Baby Black Cat Costume

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Sweater directions are for size 6 months. Changes for sizes 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months are in parentheses.
Hat directions are for size 6–12 months. Changes for sizes 12–24 months are in parentheses.

Finished Chest: 22 (24, 25, 26)”
Finished Length: 11 (12, 13, 14)”
Hat to Fit: 16–18 (19–21)” head circumference

Materials:

• RED HEART® Super Saver®: 1 (1, 1, 2) skeins 312 Black A, 1 skein 319 Cherry Red B.
• Knitting Needles: 4.5 mm [US 7] and 6mm [US 10].
• Stitch holders
• stitch markers
• two 5/8” buttons, yarn needle.

GAUGE: 15 sts = 4”; 20 rows = 4”, in Stockinette st (knit on Right Side, p on Wrong Side) using larger needles.
CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needles to obtain the gauge.

ABBREVIATIONS: A, B = Color A, Color B; k = knit; k2tog = knit next 2 sts together; p = purl; yo = yarn over; * = repeat whatever follows the * or ** as indicated.

Special Stitches
M1 = Make 1 (Increase) – Lift strand between needles to left-hand needle and knit strand through the back loop, twisting it to prevent a hole.
skp = slip next stitch as if to knit to right needle, knit next stitch, lift slipped stitch over knit stitch and off needle.
s2kp = slip next 2 stitches as if to k2tog to right needle, knit next stitch, lift the 2 slipped stitches over knit stich and off needle.

Pattern Stitches
1x1 Rib (multiple of 2 sts + 1)
Row 1 (Wrong Side): K1, *p1, k1; repeat from * to end of row.
Row 2: P1, *k1, p1; repeat from * to end of row.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 for 1x1 Rib.

SWEATER
Back
With smaller needles and A, cast on 41 (45, 47, 49) sts. Ribbing
Row 1 (Wrong Side): Knit.
Row 2: Knit.
Rows 3–7: Beginning with a Wrong Side row, work in 1x1 Rib for 5 rows.
Rows 8 and 9: Knit. Place a marker in last row for Wrong Side.
Change to larger needles.
Beginning with a Right Side (knit) row work even in St st until piece measures 9 (10, 11, 12)” from beginning, end with a Wrong Side (purl) row.
Shape Neck
Row 1 (Right Side): K15 (16, 17, 17) sts, join a 2nd ball of yarn, k11 (13, 13, 15) and place these sts on a holder for back neck, knit to end of row—15 (16, 17, 17) sts for each shoulder.
Work both shoulders at the same time using a separate ball of yarn for each shoulder.
Row 2: Purl across sts of both shoulders.
Row 3 (Right Side): Knit to last 3 sts of first shoulder, k2tog, k1; on 2nd shoulder, k1, skip, knit to end of row—14 (15, 16, 16) sts on each shoulder.
Rows 4–7: Repeat last 2 rows 2 more times—12 (13, 14,
14) sts on each shoulder.
Continue in St st over both shoulders until piece measures 11 (12, 13, 14)” from beginning.
Bind off.
Front
Work same as back until piece measures 8 (9, 10, 11)” from beginning, end with a Wrong Side row.

Shape Neck
Row 1 (Right Side): K15 (16, 17, 17) sts, join a 2nd ball of yarn, k11 (13, 13, 15) and place these sts on a holder for front neck, knit to end of row—15 (16, 17, 17) sts for each shoulder.
Work both shoulders at the same time using a separate ball of yarn for each shoulder.
Row 2: Purl across sts of both shoulders.
Row 3 (Right Side): Knit to last 3 sts of first shoulder,
k2tog, k1; on next shoulder, k1, skp, knit to end of row—14 (15, 16, 16) sts on each shoulder.
Rows 4–7: Repeat last 2 rows 2 more times—12 (13, 14, 14) sts on each shoulder.
Continue in St st over both shoulders until piece measures same as back.
Bind off.

Sleeves (Make 2)
With smaller needles and A, cast on 25 (29, 31, 33) sts.
Ribbing
Row 1 (Wrong Side): Knit.
Row 2: Knit.
Rows 3–7: Work in 1x1 Rib for 5 rows.
Row 8: Knit.
Row 9: Knit across working 1 (1, 0, 2) increases (M1) near middle of row—26 (30, 31, 35) sts. Place a marker in last row for Wrong Side.
Beginning with a Right Side row, work even in St st for 2 (2, 4, 6) rows.
Increase Row (Right Side): K1, M1, knit to last st, M1, k1—28 (32, 33, 37) sts.
Work even in St st for 3 (5, 5, 5) rows.
Repeat Increase Row—30 (34, 35, 39) sts.
Repeat last 4 (6, 6, 6) rows 2 more times—34 (38, 39, 43) sts.
Work even in St st until piece measures 6½ (7½, 8½, 9½)” from beginning.
Bind off.

