Aren’t You Plaid it’s Christmas Set

Knit this set with siblings in mind. These coordinating vest and jumper designs pair classic plaid colorwork with an attractive 3×2 Rib stitch pattern. They also make wonderful gifts!

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: Finished Bust Size 18½ (20, 20¾, 22¾, 23½, 25, 27, 28½)” to fit children sizes 6mo (12mo, 18mo, 2yrs, 3yrs, 4yrs, 6yrs, 8yrs)

1½ – 2” positive ease recommended depending on size.

Shown in sizes 20” (Vest) and 23½” (Jumper) circumference

Gauge: 22.75 sts and 24 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Plaid st after wet blocking

Materials

Yarn:

Skacel by HiKoo Simplicity (55% Merino Superwash; 117 yards [107 meters]/50 grams): Vest: 027 Blue Nile (MC), 2 (2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4) balls; 003 Natural (CC), 1 ball.

Jumper: 046 Crimson (MC), additional 1 (1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 4) balls; 003 Natural (CC), 1 ball.

Needles: US size 5 (3.75 mm): 24” circular needles

Notions: Markers; removable markers; stitch holders; waste yarn for provisional cast-on; tapestry needle.

Abbreviations

M1 (m1): make one extra stitch with Loop CO method (twisted yo)

Special Stitches

Sew BO method

Cut the working yarn to about 3 times as long as your finished piece, stretched. Thread that yarn onto a blunt needle. *Pass the yarn needle through the first 2 sts from right to left, pass the yarn needle through the first st on the knitting needle from left to right, drop the first st off the knitting needle; rep from * until 1 st rem, sew through this last st from right to left.

Rib Stitch (worked in the round)

Multiple of 5 sts

Rnd 1: P1, *k3, p2; rep from * to last 4 sts, k3, p1.

Rep Row 1 for pattern.

Pattern Notes

The Vest is worked flat from bottom up. Neckband is worked in the round from picked up stitches. Armhole bands are worked from picked up stitches as well, but back and forth, and then are seamed along with sides.

The Jumper body begins with provisional CO and then is worked same as the Vest. Then skirt is worked from provisional stitches down.

Vest Pattern

Back

With MC, CO 53 (57, 59, 65, 67, 71, 77, 81) sts.

Rib

Row 1 (RS): Sl1, p4 (1, 2, 5, 1, 3, 1, 3), *k3, p2; rep from * to last 8 (5, 6, 9, 5, 7, 5, 7) sts, k3, purl to end of the row.
Row 2 (WS): Sl1, k4 (1, 2, 5, 1, 3, 1, 3), *p3, k2; rep from * to last 8 (5, 6, 9, 5, 7, 5, 7) sts, p3, knit to last st, p1.

Work Rows 1-2, 20 (21, 22, 24, 24, 24, 26, 33) more times.

**Armhole Shaping

Cont in patt and place on waste yarn last 2 (4, 4, 5, 4, 4, 4, 5) sts of the next 2 rows, then last 3 sts of the next 0 (0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 2, 2) rows, then last 2 sts of the next 0 (0, 0, 2, 2, 0, 0, 0) rows – 49 (49, 51, 51, 55, 57, 63, 65) sts.

Cont in patt 18 (20, 20, 22, 24, 28, 30, 32) more rows, ending with WS row.

BO 6 (6, 6, 6, 7, 8, 11, 11) sts at beg of the next 2 rows – 37 (37, 39, 39, 41, 41, 41, 43) sts. rem).

Place rem neck sts on waste yarn.

Block Back panel to measurements.

Front

With MC, CO 53 (57, 59, 65, 67, 71, 77, 81) sts

Rib

Work Rows 1-2, 3 more times.

**Beg next row working in Plaid Stitch pattern following the Chart for 34 (36, 38, 42, 42, 42, 46, 60) rows.

Armhole Shaping

Cont in patt for 6 (2, 2, 2, 2, 6, 6, 8) more rows, ending with WS row.

Neckline Shaping

Left Front

Row 1 (RS): Work 20 (20, 20, 20, 21, 22, 25, 25) sts in pattern, place 9 (9, 11, 11, 13, 13, 13, 15) central neck sts on waste yarn, place rem 20 (20, 20, 20, 21, 22, 25, 25) sts on st holder.
Row 2 and all WS rows: Work in pattern unless otherwise directed.
Row 3: Work in pattern to last 4 (3, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2) sts, place them on waste yarn.
Row 5: Work in pattern to last 3 (3, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2) sts, place them on waste yarn
Row 7: Work in pattern to last 3 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2) sts, place them on waste yarn
Row 9: Work in pattern to last 2 (0, 0, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0) sts, place them on waste yarn

All sizes except Size 6 mo

Dec Row (RS): Work in pattern to last 3 sts, k2tog, p1 – 1 st dec’d.

Rep Dec Row every other row 0 (3, 3, 2, 5, 5, 7, 7) more times, ending with WS row.

