This week, we’ve been trying our hand at knitting with Bella Chenille Multi and Solids. Yesterday, I shared a mitered square blanket pattern and the techniques for knitting bobbles without all the fuss. Today, I’m sharing a quick-to-knit top down sweater.
It only took 3/4 of each ball of Bella Chenille to make a size 9 months baby sweater combining a solid blue and a speckled denim colorway.
Top-Down Baby Pullover in Bella Chenille
sizes
6 mo 9 mo 1-2 yrs 3-4 yrs
2 2 2 4 skeins of Bella Chenille [131yds/100g each]
1 in each color (solid: Indigo; multi: Denim Patch)
20.5 23 25 27.5 inches: finished chest circumference
needles and hook size US 10¾ [7mm] circular needle and G/6 [4mm] crochet hook
other 2 stitch holders
gauge 11 sts and 14 rounds = 4″ in Stockinette Stitch
abbreviations
K = knit; P = purl; rem = remaining; st(s) = stitch(es); m1 = make 1; k2tog = knit 2 together; ssk = slip, slip, knit together through back loops; rep = repeat; WS = wrong side; LH = left hand
It only takes 1 skein in each color for the smallest 3 sizes. You may even be able to get the largest size out of 2 skeins, but only if you don’t want full length sleeves.
Pattern Begins
Yoke
With solid yarn, cable cast on 46 (50, 56, 60) sts and join in the round being careful not to twist. Place a marker to indicate beginning of round.
Rnd 1: Knit.
Rnd 2: Purl.
Rnd 3: [K6, m1] 7 (8, 9, 9) times, knit to end of rnd—53 (58, 65, 69) sts.
Rnd 4: Knit.
Rnd 5: [K7, m1] 7 (8, 9, 9) times, knit to end of rnd—60 (66, 74, 78) sts.
Rnd 6: Knit.
Rnd 7: With speckled yarn, [k8 (8, 12, 13), m1] 7 (8, 6, 6) times, knit to end of rnd—67 (74, 80, 84) sts.
Rnd 8: With solid yarn, knit.
Rnd 9: [K9 (9, 13, 14), m1] 7 (8, 6, 6) times, knit to end of rnd—74 (82, 86, 90) sts.
Rnd 10: Knit.
Rnd 11: Change to speckled yarn. [K10 (10, 14, 15), m1] 7 (8, 6, 6) times, knit to end of rnd—81 (90, 92, 96) sts.
Rnd 12: Knit.
Rnd 13: [K10 (10, 15, 16), m1] 7 (8, 6, 6) times, knit to end of rnd—88 (98, 98, 102) sts.
Rnd 14: Knit.
Sizes 1-2 years and 3-4 years only.
Rnd 15: [K — (–, 15, 14), m1] — (–, 6, 7) times, knit to end of rnd—(104, 109) sts.
Rnd 16: Knit.
Rnd 17: [K — (–, 18, 17), m1] — (–, 6, 7) times, knit to end of rnd—(110, 116) sts.
All Sizes
Knit until yoke measures approx.. 4″ (4.5, 4.75, 5.25)” from cast-on edge if necessary.
Change up the number of rounds per stripe and the frequency of changes for a custom look.
Divide for Body and Sleeves
Rnd 1: K26 (32, 34, 38), cable cast on 4 (5, 5, 6) sts, sl next 20 (22, 26, 26) sts onto a holder for sleeves, K26 (32, 34, 38), cable cast on 4 (5, 5, 6) sts, sl next 20 (22, 26, 26) sts onto a holder for other sleeve. Join to work in the round—56 (64, 68, 76) sts.
Rnds 2-10: Knit.
Rnds 11-13: With solid yarn, knit.
Rnds 14-15: With speckled yarn, knit.
Rnd 16: With solid yarn, knit.
Continue to knit around until body from sleeve opening measures approx. 7″ (7.5, 8, 9)”.
Last Rnd: Purl.
Turn work so you are working across the WS of the rounds.
Bind-off: *Purl 2 together, return st to LH needle; rep from * around.
Fasten off and close the gap while weaving in ends.
To weave in ends, you’ll want to use a small crochet hook instead of a darning needle, going under 1 strand at a time on the WS of the work.
Purling the last row, and then using the purl together bind-off creates this chainette edging.
Sleeves
Rnd 1: Transfer sts from holder onto your needle. Join yarn and knit around, pick up and knit 6 stitches across the opposite side of the cable cast on under the armhole. Join to knit in the round—26 (28, 32, 32) sts.
Rnd 2: Knit to last 7 sts, ssk, k4, k2tog, place market to indicate beginning of round—24 (26, 30, 30) sts.
Rnd 3: Knit.
Rnds 4-5: Knit.
Rnd 6: K2tog, k16, ssk, knit rem sts—22 (24, 28, 28) sts.
Rep last 3 rnds twice—18 (20, 24, 24) sts.
Rnds 13-15: Change to solid and rep Rnds 4-6.
Rnd 18: Change to speckled and knit.
Rnd 19: Change to solid and knit.
Continue knitting in the round until sleeve from armhole measures 6.5″ (7.5, 8, 9.5)”.
Last Rnd: Purl.
Turn work so you are working across the WS of the rounds.
Bind-off: *Purl 2 together, return st to LH needle; rep from * around.
You can change the stripes to your taste, just balancing yarn amounts used so that you don’t have to start a new ball of either the solid or the speckled yarn.
Fasten off and close the gap while weaving in ends.
Finishing
Weave in all the other ends with the crochet hook as well.
I just love how the vertical lines of stockinette stitch are really enhanced by Bella Chenille yarn.
I really trust you’ve enjoyed learning about Bella Chenille yarn and I hope that you share pictures of some projects that you knit from this squishy yarn, especially if it’s a blanket from yesterday’s pattern or today’s top-down sweater.
This is part 5 of 5 in this series.
Go back to part 4: Backwards purling to knit bobbles without all the bother
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