A Boy's Request!

As a general rule, I don't do special requests.  I get so many that it would just be impossible, so I take suggestions, but that's about it.  I'm not an artist, I just kind of doodle and come up with designs that please me.  Anyway, a reader, Andrea, wrote and told me that her little son was begging for a giraffe.  Now ordinarily I would give my usual spiel about special requests, however, it turns out that I actually had done one quite awhile ago.  It was all typed up and ready to be test knit (like a lot of my patterns are), but I thought this would be a good opportunity to move it up my list.  I agreed with one condition, that Andrea would have to test knit it!   That seemed like a fair trade.  She agreed and sent me a lovely picture of her cloth done in yellow.  I decided to test knit mine in butterscotch and red.

The red doesn't show up as well in pictures, but it does look cute in person.  The pdf files each contain a chart and are located in the sidebar.

Thanks go to Andrea for helping me out!  I hope her son was pleased.  I know my son just loved giraffes when he was little.  He had a little stuffed cotton one, named "Pal" that he carried everywhere!  Pal's pretty worn out and he now resides in the bottom drawer of my husband's dresser.  It's hard to believe that was over 35 years ago.  Oops, I wonder if my son will be annoyed that I told everyone how old he is!  Maybe I can appease him by giving him a giraffe cloth!

Stretch

Copyright 2011 by Elaine Fitzpatrick. Permission is granted to make and sell items from this pattern provided that credit is given to me as the designer.  Permission is not granted to reproduce the actual pattern, or post it, or distribute it, without my express permission.  Please respect my copyright and play nice!

Size:  approximately 9 ½" from neck edge to bottom and 7 ½" wide

Materials:  One skein of worsted weight cotton in a solid color such as Peaches & Crème or Sugar ‘n Cream (approximately 98 yards) if you are using the bib for meals.  If, on the other hand, you want to use it as a “drool” bib, I would recommend using a superwash wool.  The cotton has a tendency to absorb the moisture, whereas the superwash wool will wick the moisture and keep baby nice and dry!   Sample was done in Peaches & Crème Red.

Needles:        US 5/3.75 mm or 6/4.0mm  You want the bib to be fairly dense, so if the fabric is too loose, just drop down a needle size.

2 double pointed needles US 5/3.75 mm for the knitted I-cord ties

                or

Size G crochet hook for the crocheted ties

Gauge:  4.5 sts. per inch, not critical.

PATTERN NOTES

This pattern allows you to choose between two methods of beginning the bib.  One uses short rows and the other, more traditional way, requires you to cast on stitches at the beginning of the first few rows of the pattern. There are also two methods for doing the ties.  One has crocheted ties and the other method uses knitted I-cords. The crocheted ties are slightly thinner.  If you do make the knitted ties, you can drop down a needle size when knitting the cords. I like to run a long tail down the center of the cord to finish it off. Be sure to use a straight needle and not one with a bent tip!

Abbreviations:

k = knit

p = purl

psso:  pass slipped stitch over

k2tog.= knit 2 stitches together

p2tog.=purl 2 stitches together

sts. = stitches

dec. = decrease

dpn. = double pointed needle

Short Row Version

For this method, you don’t have to wrap stitches or pick up wraps.  You just work the stitches to a point and turn your work around and start knitting in the opposite direction. I’ve written out every row for you and I’ve indicated how many stitches you should have remaining at the end of each row.  If you lose your count, all you have to do is check on the number of stitches you have left on your needle and you’ll be right back on track.  This technique results in a nice smooth edge.

Cast on 37 stitches

Row 1: (k1, p1) x13; turn (11 sts. unworked)

Row 2:  Slip 1 knitwise; (k1, p1) x8; k1.; turn (8 sts. unworked)

Row 3:  Slip 1 knitwise; (p1, k1) x10; turn (8 sts. unworked)

Row 4:  Slip 1 knitwise; (p1, k1) x11; p1; turn (5 sts. unworked)

Row 5:  Slip 1 knitwise; (k1, p1) x13; turn (5 sts. unworked)

Row 6:  Slip 1 knitwise; (k1, p1) x14; turn (3 sts. unworked)

Row 7:  Slip 1 knitwise; (k1, p1) x15; turn (3 sts. unworked)

Row 8:  Slip 1 knitwise; (k1, p1) x16; turn (1 sts. unworked)

Row 9:  Slip 1 knitwise; (k1, p1) x17; turn (1 sts. unworked)

Row 10:  Slip 1 knitwise; (k1, p1) x3; k1; p5; k1; p10; k1; p2; k1; (p1, k1) x4.

Continue with *Row 13 of pattern.

OR

Traditional Beginning

Pattern:  Cast on 15 sts.

Row 1:  p1, k1 across row.

Row 2:  Cast on 3 sts., k1, p1 across row. (18 sts.)

Row 3:  Cast on 3 sts., k1, p1 across row. (21 sts.)

Row 4:  Cast on 3 sts., p1, k1 across row.  (24 sts.)

Row 5:  Cast on 3 sts., p1, k1 across row.  (27 sts.)

Row 6:  Cast on 3 sts., k1, p1 across row.  (30 sts.)

