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Comfort Knitting & Crochet: Babies & Toddlers

50 knit and crochet designs using Berroco's Comfort and Vintage yarns

ABRAMS

Cleire Cardigan

Crocheted bobbles and diamond cables come together to make this sweet, feminine cardigan. The yoke, front panels, and all the edges are defined by the bobbles, which are inspired by the pebble beaches on Ireland's southernmost inhabited island, Cleire.

SIZES

3 (6, 9, 12, 18, 24) months

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

18 (19¼, 20, 22, 24, 26)" chest

YARN

Berroco Comfort DK (50% super fine nylon / 50% super fineacrylic; 50 grams / 178 yards): 3 (3, 3, 3, 4, 4) skeins#2703 Barley

CROCHET HOOKS

Crochet hook size US H/8 (5 mm) Change hook size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.

NOTIONS

Stitch markers; two ½" buttons

GAUGE

20 sts and 20 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Single Crochet (sc)

ABBREVIATIONS

FPdc: Yo, insert hook from front to back to front around post of indicated st, yo and pull up a loop, [yo and pull through 2 loops on hook] twice.

FPdc decrease: Yo, insert hook from front to back to front around post of first skipped FPdc, yo and pull up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook; yo, insert hook from front to back to front around post of next skipped FPdc, yo and pull up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook.

Popcorn: Work 5 sc in next sc, drop loop from hook, insert hook in first sc of this 5-sc group then through dropped loop, draw dropped loop through st. Ch 1 to close (ch does not count as a st).

Sc2tog: Pull up a loop in each of next 2 sc, yo and pull through both loops on hook.

STITCH PATTERNS

SINGLE CROCHET (any number of sts + 1 ch; 1-row repeat)

Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook and in each ch to end, turn.

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc to end, turn. Repeat Row 2 for Single Crochet.

BORDER POPCORN PATTERN (odd number of sts +1 ch; 4 rows)

Row 1 (RS): Sc in second ch from hook and in each chto end, turn.

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc to end, turn.

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in first sc, *popcorn in next sc, sc in next sc; repeat from * to end, turn.

Row 4: Ch 1, sc in each st to end.

CABLE PATTERN (panel of 17 sts; 42 rows)

Note: Ch 1 at the beginning of every row when working Cable Pattern.

Row 1: Sc in first sc, popcorn in next sc, sc in next 4 sc, work FPdc around next sc 2 rows below, FPdc around next popcorn 2 rows below, skip 2 sc behind 2 FPdc just made, sc in next sc, work FPdc around same popcorn as last FPdc, work FPdc around next popcorn 2 rows below, skip 2 sc behind FPdc just made, sc in next 4 sc, popcorn in next sc, sc in last sc.

Row 2 and all WS rows: Sc in each sc across.

Row 3: Sc in first sc, popcorn in next sc, sc in next 3 sc, work FPdc around each of next 2 FPdc 2 rows below, skip 2 sc behind FPdc just made, sc in next sc, popcorn in next sc, sc in next sc, work FPdc around each of next 2 FPdc 2 rows below, skip 2 sc behind FPdc just made, sc in next 3 sc, popcorn in next sc, sc in last sc.

Row 5: Sc in first sc, popcorn in next sc, sc in next 5 sc, work FPdc around each of first 2 FPdc 2 rows below, work FPdc around next 2 FPdc 2 rows below, skip 3 sc behind FPdc just made, sc in next 5 sc, popcorn in next sc, sc in last sc—18 sts.

Row 7: Sc in first sc, popcorn in next sc, sc in next 4 sc, work FPdc around third and fourth FPdc 2 rows below, skip 2 sc behind FPdc just made, sc in next sc, working in front of 2 FPdc just made, work FPdc around each 2 skipped FPdc, skip 3 sc behind FPdc just made, sc in next 4 sc, popcorn in next sc, sc in last sc—17 sts remain.

Row 9: Sc in first sc, popcorn in next sc, sc in next 3 sc, work FPdc around next 2 FPdc 2 rows below, skip 2 sc behind FPdc just made, sc in next 3 sc, work FPdc around next 2 FPdc 2 rows below, skip 2 sc behind FPdc just made, sc in next 3 sc, popcorn in next sc, sc in last sc.

Row 11: Sc in first sc, popcorn in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, work FPdc around next 2 FPdc 2 rows below, skip 2 sc behind FPdc just made, sc in next 5 sc, work FPdc around next 2 FPdc 2 rows below, skip 2 sc behind FPdc just made, sc in next 2 sc, popcorn in next sc, sc in last sc.

Row 13: Sc in first sc, popcorn in next sc, sc in next sc, work FPdc around next 2 FPdc 2 rows below, skip 2 sc behind FPdc just made, sc in next 7 sc, work FPdc around next 2 FPdc, skip 2 sc behind FPdc just made, sc in next sc, popcorn in next sc, sc in last sc.