TAIL
With smaller needles and A, cast on 9 sts.
Work even in St st until piece measures 8” from beginning, end with a Wrong side row.
Shape Tip
Row 1: K2tog, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog—7 sts.
Row 2: Purl.
Repeat last 2 rows until only 3 sts remain. Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread tail through sts of last row and pull to gather. Use remainder of tail to sew seam. Sew tail to center of back of sweater.

FINISHING
Sew right shoulder seam.
Neckband
Set Up: With Right Side facing, smaller needles and A, cast on 5 sts for button tab, working around neck edge and beginning at left side of neck edge, pick up and k11  sts across left front neck, knit across 11 (13, 13, 15) sts on front neck holder, pick up and k11 sts across right front neck, pick up and k8 sts across right back neck, knit across 11 (13, 13, 15) sts on back neck holder, pick up and k8 sts across left back neck—65 (69, 69, 73) sts.
Rows 1 and 2: Knit.
Rows 3 and 4: Beginning with a Wrong Side row, work in 1x1 Rib for 2 rows.
Row 5 (buttonhole): K1, *p1, k1; repeat from * to last 6 sts, p1, k2tog, yo, k1, p1, k1.
Rows 6 and 7: Beginning with a Right Side row, work in 1x1 Rib for 2 rows.
Rows 8 and 9: Knit.
Bind off as if to knit.
Sew left shoulder seam, leaving ends of neckband unsewn. Sew button to neckband, opposite buttonhole.
Measure and mark 4½ (5, 5¼, 5¾)” from shoulder on front and back, for armhole.
Place sleeve between markers and sew into armhole.
Repeat for other sleeve.
Sew sleeve and side seams.
Weave in ends.

HAT
With smaller needles and A, Cast on 53 (59) sts.
Front Ribbing
Row 1 (Wrong Side): Knit.
Row 2: Knit.
Rows 3–7: Work in 1x1 Rib for 5 rows.
Row 8: Knit.
Row 9: K26 (29), M1, knit to end of row—54 (60) sts.
Change to larger needles.
Beginning with a Right Side (knit) row work even in St st until piece measures 5½ (6½)” from beginning, end with a Wrong Side (purl) row.
Place a marker at the beginning and end of this last row.
Shape Back of Hat
Row 1 (Right Side): *K4, k2tog; repeat from * to end of row—45 (50) sts.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: *K3, k2tog; repeat from * to end of row—36 (40) sts.
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: *K2, k2tog; repeat from * to end of row—27 (30) sts.
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: *K1, k2tog; repeat from * to end of row—18 (20) sts.
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: *K2tog; repeat from * to end of row—9 (10) sts.
Row 10: Purl.
Row 11: K1 (0), *k2tog; repeat from * to end of row—5 sts.
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail.
Weave tail through sts of last row and pull to gather. Fold cast-on edge in half (fold runs across top of head).
Use remaining tail to sew back seam, from down to markers at beginning of back of head shaping.

EARS (make 2)
Back of Ear
with smaller needles and A, cast on 5 sts.
Row 1: K2, yo, k1, yo, k2—7 sts.

Row 2: Knit all sts, knitting into the back loop of each yo.
Row 3: K3, yo, k1, yo, k3—9 sts.
Row 4: Repeat Row 2.
Row 5: K4, yo, k1, yo, k4—11 sts.
Row 6: Repeat Row 2.
Row 7: K5, yo, k1, yo, k5—13 sts.
Row 8: Repeat Row 2.
Row 9: K6, yo, k1, yo, k6—15 sts.
Row 10: Repeat Row 2.
Row 11: K7, yo, k1, yo, k7—17 sts.
Row 12: Repeat Row 2.
Change to B.
Front of Ear
Row 1 (Right Side): With B, knit.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: Skp, k5, s2kp, k5, k2tog—13 sts.
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: Skp, k3, s2kp, k3, k2tog—9 sts.
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: Skp, k1, s2kp, k1, k2tog—5 sts.
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: Skp, k1, k2tog—3 sts.
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread tail through sts of last row and pull to gather, knot and secure.
Fold front of ear over back of ear, with A sew all edges together.

FINISHING
Neckband
Set Up: With Right Side facing, smaller needles and A, CO 18 (22) sts for buttonhole tab, beginning at lower front corner of hat, pick up and k41 (49) sts evenly spaced across lower edge (the lower edge is the edge that does not yet have ribbing) to opposite lower front corner—59 (71) sts.

Rows 1 and 2: Knit.
Rows 3 and 4: Beginning with a Wrong Side row, work in 1x1 Rib for 2 rows.
Row 5 (buttonhole): K1, *p1, k1; repeat from * to last 6 sts, p1, k2tog, yo, k1, p1, k1
Rows 6 and 7: Beginning with a Right Side row, work in 1x1 Rib for 2 rows.
Rows 8 and 9: Knit.
Bind off as if to knit.
Sew button to neckband, opposite buttonhole.
Using photograph as a guide for placement, sew ears to top of hat. Weave in ends.