Sheep Yoke Baby Cardigan

By Jennifer Little of Looking Glass Knits

This cardigan was inspired by a sweater "recipe" in Gibson-Roberts and Robson's Knitting in
the Old Way. My version has a much simplified yoke pattern and is sized for a baby.

General sizing note: as with my other patterns, I have given directions for two sizes using
different size needles. Doing so means that the stitch counts and fair isle patterns can stay the
same across sweater sizes. Make sure you choose the size needle that will give you the
proper gauge! Since babies grow so fast, however, it's really not particularly important to
make a sweater in an exact size.

Size: 6-9 months or 9-12 months (Shown in size 9-12 months.)

Gauge: 6 stitches and 9 rows = 1 inch (smaller needles); 5.5 stitches and 8 rows = 1 inch
(larger needles)

Requirements:
DK weight superwash wool (I used Knitpicks Swish DK) in tan (220-250 yards); blue, green
and cream (60-90 yards); black (less than 20 yards); for girl's version, pink (less than 60
yards).
size 5 (smaller size), size 6 (larger size) straight or circular needles.

1
Directions:

With tan yarn (MC), CO 70 stitches. Work 7 rows of k2, p2 rib. Work 1 row of purl. Break
yarn and join blue.

Begin working Sheep Yoke Chart. The row marked "setup row" is the purl row you have just
worked. Chart guidelines:

• Be sure to repeat each bracketed section four times as you work across the rows, and be
sure also to space increases across each section without lining them up vertically --
lining increases up along the red "fault lines" of the pattern will result in ugly and
obvious increase "seams."
• The black wedges on the chart indicate "no stitches." Just jump across these aresa to the
next stitch in the row.
• Only work the pink flowers if you are making the girl's version. For the boy's version,
just work these two rows in blue.
• For the flower pattern ONLY, do not repeat each bracketed section exactly as pictured.
Rather, keep the eight-stitch repeat of the flowers continuous across these two rows. You
will also need to work in the required increases as you do so, so be careful!
• For the rest of the chart, you can work the repeats exactly as pictured.
• If you are making the boy's version, use blue yarn for the checkerboard pattern. If you
are making the girl's version, use pink yarn. I have shown both on the chart for a visual
aid.

After you have completed row 34 of the chart (206 st), divide for the sleeves as follows:
K29, place 44 st. on a holder or piece of scrap yarn, k60, place 44 st. on a holder or piece of
scrap yarn, k29.

2
 Work straight in stockinette with
MC until piece measures 10.5"
[12.5"]. Then, work 2 rows with
blue (boy's version) or pink (girl's
version). Work one more row
with MC, then work 7 rows k2, p2
rib and BO.

With black yarn, duplicate-stitch

heads and legs to sheep as
charted in the Duplicate Stitch
Chart (sheep should be facing
toward the button band on each
side). Use blue yarn to make
french-knot eyes for the forward-
facing sheep in the center back.

Work Sleeves:
Return stitches from one arm to needles and join MC. Work 9 rows stockinette. In the next
row, decrease by one stitch at each edge. Repeat these ten rows two more times (38 st).
Work 7 more rows, then join
pink or blue and work two
rows with this color, then
work 1 more row with MC.
Work 7 rows k2, p2 rib and
BO. Repeat with other arm.

Work Button Bands:

With MC, pick up 3 stitches
for every 4 rows along the
right front edge. Work 8
rows k2, p2 rib and BO.
Check out your button band
and decide how many
buttons you would like and
where you would like to put
them. Pick up the same
number of stitches along the
left front edge. Work 3 rows
k2, p2 rib, then work a row of buttonholes as follows: work 4 stitches in rib, *YO, k2tog,
work in rib to place you'd like the next buttonhole, rep. from * until 6 stitches from end,
k2tog, YO, work 4 stitches in rib. Work 4 more rows of k2, p2 rib and BO.

3
Finishing:
Seam arms, weave in ends, and block. Sew buttons to button band to match buttonholes.

Notes and suggestions for modifying:

• I stranded my sheep, but you may find it easier to use intarsia.
• If you are averse to knitting it flat, you can certainly feel free to knit in the round
and steek. If you’re using superwash wool, the best way to reinforce would be
with a sewing machine.
• If you are a little nervous about the garter stitch sheep, there is no reason why
you could not knit them in stockinette. This will only affect the texture detail. If
you want to try other ways of adding texture, you could try bouclé yarn or
something fuzzy like angora. If you wanted lots of texture, you could add some
bobbles! I’ve also fantasized about making one – or all – of the sheep black
(doesn’t every flock need a black sheep?

Copyright Statement: Pattern © 2008 by Jennifer Little of Looking Glass Knits. User may not copy
and/or distribute pattern, for profit or otherwise. User may not sell finished garment for profit.