Readers Projects: 4th of July Sweater!

Isn't this great?? My facebook friend Denyse made this for her grandson. I love the way she used the colors in this Baby Bumpy Sweater. Especially the white band where the "bumps" are. I love seeing all the projects everyone makes from my patterns so maybe I should have another contest? I'll tell you what - I'll do it for the month of April. I'm working on another baby hat pattern, still have a few kinks to work out. I'm also working on a few more baby blankets for Project Linus and have talked a friend into joining me.

Amy's Newborn Cardigan Free Crochet Pattern

My friend Amy needed a newborns cardigan pattern and I had just finished one and told her I'd post the pattern. It started out as the sweater in my Newborn Sweater Set then I added a button band, sleeves and a collar.

I used an H hook and sport weight yarn and get 4 dc = 1 inch.

This sweater is newborn size.

V stitch: dc, ch1, dc in same stitch

Ch 52, you are starting from the neckline

Row 1: dc in forth chain from hook,(Ch 3 counts as 1st stitch here and in every row), dc in next 5 chains, V st in next ch, 9 dc, V st, 14 dc, V st, 9 dc, V st, 7 dc
Row 2-6: ch 3, dc in each dc and V stitch in each V stitch.
Row 7:(forms the armholes) ch 3 and turn, dc to first V stitch, folding so 1st and 2nd V stitches are together dc in both to join them, dc to next V stitch and join 3rd and 4th V stitch in same manner, dc to end
Rows 8-16: ch 3 and turn, dc in each dc

Button Band:
Row 1: without breaking yarn, ch 1, *going up the front of the sweater, 2 sc into the side of each dc and ch 3. [Do not just go around the dc or ch 3, but put the hook into the stitch]
Turn the work and sc back down the front or if this is the side you want the button holes, sc, sk 1 st and ch 1, 4 sc down front for 3 or 4 button holes and then sc the rest.*
3sc in corner at bottom, sc in each dc across bottom 3sc in corner and repeat from * to *

Sleeves:
Going through both V stitches where the sleeves were joined in the underarm, join yarn, if you don't do this there will be a hole in the underarm
Rd 1: ch 3, dc in each stitch, Check to make sure you have 22 stitches and join
Rd 2-10: ch 3, dc in each dc and join
Rd 11: sc around and end

Collar:
Row 1: At the neckline, join in side of single crochet for button band and ch 3, dc in side of second sc of button band, dc in each stitch of the starting chain across ending with a dc in each sc of button band.
Row 2-3: dc in each dc

Sew on buttons to correspond to the button holes

My Readers Projects: Newborn Sweater Set

I decided it was about time to show everybody some of the great projects made out of my patterns. I asked these ladies if I could use their pictures and if they could tell me a little about themselves and who the sweater set was made for. This is my Newborn Sweater Set pattern which I first put on my blog back in January of 2008. I plan to do this on a regular basis. If you've made one of my patterns, send a picture and a little bit about yourself and who the item was intended for. Send it to debsstuff55 (at) yahoo (dot) com.

My name is Julie im an Aussie, its the first piece of clothing i made, other than scarfs, i made it because it was worded clearly and as a beginner i could understand, Keep in mind i was translating UK terms to US as well.. i gave it to my husbands cousin for her little girl Cooper.

Your sweet sweater set was intended for an unknown baby in the Tulsa area. I sew, knit, and crochet baby items for Newborns In Need, and belong to the easter OK chapter of NIN. All of our items go to area hospitals, medical centers, crisis centers, etc. and a couple local cemetaries that try to provide for the bereaved. The biggest concern for NIN is the vast number of preemies born that require special sizes of caps, booties, gowns, mittens, isolette mattress covers, etc. and unfortunately, also burial layettes. There is also a huge demand for the healthy, but needy newborns - they require receiving blankets, quilts, sweater sets, going-home outfits, diaper bags - and everything that goes in them! Everything we make for NIN is on a volunteer basis and the cost comes out of our pockets - unless we’re lucky enough to get donations! I am always looking for free patterns that will make up quickly, as “quantity” is of the essence - but I don’t want to sacrifice “quality” - and your pattern is just the ticket! On a personal note, I am a 66 yr old gramma of 3; spend my days babysitting all 3, making things for NIN, and creating knitted items for myself and gifts - shawls being my favorite!

My name is Kellie and I was born and bred in the suburbs of New Orleans. Like nearly all true south Louisiana families, my family loves to follow LSU sports!! So, I am always on the lookout for cute patterns that easily incorporate multiple colors for team-themed gifts. When I got my invitation to my cousin's baby shower, I knew she would love a baby girl gift with Tiger flair!! I made this sweater set using the newborn sweater pattern and using Red Heart yarn in amethyst and gold. My only alteration to the pattern was to add "LSU" to the hat by making three scrochet chains and sewing them on to make the letters. It was super quick and easy so I have this pattern tagged in my notes for future use!!

Stuff from My Trunk

Since I do in-home live-in care for the elderly, most of my crocheting is done away from home, I have this really bad habit of putting partially finished projects in the trunk of my car and going on to something else. This time while I was at work I forced myself to finish all of them. I didn't make it since I still have two baby blankets partially done still in there.

So far I have finished two blankets, one made from donated squares for a special project for All_Crafts_4_Charity, seven preemie hats and a baby sweater that just needed the ends worked in for Cooper Hospital, four dishcloths and three scrubbies for a battered women's shelter and two finger puppets that were made for the CraftingForACause April and May challenge that didn't get sent in with the others.

