by Julia Schwartz

Photos: Julia Schwartz

Difficulty: Easy (blanket and hat), Intermediate (sweater)

For this year the fall means babies. Lots of babies. I would not be exaggerating to say that I know over 20 women who are expecting between the months of September and December. This Layette set is one that I came up with to give to one of my cousins that is having a boy in September. I usually refer to this cousin as my Minnesota cousin, but strangely enough he and his wife live in Texas right now. They are naming their son after the county that they grew up in, so that is why it is the Minnesota set. I wanted something that was fast and simple but had some visual and textual appeal. I also wanted a blanket that the baby could grow into and use for a few years.

Size: Blanket – Toddler size, Hat – Newborn, Sweater – Newborn

Finished Measurements:
Hat: 14″ circumference
Sweater: Chest – 16 inches

Materials:

• Lion Brand Pound of love [100 % Acrylic; 1020yd/932m per skein]; color: beige; baby blue [1,1]skeins
• H/8 (5.00mm) hook
• 4 small buttons
• Yarn Needle

Gauge: 12 dc/5 rows = 4″

Note: Every two rows you will be switching colors. If you want to keep the long sc as the same color underneath it you will make 2 rows one color then switch. If you would like to have the long sc a
different color than what is underneath start with one color, in row 2 switch colors, then start switching
colors every 2 rows.

Special Stitches
Popcorn stitch: make 4 dc in space indicated, sl st into first of 4 dc made

Long sc: In the indicated stitch make a sc in post of stitch indicated in pattern (usually two or three rows down), pulling your strings up to meet the row you are working in making the sc long. Skip the st
in the row you are working that you would normally work in(unless the pattern says otherwise like in
the hat pattern).

Directions:

Blanket

Row 1: With beige, fdc 110.

Row 2: (Right side) Sc in each stitch across.

Row 3: Switch colors without finishing off, continuing to carry it up at every change (continue doing this throughout the layette set unless told otherwise). Ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), dc in next 4 dc, *popcorn st in next st, dc in next 10 st.* Repeat 8 times, popcorn st, dc in next 5 dc (10 popcorn st.)

Row 4: Ch 1, turn. Sc in same st, sc in next 3 st.* Long sc around post of dc below st in row 1, skip sc you would have gone in, sc in next st, long sc around post of dc below st in row 1,skip sc you would
have gone in, sc in next 8 stitches.* Repeat 8 times, long sc, sc ,long sc, sc in next 3 st.

Row 5: Change color. Dc in each st across.

Row 6: Ch 1, turn. Sc in same st, sc in next 3 st.* Long sc around post of long sc of previous row, skip sc you would have gone in, sc in next stitch, long sc around post of long sc of previous row, skip sc you would have gone in, sc in next 8 st.* Repeat 8 times, long sc, sc, long sc, sc in next 3 st.

Row 7: Switch colors without finishing off, continuing to carry it up at every change. Ch 3, dc in next 4 dc, *popcorn st in next st, dc in next 10 st.* Repeat 8 times, popcorn st, dc in next 5 dc (10 popcorn st.)

Row 8: Repeat Row 6.

Row 9 to end: Repeat Rows 5-8, finishing with Row 6 in beige at Row 118.

Edging:

Rnd 1: Switch to blue; do not turn. Ch 1, sc in same st. Working down the long side, make 1 sc in each sc and 2 sc in each dc, working your way to the corner. In the corner make 3 sc. Continue making sc in each st across, making 3 sc in each corner, at the end make one sc in same st as the first sc, sl st into first sc to join.

Rnd 2: Ch 5, 2 dc in same st, dc in each st around. At corner st, make 2dc, ch 2, 2 dc. Continue around to beginning st, 1 dc in first st, sl st in beginning dc. Finish off.

