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This design is also available as:

Esther Sweater Baby: a 4ply version for children from birth to 4 years

The Esther Sweater Junior is worked from the top down in a texture pattern. First the back yoke is worked back and forth. Then stitches are picked up and knitted for the shoulders, which are joined to form the front yoke. The front and back yoke are joined at the underarms to form the body, which is worked straight down in the round continuing with the texture pattern. The sleeves are worked in the round on double-pointed needles or on a circular needle using the Magic Loop technique. A folded ribbed neck edge is worked from stitches that are picked up and knitted along the neckline.

Begin by knitting a swatch to determine which needle size will give you the correct gauge – note that the gauge needs to be correct for both stitches and rows before the measurements given above can be achieved. You can work a swatch using a chart in the pattern.

Size guide
The Esther Sweater Junior is designed to have approx. 20 cm [7¾ inches] of positive ease. The sizes 1-2 (2-3) 3-4 (4-5) 5-6 (6-7) 7-8 (8-9) 9-10 (10-12) 12-14 years are designed to fit a chest circumference of approx. 53 (54) 56 (57) 59 (62) 64 (68) 72 (78) 82 cm [20¾ (21¼) 22 (22½) 23¼ (24½) 25¼ (26¾) 28¼ (30¾) 32¼ inches]. The measurements for the finished garment are listed on the front page of the pattern (please note that these measurements are only achieved if the sweater is knitted in the correct gauge). If the recipient measures 56 cm [22 inches] around the chest, you should knit a size 3-4 years. Size 3-4 years has a chest circumference of 77 cm [30¼ inches] which will, in this example, give 21 cm [8¼ inches] of positive ease.

If the measured chest circumference deviates from the age guide, you can adjust the lengths to the person you’re knitting for. The same applies if the child is short/taller than average.

Sizes:
1-2 (2-3) 3-4 (4-5) 5-6 (6-7) 7-8 (8-9) 9-10 (10-12) 12-14 years

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 excl. neck edge

Gauge:
20 sts x 30 rows = 10 x 10 cm [4 x 4 inches] in texture pattern on a 4 mm [US6] after wash and blocking

Needles:
Circular needles: 4 mm [US6] / 60 or 80 cm [24 or 32 inches] and 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]

Materials:
300 (350) 350 (400) 400 (450) 500 (550) 550 (600) 650 g Peer Gynt by Sandnes Garn (50 g = 91 m [98 yds]) or Double Sunday by Sandnes Garn (50 g = 108 m [118 yds])

This equates to:
Approx. 546 (637) 637 (728) 728 (819) 910 (1001) 1001 (1092) 1183m of DK weight yarn

Difficulty: ★ ★ ★ (3 out of 5)