Have fun turning your little one into an elephant, complete with trunk, tail and whimsical collar. The romper is worked in one piece from the top down and is perfect for intermediate knitters.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Newborn (6, 12, 18) months to fit 16 (18, 19, 20)” chest, 5 (7, 9, 9)” inseam; shown in size 12 months on a 12 month old
Gauge: 20 sts x 28 rows = 4” (10 cm) in St st on larger needles
Materials
Yarn:
The Fiber Seed Costa Laurel (90% superwash merino wool, 10% nylon; 225 yards [205 meters]/127 grams): #CL005 Elephant (MC, 2 (2, 3, 4) skeins), #CL010 Spinel (CC, 1 (1, 1, 1) skein), #CL 006 Sunflower (CC2, 1 (1, 1, 1) skein)
Needles: US size 6 and US size 7 16” circular needles and DPN(s)
Supplies: Tapestry needle, measuring tape, scissors, stitch marker
Special Stitches
Seed Stitch
Row 1: *K1, p1; rep from * to end of row.
Row 2: *P1, k1; rep from * to end of row.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 for pattern.
Romper Pattern
With MC and larger needles, cast on 45 (53, 61, 67) sts.
Row 1 (RS): K5 sts(button band), pm, k5 (7, 8, 9) front sts, pm, k5 (6, 7, 8) sleeve sts, pm, k15 (19, 21, 23) back sts, pm, k5 (6, 7, 8) sleeve sts, pm, k5 (7, 8, 9) front sts, pm, k5 sts (button band).
Row 2 (WS): K5, purl to last 5 sts, k5 (slipping all m as you come to them).
Row 3 Increase Row (RS): K5, sm, *k to 1st before m, kf/, sm, kf/b; rep from * 3 times, knit to end of row. (8 sts increased)
Row 4 (WS): K5, purl to last 5 sts, k5 (slipping all m as you come to them).
Row 5 Increase Row and Buttonhole (RS): K2, yo, k2tog, k1, sm, *k to 1st before m, kf/b, sm, kf/b; rep from * 3 times, knit to end of row. (8 sts increased)
Row 6 (WS): K5, purl to last 5 sts, k5 (slipping all m as you come to them).
Row 7 Increase Row (RS): K5, sm, *k to 1st before m, kf/b, sm, kf/b; rep from * 3 times, knit to end of row. (8 sts increased)
Repeat last two rows 2 (3, 4, 4) times more.
Row 8 (WS): K5, purl to last 5 sts, k5 (slipping all markers as you come to them).
Row 9 Increase Row and Buttonhole (RS): K2, yo, k2tog, k1, sm, *k to 1st before m, kf/b, sm, kf/b; rep from * 3 times, knit to end of row. (8 sts increased)
Row 10 (WS): K5, purl to last 5 sts, k5 (slipping all m as you come to them).
Row 11 Increase Row (RS): K5, sm, *k to 1st before m, kf/, sm, kf/b; rep from * 3 times, knit to end of row. (8 sts increased)
Row 12 (WS): K5, purl to last 5 sts, k5 (slipping all m as you come to them).
Work last 2 rows 2 (2, 3, 4) times more.
Row 13 Increase Row and Buttonhole (RS): K2, yo, k2tog, k1, sm, *k to 1st before m, kf/b, sm, kf/b; rep from * 3 times, knit to end of row. (8 sts increased)
Row 14 (WS): K5, purl to last 5 sts, k5 (slipping all m as you come to them).
Join Fronts and Back
Row 15 (RS): K5, sm, k to 1st before m, kf/b, sm, kf/b; rep from * 3 times, knit to last 5 sts, move the 5 sts from Left needle to a spare needle, hold to back and k2tog with the 5 button band sts from Right needle. (8 sts increased)
Separate Sleeves
Rnd 1: Knit.
Rnd 2: Knit to 1 m, remove m, move 31 (32, 33, 36) sleeve sts to waste yarn, CO 1 st, pm (this will also serve as your start of rnd m), CO 1 st, remove m, knit to next m, remove m, move 31 (32, 33, 36) sleeve sts to waste yarn, CO 1 st, pm, CO 1 st, knit to end of rnd.
Knit until piece measures 10.5 (13.5, 14.5, 15.5)” from CO edge.
Gusset
Rnd 3: *K19 (22, 24, 30) sts, place gusset m, k1, place gusset m, k19 (22, 24, 30) sts; rep from * once.
Rnd 4: Sm, *K to m, sm, m1L, k1, m1R, sm, knit to m, sm; rep from * once.
Rnd 5: Knit 1 rnd.
Rnd 6: Knit 1 rnd.
Repeat last 2 rnds, until there are 11 sts between the gusset markers.
