Free Pattern: Fair-Isle Baby Halter Top

The photo shows this as a size 3 months baby halter top that is knit in the round for the body. I've updated the pattern to include 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. The cups are knitted flat while you still have live stitches located on your circular needle. The ruffle is picked up and knitted in the round. This was inspired by the Katja pattern from Knitty and from the Mason Dixon Knit a long. Those ladies have really tricked out a lot of the MDK patterns.



Materials: Worsted Weight Cotton (Sugar N Cream or Peaches N Crème -Each ball: 2.50 oz / 70 g, 120 yd / 109 m)

Pictured:
Yarn A: Sugar N Cream, Hot Blue (1 ball)
Yarn B: Peaches N Crème, Brown (1 ball)
Yarn C: Sugar N Cream, Hot Pink (scrap – you only need for one 80 stitch row)

Needles: Size 5 circular needles (16-inches long & 32-inch long)

Gage: 20 stitches per 4 inches (Row gage doesn’t really matter here)

Size: 3 months (6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months)

Final measurements:
Chest measurements: 16 (17, 18, 19, 20) inches
Body of halter (not including cups or ruffle): 6 (6.5, 7.5, 8, 8.5) inches

Abbreviations:
CO = Cast on
K = Knit
P = Purl
K2tog = Knit 2 stitches together
K3tog = Knit 3 stitches together
SSK = Knit 2 stitches together from the back
Kfb = Knit a stitch, leaving stitch on left needle; knit into the back loop of this stitch


Pattern:

Yarn A: CO 81 (86, 91, 96, 101) stitches and join to knit in the round.

Row 1: Knit 80 (85, 90, 95, 100) stitches.

Row 2: K2tog (the last stitch with the first stitch – you’ll have 80 (85, 90, 95, 100) stitches on the needle now). Knit remaining 79 (84, 89, 94, 99) stitches.

Row 3: Knit all stitches

Row 4: (Yarn B: K2, Yarn A: K2) repeat to end

Row 5: repeat Row 4

Row 6: (Yarn A: K2, Yarn B: K2) repeat to end

Next, Yarn A: Knit 7 (8, 10, 12, 13) rows

Next Row: Yarn C: Knit all stitches

Next, Yarn A: Knit 7 (8, 10, 12, 13) rows

Next rows: Repeat rows 4 through 6 (the fair-isle pattern)

Next row: Yarn A: Knit all stitches

Next row: (K3, K2tog) to the end. 64 (68, 72, 76, 80) stitches on needle.

Next row: Bind off 18 (19, 20, 21, 22) stitches. Knit 15 (17, 19, 21, 23) stitches.

Now you’re going to knit one of the triangle cups flat. You will still have 31 (34,) stitches live on the circular needles (don’t knit these, yet).

Turn work as you’re knitting this part flat:
Row 1 (WS): K2, P11, K2. 15 (17, 19, 21, 23) st
Row 2 (RS): K2, SSK, K7, K2tog, K2. 13 (15, 17, 19, 21) st
Row 3 (WS): K2, P9, K2. 13 (15, 17, 19, 21) st

Repeat rows 2 & 3 above 7 st remain

Top of cup:

Row 1: K2, K3tog, K2. 5 st rem
Row 2: K2, P1, K2. 5 st
Row 3: K1, K2tog, K2. 4 st
Row 4: K2tog, K2tog. 2 st

Now do a 2 stitch I-cord until it measures 15 (15, 15, 16, 16) inches. Bind off.

Next, pick up and knit on the back side of the knitted cup 2 (4, 6, 8, 10) stitches and continue to knit the live stitches off the circular needle for a total of 15 (17, 19, 21, 23) stitches. You will now have 18 (19, 20, 21, 22) stitches live on the circular needle (don’t knit these, yet)

Repeat instructions for the cup and do the I-cord.

Now, bind off the remaining 18 (19, 20, 21, 22) stitches from the circular needle.

Weave in ends.

Ruffle:

Next is the ruffle. Turn your work over so the bottom of the halter is on the top.

Row 1: With the right side towards you, pick up and knit (with the 32-inch circular needles) 80 (85, 90, 95, 100) stitches. Try to start picking up at the back seam. You may have to do a little magic looping here as the cord will be too long for the initial 80 (85, 90, 95, 100) stitches. You keep increasing the stitches to a total of 320 (340, 360, 380, 400), so it’s important to start with a longer needle.

Row 2: Kfb in all stitches. 160 (170, 180, 190, 200) st

Row 3 Knit all stitches.
Row 4: Knit all stitches.

Row 5: Kfb in all stitches. 320 (340, 360, 380, 400) st

Row 6: Knit all stitches

Bind off. Weave in ends.





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