Ladybird on a leaf by Nikki Van De Car

"This playful and squishy pullover is just the thing

for a budding gardener or entomologist. It is cosy
while remaining light and flexible, and buttons
depicting whichever bug delights you the most are
sure to be a hit." says Nikki Van De Car.

SIZE 12-18 mths (18-24 mths:2yrs:3yrs:4yrs)

YARN

Madelinetosh Tosh Chunky (Aran weight; 100%

superwash merino wool; 151m/165yds per 100g
skein)

NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES

1 set 6mm (UK 4/US 10) circular needles, 40cm

long

1 pair 6mm (UK 4/US 10) knitting needles

1 set 6mm (UK 4/US 10) double-pointed needles (DPNs)

8 stitch markers

Waste yarn

Tapestry needle

9 x 19 mm buttons

TENSION

15.5 sts and 22.5 rows to 10cm over st st using 6mm needles

FRONT

Using 6mm knitting needles, cast on 18 (20:20:22:22) sts.

Row 1 (RS): K5, pm, K to last 5 sts, pm, K5.

Row 2 (WS) and foll even rows: K to end.

Row 3: K5, slm, M1, K to mrk, M1, slm, K5. 20 (22:22:24:24) sts.

Row 5 (buttonhole row) (RS): K2, yf, K2tog, K1, slm, M1, K to mrk, M1, slm, K1, K2tog,
yf, K2. 22 (24:24:26:26) sts.

Row 7: K to mrk, slm, M1, K to mrk, M1, slm, K to end. 24 (26:26:28:28) sts.

Row 9: as Row 7. 26(28:28:30:30) sts.

Row 10: K to end.

Sizes 12-18 months and 18-24 months only

Next row (buttonhole row) (RS): K2, yf, K2tog, K1, slm, M1, K to mrk, M1, slm, K1,
K2tog, yf, K2. 28 (30:-:-:-) sts.

Next row (WS): K to mrk, slm, P to mrk, slm, K to end.

Sizes 2yrs, 3yrs and 4yrs only

Next row (RS): K to mrk, slm, M1, K to mrk, M1, slm, K to end. -(-:30:32:32) sts.

Next row (WS): K to mrk, slm, P to mrk, slm, K to end.

Next row (buttonhole row) (RS): K2, yf, K2tog, K1, slm, M1, K to mrk, M1, slm, Kl,
K2tog, yf, K2. -(-:32:34:34) sts.

Next row (WS): K to mrk, slm, P to mrk, slm, K to end.

All Sizes

*Next row (RS): K to mrk, slm, M1, K to mrk, M1, slm, K to end. 30(32:34:36:36) sts.

Next row (WS): K to mrk, slm, P to mrk, slm, K to end.

Repeat from * 6 (6:6:6:7) times more until you have 42 (44:46:48:50) sts, working a
buttonhole every 6th(6th:8th:8th:8th) row from previous buttonhole row. There should be
9 buttonhole rows in total.

Work 2 rows straight in pattern. Set Front aside.

BACK

Using 6mm circular needles, cast on 32(34:36:38:40) sts.

Next row (RS): K5, pm, K5 (5:6:6:7), pm, K1, pm, K10(12:12:14:14), pm, K1, pm,
K5(5:6:6:7), pm, K5,

Next row (WS): K to end.

*Next row (RS): K5, slm, M1, K to mrk, [M1, slm, K1, slm, M1, K to mrk] 2 times, M1, slm,
K to end. 38 (40:42:44:46) sts.

Next row (WS): K to end.

Repeat from * 3 times more. 56 (58:60:62:64) sts.

**Next row(RS): K5, slm, M1, K to mrk, [M1, slm, K1, slm, M1, K to mrk] 2times, M1, slm,
K to end. 62 (64:66:68:70) sts.

Next row (WS): K5, slm, P to last 5 sts, slm, K5.

Repeat from ** 7 (7:8:9:9) times more until you have 104 (106:114:122:124) sts.

Work 2 rows straight in pattern. Break yarn.

JOINING BACK AND FRONT

Slip last 5 sts (the sts away from the working yarn) of Back onto left needle. Hold Front sts
so that the first 5 sts align with the 5 Sleeve edge sts just slipped. Holding Front sts in front,
K together 5 sts from Front with the 5 sts from Sleeve, K to last 5 sts of Front, then, holding
Front edge sts in front, k these together with the 5 edge sts from next Sleeve.
Removing mrks as you go, K to 5th mrk (start of Right Sleeve). Continuing to remove mrks,
sl next 32 (32:35:38:38) Right Sleeve sts onto spare yarn, cast on 2 StS, pm, cast on 2 sts,
K36 (38:40:42:44)

Front sts, slip next 32 (32:35:38:38) Left Sleeve sts onto spare yarn, cast on 2 sts, pm, cast
on 2 sts, K18 (19:20:21:22) Back sts, place end-of-round mrk. 80 (84:88:92:96) sts.

***Work evenly in st st for 14 (16:18:20:22) rounds.

Next round: [K to 1 st before mrk, M1, K1, slm, K1, M1] 2 times, K to end of round. 84
(88:92:96:100) sts.

Repeat from once more. 88 (92:96:100:104) sts.

Work straight until sweater measures 27 (28:29:30:32) cm from east-on edge.

****Next round: Pto end.

Next round: K to end.

Repeat from ****4 times more.

Cast off all sts purlwise.

SLEEVES

Place Left Sleeve sts onto one DPN.

Next row (WS): attach yarn and cast off 2 sts, Pto end.

Next row (RS): cast off 2 sts, K to end, pm and join to work in the round. 28
(28:31:34:34) sts.

*Knit 7 (8:9:10:11) rounds.

Next round: K1, SSK, K to 3 sts before end, K2tog, K1. 26 (26:29:32:32) sts.

Repeat from * 3 times more.

Work straight until sleeve measures 17.5 (18.5:19:21:23) cm from underarm.

**Next round: P to end.

Next round: K to end.

Repeat from 4 times more.

Cast off all sts purlwise. Repeat with Right Sleeve sts.

POCKET

Using 6mm knitting needles, cast on 17(17:19:19:21) sts.

Work straight in st st for 5 (5:6:6:7) cm, ending with a RS row.

Knit 5 rows.

Next row (RS): K8 (8:9:9:10), yf, K2tog, K end.

Knit 4 rows.
Cast off all sts knitwise.

FINISHING

Stitch up under the arms and weave in ends.

Sew pocket onto front of sweater as pictured.

Sew buttons opposite buttonholes.