Hat

Rnd 1: Ch 4, join with sl st in first ch to form a ring. Ch 1, make 8 sc in ring, sl st into first sc. (8 sc)

Rnd 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, sl st into first st. (16 dc)

Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in same st. *Make 2 sc in next st, sc in next st.* Repeat around, ending with 2 sc, sl st into first sc. (24 sc)

Rnd 4: Ch 3, dc in next sc. *Make 2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 2 st.* Repeat around ending with 2 dc, sl st into first sc. (32 dc)

Rnd 5: Change color, ch 1, sc in same st and in next 3. Long sc into post of corresponding dc in round 2,* sc in the st you would have skipped, sc in next 3 st, skipping 1 dc, long sc into next dc,
*repeat around, sl st into first sc. (40 sc)

Rnd 6: Change colors, ch 3, dc in next 3 st, 2 dc in long sc.* Dc in next 4 st, 2 dc in long sc* repeat around, sl st into first st. (48dc)

Rnd 7: Ch 1, sc in same st and in each st around, sl st into first sc. (48 sc)

Rnd 8: Ch 3, dc in each st around, sl st into first st.

Rnd 9: Change colors, ch 1, sc in same st, and in next 2, long sc into dc of row 6, skip sc that you would have worked into,* sc in 3 sc, long sc into dc of row 6, skip sc that you would have worked into (there will be 3 dc in-between the long sc’s.)* repeat around, sl st into first sc. (12 long sc)

Rnd 10: Repeat Rnd 8.

Rnd 11: Change colors, ch 1, sc in same st and in next 2. Long sc into post of long sc of previous row, *sc in 3 sc, long sc* repeat around, sl st into first st.

Rnds 12-17: Repeat Rnds 10-11. Follow picture for when to change colors. Rounds 5, 6, 9, 12,
13, 15, 16, 17, are the rounds that you will change. Finish off and weave in all ends.

Sweater

Note: Switch colors every two rows. If you want to keep the long sc as the same color underneath it you will make 2 rows one color then switch. If you would like to have the long sc a
different color than what is underneath start with one color, in row 2 switch colors, then start switching
colors every 2 rows. Make note that doing it this way your colors will not match up when you sew up
the seams of the sweater.

Row 1: Make 32 fdc.

Row 2: Ch 1, turn (right side). Sc in same st and sc in each st across. (32 st.)

Row 3: Ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout) turn, dc in next st and each st across. (32 st)

Row 4: Ch 1, turn, sc in same st, and sc in next 3 sc. *Make 1 long sc around corresponding dc in row 1, skip sc that you would have gone in, sc in next sc, long sc around corresponding dc in row 1*, sc in next 18 sc. Repeat * to * , sc in next 4 st. (28 sc 4 long sc)

Row 5: Repeat Row 3.

Row 6: Ch 1, turn. Sc in same st, and sc in next 3 sc. *Make 1 long sc around post of corresponding long sc of last row, skip sc that you would have gone in, sc in next sc, long sc around post of corresponding long sc of last row *, sc in next 7 sc, long sc in next st, sc in next 2 sc, long sc, sc in next 7 sc, repeat *to *, sc in next 4 st. ( 26 sc, 6 long sc)

Row 7-12: Repeat Rows 5 and 6.

Row 13: Repeat Row 3.

Row 14: Ch 17, turn sc in each ch across. Repeat row 4, make 14 fsc.

Row 15: Repeat row 3. (66 st)

Row 16: Ch 1, turn, sc in same st and in next 20 st. Make long sc, sc, long sc, sc in next 18 sc. Make long sc, sc, long sc, sc in last 21 st. (62 sc, 4 long sc)

Row 17: Repeat Row 15.

Row 18: Ch 1, turn, sc in same st, sc in next 20 sc, long sc, sc, long sc, sc in next 3 sc. Leaving all other spaces empty, start next row. (This will be considered the right side.) (27 st)

Row 19: Ch 3. Dc in each st across.

Row 20- 23: Repeat Rows 18 and 19.

