Ballet Wrap - Lots of Love

The Ballet Wrap - Lots of Love works well in worsted weight acrylic, cotton, or wool blend. The wrap can be finished in a weekend or two, and makes a perfect gift or accessory for any little dancer. This may be considered an intermediate level pattern because you'll be making yoke increases and following a chart simultaneously. The wrap is designed to fit a 4 or 5 year old, but can easily be made larger with more yoke increases. 

Finished sizes: Child: 22” chest, 10” height neck to hem, 9” sleeve

Gauge: Size US#8, 4.5 stitches = 1”; size US#7, 5 stitches = 1”   Adjust needle size to match gauge.

Materials: Yarn: acrylic, cotton or wool blend in worsted weight; 315 yards,170grams

Photo: Ballet Wrap Lots of Love was knit in Caron Simply Soft; 100% acrylic (This size required one skein.)

Needles: Size US#7 and US#8, 16”, 24” circular needles, and/or sets double pointed needles

Use your choice of two circular needles, or set of double pointed needles for the sleeves (I prefer working both sleeves at the same time, using the two circular needles.)

Notions: Stitch markers, tapestry needle

Abbreviations: CO=cast on      K=knit      KFB=knit front&back     k2tog=knit 2 stitches together      k2togtbl=knit 2 stitches together through the back loop      p=purl      p2tog=purl 2 stitches together      pm=place marker      rm=remove marker      sm=slip marker      Rnd=round      sts=stitches      RS=right side      WS=wrong side      yo=yarn over

Ballet Wrap Directions

Yoke: With size #7, 24” circular needles, CO 31 sts. Do not join, work back and forth in rows.

Set up(WS): Knit3, pm, k5, pm, knit15, pm, k5, pm, k3 (garter stitch neckband)

Row 1(RS): KFB, k2, sm, KFB, k3, KFB, sm, KFB, k13, KFB, sm, KFB, k3, KFB, sm, k1, KFB, k1    (39sts)

Row 2 (WS): Knit

Row 3(RS): KFB, k3, sm, KFB, k5, KFB, sm, KFB, k15, KFB, sm, KFB, k5, KFB, sm, k2, KFB, k1    (47sts)

Row 4(WS): Knit

To insert the Lots of Love Heart, find the center back, and count back 8sts, place a different colored marker, count through the 15sts, and place yet another marker. (My markers were placed at 16st and 31sts, framing the chart, and I'm going to work rows 5,6 just one time before starting the chart.) When working the Row 5 increases, as the first colorful marker arrives, follow the chart. Check your work as your approach the 2nd colorful marker, then continue working Row 5 increases. (Work the chart through row 17.)

Row 5(RS): With size #8, 24”circular needles, Knit 3, yo, * knit to 1stitch before marker, yo, k, sm, k, yo; repeat from * to last 3sts, yo, k3

Row 6(WS): Purl

Repeat Rows 5 - 6 a total of 12 times.           (10 sts increased on RS rows, creating 167sts)

Work the WS row: Purl

Divide Body and Sleeves:

RS: Knit 3, yo, knit to 1st marker, sm, slip33 sleeve sts onto holder, rm, CO3 underarm sts, k43 across back, rm, slip33 sleeve sts onto holder, CO3 underarm sts, sm, knit to last 3sts, yo, k3 (front 30sts, back 49sts, front 30sts= 109sts)

WS: Purl. Snug the underarm stitches.           (109sts)

Body:

Row 1 (RS): Knit 3, yo, knit to last 3 sts, yo, k3

Row 2 (WS): Purl

Repeat Body Rows 1-2

If working the body plain, complete Rows 1-2 a total of 14 times. (front 44sts, back 49sts, front 44sts= 137sts, about 5.5” from underarm)

If inserting Lots of Love Hearts, repeat Rows 1-2 just a total of 4 times, about 1.5” from underarm. To insert the Lots of Love Hearts, find the center back, and count back 8sts, place a different colored marker, count through the 15sts, and place yet another marker. Continue counting 15sts, and placing markers. Repeat counting 15sts, and placing markers on the other side. (My markers were placed at 6sts, pm,(15sts, pm)7times, then 6sts to end = 117sts. I also removed the underarm/side markers.) When working Row 1, remember to start with the Knit 3, yo, as the colorful markers arrive, follow the chart. Check your work as you approach the next colorful marker, then continue to repeat the chart, and remember the yo, k3 edge. Also enjoy the front edges of the wrap growing, without partial hearts making an appearance. Repeat Body Rows 1-2 a total of 10 more times to complete the chart through row 20. (137sts, about 5.5” from underarm)

Bottom Border:

Row 21(RS): K3, yo, knit (removing markers) to last 3sts, yo, k3

With size#7, 24”circular needle, work the garter stitch lace border by following Rows 22 - 28 of Chart, and remembering to include the K3, yo and yo, k3 edges.

