not so baby yoda

We love the baby yoda by Cari Luna.
I made this one for Wil when I was pregnant and he's worn it a lot. A LOT. At 6 months it really is a little small for him now. He's still wearing it mind you, but its days are definitely dwindling (especially in the length). Because I couldn't face a future without the yoda, I decided to try and make the next size up by altering the original pattern (available here). Scroll down for the new pattern.

When I knitted the original 0-6 month size I made a few alterations.

I used Debbie Bliss cashmerino aran yarn rather than the cotton specified. The cashmerino is supremely soft and light and perfect for baby wear. In hindsight, given my children's predilection for chucking a machine washable yarn would have been more practical, but you know, you can't have everything. I'm more than happy with the wear it's taken.

I was also concerned that the ties would be a pain, so I added a buttonhole on the outer flap - just a single stitch yarn over knit two together buttonhole. Although I used what I consider to be one of the funkiest buttons around this was a mistake. The button is forever coming undone and I put the buttonhole too high - it should have been right where the decreases started instead of a few rows up as I did it. Can't imagine why I thought that was a good idea. Perhaps if I had used a better button it would have worked better, I don't know. I was also too lazy to knit i-cords for the inner flap, so I just did plaits.

If I was making the original size again I think I would also make it longer than the pattern specifies. Over time it seems to have widened and shortened, and with more length and slightly longer arms it would still fit now. And while I'm at it I would probably have cast on a couple more stitches to the cuff of the sleeves as they were a bit snug for my liking.

Using all those lessons I have made the following pattern for the not so baby yoda, suitable for 6-12 months. On Wil at 6 months on the knocker it was quite wearable, if roomy (see photos below). I turned the cuffs up to stop him sucking them and getting fur balls. At 15 months it was still wearable though getting a bit small. I also used a very different yarn in the 127 print. It's fuzzy rather than smooth and makes the yoda seem much bulkier which is fine but probably not such a great yarn if you were doing the newborn size. I adore the original take on colour variegations though!


The not so baby yoda knitting pattern
By sooz - www.soozs.blogspot.com

An addition to the totally fantastic original new born pattern available here.

Size: 6 to 12 months (27cm wide; 33cm long)
Yarn: 4 balls 127 Print (166gms or 283m used)
Gauge: 18 sts/ 24 rows = 10cm
Needles: 4.5mm (or size needed to obtain gauge)

Back
Cast on 50 sts.
Rows 1- 6 moss stitch.
Rows 7-71 stocking stitch, starting with a knit or right side row.
Row 72 Cast off first 7 stitches and purl to end of row.
Row 73 Cast off first 7 stitches and knit to last stitch then turn. By not knitting this last stitch you will avoid the step between the two cast off rows across the shoulder.
Row 74 Cast off first 8 stitches (including first unknitted stitch) and purl to last stitch then turn.
Row 75 Cast off first 8 stitches (including first unknitted stitch) and knit to end of row.
Place remaining 20 live centre stitches on a stitch holder.

Front Left
Cast on 45 sts.
Rows 1- 6 moss stitch.
Rows 7-40 stocking stitch, starting with a knit or right side row.
Row 41 Knit 1, cast off 1 knit to end of row.
Row 42 Purl.
Rows 43-71 Repeat rows 41 and 42 – total of 16 decreases, 29 stitches remain.
Row 72 Cast off first 7 stitches and purl to end of row.
Row 73 Knit to last stitch and turn.
Row 74 Cast off first 8 stitches (including the unknitted stitch on the right needle) and purl to end of row.
Place remaining 14 live stitches on a stitch holder.

Front Right
Follow instructions for front left, reversing shaping.

Sleeves (make two)
Cast on 30 sts.
Rows 1- 5 moss stitch.
Rows 6 Knit, increase 1 stitch at beginning and end of row
Row 7 Purl.
Row 8 Knit.
Row 9 Purl.
Row 10- 31 Repeat rows 6-9 (increase every 4 rows), 44 stitches.
Rows 32 Knit, increase 1 stitch at beginning and end of row
Row 33 Purl.
Row 34 Knit.
Row 35 Purl.
Row 36 Knit.
Row 37 Purl.
Row 38- 49 Repeat rows 32-37 (increase every 6 rows), 50 stitches.
Row 50 Cast off loosely.

Ties
Make 4 lengths of 2-stitch I-cord at about 22cm long

Finishing
Sew fronts and back together at shoulders. Attach sleeves and sew sleeve and side seams. Transfer neck stitches from stitch holders to knitting needle.
Knit 4 rows st st.
Knit 2 rows moss.
Bind off loosely.

Attach Ties
Sew one length of I-cord to each front edge at the point where the decreases begin.
Sew the other I-cords to the inside seam of the sweater at the point where the front tie meets it when closed and the corresponding spot on the outer seam of the sweater body.

Please let me know if you find any mistakes or something is unclear.

**Added later - After a bit of wear I'd say that you could add to the length of the back and fronts if you were looking to get extended life from this garment. I thought I had well compensated for the widening shortening effect of washing and wear, but I think Wil will outgrow the length before anything else. If you are knitting for the more rotund figure the existing measures would be perfect, but for string beans like Wil I'd add another 5 or 10 rows.