Featured Pattern - Baby Sand Dollar
Updated: Sep 10, 2020
Welcome new followers! If you aren't new, you might already know that I started this little website because I was planning to take a chunk of time off from my day job, and wanted to explore options that might allow me to spend a little less time at work, and do something that I'm really excited about.
Of course, motherhood then became my passion and occupation, so designing had to take a little bit of a back seat, although I have kept at it as much as I can. I recently learned that I am able to extend my time off for a few more months, and now that my baby is a little older, I've been thinking a lot about what I really want from this project.
I want people to enjoy my patterns. That's really it.
Designing patterns is a lot of work, and writing them takes a lot of my time, and an investment on my part, too. I pay for this website, for promotional materials like business cards and giveaways, invest in classes, books, and tools. The biggest expenses are the ones that I really can't skimp on - yarn and technical editing. In order to fulfill my biggest goal, and keep it affordable, I've decided to try a new model. I'm going to start sharing patterns for free and allow advertisers to subsidize the costs. My patterns will remain available for purchase, ad-free, in my Payhip shop.
I'd like to start by sharing my very first professionally written pattern and one that is very dear to me - it's the one that started it all. It was inspired by my baby while she was still just a little bun in the oven. My sample is 12 month size, which means it should finally fit her soon - I can't wait to do a little photo shoot. This pattern has also been written in adult sizes which will make for a super cute mommy & mini set. I will be sure to get photos of this as well! The adult pattern is the Ocean City Pullover, available from Interweave, here.
Purchase the ad-free PDF here on Payhip
Needles :
- US size 6/4mm 16”/40cm circular needle.
- US size 6/4mm DPNs.
Yarn: Cascade Yarns Anchor Bay (DK weight, 50% cotton/50% merino wool; 262yds/240m per 3.5oz/100g skein); Sample uses colour #17 “Dew”.
Estimated yardage: 317yds/290metres [496yds/454metres, 613yds/561metres]
Gauge: 22 sts/25 rows in the round = 4”/10cm square in Mesh Stitch using US 6/4.0mm needles after blocking.
22 sts/28 rows worked flat = 4”/10cm square in Stockinette Stitch using US 6/4.0mm needles after blocking.
Other Notions: 4 stitch markers, 2 stitch holders or waste yarn, darning needle for finishing.
Sizes: 12 month [18 month, 24 month]
Final Measurements:
1. Collar circumference: 13.75”/34cm [15.25”/38cm,
18”/45cm]
2. Underarm to hem: 7.5”/19cm [8”/20cm, 8.5”/21.5cm]
3. Wrist circumference: 5.5”/14cm [6.5”/16.5cm,
7.25”/18.5cm]
4. Chest circumference: 22”/56cm [24”/61cm, 26”/66cm]
5. Underarm to wrist: 8”/20cm [8”/20cm, 8.5”/21.5cm]
6. Armhole depth: 3.75”/9.5cm [4”/10cm, 4.25”/11cm]
Abbreviations:
● BO - bind off
● centre dbl inc - centre double increase. Knit
into back loop and then front loop, then slip
to right needle. Pick up vertical bar from
between these two stitches and knit (see
Supplemental Resources).
● CO - cast on
● DPNs - double pointed needles
● k - knit
● k2tog - knit two stitches together
● k3tog - knit three stitches together
● kfb - knit into front and back of one stitch
● p - purl
● p3tog - purl 3 stitches together
● pm - place marker
● psso - pass slipped stitch over (pick up slipped stitch from right needle, pass it over the stitch(es) to the left of it and drop it off the needle)
● p2sso - pass 2 slipped stitches over (pick up 2 slipped stitches together, pass over the stitch(es) to the left, and drop them off the needle)
● pyoo - pass yarn-over over (pick up the last yarn over on the right needle and pass it over the stitch(es) to the left of it, and drop it off the needle)
● sl - slip knitwise
● sm - slip marker
● ssk - slip the next 2 sts, one by one, knitwise; insert the tip of the left needle, from left to right, into the fronts of those 2 sts and knit them together.
● st(s) - stitch(es)
● yo - yarn-over
PATTERN NOTES
Construction : This pullover uses raglan construction and is worked in the round - no seams to sew up afterwards! After the initial increases are worked, the stitches for the sleeves are separated onto stitch holders. The body is continued in the round on the 16”/40cm circular needle. Next, each sleeve is worked by transferring held stitches from stitch holder onto DPNs. Supplemental charts for working the mesh stitch over the increase section, as well as links to additional resources for some of the suggested techniques, are provided in the Supplemental Resource section at the end of the pattern.
Note on Sand Dollar Chart : Because of the way the increases and decreases are worked, it is necessary to decrease some stitches from the front of the repeat and increase at the end of the repeat, in order for things to line up. In round 1, you will end up with 2 fewer stitches per pattern repeat, and increase again in round 2.
Note on using DPNs for sleeves : On some rows the last stitch will have to be transferred to the next needle in order to continue in pattern.
Note on Mesh Stitch pattern in the round: I have kept the pattern as it was originally written below, however, it was suggested after this pattern was published on Ravelry that rather than interrupting the mesh stitch at the end of each round, it could be continued by moving the marker to complete the pattern repeat at the end of the row. Once you are familiar with how each row stacks on the previous rows, it will become obvious where the next row should start even if your marker moves (see mesh stitch video in supplemental resources).
