PetiteKnit Novice Sweater Junior - Knitting Kit
Designed by PetiteKnit
The Novice Sweater Junior is the children's version of the jumper we hand to people knitting their first garment. It is worked seamlessly from the top down: neckband first, then the round yoke, then the body, and the sleeves last. The body is stocking stitch throughout, with rib at the neck, hem and cuffs. The yoke is shaped by increases worked on four evenly spaced rounds, so there is nothing to seam at the end.
We have made it up in Sandnes Garn Kos, a chainette spun from 62% baby alpaca, 9% wool and 29% nylon. At 150 m to a 50 g ball it knits quickly on 6 mm needles, and the chainette construction keeps it light rather than dense. Three to five balls sees a child's jumper finished, so it is an easy one to cast on for a birthday or Christmas.
Skill Level: Beginner ★
Nothing in this pattern goes beyond knit, purl, and an increase. If you can work in the round and follow a stitch count, you can knit this jumper.
Sizes: 1-2 (2-3) 3-4 (4-5) 5-6 (6-7) 7-8 (8-9) 9-10 (10-12) 12-14 years.
Finished chest: 60 (62) 64 (66) 68 (72) 74 (76) 80 (82) 85 cm.
Length: 34 (36) 38 (40) 42 (44) 46 (48) 50 (52) 54 cm.
Gauge: 16 stitches and 21 rows = 10 x 10 cm in stocking stitch on 6 mm needles.
The Kit Includes
- Sandnes Garn Kos in your chosen colour, in the quantity for your size
- Office printed pattern in English, plus a PDF download sent to your Ravelry account
Please give us your Ravelry username at checkout so we can send the download. Kits come wrapped in tissue paper.
You'll Also Need
- 5.5 mm and 6 mm circular needles, 40 cm and 60 or 80 cm
- 5.5 mm double pointed needles, unless you prefer the Magic Loop method for the sleeves
- PetiteKnit stitch holders for the sleeve stitches
- Stitch markers and a wool needle
Choosing your size
The sizes are given in years, but children vary, so go by the finished chest measurement where you can. Because it is knitted from the top down you can try it on as you go and stop the body and sleeves wherever suits.
Techniques used
- Knitting in the round
- Knit and purl
- Rib
- Yoke increases
- Picking up underarm stitches
- Working a small circumference in the round
Why You'll Love It
- A genuine first garment. No charts, no colourwork, no seaming.
- Three to five balls, so it is finished quickly.
- Eleven sizes, 1-2 years right through to 12-14.
- Alpaca chainette is warm without weight, and soft enough for a child to wear next to the neck.
- Knits at the same gauge as the adult Novice Sweater, so you can make a matching pair.
Yarn Usage
Sandnes Garn Kos is 50 g / 150 m per ball. The eleven sizes group into three quantities, so the kit is sold in three size bands. Choose the band your size falls into.
| Band | Sizes | Kos |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 4-5, 5-6 years | 3 balls / 150 g / 450 m |
| 2 | 6-7, 7-8, 8-9, 9-10 years | 4 balls / 200 g / 600 m |
| 3 | 10-12, 12-14 years | 5 balls / 250 g / 750 m |
These are PetiteKnit's figures. Your own usage will vary with your gauge and with any changes you make to the body or sleeve length. Kos is sold separately on the site should you need a top up, though we cannot guarantee a dye lot match once a kit has shipped.