A hooded vest with optional sleeves for little girls in Plush.

Shown in size 4.

Sizes

Directions are for children’s size Small (2-4). Changes for sizes Medium (6-8) and Large (10-12) are in parentheses.

Finished Measurements

Chest – 30(34-36)”.

Length – 15(17-19)”.

Materials

Berroco Plush (50 grs), 3(4-5) balls #1916 Java Purple (MC) and 1 ball #1901 Crema (CC).

Straight knitting needles, size 10 OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE.

24” length circular knitting needle, size 10.

1 St Holder.

1 St Marker.

Gauge

3 sts = 1”; 4 rows = 1” in St st with size 10 needles.

TO SAVE TIME, TAKE TIME TO CHECK GAUGE.

Note 1

When changing colors, always hold color to the left and pick up new color from underneath. This twists yarn so there are no holes.

Note 2

Always carry yarn not in use LOOSELY across back of work. Where yarn must be carried across more than 3 sts, twist colors to avoid long loops.

Note 3

This garment is worked in 1 piece to the underarms, then split for back and front. It has optional long sleeves.

Body

With circular needle, using MC, cast on 90(102-108) sts. Join, being careful not to twist sts. Mark for beg of round and carry marker up. Work in k1, p1 ribbing for 1”, then k 1 rnd. Join CC and work even in St st (k EVERY rnd), following Chart A over next 3 rnds. Drop CC and work even in St st with MC until piece measures 8-1/2(9-1/2-10-1/2)” from beg.

Divide for Back and Front: Next Rnd: Bind off 5 sts, k until there are 35(41-45) sts on needle after bound-off sts, inc 0(0-1) st by working M1k in center, sl remaining 50(56-59) sts onto holder for Front. Change to straight needles and work back and forth in St st on 35(41-45) sts for Back until armholes measure 5-1/2(6-1/2-7-1/2)” from bound-off sts, end on WS.

Shape Neck and Shoulders: K9(11-12) sts, join another ball of yarn and bind off center 17(19-21) sts loosely, k to end. Working both sides at once, dec 1 st at each neck edge every RS row once. When armholes measure 6-1/2(7-1/2-8-1/2)”, end on WS. Bind off 8(10-11) sts each side for shoulders.

Front

Sl 50(56-59) sts from holder to straight needles. Join yarn and bind off 10 sts, k until there are 35(41-45) sts on needle after bound-off sts, inc 0(0-1) st by working M1k in center, bind off last 5 sts. Turn, join MC and p6(9-11), place marker, join CC and work Row 1 of Chart B over next 23 sts, place marker, with MC, p to end. Work even in St st on 35(41-45) sts, following Chart B on sts between markers, until 19 rows of chart have been completed. Drop CC and markers and work in St st with MC until armholes measure 5-1/2(6-1/2-7-1/2)”, end on WS. Shape Neck and Shoulders same as for back

Sleeves (Optional)

With straight needles, using MC, cast on 24 sts. Work in k1, p1 ribbing for 1”, then k 1 row. Join CC. Beg with a p row, work in St st, following Chart A over next 3 rows. Drop CC and continue to work in St st using MC only, inc 1 st each side every 4th row 3(9-9) times, then every 6th row 5(2-4) times. Work even on 40(46-50) sts until sleeve measures 14(15-1/2-18-1/2)” from beg, end on WS. Bind off all sts.

Hood

Note: Hood is knit from the top down.

Left Side: With straight needles, cast on 26(28-30) sts. Work even in St st for 9-1/2(10-1/2-11-1/2)”, end on WS.

Shape Bottom Edge: Bind off 6(7-7) sts at beg of every RS row twice, then 7(7-8) sts twice.

Right side: Work same as for left side, reversing shaping.

Finishing

For Sleeveless Version: Armbands: With RS facing, using straight needles and MC, beg at outside edge of shoulder, pick up and k18(21-24) sts along armhole edge, 10 sts across bound-off sts, then 18(21-24) sts to other shoulder – 46(52-58) sts. Work even in k1, p1 ribbing for 1”. Bind off in ribbing. Sew shoulder seams.

For Version with Sleeves: Sew shoulder seams. Sew sleeve seams from cuffs to 1-1/2” below bound-off edges. Sew bound-off edges of sleeves into armholes, sewing top 1-1/2” of sides to bound-off sts of armholes.

For Both Versions: Sew cast-on edges of hood tog for top seam and shorter side edges tog for back seam.

Frontband: With RS facing, using straight needles and MC, pick up and k62(68-74) sts around front edge of hood. Work in k1, p1 ribbing for 1”. Bind off all sts loosely in ribbing. Sew bound-off edges of hood and ends of frontband to neck edge of sweater so that frontbands meet at center front neck.