Baby Bumpy Sweater

I just had to do it, I had already designed patterns for the hat and booties, I just had to crochet a sweater to match. This months project in All_Crafts_4_Charity is for a maternity center in northern Canada that serves the Inuit tribes. I wanted to create something really warm and cuddly for the babies. I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease, the color is red sprinkles. This was on clearance at two local Michaels stores. There was only one color on sale which was why I checked at the second one. (Sigh) It was also the only color on clearance there, too. To make what's becoming a long story short, I bought all they had at both stores so the babies are getting a lot of red items.

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Matching Bumpy Hat

Matching Bumpy Booties

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Baby Bumpy Sweater

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Fits 0-3 mos.

3 oz. worsted weight yarn

Size J hook

Gauge 7 sts = 2 in

Starting at the neckline

Ch 50 and join to make ring being careful not to twist

V-Stitch: dc, ch1, dc in same stitch

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Rd 1: Ch 3, counts as 1st stitch here and in every row, 6 dc, V st, 9 dc, V st, 14 dc, V st, 9 dc, V st, 7 dc and join. Double check to make sure it's not twisted

Rd 2-6: ch 3, dc in each dc and V stitch in each V stitch

Rd 7: ch 3, dc to first V stitch, folding so 1st and 2nd V stitches are together dc in both to join them, dc to next V stitch and join 3rd and 4th V stitch in same manner, dc to end and join

Note: This creates the armholes, you will add the sleeves later

Rd 8-12: Dc in each dc, skipping the armholes

Rd 13: ch 1 and turn, working on wrong side, sc in same stitch as ch1, tr, *sc, tr repeat from * around, join

Rd 14: ch 3 and turn to work on right side again, dc in each st

Rd 15: repeat round 13

Rd 16-18: ch 2, hdc in each st join and end

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Collar

Join to neckline in back, ch 2, hdc in each stitch, repeat for another round, end

Sleeve

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Going through both V stitches where the sleeves were joined in the underarm, join yarn, if you don't do this there will be a hole in the underarm

Rd 1-5: ch 3, dc in each stitch, Check to make sure you have 22 stitches

Rds 6- 11: Repeat rows 13 -18 of body of sweater

Weave in ends

Crocheted Newborn Sweater Set Free Pattern

Although this pattern is for the sweater set in the middle, it can easily be adapted for either of the two side sets. For the white and green set simply substitute plain dc for shell rows. For the pink one on the right don't change colors. I used an H hook and sport weight yarn and get 4 dc = 1 inch. These sets are newborn size.

V stitch dc, ch1, dc in same stitch

Shell stitch sc, 3dc in same

SWEATER

Using contrasting color Ch 52
You are starting from the neckline
Guage 4 dc = 1 inch

Row 1: dc in forth chain from hook,(Ch 3 counts as 1st stitch here and in every row), dc in next 5 chains, V st in next ch, 9 dc, V st, 14 dc, V st, 9 dc, V st, 7 dc end

Row 2-6: join main color and ch 3, dc in each dc and V stitch in each V stitch.


Row 7:(forms the armholes) ch 3 and turn, dc to first V stitch, folding so 1st and 2nd V stitches are together dc in both to join them, dc to next V stitch and join 3rd and 4th V stitch in same manner, dc to end

Rows 8-15: ch 3 and turn, dc in each dc

Row 16; in contrasting color ch 1 and turn sc in same st as ch 1, *sk 1dc and shell in next dc, repeat until last 2 st, sc in last stitch.

Armhole pattern (optional)

Row 1; Join contrasting color to bottom of arm hole, sc in each stitch and join

Row 2; ch 1, *sk 1 sc, shell in next repeat from * join to ch 1 at beginning of row.

For ties, either ch 120 and thread through first row or you can use a length of ribbon

HAT

Rd 1; with contrasting color, ch 4 and join, ch 3 (counts as first st) 14 dc into loop (15 st) join to ch3

Rd 2; ch 3, 2dc in each dc, join to ch 3

Rd 3; ch 3, dc in same space as ch 3, *dc in next st, 2 dc in next repeat from * around

Rd 4 -10; change to main color, ch3, dc in each dc join to ch3

Rd 11; change to contrasting color, ch1, sc in same st, * sk 1 dc and shell in next dc repeat from * around, skip last dc, join to starting sc

BOOTIES
Ch 3 at beginning of each rd counts as 1 dc
With contrasting color Ch 4 and sl st to form loop.

Rd 1; ch 3 and 11 dc in loop. (12 sts)

Change to main color
Rd 2; ch 3 *2 dc in next stitch dc in next repeat from * (18 sts)

Rds3 and 4; dc in each dc

Heel

Row 1: ch 3, dc in all but 3 dc

Row 2 -4: dc in each dc and end leaving 6 in tail of yarn

Sew back of heel together by using the back loops only

Cuff
Join Main color yarn at back where it was sewn together

Rd 1: ch3, 7 dc evenly spaced down side, dc in each dc left open, 7 dc evenly spaced on other side and join

RD 2-4: dc in each dc end main color

With contrasting color
Rd 5: ch1, sc in same sp as ch1, *sk 1 dc shell in next dc, repeat from * around, sk last st and join to sc
For ties either ch 70 for tie or you can use ribbon.