Row 15: Sc in first sc, popcorn in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, work FPdc around each of first 2 FPdc 2 rows below, skip 2 sc behind FPdc just made, sc in next 5 sc, work 2 FPdc in next 2 FPdc 2 rows below, skip 2 sc behind FPdc just made, sc in next 2 sc, popcorn in next sc, sc in last sc.

Row 17: Sc in first sc, popcorn in next sc, sc in next 3 sc, work FPdc around each of first 2 FPdc 2 rows below, skip 2 sc behind FPdc just made, sc in next 3 sc, work 2 FPdc in next 2 FPdc 2 rows below, skip 2 sc behind FPdc just made, sc in next 3 sc, popcorn in next sc, sc in last sc.

Row 19: Sc in first sc, popcorn in next sc, sc in next 4 sc, work FPdc around each of first 2 FPdc 2 rows below, skip 2 sc behind FPdc just made, sc in next sc, work 2 FPdc in next 2 FPdc 2 rows below, skip 2 sc behind FPdc just made, sc in next 4 sc, popcorn in next sc, sc in last sc.

Row 21: Sc in first sc, popcorn in next sc, sc in next 5 sc, work FPdc around third and fourth FPdc 2 rows below, working in front of FPdc just made, work FPdc decrease, skip 3 sc behind FPdc just made, sc in next 5 sc, popcorn in next sc, sc in last sc.

Row 23: Sc in first sc, popcorn in next sc, sc in next 5 sc, work FPdc around next 2 FPdc 2 rows below, work 2 FPdc around next FPdc decrease 2 rows below, skip 3 sc behind FPdc just made, sc in next 5 sc, popcorn in next sc, sc in last sc—18 sts.

Row 24: Work 1 sc in each st across.

Rows 25-42: Repeat Rows 7-24.

BODY

Note: Sweater is worked back and forth in one piece.

Ch 112 (118, 122, 132, 142, 152).

Begin Border Popcorn Pattern; work even for 3 rows—111 (117,121, 131, 141, 151) sts remain.

Next Row (WS): Ch 1, sc in each st to last 2 sts, sc2tog over last 2 sts, turn—110 (116, 120, 130, 140, 150) sts remain. Place mark-ers 28 (29, 30, 33, 35, 38) sts in from each edge.

Next Row: Work Cable Pattern over first 17 sts, sc across to last 17 sts, work Cable Pattern to end, turn.

Next Row: Ch 1, sc in each st to end, turn.

SHAPE SIDES

Decrease Row (RS): Work Cable Pattern over 17 sts, [sc across to 2 sts before marker, sc2tog over next 2 sts, sm, sc2tog over next 2 sts], sc across to last 17 sts, work Cable Pattern to end, turn.

Repeat Decrease Row every 6 rows twice, then every 4 rows twice—90 (96, 100, 110, 120, 130) sts remain.

Work even until piece measures approximately 6" from the beginning, ending with a RS row.

SHAPE YOKE

Next Row (WS): Ch 1, sc across to first marker, ch 31 (31, 35,35, 37, 37) (for first armhole), sc across to second marker, ch 31 (31, 35, 35, 37, 37) (for second armhole), sc in each st to end, turn—152 (158, 170, 180, 194, 204) sts. Work even for body, and for sleeves, begin Border Popcorn Pattern; work even for 4 rows.

Decrease Row 1 (RS): Work Cable Pattern over 17 sts, work 1(4, 3, 1, 1, 6) sc, sc2tog over next 2 sts, [work 5 sc, sc2tog over next 2 sts] 16 (16, 18, 20, 22, 22) times, work 1 (4, 3, 1, 1, 6) sc, sc2tog over next 2 sts, work Cable Pattern to end, turn—134 (140, 150, 158, 170, 180) sts remain. Work even for 3 rows.

Decrease Row 2 (RS): Work Cable Pattern over 17 sts, work 0(4, 4, 3, 5, 9) sc, [work 3 sc, sc2tog over next 2 sts] 19 (19, 21, 23,25, 25) times, work 5 (7, 7, 6, 6, 12) sc, work Cable Pattern to end, turn—115 (121, 129, 135, 145, 155) sts remain. Work even for 1 row.

Decrease Row 3 (RS): Work Cable Pattern over 17 sts, work 1(4, 4, 3, 4, 9) sc, [sc2tog over next 2 sts, work 2 sc] 20 (20, 22,24, 26, 26) times, work 0 (3, 3, 2, 3, 8) sc, work Cable Pattern to end, turn—95 (101, 107, 111, 119, 129) sts remain. Work even for 1 row.