Rnd 7: Knit 1 rnd.
Rnd 8: Knit to gusset m, remove m, move the next 11 sts to waste yarn, turn, purl to next gusset m, move the 11 gusset sts to scrap yarn, turn.
Knit the remaining sts on the needles until the piece measures 5 (6, 8, 9)” from leg separation.
Switch to smaller needles and work in Seed st for 1.5”.
Sleeves
Move 31 (32, 33, 36) sleeve sts to dpns.
Rnd 1: Reattach yarn and knit around sleeve sts, pick up and knit 2 sts, pm, pick up and knit 1 sts.
Rnd 2-4: Knit.
Rnd 5 Dec Rnd: K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts before m, ssk, k1.
Knit 10 (10, 12, 14) rnds.
Rnd 6 Dec Rnd: K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts before m, ssk, k1.
Knit 10 (10, 12, 14) rnds.
Rnd 7 Dec Rnd: K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts before m, ssk, k1.
Knit until sleeve measures 4.5 (5, 5, 6, 7)” from underarm.
Switch to smaller needles and work in Seed st for 1”.
Gusset Button Band
With smaller needles and with RS facing, start at the bottom right pick up and knit 2 sts for every 3 sts along the leg, move the 11 held sts on to spare needles and knit across, pick up and knit 2 sts for every 3 sts along the leg. Work in Garter st for 6 rows. Bind off all sts.
Repeat for second side.
Collar
With smaller needles and CC, starting at the right front edge immediately following the button band, pick up and knit 34 (42, 50, 56) sts.
Row 1: *Kf/b; rep from * to end of row.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: Knit.
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: Knit.
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: Knit.
Row 8: *P2tog; rep from * to end of row.
Row 9: Switch to CC2 *Kf/b; rep from * to end of row.
Row 10: Purl.
Row 11: Knit.
Row 12: Purl.
Row 13: Knit.
Row 14: Purl.
Row 15: *K2tog, suspended bind off.
Tail
With MC and dpn(s), and using photos as a guide, pick up and knit 3 sts from back of romper. Work in I-cord for 2”. Cut 3, 1” strands of yarn, hold at end of I-cord, cut yarn, pull tight, and tie around the middle of the 3 strands.
Finishing
Sew snap tape on the gusset band. Weave in all ends. Wash and block.
Sew buttons opposite buttonholes on front button bands.
Hat Pattern
With MC and larger needles, cast on 60 (66, 72, 80, 90) sts, place marker and join in the round, being careful not to twist stitches.
Rnds 1-8: K1, p1 rib.
Knit for 5.5”
Crown Shaping
Note: Continue to work in stripe pattern throughout decreases. Switch to DPNs when necessary.
Rnd 1: *Knit 6, k2tog;* repeat from * around. (49 (56, 63, 70, 77) sts)
Rnds 2-4: Knit all sts.
Rnd 5: *Knit 5, k2tog* repeat from * around. (42 (48, 54, 60, 66) sts)
Rnds 6-7: Knit all sts.
Rnd 8: *Knit 4, k2tog* repeat from * around. (35 (40, 45, 50, 55) sts)
Rnd 9: Knit all sts.
Rnd 10: *Knit 3, k2tog* repeat from * around. (28 (32, 36, 40, 44) sts)
Rnd 11: *Knit 2, k2tog* repeat from * around. (21 (24, 27, 30, 33) sts)
Rnd 12: Switch to MC and Knit 1 Row.
Rnd 13: *Knit 1, k2tog* repeat from * around. (14 (16, 18, 20, 22) sts)
Rnd 14: *K2tog; repeat from * around. (7 (8, 9, 10, 11) sts)
Cut yarn and thread through remaining live stitches. Pull tightly and secure. Weave in all loose ends.
Ears
Using photos as a guide, pick up and knit 16 sts along side of hat.
Knit 3 rnds.
*Kf/b, k6, kf/b; rep from * once.
Knit
*Kf/b, k8, kf/b; rep from * once.
Knit.
*Kf/b, k10, kf/b; rep from * once.
Knit.
*Kf/b, k12, kf/b; rep from * once.
Knit.
*Kf/b, k14, kf/b; rep from * once.
Knit.
Knit 5 rnds.
*Ssk, k14, k2tog; rep from * once.
Knit 1 rnd.
*Ssk, k12, k2tog; rep from * once.
Knit 2 rnds.
Kitchener close.
Trunk
Cast on 20 sts, leaving a long tail for attaching to hat later.
Work in rnd for 5”.
Cut yarn, pull tight through all sts to close hole.
Using the long cast-on tail, whipstitch to front of hat, using photos as a guide.
Sew two larger black buttons on either side of hat for eyes.