Row 22(WS): P4, knit to last 4sts, p4

Row 23(RS): K3, yo, knit to last 3 sts, yo, k3

Row 24(WS): P3, * p2tog, yo, p1; repeat from * to last 3sts, p3 (This happens to be a wrong side row. Follow the  written directions to create the desired eyelet on the right side.)

Row 25(RS): K3, yo, knit to last 3 sts, yo, k3

Row 26(WS): P4, knit to last 4sts, p4

Row 27(RS): K3, yo, knit to last 3 sts, yo, k3

Row 28(WS): P4, knit to last 4sts, p4 (145sts)

Row 29(RS): With size#8 needle, Bind Off loosely in knit.

Ties:

With size#7 double pointed needles, pick up 3sts on the inside corner of bottom border/hem, and make a 3stitch I-Cord, 24” long. Repeat for other side.

Second option: With size#7 double pointed needles, make two 3stitch I-Cords, 24” long. Secure the I-Cords to the inside corner of bottom border/hem of the wrap.

Third option: (no I-Cord) Sew buttons along one side of the front border. The eyelets will be used as button holes.

Sleeves:

Move 33 stitches from holder onto size#8 circular/or double pointed needles. Pick up and knit 10 sts from underarm, pm, and join to work in the round. 43sts

Rnds 1-4: Knit

Rnd 5: K1, k2tog, knit to last 2 sts before marker, k2tog

Repeat Rnds 1-5 a total of 5 times.                (33sts)

Work even until sleeve measures 8” from underarm.

Cuff:

With #7needles, work the garter stitch lace border by following Chart rows 22 – 28. (You'll be working in the round on the RS. It will be easier to follow the chart.)

Rnd 22: Purl

Rnd 23: Knit

Rnd 24: * K1, yo, k2tog; repeat to end

Rnd 25: Knit

Rnd 26: Purl

Rnd 27: Knit

Rnd 28: Purl

Rnd 29: With #8 needle, Bind Off loosely in knit.    

Repeat for other sleeve.

Finishing: Weave in all the tails.

Heart Chart Directions: 

Row 1(RS): K2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k2tog tbl, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo,    k2tog tbl, k2

Rows 2-20 even (WS):p15

Row 3(RS): K1, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, k3tog, yo, k3, yo, k2tog tbl, k1

Row 5(RS)): K1, k2tog, yo, k4, yo, k2tog tbl, k3, yo, k2tog tbl, k1

Row 7(RS): K1, k2tog, yo, k9, yo, k2tog tbl, k1

Row 9(RS): K3, yo, k2tog tbl, k5, k2tog, yo, k3

Row 11(RS): K4, yo, k2tog tbl, k3, k2tog, yo, k4

Row 13(RS): K5, yo, k2tog tbl, k1, k2tog, yo, k5

Row 15 (RS): K6, yo, k3tog, yo, k6

Row 17(RS): K7, yo, k2tog tbl, k6

Row 19(RS): K15

Let me share a few photos of the work in progress:

I gathered supplies.  This size used just one skein of yarn.

I worked the yoke with a heart centered in the back.

I used size US #4, 16" circular needles as the stitch holders for the sleeves.

 

I worked rows 1 - 21 of the chart to create the heart detail. Then moved/knitted the work to size US #7 needles to complete the garter stitch lace border. 

I used a size US #8 needle to bind off.

I picked up stitches, and knitted both I-Cords on the same needle by working the yarn from the inside and out of the skein.

I picked up the stitches, and worked both sleeves.  As I was getting near the end of the skein, I carefully unwound the remaining yarn, found the center, and rewound.  Then moved to size US #7 needles to work the cuff.

I used a size US #8 needle to bind off.  

Ballet Wrap Lots of Love

is available at MarilynnsGardenKnitDesign.blogspot.com

Intwined Pattern Studio pdf available at Ravelry.com

Copyright 2015, Marilynn Blacketer. All rights reserved. 9/1/15

For pattern support please contact: marilynnblacketer@gmail.com