Baby Bear Hooded Cardigan

Sweater is worked in one piece from the neck downwards. Piece is divided at underarms and body is then worked back and forth in rows to lower edge.

Sleeve stitches are placed on double pointed needles and worked in rounds to cuff.

Stitches are picked up around the neck edge and hood is worked back and forth in rows from the neck upwards.

Ears are worked separately, back and forth in rows, and sewn to hood.

Circular needle is used to accommodate stitches and for ease when working along curves. Work back and forth in rows on circular needle as if working with straight needles.

Diagrams:

Hood diagram
Body diagram

kfb (Knit into front and back) = Knit next stitch but do not remove from needle, knit into back loop of same stitch and remove from needle – 1 st increased.

ssk (slip, slip, knit) = Slip next 2 stitches, one at a time, as if to knit to right needle, insert point of left needle through front of stitches, knit these sts together through back loop – 1 st decreased.

3-Needle bind off = Hold needles of stitches to be seamed parallel and with right sides together, with 3rd needle knit together first stitch from each needle, *knit together next stitch from each needle, pass first stitch over 2nd stitch and off right needle; repeat from * until all stitches have been knit from the 2 parallel needles and only one stitch remains on the right needle. Fasten off.

Backward loop cast on = *Carry the working yarn from right to left behind your thumb or forefinger and then to the front and clasp it lightly in your palm. Insert the tip of the right needle from left to right under the front strand, forming a loop on the needle. Remove your finger from the loop. Tighten the loop on the needle; repeat from * until desired number of stitches have been cast on.

Yoke

Beginning at neck edge with circular needle, cast on 2 sts for left front, place marker, cast on 7 sts for left sleeve, place marker, cast on 12 sts for back, place marker, cast on 7 sts for right sleeve, place marker, cast on 2 sts for right front (for a total of 30 sts and 4 markers on needle).

Row 1 (wrong side): Purl, slipping markers as you come to them.
Row 2 (increase row): [Kfb] twice, slip marker, *kfb, knit to 1 st before next marker, kfb, slip marker; repeat from * 2 more times, [kfb] twice—40 sts.
Row 3: Purl, slipping markers as you come to them.
Row 4 (increase row): *Kfb, knit to 1 st before next marker, kfb, slip marker; repeat from * 3 more times, kfb, knit to last st, kfb—50 sts.
Row 5: Cast on 4 sts for right front band, purl to end of row, slipping markers as you come them—54 sts.
Row 6: Cast on 4 sts for left front band, knit to 1 st before first marker, kfb, slip marker, *kfb, knit to 1 st before next marker, kfb, slip marker; repeat from * 2 more times, kfb, knit to end of row—66 sts.

Note: Continue to slip markers as you come to them, unless otherwise instructed.

Row 7: K4, p to last 4 sts, k4.
Row 8 (increase row): Knit to 1 st before first marker, kfb, slip marker, *kfb, knit to 1 st before next marker, kfb, slip marker; repeat from * 2 more times, kfb, knit to end of row—74 sts.
Row 9: K4, p to last 4 sts, k4.
Row 10 (increase row and buttonhole row): Knit to 1 st before first marker, kfb, slip marker, *kfb, knit to 1 st before next marker, kfb, slip marker; repeat from * 2 more times, kfb, knit to last 3 sts, yarn over, k2tog, k1—82 sts.
Row 11: K4, p to last 4 sts, k4.
Row 12: Repeat Row 8—90 sts.
Rows 13–18: Repeat Rows 11 and 12 for 3 more times—114 sts.
Row 19: K4, p to last 4 sts, k4.
Row 20: Repeat Row 10—122 sts.
Rows 21–29: Repeat Rows 11–19—154 sts.

At this point, you will have 22 sts for each front, 35 sts for each sleeve, and 40 sts for the back.

Size 6 months Only:

Notes:

1. Use backward loop cast-on to cast on underarm stitches (as instructed in dividing row).
2. At this point, you will have 22 sts for each front, 35 sts for each sleeve, and 40 sts for the back.

