The Shawl Collar Crochet Sweater

This is the birthday sweater all finished! I used a sweatershirt that my son fits to figure out the sizing. The following pattern is approximately a 12 month size. It can be easily changed by adding some ch's to the foundation rows and adding some extra length.

PATTERN

4mm hook used

5 or 6 (can't remeber now) skiens of Sirdar Baby Bamboo DK

Pattern Stitch:

Single crochet, alternating front loop and back loop.

Ch one, turn work, sc in front loop of next stitch, sc in back loop of next st, sc in front loop of next stitch, sc in back loop of next st. Continue until you reach the end of the row, or the pattern indicates to stop.

Back

ch 57

Row 1: Turn, sc in second ch from hook. Sc to end of row (56sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, Turn, using pattern st, sc along row until you reach the end (56sc)

Rows 3 to 32: Continue work evenly until piece measures approx. 7 1/2" high increase or decrease number of rows to accomidate child's size, armhole shaping is next!

Row 33: turn, slst in next 6 stitches, ch one, using pattern st, sc along row for the next 44 sts, end of row, 6 st should remain at end of row (44 sc, 6 slst)

Row 34: Ch 1, turn, sc in pattern st, to end of row, DO NOT crochet in slst from previous row (44sc)

Row 35-54: Continue working evenly using pattern st, until back measures approx. 10" from first row. Next is neck shaping!

Row 55: ch 1, turn, sc in pattern st for next 11 st, end of row (11sc)

Row 56: ch1 turn, sc in pattern st for next 11 st (11sc)

Row 57-63: Work evenly using pattern stitch, tie off after last row.

Other Side of Neck Shaping, start at Row 54:

Row 55: Turn work so the side you just finished is to your left. Starting at beginning of Row 54, attach yarn, ch 1, sc in pattern st for the next 11 sts, end of row (11sc)

Row 56: ch 1, turn, sc in pattern st for the next 11 st (11sc)

Row 57-63: Work evenly using pattern stitch, tie off after last row.

Front

Ch 57

Row 1: Turn, sc in second ch from hook. Sc to end of row (56sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, Turn, using pattern st, sc along row until you reach the end (56sc)

Rows 3 to 32: Continue work evenly until piece measures approx. 7 1/2" high increase or decrease number of rows to accomidate child's size, armhole shaping is next!

Row 33: turn, slst in next 6 stitches, ch one, using pattern st, sc along row for the next 44 sts, end of row, 6 st should remain at end of row (44 sc, 6 slst) Neck shaping is next!

Row 34: Ch 1, turn, sc in pattern st, to end of row, DO NOT crochet in slst from previous row (44sc)

Row 35-37: Ch 1, turn, sc using pattern st for next 16 sts, end of row (16 sc)

Row 38: Ch 1, turn, skip first st, sc using pattern st for the next 15st (15 sc)

Row 39-41: Ch 1, turn, sc using pattern st for next 15 sts, end of row (15 sc)

Row 42: Ch 1, turn, skip first st, sc using pattern st for the next 14st (14 sc)

Row 43-45: Ch 1, turn, sc using pattern st for next 14 sts, end of row (14 sc)

Row 46: Ch 1, turn, skip first st, sc using pattern st for the next 13st (13 sc)

Row 47-49: Ch 1, turn, sc using pattern st for next 13 sts, end of row (13 sc)

Row 50: Ch 1, turn, skip first st, sc using pattern st for the next 12st (12 sc)

Row 51-53: Ch 1, turn, sc using pattern st for next 12 sts, end of row (12 sc)

Row 54: Ch 1, turn, skip first st, sc using pattern st for the next 11st (11 sc)

Row 55-63: Ch 1, turn, sc using pattern st for next 11 sts, end of row, tie off after last row. (11 sc)

Other Side of Front

Starting from Row 34:

Row 35: Turn your work so the side you just finished is to your left. Starting at beginning of Row 34, attach yarn, Ch 1, turn, sc using pattern st for next 16 sts, end of row (16 sc)

Row 36-37: Ch 1, turn, sc using pattern st for next 16 sts, end of row (16 sc)

Row 38: Ch 1, turn, skip first st, sc using pattern st for the next 15st (15 sc)

Row 39-41: Ch 1, turn, sc using pattern st for next 15 sts, end of row (15 sc)

Row 42: Ch 1, turn, skip first st, sc using pattern st for the next 14st (14 sc)

Row 43-45: Ch 1, turn, sc using pattern st for next 14 sts, end of row (14 sc)

Row 46: Ch 1, turn, skip first st, sc using pattern st for the next 13st (13 sc)

Row 47-49: Ch 1, turn, sc using pattern st for next 13 sts, end of row (13 sc)

Row 50: Ch 1, turn, skip first st, sc using pattern st for the next 12st (12 sc)

Row 51-53: Ch 1, turn, sc using pattern st for next 12 sts, end of row (12 sc)

Row 54: Ch 1, turn, skip first st, sc using pattern st for the next 11st (11 sc)

Row 55-63: Ch 1, turn, sc using pattern st for next 11 sts, end of row, tie off after last row. (11 sc)

Sew shoulder seams and side seams together, weave in all ends.

Collar

Working only in the BACK LOOPS unless otherwise stated. This forms the ribbing.

