DIY Super Easy Toddler Sweater

What Prompts Me to DIY
The last time I tried to make a sweater for my newborn BB about 2 years ago, I managed to finish knitting all the pieces but had a difficult time sewing the pieces together properly to make a sweater. Grandma had to come in to save the day. This time now that my second one LLBB is coming, I decided to make a matching set of sweaters for them. Based on what happened last time, I looked for something with minimal patching and found this - One-Stitch Baby Sweater by Lion Brand.

This pattern does not require patching of knitted pieces. It's done all in one piece, and simply fold up and sewn close. I did not use their suggest yarn or needle, but improvised a little bit based on their pattern.

Project
One-Stitch Baby Sweater - Sized for Toddler 3 Years

Materials
Yarn: Red Heart Baby TLC, Color Lovey
Knitting Needle: US10

Time & Cost
Project Time: 40 Hr
Cost: $10

How (Adapted from Original)

1. Gauge: 15 sts = 3.5" in garter st
2. Sweater: Cast on 53 sts. Work in garter st 44 rows. Piece measures 6" (row 1-44).
3. Beg Sleeve Shaping: Inc 1 st at each end of every RS row 22 times – 97 sts. Piece measures 12" from beg (row 45-88).
4. Cuffs: Cast on 15 sts at end of next 2 rows 122 sts. Work even in garter st for 4" (32 rows). Piece measures 16" from beg (row 89-120).
5. Shape Back Neck: Next row K 54 sts and slip onto a holder for Right Front, bind off next 19 sts, k rem 54 sts for Left Front (rows 121).
6. Left Front: Continue even on Left Front sts for 4 rows (rows 122-125). Inc 1 st at neck edge on every RS row 4 times - 58 sts (row 126-133). Next row Cast on 2 sts at neck edge 60 sts. Work even for one row (row 134-135). Next row Cast on 6 sts at neck edge 66 sts (row 136). Work even until cuff measures 8" (row 137-152). Bind off 15 cuff sts 51 sts. Dec 1 st (k2tog on Left Front; ssk on Right Front) at side edge every RS row 22 times – 29 sts (row 153-196). Work even 44 rows (row 196-240). Bind off all sts. Count ridges on Left Front and place 4 buttons evenly spaced between ridges on Left Front opening edge.
7. Right Front: Attach yarn to Right Front sts at neck edge. Work to correspond to Left Front, rev shaping and working buttonholes (opposite markers) as foll: Work to 4 sts from end of row, (k2tog, yo, k2.
8. Finishing: Sew side seams with flat seam. Fold cuff back. Sew on buttons. Weave in ends.

Sized for Toddler 3 Years
It looks like a cute little kimono robe when BB puts it on!

I find it helpful to think of it in sections as you knit.

Tips

1. Remember always buy your supplies when they are 50% off or at least use the 40% off coupons at Joann. That's cheaper than buying anywhere online or Walmart. I got these super cute Big Bag of Buttons by Favorite Findings for $3 using a 50% off coupon that they send in the mail. Granted, I'm only going to use 4 for this project, but with 2 little ones running around, I should be able to use more of it later. Bottom line is, that it costs just about the same if you buy a small pack of 4 buttons.
2. The biggest challenge I have is to "cast on at end of row". I have never heard of it and have no idea how to do it. This clip by Judy Graham is the best one I found and tells me exactly what I need to know.
3. With the size of this sweater, you definitely need a circular knitting needle, preferably 40" long. I got this Circular Bamboo Knitting Needle Set of 15 for $20. If you aren't ready to commit on 15 needles, you can get individual ones from other sources such as these below. Here's a discussion on the various types and styles of knitting needles.
4. I've made the sleeves longer than the original pattern. Wear it with the cuffs folded up! It looks slightly more sophisticated that way!

Yarn Ideas

Buttons

Supplies

Choosing a Knitting Needle

There are several things you want to consider in choosing a knitting needle. At the end of the day, it's your personal preference as to which one is best.

Material
The most common material for a knitting needle is bamboo/wood, aluminum, or plastic. Plastic ones tend to be flimsier and bend too easily on your hand. Personally I think that's only for kids because it doesn't hurt as much when they poke themselves with it.

Most people choose between bamboo or aluminum. Bamboo is a green renewable material, which a lot of manufacturer boasts themselves about. However, aluminum is just as green because it can be recycled. Bamboo tends to stick to your yarn a little more than aluminum. If you're used to using aluminum like I did for 20 years, when I switch over to bamboo, I really have to adjust to it. You have to loosen up your tension as you knit. Otherwise, every knit is going to take a lot of effort to just stick through the loop. Once you get used to it, bamboo works just as fine as aluminum. Aluminum is smoother, so it's easier to move loops across, which I like a lot. Comparatively, you need to apply slightly more tension to the yarn as you knit because it does slide out if it's too loose. Some people prefer the bamboo because of the clicking noise of aluminum needles. I've never notice this problem, probably because I've got used to it long time ago. But it may be something you want to consider if you plan to knit before bedtime while someone's trying to fall asleep next to you. ;-)

Style
There is straight needles with one pointy side or two pointy sides, and flexible circular needles. When using straight needles, you need a pair. Circular needles are essentially two short straight needles linked together by plastic tubing.

When you're doing big pieces such as a sweater that's 36" across, you definitely need the length of flexible circular needles to simply hold it. Straight needles only come in limited length, understandably, because it's practically impossible to hold super long sticks in your arm to knit. It would just be too bulky and cumbersome. Circular needles also has the potential to knit on either side of the working piece, as required by some pattern. This can also be achieved by straight needles with two pointy ends. Since circular needles usually have maybe 4"-5" of rigid needles on either side of a flexible tubing, it's best if you plan to knit in crowded spaces such as in public transportation. That way you don't keep on poking the guy next to you.

However, I would say for most of what I've done, straight needles with one pointy end have been sufficient - until I decided to do that Super Easy Toddler Sweater which has an overall length of 30" from cuff to cuff.

Knitting Needle Ideas