Babies are so fun to knit for- from bright colors, chunky stripes and little ears, nothing is stopping them from having fun! This romper is worked in big stripes of bold color, with a back pocket opening for easy diaper changes.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: 16 (18, 19, 20)” chest
Gauge: 24 sts and 32 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking
Materials
Yarn: O-wool O-wash Sport (100% machine washable certified organic merino; 306 yards [280 meters]/100 grams): Boreal Bluet (MC, 1 (1, 2, 2) skeins), Salamander (CC, 1 (1, 2, 2) skeins)
Needles: US size 4 (3.5 mm) 16” circular needles and US size 4 dpn(s)
Notions: Tapestry needle, measuring tape, scissors, stitch marker, three .5” buttons, six 1” buttons for back flap
Pattern Notes
Stripes pattern is 4 rows MC and 4 rows CC.
Pattern
Working in stripe sequence throughout pattern, with MC, CO 52 (58, 64, 68) sts.
(RS): K4 (button band), pm, k7 (8, 9, 10) sts (fronts), pm, k6 (7, 8, 8) sts (sleeves), pm, k18 (20, 22, 24) sts (back) pm, k6 (7, 8, 8) sts (sleeves), pm, k7 (8, 9, 10) sts (fronts), pm, k4 (button band).
(WS): K4, purl to last 4 sts, k4. (Slip all markers as you come to them.)
Inc. Row (RS): K4, sm, *knit to 1 st before m, kf/b, sm, kf/b; rep from * 3 times, knit to the end of the row. (8 sts increased)
(WS): Work as established.
Inc. and Buttonhole Row: K1, yo, k2tog, k1, sm, *knit to 1 st before m, kf/b, sm, kf/b; rep from * 3 times, knit to the end of the row. (8 sts increased)
(WS): Work as established.
Inc. Row (RS): K4, sm, *knit to 1 st before m, kf/b, sm, kf/b; rep from * 3 times, knit to the end of the row. (8 sts increased)
Repeat last 2 rows 3 (3, 4, 4) times more.
Inc. and Buttonhole Row: K1, yo, k2tog, k1, sm, *knit to 1 st before m, kf/b, sm, kf/b; rep from * 3 times, knit to the end of the row. (8 sts increased)
(WS): Work as established.
Inc. Row (RS): K4, sm, *knit to 1 st before m, kf/b, sm, kf/b; rep from * 3 times, knit to the end of the row. (8 sts increased)
(WS): Work as established.
Repeat last 2 rows 3 (3, 3, 4) times more.
Inc. and Buttonhole Row: K1, yo, k2tog, k1, sm, *knit to 1 st before m, kf/b, sm, kf/b; rep from * 3 times, knit to the end of the row. (8 sts increased)
(WS): Work as established.
Inc. Row (RS): K4, sm, *knit to 1 st before m, kf/b, sm, kf/b; rep from * 3 times, knit to the end of the row. (8 sts increased)
(WS): Work as established.
Inc. Row (RS): K4, sm, *knit to 1 st before m, kf/b, sm, kf/b; rep from * 3 times, knit to the end of the row. (8 sts increased) At the end of the row, knit the last 4 sts together with the first 4 sts of the button band.
Work to the button band, cut yarn and move sts around until you come to the m after the first sleeve, this becomes your new Beginning of rnd, place a m, reattach yarn and knit to the sleeve sts.
Move sleeve sts to scrap yarn, co 4 sts, knit around to second sleeve, move sleeve sts to scrap yarn and CO 4 sts.
Work even in established pattern until piece measures 5 (6, 8, 8)” from underarms.
K12 (12, 13, 15), work in k2, p2 rib for 20 (24, 26, 30) sts, continue to knit around.
Work in this manner for 1”.
K12 (12, 13, 15), bind off 20 (24, 26, 30) sts in rib pattern, knit to the end of the rnd.
Work flat in St st for 4 (4, 5, 6)”, ending with a WS row.
On the next row, knit to the end of the row, and CO 20 (24, 26, 30) sts.
Knit 4 rnds.
Gusset
*K23 (26, 28, 34) sts place gusset m, k1, place gusset m, k23 (26, 28, 34) sts; rep from * once.
SM, *K to m, sm, m1L, k1, m1R, sm, knit to m, sm; rep from * once.
Knit 1 rnd.
Next Rnd: Knit to gusset m, sm, *m1L, k3, m1R, sm; rep from * once.
Knit 1 rnd.
Repeat last 2 rnds until you have 12 sts between gusset markers.
Knit 1 rnd.
Separate for Legs
Knit to gusset m, move gusset sts to waste yarn, move leg sts to another piece of waste yarn.
Pick up 1 st, pm , pick up 1 st and knit the leg sts.
Work in stripe pattern, in the round until leg measures 7 (7, 8, 8)”.
Work in k2, p2 rib in MC only for 1”.
Bind off in rib pattern.
Sleeves
Move sleep sts to dpn(s), knit around, pick up 2 sts, pm, pick up 2 sts.
Knit 5 rnds, maintaining stripe pattern.
Dec. Rnd: K1, k2tog, knit to 3 sts before m, ssk, k1.
Repeat decrease rnd every 4 rnds, 3 (4, 5, 6) times more.
Work even until sleeve measures 4 (6, 7, 7)” from underarm. Work in k2, p2 rib pattern for 1.5” in MC only.
Butt Flap
Work in MC only.
Pick up 20 (24, 26, 30) sts.
Knit for 4 (4, 5, 6)”, ending with a WS row.
Cut yarn.
Turn piece and pick up 18 (18, 20, 24) sts along Right side of flap, knit across 20 (24, 26, 30) sts at the top, pick up 18 (18, 20, 24) sts down the left side of the flap.
Work in k2, p2 rib for 4 rows.
Buttonhole Row: K2, p2, k2, yo, p2tog; rep from * across the row.
Work in k2, p2 rib for 4 more rows. Bind off in rib pattern.
Hood
Pick up 40 (40, 44, 48) sts.
Work in k2, p2 rib for 1”.
Inc. Row: *k3, kf/b; rep from * to the end of the row.
Work in St st until hood measures 6 (6, 7, 7)”.
Work ear sts to scrap yarn as follows: K7, k6 sts to scrap yarn, put yarn back on left needle and knit the 6 sts with working yarn. Knit to last 13 sts, knit 6 sts to scrap yarn, put yarn back on left needle and knit the 6 sts with working yarn, k7.
Knit for another 4 rows. Kitchener st hood close.
Edging
With MC, pick up and knit sts around hood and neck edging.
Work in K2, p2 Rib pattern for 4 rows.
Bind off in Rib Pattern.
Ears
Carefully remove waste yarn work in the rnd for 4”.
Dec Rnd: *ssk, k4, k2tog; rep from * once.
Knit 2 rnds.
Dec rnd: *ssk, k2, k2tog; rep from * once.
Knit 1 rnd.
Cut yarn and pull tightly through sts remaining on needles.
Finishing
Weave in all ends.
Wash and block finished piece.
Securely sew smaller buttons opposite button holes on front button band. Sew larger buttons opposite button holes on back flap.