mason is modeling this faux-Fair Isle top-down sweater knit out of less than ⅔ a ball of Wacki Saki in the Absurd Aqua colorway. One full ball should be enough to finish the larger of the three sizes.
Main Pattern Information
Finished chest sizes 18¾” (20¾”, 23“) [48 (53, 58.5) cm]: sizes 6mo, (9mo, 18mo)
Instructions given for smallest size, instructions for other sizes given in ( ) if different.
Head Girth 17½″ [44.5cm]
Length 15¾” (16″, 16½″) [40 (40.5, 41) cm]
Gauge in st st in the round: 20 = 4″ [10cm], 26.5 rows = 4″ [10cm]
materials
- US 6 [4.25mm] circular needle or size necessary to achieve gauge. A 16” [40cm] circular is feasible, or a set of dpns but longer circular needles work for the magic loop method.
- 2 stitch holders
- 4 stitch markers
- 2 lengths of scrap yarn
The change in circumference between the body and the sleeves makes for a change in stripe width and placement of the space-dyed dots. Even though the sleeves are only fraternal twins, the whole sweater is very charming.
Top-Down Yoke
Cast on 86 sts, and, ensuring not to twist stitches, join to knit in the round.
Rnd 1: [K1tbl, p1], rep between [ ] around.
Rep Rnd 1 until work measures approx. ½” [1.5cm]
Rnd 2: [K2, m1, k30, m1, k2, pm, k1, m1, k7, m1, k1, pm] twice. Markers indicate center of raglan faux seams—94 sts.
Rnd 3: Knit.
Rnd 4: [Knit to next marker, sm, k1, m1, knit to 1 st before next marker, m1, k1, sm] twice—98 sts.
Rnd 5 and every odd round: knit.
Sizes 6mo and 9mo only
Rnd 6: Rep Rnd 4. 102sts
Rnd 8: Knit.
Rnd 10: [K2, m1, knit to 2 sts before next marker, m1, k2, sm, k1, m1, knit to 1 st before next marker, m1, k1, sm] twice. 110 sts
Rnd 12: Knit.
Rnd 14: Rep Rnd 4. 114 sts
Rnd 16: Knit.
Rnd 18: Rep Rnd 10. 122 sts
Rnd 20: Knit.
Rnd 22: Rep Rnd 4; (size 9mo-rep Rnd 10). 126 (130) sts
Rnd 23: Knit.
Size 9mo only
Rnd 24: Rep Rnd 10. 138 sts
Rnd 25: Knit.
Size 18mo only
Rnd 6: [K2, m1, knit to 2 sts before next marker, m1, k2, sm, k1, m1, knit to 1 st before next marker, m1, k1, sm] twice. 106 sts
Rnd 8: Knit.
Rnd 10: Rep Rnd 6. 114 sts
Rnd 12: Knit.
Rnd 14: Rep Rnd 6. 122 sts
Rnd 16: Knit.
Rnd 18: Rep Rnd 6. 130 sts
Rnd 20: Rep Rnd 4. 134 sts
Rnd 22: Rep Rnd 6. 142 sts
Rnd 24: Rep Rnd 6. 150 sts
Rnd 26: [K2, m1, knit to 2 sts before next marker, m1, k2, sm, knit to next marker, sm] twice. 154 sts
Rnd 27: Knit.
I added a little textural change along the fake raglan sleeves, but I don’t find that they are really all that helpful for the design so I’ve left them out. You can add any double moss stitch pattern 2 or 3 sts before and after each marker if you’d like.
Divide for sleeves & body
Set-up Rnd: [K40 (44, 50), place next 23 (25, 27) sts on a stitch holder, with scrap yarn, cast on 7 (8, 8) sts] twice, removing all markers except last one to indicate beg of rnd. 94 (104, 116) sts for body.
Next 8 rnds: K around.
Shaping for hips
Rnd 1: [K47 (52, 58), m1] twice. 96 (106, 118) sts
Rnds 2-7: K around.
Rnd 8: [K48 (53, 59), m1] twice. 98 (108, 120) sts
K until body measures 6 (6¼″, 6½″) [15 (15.5, 16) cm] from armholes.
Ribbing
Rnd 1: [K1tbl, p1], rep between [ ] around.
Rep Rnd 1 until ribbing measures approximately ¾″ (1″, 1″) [2 (2.5, 2.5) cm]
Bind off loosely.
I just love how the space-dyed colors in Wacki Sakiwork into stripes and speckled sections.
Sleeve
Return sts from st holder to needle, undo provisional cast-on at underarm and place 6 (7, 7) sts on needle. Join to knit in the round. 29 (32, 34) sts.
Set-up Rnd: K around, working ssk at one edge of armhole sts to close gap due to stretching and k2tog at other edge of armhole sts. 27 (30, 32) sts.
K in the round, working one k2tog at underarm every 8th row, twice—25 (28, 30) sts.
Continue knitting in rounds until sleeve from armhole measures 4¼″ (4½″, 4¾″) [11.5 (12, 12.5) cm
Work Ribbing as for body. Bind off loosely. Rep for other sleeve. Weave in all ends.
If you look closely at the neckline and the bottom body ribbing, you’ll notice a difference. I’ll explain how I rolled the neckline edging tomorrow, join me!
This is part 4 of 5 in this series.
Go back to part 3: German Short Rows make socks look great!
Go to part 5: Knitting a rolled ribbing neckline
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