Baby Folkwear Caftan

A delicately embroidered and knitted sweater, this Baby Folkwear Caftan is easy and sweet. Dressing up babies is fun, and never more fun than when you've made the clothing yourself.

Materials:

• Caron International's Simply Soft (100% acrylic; 6 oz/170 g, 330 yds/304 m): #9710 Country Blue (MC), 1 skein all sizes
• For embroidery, small amounts of each color are needed; colors listed are shown on model garment
• Caron International's Simply Soft (100% acrylic; 3 oz/86 g, 165 yds/152 m): #9739 Soft Green; #9702 Off White; #9719 Soft Pink; #9712 Soft Blue
• Size US 7 and 8 (4.5 and 5 mm) straight needles or size to obtain gauge
• Size US 7 (4.5 mm) 16-inch circular needle for neck finishing
• Split-ring stitch markers or waste yarn
• Stitch holder
• Tapestry needle (tn)

SIZE
Baby's 3-6 (9 -12, 18-24) months

KNITTED MEASUREMENTS
Chest 18 1/2 (20 1/2, 22 1/2) inches
Length 10 (11, 12) inches

GAUGE
In Stockinette stitch, using larger needles, 18 sts and 24 rows = 4"/10 cm
Stitches Used
Garter stitch (Garter st)
Stockinette stitch (St st)

Instructions:

BACK
Using smaller needles and MC, cast on 42 (46, 50) sts.
(RS) Begin Garter st; work even for 4 rows, ending with a WS row.
(RS) Change to larger needles and St st. Work even until piece measures 6 (6 1/2, 7) inches from beg; place marker for underarm. Cont in St st, work even until piece measures 10 (11, 12) inches from beg, ending with a WS row.
Shape shoulders and neck: (RS): BO 13 (14, 15) sts at beg of next 2 rows for shoulders; place rem 16 (18, 20) sts on holder for neck.

FRONT
Work as for Back until piece measures same as back to underarm, ending with a WS row; pm as for back.
Cont in St st, work 0 (2, 6) rows even, ending with a WS row; place marker (pm) each side of center 6 (6, 8) sts.
Shape placket: (RS) Work across to marker; join a second ball of yarn and BO center sts, work to end—18 (20, 21) sts each side. Working both sides at same time, work even for 15 rows, ending with a WS row.
Shape neck: (RS) At each neck edge, dec 1 st every row 5 (6, 6) times – 13 (14, 15) sts remain for shoulder.
Work even until piece measures same as Back to shoulder. Bind off remaining sts.

SLEEVES
Using smaller needles and MC, cast on 27 (29, 32) sts.
(RS) Begin Garter st; work even for 4 rows, ending with a WS row.
Change to larger needles and St st.
Shape Sleeve: (RS) Inc 1 st each side this row, then every 10 rows 4 (3, 3) times, every 8 rows 0 (2, 3) times—37 (41, 46 ) sts.
Work even until piece measures 7 1/2 (8 1/2, 10) inches from beg, ending with a WS row.
Bind off all sts loosely.

FINISHING
Block pieces to measurements. Sew shoulder seams.
Neck band: With RS facing, using circular needle and MC, beg at lower end of placket, pick up and knit 60 (62, 64) sts evenly around neck shaping as follows: 10 sts up side of placket, pm; 12 sts along neck shaping to shoulder; 16 (18, 20) sts from back neck holder; 12 sts along neck shaping to placket, pm; 10 sts to lower end of placket. Do not join. (WS) Beg Garter st; working back and forth on circular needle, work even for 1 row.
Shape neck band: Increase Row: (RS) * Work to one st before marker, inc 1 (by k1-f/b in next st); slip marker, inc 1; repeat from * once, work to end. Repeat Increase row every other row 1 (1, 2) times, ending with a RS row. Bind off all sts loosely on next (WS) row. Sew ends to bound off sts of placket.

Sew on sleeves between markers; sew sleeve and side seams. Using tn, weave in all ends.

EMBROIDERY
Using colors as shown (see photo), or colors desired, work embroidery, (see diagrams and photo), at center front; beg at center back neck, work embroidery around neck edge; work embroidery on sleeve.