Row 1: With the front facing you, there should be a gap of 6 sts between the front neck shaping. Starting at the right side of the gap, sc in the back loops of each of the 6 sts, then slst to the side of the neck shaping, slst once up the neck shaping (6sc)

Row 2: Turn you work and sc in the 6 sts (6sc)

Row 3: Ch 1, 2 sc in the first st, 1 sc in each of the next 5 sts, slst to the side of the neck shaping, slst once up the neck shaping (7sc)

Row 4: Turn you work and sc in the 7 sts (7sc)

Row 5: Ch 1, turn and sc in the next 7sts,slst to the side of the neck shaping, slst once up the neck shaping (7sc)

Row 6: Turn you work and 2 sc in the first st, then 1 sc in the next 6 sts (8sc)

Row 7: Ch 1, sc in the next 8sts, lst to the side of the neck shaping, slst once up the neck shaping (8sc)

Row 8: Turn you work and 2 sc in the first st, then 1 sc in the next 7 sts (9sc)

Row 9: Ch 1, sc in the next 9sts, lst to the side of the neck shaping, slst once up the neck shaping (9sc)

Row 10: Turn you work and 2 sc in the first st, then 1 sc in the next 8 sts (10sc)

Row 11: Ch 1, sc in the next 10sts, lst to the side of the neck shaping, slst once up the neck shaping (10sc)

Row 12: Turn you work and 2 sc in the first st, then 1 sc in the next 9 sts (11sc)

Row 13: Ch 1, sc in the next 11sts, lst to the side of the neck shaping, slst once up the neck shaping (11sc)

Row 14: Turn you work and 2 sc in the first st, then 1 sc in the next 10 sts (12sc)

Row15:Ch 1, sc in the next 12sts, lst to the side of the neck shaping, slst once up the neck shaping (12sc)

Row 16:Turn you work and 2 sc in the first st, then 1 sc in the next 11 sts (13sc)

Row 17:Ch 1, sc in the next 13sts, lst to the side of the neck shaping, slst once up the neck shaping (13sc)

Row 18:Turn you work and 2 sc in the first st, then 1 sc in the next 12 sts (14sc)

Row 19:Ch 1, sc in the next 14sts, lst to the side of the neck shaping, slst once up the neck shaping (14sc)

Row 20:Turn you work and 2 sc in the first st, then 1 sc in the next 13 sts (15sc)

Row 21:Ch 1, sc in the next 15sts, lst to the side of the neck shaping, slst once up the neck shaping (15sc)

Row 22:Turn you work and 2 sc in the first st, then 1 sc in the next 14 sts (16sc)

Row 23:Ch 1, sc in the next 16sts, lst to the side of the neck shaping, slst once up the neck shaping (16sc)

Row 24:Turn you work and 2 sc in the first st, then 1 sc in the next 15 sts (17sc)

Row 25:Ch 1, sc in the next 17sts, lst to the side of the neck shaping, slst once up the neck shaping (17sc)

Row 26:Turn you work and 2 sc in the first st, then 1 sc in the next 16 sts (18sc)

Row 27:Ch 1, sc in the next 18sts, lst to the side of the neck shaping, slst once up the neck shaping (18sc)

Row 28:Turn you work and 2 sc in the first st, then 1 sc in the next 17 sts (19sc)

This should bring you to the shoulder seam approx.

Row 29:Ch 1, sc in the next 19sts, lst to the side of the neck shaping, slst once up the neck shaping (19sc)

Row 30:Turn you work and 2 sc in the first st, then 1 sc in the next 18 sts (20sc)

Row 31-Work evenly around back of neck shaping to a row or two before other shoulder seam

Now I am not srue where to go from here ..... I didn't write anything down after this so it may get a bit sketchy in regards to direction.

Basically once you get to the other shoulder seam, you want to start decreasing in the same manor that you increased on the first side. Once you have decreased to 6 sts and have reached the begining edge of the collar, slst into the front loops where you had started the collar in the back loops. Tie off and weave in ends.

Sleeves (make 2)

I really screwed the sleeves up! But here is what i did:

Row 1: Ch 51, sc in second ch from hook and sc in each ch (50sc)

Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc using pattern stitch in each st from previous row

I decreased until i got to 25 sc, but that was a little tight. I decreased every second row, but found that it was to sudden, so try decreasing every thrid or fourth row ....... and as far as number of rows and length. It will depend how long your child's arm is. I just slipped on the front/back "vest" portion of the sweater and measured as I went. When you have the desired length of your sleeve, sew in like a tube and then sew it up the arm hole!

Bottom Ribbing

Always working on BACK LOOPS to create ribbing!

Row 1: ch 7, insert hook in second ch from hook, one sc in each remaining ch (6 sc)

Row 2: ch 1 turn, sc in each of the previous sts, remeber to work in back loops for all rows (6sc)

Continue working this way, until the piece is 1 1/2 to 2" smaller that the bottom of your sweater. Sew on and weave in all ends.

I was going to do the same ribbing for the sleeve edges, but I didn't bother. I'll add ribbing to the edge, once the sweater sleeves get too short!

So there you go! I hope this wasn't too confusing. I have never written a pattern/tutorial for a garment before and have a lot to learn ...... for starters, write it down as you go! Hope you are able to use this and make your wee ones a cute crochet sweater!