Baby Cocoon

I found some yummy superwash merino at the Needle Emporium, and with one skein, made a fast knit, very stretchy,  baby sack / cocoon.  It will be for only the first month or two, but what a lovely warm hug for a newborn in the winter!  The added bonus is it becomes a slouchy winter hat for the parents after baby has outgrown it...  sweet.

 Photos with my bear who is 16 inches tall, and quite chubby. 

 Hat for daddy!

Baby Cocoon

Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Merino worsted weight.  100 grams, 210 yards  (superwash, so in the machine it can go!)

Needles:   5.0 mm  (US 8)  FOUR double point (knit in the round, so no seaming)  AND a short circular needle in 5.0 mm  (you may be fine on just the double point needles, but you can switch to circ’s if you prefer once the total number of stitches are reached)

Stitch marker

Gauge   22 sts = 4 inches in 2 by 2 ribbing, relaxed.  (very stretchy, so close enough will probably work fine too!)

Pattern:  2 by 2 ribbing:  knit 2, purl2, round and round (must be worked on total stitches that divide evenly by 4!)

Pattern:  Starting at the bottom of the sack (the top of the head when worn as a hat):

Cast on 12 sts.  Join without twisting and knit one row.  Place marker to show row end.

Next row: knit in the front and back of all the stitches:  (24)

Knit one row. (knitting all the stitches)

Next row:   [Knit 1, Knit in front and back of next stitch] repeat to end of row (36)

Knit one row.

Next row: [knit 1, purl 1, knit in front and back of next stitch] repeat to end.  (48)

Single rib next row: [knit 1, purl 1] repeat to end.  (48 still)

Work in single rib for 2 more rows.

Next row:  [ Knit front and back of next stitch, purl 1] repeat across row  (72)

Next 3 rows:  [knit 2, purl 1]

Last increase:  [knit 2, purl front and back of next stitch] repeat across row (96).  (you may want to switch to a short circular needle for the rest of the knitting.  Must be short enough to work evenly around the sack.)

Rest of rows:  (you can take the marker off now, as you will just work the pattern until length is reached)

Knit two, purl two until total length is 14 inches from the start.  Cast off loosely all stitches.  Graft the small opening at the start of the cocoon.