Girls striped jumper- SUPER QUICK MAKE.

Here's my eldest blinking in too bright sunlight showing off her latest new jumper ...her current fave!
I bought the yarn in our Easter holiday up at Abakhan in North Wales ; it's available online from there too or from Readicut online also : approx £3.99 a ball. This sweater for a 10 year old takes 1.75 balls.
The balls are 200 g, 100% acrylic- yes I usually HATE this stuff but this one is very very very VERY SOFFFFT!- 312 m to a ball.
CHUNKY weight : rec hook 6mm.
I made it in just 2-3 days of crocheting in evenings only...!!!While on holiday, it was finished before we came home again.Easter in North Wales was bitterly COLD this year hence the yarn and the hurry!!!!

The pattern follows shortly and was inspired by the book: Crochet kids stuff by Sharon Mann and Phyllis Sandford . ISBN 52944 01584. Obtained from Borders in Oxford.
I think it's Canadian.
I was inspired by the sideways sweater on page 25 but mine has a few alterations.
Yarn, sleeve length, gauge, stitch , neckline : subtly different in all aspects.

The above is MARBLE yarn by James C Brett , acrylic. the colour is OCEAN : or CODE MC8

Here is some more yarn, there are quite a few different colourways available.I like saphire trio too as well as the lilac/greens one.Ocean is the one on the far right and in the middle: only 1.25 balls left.

PATTERN:
SIZE : front=back= 45cm long by 5ocm wide my eldest likes 'm baggy.
TENSION: Using all trebles( USA DC) 5 ROWS ARE 10 CM and 11-12 trebles are 10 cm.

FRONT=BACK = 55 STS BY 26 ROWS.

FRONT:

Start a loose chain - I do this on a 7mm hook- of 55sts.
The change to hook 6mm and work another 3 chain- ( turning chain) = 1 treble(dc) then work trebles to the end using BOTH loops of the starting chain.
TURN: chain 3 and work trebles all the way across again but ONLY in the FRONT loop.
turn at end, 3 chain and trebles all the way back but ONLY IN THE BACK loop.
Repeat the above 2 rows until 26 rows have been worked: there should be a line/ stripe effect on one side only caused by working the stitches in one loop only.LOVELY!
This is the outward facing side if you so wish.
The other side should be plainer.

REPEAT for the BACK.

Work in ends.

Now sew the shoulder seams together from the outer shoulder edge inwards towards the centre neck BUT ONLY for 3 trebles.
Then attach the yarn to one of the sides: eg the back and work 3 dc ( sc) in the next 2 trebles.
Then work trebles ( dc) in the next 3 trebles spacing them 2-3 to a treble row .
Then work 2-3 double trebles in the next treble row and triple trebles( 2) in the next treble row.
Cast off leaving a long length whci you then use to sew the open edge of the shoulder wedge to the shoulder edge of the front panel, matching the rows as for the back.
This gives a nicer neckline and more comfort that the original pattern.( from the book).
Repeat the mirror image for the other shoulder.

Basically you are crocheting a triangle onto one back panel
shoulder ,later sewing the edge to the front, to provide ease for the head and neck.
Please adjust the width and length of this for your child.

SLEEVES:
I have worked these from the shoulder downwards to be able to get the length'' just right''
for a very picky daughter!

Count about 24 trebles down from the shoulder seam and connect the yarn, work trebles(dc) 48 in total ( 24 along the back and 24 along the front) and then continue working in the front or back loop as required to maintain the pattern demonstrated on the front panel.
My sleeves are slightly shaped as follows:

Work 6 rows as 48 trebles.
Decrease 1 st at each end by working 2 trebles together on the 2nd/ penultimate sts in the row.
Do this for the next 8 rows until 32 sts remaining, then work straight until required sleeve length reached for your child.

Work in ends and sew sleeve seam from the cuff to the armhole and sew back and front panels together.

Then work the second sleeve the same as the first.

FINITO!!!

I have not added any finishing rows to the cuff , neckline or hem as picky lady is into grunge and does not like any of this. Not even a bit of crabstitch!
Feel free to do so and to add pom poms or embellishments however!
Or maybe limit it to 3/4 sleeves?
With turn backs?
Or a flare?
Or a beaded edge?

FEEL FREE HAVE FUN AND EXPERIMENT!!!!

The fabulous colours just happen with this yarn and it's why I was so attracted to it.

My next project will be a zigzag TV blanket or throw for the Fall 2008 for the kids as with fuel prices the way they are going and the colder winters : we will be needing some Afghans to watch TV in!Also using the yarn below.

( for us adults I'm plannung one in Debbie Bliss cashmerino....YUM YUM)