Row 30 (dividing row and buttonhole row – right side): Knit to first marker, remove marker, place next 35 sts on a holder for left sleeve, remove marker, cast on 4 sts for underarm, knit next 40 sts, remove marker, cast on 4 sts for underarm, place next 35 sts on a holder for right sleeve, remove marker, knit to last 3 sts, yarn over, k2tog, k1—84 sts remain on needle for body.

Sizes 12 months and 18 months Only:

Rows 30–33 (37): Repeat Rows 10–13 (17)—170 (186) sts.

Notes:

1. Use backward loop cast-on to cast on underarm stitches (as instructed in dividing row).
2. At this point, you will have 24 (26) sts for each front, 39 (43) sts for each sleeve, and 44 (48) sts for the back.

Row 34 (38) (dividing row – right side): Knit to first marker, remove marker, place next 39 (43) sts on a holder for left sleeve, remove marker, cast on 4 sts for underarm, knit next 44 (48) sts, remove marker, cast on 4 sts for underarm, place next 39 (43) sts on a holder for right sleeve, remove marker, knit last 24 (26) sts—92 (100) sts remain on needle for body.

Body

Keeping first and last 4 sts of every row in Garter st (knit the first and last 4 stitches on every row) for front bands, continue to work in Stockinette stitch (knit on right side, purl on wrong side) and continue to work a buttonhole at the end of every 10th row (up to a total of 5 (6, 7) buttonholes) until body measures about 5 (7, 9)" [12.5 (18, 23) cm] from underarms, end with a wrong side row.

Work in Garter st (knit every st of every row) for 8 rows.

Bind off on right side.

Sleeves

Place the 35 (39, 43) left sleeve sts on double pointed needles, pick up and k4 sts along underarm placing a stitch marker between the 2nd and 3rd stitch of the underarm for beginning of round—39 (43, 47) sts.

Distribute the stitches as evenly as possible over the double pointed needles.

Rounds 1–5: Knit.
Round 6 (decrease round): K2tog, knit to last 2 sts, ssk—37 (41, 45) sts.

Repeat Rounds 1–6 for 4 (5, 6) more times—29 (31, 33) sts.

Next Round: Knit.

Repeat last round until sleeve measures about 5 (7, 8)" [12.5 (18, 20.5) cm] from underarm.

Cuff
Round 1: Knit.
Round 2: Purl.
Rounds 3–8: Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 for 3 more times.
Bind off.

Repeat to work right sleeve.

Hood

With right side facing and circular needle, pick up and k41 sts along neck edge. Work back and forth in rows as if working with straight needles.

Row 1: P10, [kfb] 20 times, p11—61 sts.
Row 2: K1, *p1, k1; repeat from * across.
Row 3: P1, *k1, p1; repeat from * across.
Row 4: Repeat Row 2.
Row 5: K4, p10, [kfb] 6 times, p21, [kfb] 6 times, p10, k4—73 sts.
Row 6: Knit.
Row 7: K4, p to last 4 sts, k4.

Repeat Rows 6 and 7 until hood measures about 8" [20.5 cm] from neck edge, end with a wrong side row.

Distribute 36 sts onto one end of needle and 37 sts onto the other end. Fold hood in half to bring the right side of stitches together.

Beginning at the front of the hood and working towards the back/fold, use 3-needle bind off to seam top of hood.

Ears (Make 2)

With two double pointed needles or circular needle (whichever you prefer), leaving a long beginning tail, cast on 20 sts.

Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: *K2, k2tog, k1; repeat from * across—16 sts.
Row 3: Purl.
Row 4: *K2, k2tog; repeat from * across—12 sts.
Row 5: Purl.
Row 6: *K2tog, k1; repeat from * across—8 sts.
Row 7: Purl.
Row 8: *K2tog; repeat from * across—4 sts.

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread tail through remaining 4 stitches and remove them from the needle. Pull on tail to drawn last 4 stitches together and weave in securely. Use beginning tail to sew ear to hood, curving ear into a crescent shape toward the front as you sew.

Repeat for second ear.

Finishing

Weave in ends. Block as desired. Sew buttons to left front, opposite buttonholes.