GO FAUX: Quick “Cabled” Top for Babies © 2020 Kathryn Doubrley, The Answer Lady

Links to some helpful videos are below the pattern. The faux cables are alternate patterns that use the tucking technique.

The purl side is the right side for this little shirt. The faux cables show up on the purl side so the design is quick and easy to make.

YARN, GAUGE, SIZE & MACHINE Sizes finish to 18[20, 22]” circumference around the chest. Finished lengths are 9[10, 11]”. Use a #3 or very light #4 yarn to get the gauge of 5 stitches/7 rows/inch on a mid-gauge or bulky machine. The simplest of machines will work fine.

WORKING THE FAUX CABLE The illusion of a cable is created by means of hand selected tuck stitch. Follow the chart. Each darkened square represents a needle that is placed into hold. Each row on the chart represents 1 knitted row. The row counts are running up the left side of the chart. Needles that will tuck are numbered in italics across the bottom. Read it like this: Place needle 0 in hold. Knit 2 rows. Return it to upper working position. Moving out from center, place each 1 needle hold. Knit 2 rows. Row 4 will be complete. Return the held needles to upper working position. Place needle 0 in hold and also place both #2 needles into hold. Knit 2 rows. Row 6 will be complete. Return the held needles to upper working position. Place the #3 needles in hold. Knit 2 rows. Row 8 will be complete. Return the held needles to upper working position. Place needle 0 in hold and also place in hold the #4 needles. Knit 2 rows. Row 10 will be complete. Return the held needles to work. Knit 2 rows. Instructions for when to begin the chart and how many times to repeat it appear under the “knit the front” heading.

KNIT THE BACK Wind off 30” of main yarn before beginning and set it aside. Begin with carriage at right. Cast on using e-wrap around 49[55, 59] needles, working from left to right. At main stitch minus 1 whole number, knit 14 rows. Lift the e-wraps and hang them on the working needles. Be neat because this will show on the finished garment. Increase to main stitch size. Set row counter to 0. Knit 30[35, 41] plain rows. Hang a yarn marker on each side to designate the underarm point. Knit until row counter reads 56[63, 70]. Mark the center 23[25, 29] stitches for the neckline by hanging a yarn marker on the stitch at each end of that needle count. The 13[15, 15] stitches to either side of the neckline stitches are shoulder stitches. Bind off the 13[15, 15] stitches at the right hand edge of the work and also the marked neckline stitches, leaving the yarn markers in position. For the 20” chest, use the piece of yarn that was set aside to begin with because your carriage will be on the left and not positioned to use the yarn from the carriage to do this. With the main yarn still in the carriage, knit 6 rows. To create the shoulder tab that will under-lap the front shoulder. Bind off.

KNIT THE FRONT Wind off 24” of main yarn before beginning. Begin and proceed as for the back but add the faux cable up the center front. Begin working the chart 18” size: after knitting 4 rows and work the chart 3 times 20” size: after knitting 7 rows and work the chart 3 times. [For this size, you have a second option which will more full fill the front with the cable. That is to work the chart 3 times, beginning it after knitting 1 row.] 22” size: after knitting 4 rows and work the chart 4 times. When row 44[51, 56] has been knitted, bind off the center 13[15, 17] stitches using the main yarn that was set aside before beginning. #Place the needles on the side away from the carriage in hold. Continue to knit on the remaining needles, decreasing one stitch at the neck edge every other row until 13[15, 15] stitches remain in work. Knit straight until row 56[63, 70] has been completed. Bind off the first shoulder, move the carriage to the other side, reset the row counter to 44[52, 58]. Repeat from the # for the second shoulder.

NECKLINE TRIM Sew the right shoulder. Work worm trim around the neckline but excluding the extension tab on the left shoulder.

MINI SLEEVES Overlap the front of the sweater with the left shoulder tab and sew the armhole edges together. Hang one armhole between the yarn markers on 21[25, 29] needles with the wrong side of the fabric [the knit side in this case] in view. Beginning at main stitch size, knit 7 rows, turning down the stitch size one click per row. Knit the 7th row at the lowest stitch size that was reached. Knit an additional 7 rows, knitting the first at the smallest stitch size and now increasing 1 click per row. The original stitch size should be reached for knitting the final row. Hang the same area again and bind off.

FINISHING Sew underarm and side seams. The mini sleeves are 2 layers thick and will look nicest and be most comfortable if the layers are seamed separately. Cut a piece of Velcro or obtain 2 large nylon snaps. Sew half of the Velcro or one side of each snap to the underside of the front shoulder. Sew the other half/sides to the top side of the shoulder extension. Be sure to sew very securely, especially if using snaps so as to prevent a choking hazard.