Baby Red Riding Hood.
This one is made from an amazing stretchy yarn, and will probably not work to gauge with any other yarn, so knitter beware.... Elann's Esprit yarn, a mostly cotton, with a bit of elastic, makes it soft and stretchy. I used only four balls to make this, but you could use 5 and make a toddler size.
Sizes: first year,[ second year]
Yarn: Esprit, red , 4 balls [5 balls]
Needles: 4.5mm, (US 7) Circulars work well to hold all the stitches. Do not join, this is NOT knit in the round
4 stitch markers
YO = yarn over
k2tog = knit 2 stitches together
seed stitch= k1, p1, k1, p1.... across first row, then knit the purls and purl the knits on the second row.
stocking stitch; knit right side, purl wrong side.
Gauge: 25 sts = 4 inches *** again, I suggest it will be difficult to find a yarn that knits to this gauge OTHER than Esprit. It is worth getting this yarn! They ship anywhere.
Pattern: Cast on 200 stitches. Work in seed stitch for 2 inches.
Next row (right side): Seed stitch for 10, place marker, knit until last ten stitches are remaining. Place marker, seed stitch last 10 stitches.
Next row (wrong side): seed 10, slip marker, purl 180, slip marker, seed 10.
Work these two rows , seed outside 10 bands, and stocking stitch between the markers for 2 [ 5] more inches above the lower seed stitch band.
BUTTONHOLE ROW: (right side facing you) Seed 3, k2tog, YO, k2tog, seed 3, work rest of row the same. Next row: work the same until end seed stitch band, where you need to knit in the front and the back of the yarn over below... making up the missing 2 stitches.
Work even for 1 more inch.
Decreases: with right side facing:
Next row: seed stitch to marker, [k2 , k2tog] repeat across this row to next marker, seed stitch last 10. 155 sts remain.
Work even for next 3 rows (seed the seed stitch part and stocking stitch between the markers)
Next row: Seed to marker, [k1, k2tog] repeat across this row to next marker, seed 10. 110 remain.
Work one row even, Work one BUTTONHOLE ROW, work next row even, increasing 2 in the yarn over button hole.
Next row: seed 10, [k1, k2tog] repeat until next marker, seed 10. 80 remain
Work one row even, Work one BUTTONHOLE ROW, work next row even, increasing 2 in the yarn over button hole.
Next row: seed 10, [k1, k2tog] repeat until next marker, seed 10. 60 remain on needles.
work even for 3 rows.
Next row: Cast OFF 10 sts, remove marker,[k1, p1 ] across the row (seed stitch for the neckline) until the end of row (remove the last marker as you pass by).
Next row (wrong side) Cast off 10 stitches, and seed stitch across the row.
Work seed stitch only for 4 more rows.
Right side facing: seed 10, place marker, stocking stitch to last 10 sts, place marker, seed last 10 sts.
Work, as established for 3 more rows.
Increase row: seed 10, k 2, [knit front and back of next stitch, k2] repeat to last marker, seed 10
Work even for 3 more rows.
Back of hood shaping: seed 10, knit 12, place marker, k2, place marker, knit 12, seed 10.
Work even for 3 more rows.
Increase row for hood: Seed 10, knit to stitch before first middle marker, knit in front and back of this stitch, slip marker, knit 2, slip next middle marker, knit in front and back of this stitch, knit to last marker, seed 10.
Work even for 3 rows.
Repeat last four rows, increasing 2 sts at center back of hood, then 3 rows even.... until hood is 6 [ 8] inches from neckline.
Cast off all stitches, and seam top of hood together. Sew button on.