Decrease Row 4 (RS): Work Row 3 of Border Popcorn Pattern, dec 10 (12, 14, 16, 20, 24) sts evenly spaced across (by working sc2tog in place of 1 sc), turn—85 (89, 93, 95, 99, 105) sts remain. Work even for 1 (1, 1, 3, 3, 5) row(s).

Buttonhole Row (RS): Ch 1, sc in first 2 sc, ch 2, skip next 2 sc, sc in each sc to end, turn. Work even for 1 row, working 2 sc in ch-2 sp.

Decrease Row 5 (RS): Ch 1, sc in each sc to end, decrease 5 (5,5, 7, 5, 5) sc evenly spaced across, turn—80 (84, 88, 88, 94, 100) sts remain. Work even for 1 (1, 1, 3, 3, 5) row(s).

Decrease Row 6 (RS): Work 5 (0, 6, 1, 6, 6) sc, [work 2 (2, 1, 2, 1,1) sc, sc2tog over next 2 sts] 17 (21, 25, 21, 27, 29) times, work 7 (0, 7, 3, 7, 7) sc—63 (63, 63, 67, 67, 71) sts remain. Work even for 1 row.

Next Row (RS): Work Row 3 of Border Popcorn Pattern. Work even for 1 row. Repeat Buttonhole Row. Work even for 1 row, working 2 scin ch-2 sp.

Fasten off.

FINISHING

Fold first 2 Border Popcorn Pattern to WS and sew in place, being careful not to let sts show on RS. Sew buttons opposite buttonholes.

Key Lime Blanket

This simple, fresh baby blanket is created by combining two-by-two rib and Garter stitch in concentric circles. Worked from the center outward, all the increases occur on knit rounds, which makes the counting easy to manage. The off-white center and border mimic the look of a sliced lime.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

36" diameter

YARN

Berroco Vintage Chunky (50% acrylic / 40% wool / 10% nylon; 100 grams / 130 yards): 6 hanks #6124 Kiwi (MC); 2 hanks #6101 Mochi (A)

NEEDLES

One 36" (90 cm) long circular (circ) needle size US 10 (6 mm) One set of five double-pointed needles (dpn) size US 10 (6 mm) Change needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.

NOTIONS

Stitch marker

GAUGE

14 sts and 21 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Stockinette stitch (St st)

BLANKET

Using dpns and A, CO 8 sts. Divide sts evenly among 4 dpns. Join for working in the rnd; pm for beginning of rnd.

Note: Change to circ needle when necessary for number of sts on needles.

Rnd 1: *K1-tbl; repeat from * to end.

Rnd 2: *K1, M1; repeat from * to end—16 sts.

Rnd 3: Knit.

Rnd 4: Repeat Rnd 2—32 sts.

Rnd 5: Purl.

Rnd 6: Knit.

Rnd 7: Purl.

Rnd 8: *K2, M1; repeat from * to end—48 sts.

Rnds 9 and 11: Knit.

Rnds 10 and 12: Purl.

Rnd 13: *K4, M1; repeat from * to end—60 sts.

Rnds 14-18: *K2, p2; repeat from * to end.

Rnd 19: Change to MC; knit.

Rnd 20: *K15, M1; repeat from * to end—64 sts.

Rnd 21: Purl.

Rnd 22: Knit.

Rnd 23: Purl.

Rnd 24: *K2, M1; repeat from * to end—96 sts.

Rnds 25-29: *K2, p2; repeat from * to end.

Rnd 30: *K3, M1; repeat from * to end—128 sts.

Rnd 31: Purl.

Rnd 32: Knit.

Rnd 33: Purl.

Rnd 34: *K4, M1; repeat from * to end—160 sts.

Rnds 35-41: *K2, p2; repeat from * to end.

Rnd 42: *K5, M1; repeat from * to end—192 sts.

Rnd 43: Purl.

Rnd 44: Knit.

Rnd 45: Purl.

Rnd 46: *K6, M1; repeat from * to end—224 sts.

Rnds 47-55: *K2, p2; repeat from * to end.

Rnd 56: *K7, M1; repeat from * to end—256 sts.

Rnd 57: Purl.

Rnd 58: Knit.

Rnd 59: Purl.

Rnd 60: *K8, M1; repeat from * to end—288 sts.

Rnds 61-71: *K2, p2; repeat from * to end.

Rnd 72: *K9, M1; repeat from * to end—320 sts.

Rnd 73: Purl.

Rnd 74: Knit.

Rnd 75: Purl.

Rnd 76: *K10, M1; repeat from * to end—352 sts.

Rnds 77-89: *K2, p2; repeat from * to end.

Rnd 90: *K11, M1; repeat from * to end—384 sts.

Rnd 91: Purl.

Rnd 92: Knit.

Rnd 93: Purl.

Rnd 94: *K12, M1; repeat from * to end—416 sts.

