Junior Esther Sweater

Make a cosy wardrobe favourite with Esther Sweater Junior by Petite Knit. An all-over texture pattern and folded ribbed neckline give this relaxed children's sweater a timeless finish, perfect for layering on cooler days.

Construction

The sweater is worked from the top down in a texture pattern. First, the back yoke is knitted back and forth. Stitches are then picked up and knitted for the shoulders, which are joined to form the front yoke. The front and back yokes are joined at the underarms, and the body is worked straight down in the round, continuing the texture pattern.

The sleeves are worked in the round on double-pointed needles or a circular needle using Magic Loop. To finish, stitches are picked up and knitted along the neckline for a folded ribbed neck edge.

Size & Fit Guide

Designed with approximately 20 cm [7¾ inches] of positive ease. Choose a size using the child's measured chest circumference rather than age alone. Adjust the body and sleeve lengths to suit the recipient if their measurements differ from the age guide, or they are shorter or taller than average.

For example, a child with a chest circumference of 56 cm [22 inches] would wear size 3–4 years. This size has a finished chest circumference of 77 cm [30¼ inches], giving 21 cm [8¼ inches] of positive ease.

Sizes & Measurements

All quantities and measurements below follow the same size order.

• Sizes: 1–2 (2–3) 3–4 (4–5) 5–6 (6–7) 7–8 (8–9) 9–10 (10–12) 12–14 years
• To fit chest: approximately 53 (54) 56 (57) 59 (62) 64 (68) 72 (78) 82 cm [20¾ (21¼) 22 (22½) 23¼ (24½) 25¼ (26¾) 28¼ (30¾) 32¼ inches]
• Finished chest circumference: 69 (73) 77 (81) 81 (85) 89 (93) 97 (101) 105 cm [27¼ (28¾) 30¼ (32) 32 (33½) 35 (36½) 38¼ (39¾) 41¼ inches]
• Length: 36 (38) 42 (43) 45 (48) 49 (50) 52 (54) 55 cm [14¼ (15) 16½ (17) 17¾ (19) 19¼ (19¾) 20½ (21¼) 21¾ inches], measured mid back excluding the neck edge

Yarn Requirements

8 ply yarn that achieves the stated gauge.

Quantity: 300 (350) 350 (400) 400 (450) 500 (550) 550 (600) 650 g, in size order above.

- 50g=91m

Needles

• Circular needles: 4 mm [US6] / 60 or 80 cm [24 or 32 inches].
• Circular needles: 3.5 mm [US4] / 40, 60 and/or 80 cm [16, 24 and/or 32 inches].
• Double-pointed needles: 3.5 mm [US4] and 4 mm [US6].

Gauge & Swatching

20 stitches × 30 rows = 10 × 10 cm [4 × 4 inches] in texture pattern on 4 mm [US6] needles, after washing and blocking.

Begin with a swatch using a chart in the pattern to determine the needle size needed. Both stitch and row gauge must be correct to achieve the stated finished measurements, which are also listed on the front page of the pattern.