MATERIALS:

This easily and quickly knitted layette was designed to take care of baby’s first outings. Beehive Astrs is the yarn to use for these instructions in order to obtain successful results. You will need:-4 (50 g) balls for the layette. If made separately, the jacket requires 2 balls. Bonnet 1 ball. Bootees 1 ball. Panties 1 ball. Two No.8 (4 mm), (U.S.6) knitting needles or whichever needles you require to produce the tension given below. One button. Length of ribbon.

TENSION: 5 1/2 sts. and 7 ½  rows – 1 inch (2.5 cm) in stocking st.

MEASUREMENTS: Jacket: Width all around at underarms 17 ins (43 cm). Length from top of shoulder 10 ins (25 cm). Sleeve seam 4 ½ ins (11 cm). Bonnet: Width all around at face edge 11 ins (28 cm). Depth 5 1/2 ins (14 cm). Panties: Length at centre front 8 1/2 ins (22 cm). Width all around 18 in1 (46 cm).

THE JACKET

This Jacket is started with the collar and is knitted down towards the lower edge of body and sleeves, increasing as given in the instructions to make raglan sleeve shaping outlined with eyelets.

Beginning with collar, cast on 50 sts.

Knit 12 rows Garter st.  (plain knitting every row).

l3th row: K3. (K2tog.) 22  times. K3. (28 sts. on needle).

l4th row: (K2tog. Wl.fwd. for buttonhole). K1. Purl to last 3 sts. K3.

l5th row: K3. Inc. 1.st. in each of next 22 sts. K3. (50 sts. on needle).

l6th row: K3. Purl to last 3 sts. K3.

To make raglan shaping: 1st row: (K8. Wl.fwd. K1. Wl.fwd.) twice. K14. (Wl.fwd. K1. Wl.fwd. K8) twice. (58 sts. on needle).

2nd and alternate rows: K3. Purl to last 3 sts. k3

3rd row: K9. Wl.fwd. K1. Wl.fwd. K10. Wl.fwd. K1. Wl.fwd. K16. Wl.fwd. K1. wl.fwd. K1. Wl.fwd. K9. (66 sts. on needle).

5th row: K10. Wl.fwd. K1. Wl.fwd. K12. Wl.fwd. K1. Wl.fwd. K18. Wl.fwd. K1. Wl.fwd. K12. wl.fwd. K1. Wl.fwd. K10. (74 sts. on needle).

7th row: K11. Wl.fwd. K1 for seam st. wl.fwd. K14. wl.fwd. K1 for seam st. wl.fwd. K20. W.fwd. K1 for seam st. Wl.fwd. 1K14. Wl.fwd. K1 for seam st. Wl.fwd. K11. (82 sts. on needle).

There are now 4 eyelets at each side of each of the 4 seam sts.

Continue in Stocking st. inc. 8 sts. across row as before, by making a Wl.fwd. before and after each of the 4 seam sts, every knit row and being sure to K3 at beginning and end of every row, to 170 sts. on needle, ending with purl row. There should be 15 eyelets at each side of each of the 4 seam sts. Proceed:

Do not break yarn. With right side of work facing, slip 1st. 24 sts, onto a thread. Slip next 38 sts. for one sleeve onto a spare needle with points at both ends. Slip next 46 sts. onto same thread with the 24 sts. Slip next 38 sts. for other sleeve onto a separate thread. Slip remaining 24 sts. onto the thread with the 70 sts.

To Make sleeves: With right side of work facing, join another ball of yarn to the 38 sts. on spare needle. Working in Stocking st. cast-on 1.st. beginning first 2 rows. (40 sts, on needle). Dec. 1.st. each end of needle on 3rd and every following 4th row to 32 sts. on needle, ending with knit row.

Purl 1row. Knit 1 row. Purl 1 row.

Next row: K2. (K2tog. K8) 3 times. (29 sts. on needle).

Knit 6 rows Garter st.

Purl 1 row. Knit 1 row. Purl 1 row.

Next row: K2. (K2tog. K7) 3 times. (26 sts. on needle).

Knit 5 rows Garter st. Cast off loosely.

Slip the 38 sts. left for other sleeve onto needle and work to correspond.

To make body: With wrong side of work facing, slip the 94 sts. from thread onto needle so that the point of needle points to the ball of yarn attached at Left Front edge.

1st row: K24, Cast on 2 sts. for underarm. K46. Cast on 2 sts. for underarm. K24. (98 sts. on needle).

2nd row: K3. Purl to last 3 sts. K3.

3rd row: Knit.

Repeat 2nd and 3rd rows for 4 1|2 ins. ending with 3rd row.

Knit 6 rows Garter st.

Repeat 2nd and 3rd rows once, then 2nd row once.

Knit 6 rows Garter st. Cast off loosely.

TO MAKE UP: Sew sleeve seams, then sew the 2 cast-on sts, of sleeves to the opposite cast-on sts. of body at each underarm. Press lightly. Sew button to correspond to buttonhole.