Rnds 95-109: *K2, p2; repeat from * to end.

Rnds 110-116: Change to A; *k2, p2; repeat from * to end.

Rnd 117: Knit.

Rnd 118: Purl.

Rnd 119: Knit.

Rnd 120: Purl. BO all sts knitwise.

FINISHING

Block lightly (see Special Techniques, page 156).

Oreangelo Bib

This bib is sweet and bright like its namesake fruit, and it is even worked in "segments." Decreases are worked at the edges of each segment, bringing each one to a point.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

9½ (11)" diameter at widest point

YARN

Berroco Comfort Chunky (50% super fine nylon / 50% super fine acrylic; 100 grams / 150 yards): 1 skein #5724 Pumpkin

NEEDLES

One pair straight needles size US 10½ (6.5 mm) Change needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.

NOTIONS

Stitch markers

GAUGE

14 sts and 20 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Stockinette stitch (St st)

BIB

Using Long-Tail CO (see Special Techniques, page 156), CO 86 (100) sts.

Decrease Row 1 (RS): K1, [k2tog, k8 (10) sts, ssk, pm] 7 times, k1—72 (86) sts remain. Knit 5 rows.

Decrease Row 2 (RS): Change to St st. Decrease 14 sts this row, then every 4 rows 3 (4) times, as follows: K1, [k2tog, knit to 2 sts before marker, ssk, sm] 7 times, k1—16 sts remain. Work even for 3 rows, removing markers.

Decrease Row 3 (RS): K1, [k2tog] 7 times, k1—9 sts remain. Work even for 1 row.

Decrease Row 4 (RS): [K3tog] 3 times—3 sts remain. BO all sts.

TIE

Using Knitted or Cable CO (see Special Techniques, page 156), CO 34 (40) sts, turn so that CO sts are on right-hand needle. With RS of Bib facing, pick up and knit 1 st at corner of CO edge and right side edge, pass next st (last CO st) over picked-up st, pick up and knit 33 (39) sts along side edge, BO edge, then other side edge, turn—67 (79) sts.

Next Row: Using Knitted or Cable CO, CO 33 (39) sts, knit to end—100 (118) sts. BO all sts purlwise.

Darla Blanket

When my Gram was a young mother in the 1930s, money was tight, materials were scarce, and innovative reuse was the rule of the day. Dresses, blouses, and petticoats, once worn out or outgrown, were usually refashioned into coverlets. This blanket takes a cue from quilts of that era, using a variety of stitches and colors to simulate patchwork squares of calico and gingham. The squares are then pieced together in a casual, random order.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Blanket: 35" wide x 45" long

Square: 5" x 5"

YARN

Berroco Comfort (50% super fine nylon / 50% super fine acrylic; 100 grams / 210 yards): 3 skeins each #9703 Barley (A) and #9749 Aunt Abby Rose (B); 1 skein each #9748 Aunt Martha Green (C), #9746 Iron Oxide (D), #9758 Crypto Crystalline (E), and #9714 Robin's Egg (F)

CROCHET HOOKS

Crochet hook size US H/8 (5 mm)

Crochet hook size US I/9 (5.5 mm)

Crochet hook size US J/10 (6 mm)

Change hook size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.

GAUGE

14 sts and 18 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Single Crochet (sc), using smallest crochet hook

SQUARE 1 (make 9)

Using size I/9 crochet hook and A, ch 22.

Row 1: Work 3 dc in 6th ch from hook, *ch 1, skip next 3 ch sts, 3 dc in next ch; repeat from * to end, ending last repeat with 2 dc in last ch, turn.

Row 2: Ch 2, *dc in next ch-1 sp, tr in next corresponding skipped ch in foundation ch, dc in same ch-1 sp in current row, ch 1; repeat from * to end, ending with 2 dc in top of beginning ch, turn.

Row 3: Ch 2, *dc in next ch-1 sp, working over ch-1 sp, tr in next corresponding st 2 rows below, dc in same ch-1 sp in current row, ch 1; repeat from * to end, ending with 2 dc in top of turning ch, turn.

Repeat Row 3 eleven times. Fasten off.

SQUARE 2 (make 9)

Work as for Square 1, using B.

SQUARE 3 (make 9)

Note: When changing colors, work to last dc, yo, pull up a loop in last dc, yo and pull through 2 loops on hook, then yo with new color and pull through all loops on hook. Do not cut yarn at end of rows, but carry loosely up side.

Using size I/9 crochet hook and C, ch 22. Complete as for Square 1, alternating 1 row each in C, B, then D.

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Excerpted from Comfort Knitting & Crochet: Babies & Toddlers by Norah Gaughan, Ericka McConnell. Copyright © 2012 Berroco, Inc.. Excerpted by permission of ABRAMS.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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