Little Owl Variation

Some time ago I promised to post the pattern for the Little Owl Sweater variation.  Life happened and I never got it posted.  My apologies to all of you who asked for it.  Here it is in all its glory.  The patterns for the hat and booties are with the original post for the Little Owl Sweater.



Size: newborn
Materials:  Soft Sport Weight yarn
Size 3 needles:
one set of 24 inch cables
2 sets of 16 inch cables or one set of #3 straights
Cable needle
Yarn needle
7 buttons (7/16 inch)
Pattern Notes:
yo  =  yarn over
pm  =  place marker
The little owl is worked from the top down on the sweater.

Knitting Tip:  When working a garter st button band, I find it helpful to use a stitch marker at the point where each band begins.  It’s a reminder to make sure those 4 sts are always knitted.

Cast on 68 sts
Rows 1 and 2: work in k2, p2 ribbing
Row 3:  Buttonhole row.
For a boy:  K2, yo, K2 tog, K2, P2 across
For a girl:  K2, P2 to the last 4 sts, K2 tog, yo, K2
Rows 4-6:  Continue in k2, p2 ribbing

Yoke
Row 1:  k4 (button band), k9 for front, pm, k6 for sleeve, pm, k30 for back, pm, k6 for sleeve, pm, k9 for front, k4 (button band)
Row 2:  k4, purl across slipping markers as you go, k4
Row 3:  k4, k to the st before the next marker, inc slip marker, inc, repeat across  (total of 8 increases - 76 sts)

Work buttonholes after every 8th ridge on the button band.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 seventeen times.  You should have 212 stitches and you will have worked a total of 3 button holes.

Sleeves (done on straight needles)
Knit across front to 1st sleeve.  Taking a size 3 straight needle, remove the 1st marker and knit the sleeve sts (42) onto the straight needle, remove 2nd marker and leave all other sts on the circular needle.
Knitting now in rows on straight needles only, beginning with a purl row, knit 37 rows in stockinette st.
Decrease 2 sts in the last row.
Knit 12 rows in K2, P2 ribbing.
Bind off loosely in ribbing.

Note:  If sewing the underarm seam leave an 18” tail.

I like to seam the underarm at this point.  It makes for a smoother transition when you knit across to attach the fronts to the back.

Sleeves (done on circular needles)
Knit across front to 1st sleeve.  Taking a size 3 circular needle (16 inch), remove the 1st marker and knit the sleeve sts (42) onto the shorter circular needle, remove 2nd marker and leave all other sts on the long circular needle.
Transfer 21 stitches to the 2nd shorter circular needle.

Rnd 1:  Slide the sts on needle #2 onto the cable part of the needle and then drop it to the back.  Using needle #1, knit the 1st 21 sts.  Drop needle #1, pick up needle #2, and knit the 21 sts on needle #2.

Rnd 2:  Drop needle #2 to the back and using needle #1, knit the 1st 21 sts.  Drop needle #1, pick up needle #2, and knit the 21 sts on needle #2.

Repeat Rnds 1 and 2 seventeen times for a total of 37 rounds.
Decrease 2 sts in the last round
Knit 12 rounds in K2, P2 ribbing.
Bind off loosely in ribbing.
Pick up the longer circular needle, attach yarn (unless you used the alternate sleeve finish or the circular needle sleeve, in which case the yarn is already attached) and knit across the sweater back to the other sleeve.  Finish the second sleeve as the first.

Note:  When attaching the yarn under the arm, leave a long tail to use in stitching up the little hole that will be left when the sweater is finished.

Picking up the circular needles, knit across the sweater front.  Turn work.
Next row:  K4, purl across to last 4 sts, knit.

Always remember to work a buttonhole after every 8th ridge.

Body
Row 1:  knit across, increase 2 sts in each armhole (124 sts)
Row 2:  k4, purl across to last 4 sts, k4
Row 3:  knit across
Repeat rows 2 and 3 for a total of 16 rows
Row 17:  (right side) k4, (p3, k8) repeat across ending with p3, k4
Row 18:  (wrong side) k4, (k3, p8) repeat across ending with k7
Row 19:  k4, (p3, sl 2 sts onto cable needle and hold to front, k2, k2 from cable needle, sl 2 sts onto cable needle and hold to back k2, k2 from cable needle, p3) repeat across ending with p3, k4
Row 20: Repeat row 18
Row 21:  k4, (p3, k1, p2, k2, p2, k1) repeat across ending with p3, k4
Row 22:  k4, (k3, p1, k2, p2, k2, p1) repeat across ending with k7
Row 23:  (buttonhole row) repeat row 17
Row 24:  repeat row 18
Row 25:  repeat row 19 (cable row)
Row 26:  repeat row 18
Row 27:  repeat row 17
Row 28:  repeat row 18
Row 29:  repeat row 17
Row 30:  repeat row 18
Row 31:  repeat row 17
Row 32:  repeat row 18
Row 33:  repeat row 19 (cable row)
Row 34:  repeat row 18
Row 35:  repeat row 17
Row 36:  k4, purl across, k4
Row 37:  knit across

Work 12 rows of k2, p2 ribbing
Bind off loosely in ribbing
Weave in ends, stitch closed the little hole in the underarm, sew buttons on the button band opposite the button holes.