THE BONNET

Beginning at crown, cast on 9 sts.

1st row: K1. (Wl.fwd. K1)8 times.

2nd and alternate rows: Purl.

3rd row: K1. (Wl.fwd. K2)8 times.

5th row: K1. (Wl.fwd. K3)8 times.

7th row: K1. (Wl.fwd. K4)8 times.

9th row: K1. (Wl.fwd. K5)8 times.

11th row: K1. (Wl.fwd. K6)8 times. (57 sts. on needle).

Continue even in Stocking st. until work measures 3 ¾ ins. from cast-on edge, ending with purl row.

Next row: K2. (K2tog. K9)5 times. (52 sts. on needle).

Knit 6 rows Garter st.  (plain knitting every row).

Purl 1 row. Knit 1 row. Purl 1 row.

Next row: K2. (K2tog. K8) 5 times. (47 sts. on needle).

Knit 5 rows Garter st. Cast off loosely

To make neckband: Sew up back seam for 2 1|2 ins. from base of crown. With right side of work facing, pick up and knit 34 sts. along lower edge of bonnet.

Next row: (eyelets). K2. *Wl.fwd. K2tog.

Repeat from * to end of row. Knit 1 row. Cast off loosely. Press lightly. Thread ribbon through eyelets at neck.

THE BOOTEES

Cast on 23 sts.

Knit 6 rows Garter st. (plain knitting every row).

Purl 1 row. Knit 1 row. Purl 1 row.

Knit 7 rows Garter st.

Purl 1 row. Knit 1 row. Purl 1 row.

Next row: (eyelets). Kl. (Wl.fwd. K2tog.)S

times. K2. (Wl.fwd. K2toS.)5 times. Purl 1 row.

To make foot: K16. Turn. P9. Turn.

Working on centre 9 sts. work 11 row even in Stocking st. ending with knit row.

Next row: Pick up and knit 6 sts. alongside of the flap. Knit remaining 7 sts.

Next row: K22. Pick up-and knit 6 sts. along other side of the flap. Knit remaining 7 sts. (35 sts. on needle). ”

Knit 10 rows Garter st.

Next row: (K1. K2tog. K12. K2tog.) twice. K1. Knit 1 row.

Next row: (K1. K2tog. K10. k2tog.) twice. K1. Cast off. Sew up back seam. Press lightly.

Thread ribbon through eyelets at ankle.

THE PANTIES

Beginning at top of waistband of Front, cast on 48 sts.

1st row: K2. *P1. K1. Repeat from * to end of row.

repeat 1st. row twice.

4th row: (eyelets) K2. *Wl.fwd. K2tog.

Repeat from * to end of row.

Repeat lst. row 6 times.

knit even in Garter st. (plain knitting every row) until work measures 6 1|2 ins. from cast-on edge, being careful not to stretch work as it should measure 9 ins. from side to side.

To make leg openings: 1st row: k1 Sl.1. k1. p.s.s.o. knit to last 3 sts. k2tog k1. repeat 1st. row to 14 sts. on needle.

Knit 6 rows even.

Next row: Inc. 1.st. in 1st. st. knit to last 2 sts. Inc. 1.st. in next st. K1.

Repeat this row to 48sts. on needle.

Knit even in Gasrter st. for same number of rows as front to ribbed band, then knit 6 more rows to deepen the back.

Work 6 rows (k1. P1) ribbing, the eyelet row, then 3 row ribbing. Cast off loosely in ribbing.

TO MAKE UP: Easing in the extra- 6 rows of Back, sew side seams from waistband to beginnings of leg openings. For the cord, cast on 120 sts. loosely. This-should measure about 34 ins. when stretched. Darn in ends. Thread through eyelets at waist Press lightly.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The designs in this post, when made to exact tension with Beehive Aetra will produce garments with the same measurements as given at the toD of each instruction and thus fit an average baby of the given age. There is, however, such variation in size between one baby and another that age is not, of course, a completely accurate guide.

The chest measurement and weight of baby for each size used in this pattern are as follows:

                AGE                                       WEIGHT                               CHEST

                3 months                             11 ½       lbs.                         18           ins

                6 months                             16           lbs                          19           ins

                9 months                             19           lbs                          19 1/2    ins

                12 months                           20           lbs                          20           ins

CHECK TENSION

The garments in this post are worked to the exact tension given. They are closely knitted to ensure a firm fabric that will wear better and keep its shape longer than a loosely knitted fabric. Check your tension. Before beginning your garment take the yarn and needles specified. Cast on 20 stitches. Work 20 rows stocking stitch. Lay work flat on a table and place a ruler across the stitches. Count the number of stitches to measure at least two inches and compare with the tension given in the instructions. All given tension in Beehive instructions is measured over stocking stitch. If your tension is too loose try a size smaller needle. If your tension is too tight try a size larger needle. Be sure to work to exact tension given if you want your garment to work to correct size.