Gramps Cardigan: Body and Sleeves (4/6)

This tutorial is part 4 of a 6-part tutorial covering sweater knitting techniques for the Gramps cardigan. To view the other parts of the tutorial click on the links below.

At the end of Tutorial 3 we completed the yoke of the Gramps cardigan. So far it doesn’t look like much, but I assure you that we are well on our way to completing an outrageously adorable baby garment!

Today we will knit the body and the arms of the sweater, and the project will begin to resemble a proper little old man cardigan! As I showed in the previous post, the process of knitting a top-down sweater is as follows:

Last week’s tutorial covered how to cast on and knit the yoke of the sweater. This week we will be knitting the body and arms, which are quite straightforward.

HOW TO SEPARATE THE BODY AND ARMS OF A TOP-DOWN SWEATER

In order to knit the body, you need to separate the total stitches of the yoke into stitches that will become the body, and the stitches that will become the arms. It will also be necessary to cast on some stitches at the underarm. (be sure to follow the pattern instructions for the size YOU are knitting. I am knitting the 1-2 year size)

The pattern instructions for the 1-2 year size read:

separate sleeves and body: Removing markers as you go, knit to marker (left front), place next 36 sts on hold (left sleeve), CO 4 sts using backward loop method (left underarm), knit 53 sts (back), place next 36 sts on hold (right sleeve), CO 4 sts using backward loop method (right underarm), knit to end (right front). [111 body sts]

Below is a diagram showing graphically what this means:

Once you have knit the across left front, and put the arm stitches on hold (by using a blunt needle to thread a piece of waste yarn through them), you cast on stitches for the underarm. This can be done a couple of different ways, but I suggest the backward loop cast-on method.

BACKWARD LOOP CAST-ON METHOD

Use the working yarn to add loops to the RH needle. 1 new Loop = 1 stitch cast on. The loops must be made such that they do not come off the needle, so the outside part of the loop catches the yarn and binds it against the work. An image is better than any words:

So here we begin:

So you will:

knit across the left front,

then cast on stitches for the underarm and put arm stitches on hold,

then knit across the back, then cast on stitches for underarm and put arm stitches on hold,

then knit across the right front

Your yoke is now split into body and arm stitches, and if you squint your eyes and imagine, you see that the strange piece of knitting is beginning to take the shape of a cardigan! At this point you can count your stitches to be sure that you now have the correct number on the needles.

The body of the cardigan in this case is very simple; follow the pattern and knit the majority in stockinette stitch, then switch to your contrast colour to work the ribbed bottom band. I suggest that you bind off ‘in pattern’ on the wrong side (WS) of the work. Binding off in pattern is simple; as you are binding off, you work the stitches as they lie before binding off. So if the stitch is a knit stitch, you knit it, or if it’s a purl stitch you purl it, before binding off as usual by lifting the first stitch over the second stitch and off the needles.

Voila! You now have a sleeveless cardigan! Time to give it some sleeves.

HOW TO KNIT THE SLEEVES IN THE ROUND FROM UNDERARM TO CUFF

You will knit one sleeve at a time. To begin, put the stitches that you have on hold on waste yarn back on the needles. You can do this by inserting your needle through each of the stitches, following alongside the waste yarn. I used DPNs (double pointed needles) to make my sleeves but you could also use a long circular and the magic loop method.

Once you have your needles (3 needles if you are using DPNs) through all of the stitches, you can pull the waste yarn out.

Place 36 held sts on larger DPNs (or 16” circular needle for larger sizes). Knit across these sts, then pick up and knit 2 sts from underarm, PM, pick up and knit 2 more sts. Knit around to marker, this is the new beginning of round, located at underarm. [40 sts]

HOW TO PICK UP STITCHES:

insert your RH needle through the work from right side to wrong side, and with the working yarn in the back

wrap around the needle, and use the needle to pull a loop through the fabric to the right side of the work.

For my size I am picking up 2 stitches, placing a marker, then picking up 2 more stitches.

Because I use DPNs, I don’t place a marker, I just know that the beginning of the round occurs in the middle of the underarm. If you are using the Magic Loop method, you will want to place a marker.

HOW TO KNIT A SLEEVE IN THE ROUND

Tip: After working 2 rounds I place a locking stitch marker at the underarm to make it easy to measure my sleeve length. I simply measure from the stitch marker.

To work the sleeve follow the pattern, knitting each round until your sleeve measures a specified number of inches. Then you will begin your decreases.

Decrease round: k1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1 Knit 5 rounds

For my size I will be working these 6 rounds (decrease +5 knit rounds = 6 rounds) 3 more times (a total of 4 decreases) and I will end up with 32 sts.

Continue following the pattern until the sleeve is the specified length (if you are knitting for a wee one you may want to add an inch or so and fold up the cuffs for extra sweater longevity, but this will take a little extra yarn). Switch to your contrast colour to work the ribbed cuff the same as at the bottom of the body.

Then work the second sleeve the same as the first! Voila – now your project actually looks like a tiny little sweater!

NEXT STEPS

The body and arms are done, and there are only a few finishing touches before this über cute project is complete. In the blog posts to follow, I will take you through the rest of the steps required to knit the Gramps cardigan!

The next post will be:

5/6 Shawl Collar and Button Band: Picking Up Stitches along an edge, Short-Row Shaping, Buttonholes, Binding off in Pattern

Is there anything I covered that is unclear? Did I miss any important points? Please let me know what you think of these tutorials, and make suggestions for other tutorial topics by posting comments, or contact me directly. Be sure to subscribe to the blog by email to receive each post as it goes live, right to your inbox!

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For Knitting Instructors

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