PATTERN STITCHES
K1 P1 Rib (multiple of 2 sts, 1 round):
*k1, p1; repeat from * to end.
Mesh Pattern (multiple of 3 sts, 6 rounds):
Round 1,3,5: k to end.
Round 2: *yo, sl1, k2, psso; repeat from *to marker.
Round 4: K2, *yo, sl1, k2, psso; repeat from *to last stitch before marker, k1.
Round 6: K1, *yo, sl1, k2, psso; repeat from *to last 2 sts before marker; k2.
Sand Dollar Motif (12 rows, multiple of 12 sts):
Round 1: *P3tog, k9; repeat from * to end.
Round 2: *Ssk, p1, (k2tog, yo) x 2, centre dbl inc, yo, ssk, yo; repeat from * to end.
Round 3: *K1, p1, k4, p3, k3; repeat from * to end.
Round 4: *Sl1, k2tog, psso; yo, k2tog, yo, p5, yo, ssk, yo; repeat from * to end.
Round 5: *K4, p5, k3; repeat from * to end.
Round 6: *K3tog, yo, p2, k1, p1, k1, p2, yo, ssk, yo; repeat from * to end.
Round 7: *K2, p2, k1, p1, k1, p2, k3; repeat from * to end.
Round 8: *Ssk, yo, p2, yo, k1, p1, k1, pass yo over 3 sts, p2, yo, sl2, k1, p2sso, yo; repeat from * to end.
Round 9: Repeat round 7.
Round 10: *K2tog, yo, p2, k1, p1, k1, p2, yo, sl2, k1, p2sso, yo; repeat from * to end.
Round 11: *K2, p7, k3; repeat from * to end.
Round 12: *Ssk, yo, p2tog, p3tog, p2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, centre dbl inc, yo; repeat from * to end.
Sand Dollar Motif Chart
PATTERN
Collar:
CO 76 [84, 100] sts on DPNs or circular using Long Tail cast on or preferred stretchy cast-on method and join
in the round, being careful not to twist.
Round 1-4 : k1 p1 rib across.
Yoke:
Set-up raglan increases : (kfb, work 26 [28, 32] sts in rib, kfb, pm, kfb, work 8 [10, 14] sts in rib, kfb, pm) twice
(84 [92, 108] sts).
Work Mesh Pattern over yoke increases as follows:
Size 12 months only: Repeat rounds 1-6 five times (204 sts).
Size 18 months only: Work rounds 3-6 once. Repeat rounds 1-6 five times (228 sts).
Size 24 months only: Repeat rounds 1-6 six times (252 sts).
Round 1: (K1, *yo, sl1, k2, psso; repeat from *to last 2 sts before marker; k2, sm) four times.
Round 2, 4, 6: *kfb, k to last stitch before marker, kfb, sm; repeat from * to end (increase 8 sts each round).
Round 3: (K1, *yo, sl1, k2, psso; repeat from *to last stitch before marker, k1, sm) four times.
Round 5: (K1, *yo, sl1, k2, psso; repeat from *to marker, sm) four times.
Divide for sleeves: (K1, *yo, sl1, k2, psso; repeat from *to last 2 sts before marker; k2, sm, transfer next 42 [48, 54] sts to stitch holder, sm) twice.
Body:
Work Mesh Pattern over remaining 120 [132, 144] sts on needles for 4”/10cm [4.5”/11.5cm, 5”/12.75cm], ending after a knit round.
Work Sand Dollar Motif chart once (10 [11, 12] pattern repeats per round).
Work Rounds 1-6 of Mesh Pattern once.
Work 4 rounds of K1 P1 Rib .
Bind off loosely in pattern.
Sleeves:
For each sleeve, transfer 42 [48, 54] sts from stitch holder or waste yarn and distribute onto DPNs. Place marker at the beginning of round. Work Mesh Pattern over sleeve decreases as follows: (see Supplemental Resources for chart)
Round 1: K1, *yo, sl1, k2, psso; repeat from * to last 2 sts, k2, sm.
Round 2: K to end, sm.
Round 3: *yo, sl1, k2, psso; repeat from * to end, sm.
Round 4: K2tog, k to end, sm (decrease by 1 stitch).
Round 5: K1, *yo, sl1, k2, psso; repeat from * to last stitch, k1, sm.
Round 6: K to end, sm.
Round 7: *yo, sl1, k2, psso; repeat from * to last 2 sts, k2, sm.
Round 8: K2tog, k to end, sm (decrease by 1 stitch).
Round 9: K1, *yo, sl1, k2, psso; repeat from * to end, sm.
Round 10: Knit to end, sm.
Round 11: *yo, sl1, k2, psso; repeat from * to last stitch, k1, sm.
Round 12: K2tog, k to end, sm (decrease by 1 stitch).
For all sizes: Repeat rounds 1-12 four times (30 [36, 42] sts).
For size 24 months only: Work rounds 1-8 once more (40 sts).
Work 4 rounds of K1 P1 Rib .
Bind off loosely in pattern.
Finishing
Weave in ends and block to measurements. You may wish to reinforce the underarms using a darning needle.
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
Long tail cast on: https://youtu.be/JC7ZiW6aoH8
Centre Double Increase: https://youtu.be/l1qYe81lAT8?t=20s
Mesh Stitch: https://youtu.be/JCPGzClT15k