Row 24: Ch 1, turn, sc in same st, sc in next 20 sc, long sc, sc, long sc, sc in next 3 sc, 2 fsc

Row 25: Repeat Row 19. (29 st)

Row 26: Ch 1, turn, sc in same st, sc in next 20 sc, long sc, sc, long sc, sc in next 5 sc, make 2 fsc.

Row 27: Repeat Row 19. (31 st)

Row 28: Ch 1. turn, sc in same st, sc in next 20 sc, long sc, sc, long sc, sc in next 3 sc, long sc in dc of row 25, sc in next 3 sc, make 2 fsc.

Row 29: Repeat Row 19. (33 st)

Row 30: Ch 1, turn, sc in same st, sc in next 20 sc, long sc, sc, long sc, sc in next 3 sc, long sc, sc, long sc in dc of 27, sc in next 3 sc.

Row 31: Ch 3, dc in next 15 st. (16 st)

Row 32: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 3 sc,* long sc, sc, long sc, sc in next 3 sc,* repeat.

Row 33- 42: Repeat Rows 31 and 32. Finish off.

Left Side:

Starting back at Row 18, skip 12 unused dc, join with beige with a sc, sc in next 2 st, long sc, sc, long sc,
sc in next 20 sc.

Row 19: Ch 3 turn, dc in each st across.

Row 20: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 2 st, long sc, sc, long sc, sc in next 21 sc.

Row 21: Repeat Row 19.

Row 22: Repeat Row 20.

Row 23: Repeat Row 19.

Row 24: Ch 3, turn, sc in second ch from hook, and next ch, sc in next 3 sc, long sc, sc, long sc, sc in next 21 st.

Row 25: Repeat Row 19.

Row 26: Ch 3, turn, sc in second ch from hook, and next ch, sc in next 5 sc, long sc, sc, long sc, sc in next 21 st.

Row 27: Repeat Row 19.

Row 28: Ch 3, turn, sc in 2nd ch from hook, and next ch, sc in next 3 sc, long sc into dc from row 25, sc in next 3 sc, long sc, sc, long sc, sc in next 21 st.

Row 29: Repeat Row 19.

Row 30: Ch 1, turn, sc in same st, sc in next 3 st, long sc into dc of row 27, sc, long sc into long sc, sc in next 3 sc, long sc, sc, long sc, sc in next 21 st. Finish off both colors.

Row 31: Turn. Skip 16 sc, join and ch 3 in next st, dc in next st across.

Row 32: Ch 1, sc in same st, *sc in next 3 sc, long sc, sc, long sc* repeat *to * sc in next 3 sc.

Row 33: Ch 3 in next st, dc in next st across.

Row 34-42: Repeat Rows 32 and 33.

Finishing: Fold sweater along sleeves and sew up the sides and the arms.

Sleeve Edging:

Rnd 1: Join with a sc at the left side of the seam with the right side facing. Make an even amount of sc around the sleeve, making sure to weave in the loose yarn ends as you go around. Sl st into first sc.

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc around. Sl st in beginning sc, finish off.

Repeat for other sleeve.

Sweater Edging:

Rnd 1: Starting at bottom of the sweater (so you will work your way up the collar and around with right side facing), ch 1. Make 2 sc in same st, make 2 sc in each dc post, 1 sc in each sc post. Repeat till collar. Working around collar sc in each st, but skip the posts. Continue to make 1 sc equally around till you come to the first st, sl st into first sc.

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 2 sc. *Ch 2, sk 2 sc, sc in next 3 sc.* Repeat 3 more times, continue making 1 sc in each sc. On corner spaces make 3 sc. At end of round, sl st into first sc, finish off. Weave in all ends. Add buttons to match up with the button holes.

About the Designer
Julia Schwartz is the wife of a seminary student, a mother of a three year old daughter, and a daughter of a long line of crafters. She has been sewing since she was five, cross stitching since she was ten, and picked up crocheting and knitting in college. Right now life is very exciting and busy as she is contemplating a move to Toronto so that her husband can start his doctorate work in 2013.

Pattern & images © Julia Schwartz. All rights reserved.