Melker´s Kindergarten-kit

Babykit for Melker has been a super popular pattern. We´ve had several requests to knit this up in larger sizes, and we´ve now knitted it up as a Kindergarten-kit. It is kind of 70s, with a close fit. But as Abuelita supplies such wonderful soft yarns, it can be worn directly on the skin, and is just perfect for Norwegian Spring and Fall.

Size
2-6 m (6-12 m) 1-2 y (3-4 y) 5-6 y
5-6 y for free below. The rest can be bought here.

Yarn
Abuelita 3-ply
100 (100) 200 (200) 200 g main colour for the cardigan
100 (100) 100 (200) 200 g main colour for the trousers
100 g pattern colour (multi coloured yarn)

Needles
Cardigan: 32" circular needles and DP needles US 5

Trousers: 16" circular needles US 2.5 and 5
Hat: 16" circular neeldes and DP needles US 5

Gauge
 per 4"
21 s

Width cardigan
9.4 (11.4) 12.2 (13.4) 14.2”

Width trousers
8.3 (9.4) 10.2 (11.4) 11.8”
Cardigan
Cast on 62 s on circular needles US 5 in main colour (MC).
The cardigan is knitted top down, back and forth.

Row 1-5:
Knit

Row 6:
Purl. Increase 23 s evenly.

TIP: Lift the yarn up between the stitches, twist to the right, put the loop on to the left needle and purl.

Row 7:
Change to pattern colour (PC). Purl.

Row 8-12:
Knit in stockinette

Row 13:
Knit Increase 23 s evenly.

Row 14:
Change to MC. Knit

Row 15-19:
Knit in stockinette

Repeat row 6-19 4 times in total. 
The last time you´ll knit the repetition, stop after row 14.

You now have  246 s.


Knit 12 rows in stockinette.

Knit like this from the right side:
K 35, place the next 50 s on a spare set of needles, cast on 2 new stitches, K 76, place the next 50 s on a spare set of needles, cast on 2 new sticthes, K 35. The stitches on the main needles are now the body piece = 150 s.

Knit in stockinette until the cardigan is 15.7 “

Front bands
You´ll now make front bands as well as the bottom edging for the cardigan.
Place markers (PM) at the beginning and the end of the needles. Use the same needles to pick up 94 s along each side for front bands.

Cut the yarn and start knitting gtom the beginning of the needle from the wrong side.
Work in garter stitch.
Every time you knit from the right side, you´ll increase 1 stitch on each side of both PMs (4 s in total per row).

After 0.4” (and at least 2 rows of increasing), knit button holes one one of the front bands like this: K 4, * YO, K2tog, K9*.
Repeat from * to * 6 (6) 7 (7) 8 times in total. 

YO, K2tog, and continue knitting until the front bands are about 1”.
Cast off.

Sleeves
Place the stitches on to DP needles.

Cast on 2 stitches right under each sleeve = 52 s.

Knit stockinette in the round until the sleeve is 11.8”.
Knit every second round and purl every second round for about 1”.
Cast off. 
Knit another sleeve.

Hat
Cast on 100 s on small circular needles 5 in MC.
Knit in the round.

Round 1-5:
Knit in stockinette

Round 6:
Change colours and purl.
Repeact these 6 rounds 8 times in total.

Knit 4 rounds.
* K8, K2tog* 
Repeat from * to * throughout the round.
Change colours and purl 1 round.
Repeat the paragraph above 5 (6) 6 (6) 6 times in total.

Every time you´ll substract 1 where it says 8. (ie next time you´ll knit 7 before K2tog.)

The last time you´ll K2tog throughout the round.
Knit 5 more rounds before pulling the yarn through the remaining stitches.

Trousers
Cast on 120 s on circular needles US 2.5.
Knit a rib, K2, P2. 

After 0.4” knit a round like this:
*
K2, YO, P2tog*.
Repeat from * to * until end of round.
Continue working in rib, K2, P2 for about 2”.

Place marker (PM) in the middle front and back, 60 s between te PMs.

Change to US 5 needles and continue in stockinette.
When the piece is 8.3”.
Make the trousers higher in the back by making a few turns in the back (look up how to make nice turns on youtube.com if you´re unfamiliar with turning).

K 9 s past the PM in the back and turn.
 P 9 s past the PM in the back and turn.
Repeat the paragraph above, but always knit/purl 9 s more past the PM for every turn.
You´ll make 3 turns in each side in total.

Knit in the round again. 
Make extra room in the crouch.

On the next round increase 1 stitch on each side of the 2 stitches right in the middle and right in the back.

Knit one round.

Repeat these 2 rounds 2 more times  = 132 s.
Cast off the 4 stitches in the middle front and back = 124 s.

Knit each leg seperately =  62 s per leg.
Knit in stockinette in the round until each leg is 16.5”.
On the next round decrease 12 s evenly.
Knit every second wond and purl every second round for about 1”. Cast off.

Knit another leg.

Make an i-cord in the pattern colour. Knit 4 stitches. Pull all the stitches to the right side of the needles, bring the yarn behind the work and start knitting from the same side again.
Repeat until the i-cord is long enough for your trousers.