BO6 (6, 6, 6, 7, 8, 11, 11) rem shoulder sts.

Right Front

Transfer sts from holder to working needle.

Row 1 and all RS rows: Work in pattern unless otherwise directed.
Row 2 (WS): Work in pattern to end of row.
Row 4: Work in pattern to last 4 (3, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2) sts, place them on waste yarn
Row 6: Work in pattern to last 3 (3, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2) sts, place them on waste yarn
Row 8: Work in pattern to last 3 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2) sts, place them on waste yarn
Row 10: Work in pattern to last 2 (0, 0, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0) sts, place them on waste yarn

All sizes except Size 6 mo

Dec Row 11 (RS): Sl1, ssk, work in pattern to last st, p1 – 1 st dec’d.

Rep Dec Row every other row 0 (3, 3, 2, 5, 5, 7, 7) more times, ending with WS row.

BO6 (6, 6, 6, 7, 8, 11, 11) rem shoulder sts.

Block Front panel to measurements.

Finishing

Join shoulders.

Neckband

With RS facing and MC, beg at center Back work back live sts incorporating sts into Rib Stitch pattern to left shoulder. Pick up and work in Rib Stitch pattern 3 (7, 6, 9, 11, 10, 17, 15) sts along left Front neckline slope. Work in Rib Stitch pattern Front live neckline sts, pick up and work in Rib pattern 3 (7, 6, 9, 11, 10, 17, 15) sts along right Front neckline slope.

Cont in pattern across rem back neck live sts, place marker to work in the round – 80 (80, 80, 90, 90, 90, 100, 100) sts.

Cont in Rib Stitch pattern for 5 more rnds.

BO neckline sts using Sewn BO method.

Armhole Bands

With RS facing and MC, k2 (4, 4, 7, 6, 7, 7, 8) live underarm sts, pick up and k43 (47, 51, 51, 59, 65, 69, 71) sts along armhole, k2 (4, 4, 7, 6, 7, 7, 8) live underarm sts – 47 (55, 59, 65, 71, 79, 83, 87) sts.

Set-up Row (WS): Sl1, k1 (0, 2, 0, 3, 2, 4, 1), *p3, k2; rep from * to last 5 (4, 6, 4, 7, 6, 8, 5) sts, p3, k1 (0, 2, 0, 3, 2, 4, 1), p1

Row 1 (RS): Sl1, p1 (0, 2, 0, 3, 2, 4, 1), *k3, p2; rep from * to last 5 (4, 6, 4, 7, 6, 8, 5) sts, k3, purl to end of the row.
Row 2: Work as Set-up Row.

Rep Rows 1-2, 2 more times.

BO Armhole sts using Sewn BO method.

Rep for other Armhole.

Sew side seams.

Weave in all ends.

Jumper Pattern

Back

With waste yarn, provisionally CO 53 (57, 59, 65, 67, 71, 77, 81) sts

Set-up Row (WS): With MC, sl1, purl to end of the row.

Work Rows 1-2, 17 (18, 19, 21, 21, 21, 23, 30) more times.

Next Row (RS): Work as for Vest Back from **.

Front

With waste yarn, provisionally CO 53 (57, 59, 65, 67, 71, 77, 81) sts.

Set-up Row (WS): With MC, sl1, purl to end of the row.

Next Row (RS): Work as for Vest Front from **.

Skirt

Unravel provisional CO and pick up 104 (112, 116, 128, 132, 140, 152, 160) sts.

Rearrange the stitches setting beg of the round at wearer left side. With RS facing, place the marker and work further in the round.

Sizes 4 (8) yrs only

Rnd 1: Knit all sts to end of rnd – 140 (160) sts.

Sizes 12 mo (3 yrs, 6 yrs) only

Rnd 1: Ssk, k54 (64, 74), k2tog, knit to end of rnd – 110 (130, 150) sts.

Size 2 yrs only

Rnd 1: M1, k64, m1, knit to end of rnd – 130 sts.

Size 18 mo only

Rnd 1: K1, m1, k56, m1, k2, m1, k56, m1, k1 – 120 sts.

Size 6 mo only

Rnd 1: M1, k1, m1, k50, m1, k1, m1, k1, m1, k50, m1, k1 – 110 sts.

All Sizes

Beg next rnd working in Rib Stitch pattern, matching with Rib Stitch pattern on the Back panel.

Next Rnd: P1, *k3, p2; rep from * to last 4 sts, k3, p1.

Rep last rnd twice more.

Inc Rnd: M1, p1 *k3, p1, m1, p1; rep from * to last 4 sts, k3, p1 – 132 (132, 144, 156, 156, 168, 180, 192) sts.

Next Rnd: P2, *k3, p3; rep from * to last 4 sts, k3, p1.

Rep last rnd 27 (29, 31, 33, 37, 37, 57, 63) more times or until desired skirt length is reached.

Finishing

Weaving all ends.

Block Jumper once more.