Garter Squish Kids

Sizing Overview

**Please scroll to the end of this listing to find full sizing information and schematic.

2yrs (4yrs, 6yrs, 8yrs,10yrs)
Ages are provided as a guide only. Due to deviations in children’s body shapes, choose your size based on the chest measurements shown in the schematic. The garment is intended to fit with 3” (7.5cm) positive ease, so pick a size approximately 3” (7.5cm) larger than the actual chest measurement.

Chest Circumference (actual size)
24 (26.5, 28, 29.5, 30.5) inches
OR
60 (66.5, 70, 73.5, 76.5) centimetres

Yarn Requirements

Sample one is modelled by my daughter, Pippa and shows the full hem shaping. It was knit in Needle and Fred Merino Chunky in the colourway ‘La Vie En Rose’. The sweater is a size 4yrs worn with with 2.5” (6.5cm) positive ease.

Sample two is modelled by my son, Oscar and shows the back hem shaping option. It was knit with Lion Brand Hue + Me in the colourway ‘Ozone’. It is a size 2yrs worn with 3” (7.5cm) positive ease and 1” (2.5cm) added to the body length.

Any chunky/super chunky yarn with approximately 100m (109yds) per 100g. Many hand dyed chunky yarns are this exact specification making them an excellent choice. Have a look at what your favourite indie dyer has to offer and treat yourself and your knit-worthy recipient!

Alternatively, there are plenty of hard wearing, purse friendly yarns from more commercial sources so whatever your requirements are, go for it! If you fancy a marl, the male adult sample was knit from Drop Karisma 100m (109yds) per 50g held double in the colourways ‘16 – Dark Grey Mix’ and ‘73 – Petrol’.

Suggested Yarns

Needle and Fred Superwash Merino Chunky, 100m (109yds) per 100g. 100% Merino 3ply construction.
Lion Brand Hue & Me, 125m (137yds) per 125g. 20% wool, 80% acrylic.
Drops Karisma, 100m (109yds) per 50g, 100% wool, held double.

Required Meterage/Yardage

2yrs (4yrs, 6yrs, 8yrs, 10yrs)
380 (450, 520, 645, 740) m / 415 (490, 570, 705, 810) yds.

This equates to 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) skeins of Superwash Merino Chunky, 100m (109yds) per 100g
OR 4 (4, 5, 6, 6) balls of Lion Brand Hue & Me, 125m (137yds) per 125g.
OR 8 (10, 12, 14, 16) balls of Drops Karisma, 100m (109yds) per 50g.

The stated meterage (yardage) is the estimated quantity needed to create both the garment and one swatch.

Gauge

On larger needle, 12 sts and 20 rounds = 4x4in (10x10cm) in garter stitch, after blocking. Swatching in the round is recommended.

Due to the unpredictability of garter stitch, I would strongly recommend creating a blocked swatch. You need to give a thought to how your swatch/gauge changes before and after blocking and how aggressively you will block the garment. The garter stitch should retain a fair amount of bounce and have the ability to grow once blocked. When measuring lengths of sections while working, remember how your swatch behaved. For instance, the yarns shown in the samples behaved very differently to each other; the acrylic mix retained its ‘bounce’ so once blocked, the measurements didn’t change significantly. However, the Superwash Merino relaxed for the chest and underarm to waist measurement. Therefore, if using a similar yarn, I suggest making a judgement based on how your swatch behaved and consider knitting the body slightly shorter than the pattern states. The chest measurement can be manipulated by lengthening the body whilst blocking.

Needles

7mm (US size 10¾) and 8mm (US size 11) circular needles OR size needed to get gauge.
Length dependent on your knitting style:
24”+ (60cm+) circular for magic loop in both sizes for neckline, sleeves and sleeve cuffs.
OR double pointed needles in both sizes.
16” (40cm) circular for yoke/body as required.

Notions

Scrap yarn or stitch holders.
4 stitch markers.
1 locking/removable stitch marker OR a cable needle.

Required Techniques

Backwards loop cast on (tubular cast on given as an alternative to match the adult pattern).

Knitting in the round.

Use of either Magic Loop or double pointed needles.

German short row shaping.

Tubular cast off including grafting stitches to finish.

Sizing and Schematic

A. Finished chest circumference

B. Yoke depth measured at the front

C. Upper arm circumference

D. Sleeve length measured from underarm

E. Underarm to bottom of side hem

Dropped hem option adds approximately 3.5” (9cm) to the centre front and back

Sizing in inches

Sizing in centimetres

Ages are provided as a guide only. Due to deviations in children’s body shapes, choose your size based on the chest measurements shown in the schematic. The garment is intended to fit with 3” (7.5cm) positive ease, so pick a size approximately 3” (7.5cm) larger than the actual chest measurement.