Row 7:  Cast on 3 sts., k1, p1 across row.  (33 sts.)

Row 8:  Cast on 2 sts., k1, p1 across row.  (35 sts.)

Row 9:  Cast on 2 sts., k1, p1 across row.  (37 sts.)

Row 10:  k1, p1 across row.

Row 11:  k1, p1 across row.

Row 12:  (k1, p1) x4; k1; p5; k1; p10; k1; p2; k1; (p1, k1) x4.

*Row 13:  (k1, p1) x4; k3; p1; k7; p2; k1; p1; k6; (p1, k1) x4.

Row 14:  (k1, p1) x3; k1; p7; k1; p1; k3; (p5, k1) x2; (p1, k1) x3.

Row 15:  (k1, p1) x3; (k6, p1) x2; k2; p1; k8; (p1, k1) x3.

Row 16:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p9; k1; p6; k2; p1; k1; p7; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 17:   (k1, p1) x2; k8; p1; k2; p2; k5; p1; k10; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 18:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p9; k1; p4; k2; p2; k1; p8; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 19:  (k1, p1) x2; k9; p1; k6; p3; k10; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 20:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p9; k2; p6; k1; p9; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 21:  (k1, p1) x2; k10; p1; k7; p1; k10; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 22:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p9; (k1, p3) x2; k1; p9; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 23:  (k1, p1) x2; k10; p1; k3; p2; k2; p1; k10; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 24:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p9; k1; p2; k3; p2; k1; p9; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 25:  (k1, p1) x2; k6; p2; k2; p1; k2; p3; k2; p1; k10; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 26:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p9; k2; p2; k1; p3; k1; p1; k1; p2; k1; p4; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 27:  (k1, p1) x2; (k4, p1) x2; k6; p3; k10; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 28:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p9; k3; p6; k1; p4; k1; p3; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 29:  (k1, p1) x2; k4; (p1, k2) x2; p1; k5; p1; k1; p1; k10; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 30:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p9; k1; p7; k1; p5; k1; p3; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 31:  (k1, p1) x2; k4; p1; k5; p1; k7; p1; k10; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 32:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p9; k1; (p6, k1) x2; p3; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 33:  (k1, p1) x2; k4; p1; k7; p4; k2; p1; k10; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 34:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p9; k3; p10; k1; p4; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 35:  (k1, p1) x2; k5; p1; k7; p1; k4; p1; k10; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 36:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p8; k1; p13; k1; p4; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 37:  (k1, p1) x2; k6; p1; k10; p1; k1; p1; k9; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 38:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p8; k1; p1; k2; p9; k1; p5; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 39:  (k1, p1) x2; k7; p1; k11; p1; k9; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 40:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p8; k1; p11; k1; p6; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 41:  (k1, p1) x2; k6; p1; k12; p4; k6; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 42:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; (p4, k1) x2; p3; k1; p4; k1; p2; k1; p5; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 43:  (k1, p1) x2; k6; p1; k1; p2; k4; p2; k2; p1; k5; p3; k2; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 44:  (k1, p1) x3; k1; p7; k1; p1; k2; p8; k1; p5; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 45:  (k1, p1) x2; k6; p1; k11; p2; k5; p1; k3; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 46:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p2; k1; p4; k1; p1; k1; p10; k1; p6; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 47:  (k1, p1) x2; k6; p2; k10; p1; k2; p4; k4; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 48:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; (p9, k1) x2; p2; k1; p4; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 49:  (k1, p1) x2; (k4, p1) x2; k7; p1; k11; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 50:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p9; k1; p1; k1; p6; k1; p5; k1; p2; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 51:  (k1, p1) x2; k3; p1; k3; p2; k1; p6; k3; p1; k9; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 52:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p8; (k1, p2) x3; k1; p3; k4; p2; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 53:  (k1, p1) x2; k10; (p1, k2) x2; p1; k3; p1; k8; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 54:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p7; k1; p3; (k1, p2) x2; k1; p9; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 55:  (k1, p1) x2; k9; p1; k3; p1; k2; p1; k3; p1; k8; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 56:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p7; k1; p3; k1; p2; k1; p3; k1; p8; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 57:  (k1, p1) x2; k9; p1; k2; p1; k4; p1; k2; p1; k8; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 58:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p8; k2; p5; k1; p2; k1; p8; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 59:  (k1, p1) x3; k7; p1; k2; p1; k14; (p1, k1) x3.

Row 60:  (k1, p1) x3; k1; p14; k2; p7; k1; (p1, k1) x3.

Row 61:  (k1, p1) x4; k21; (p1, k1) x4.

Row 62:  (k1, p1) x4; k1; p19; k1; (p1, k1) x4.

Row 63:  (k1, p1) x5; k17; (p1, k1) x5.

Row 64 - 68:  k1, p1, across row.

Row 63:   k1, p1 for 13 sts.  Slip sts. just worked onto stitch holder, bind off the next 11 stitches knitwise; work across remaining sts. in established pattern: 13 stitches each side.

NECK AND SHOULDER SHAPING – LEFT SHOULDER

Note: As you look at the bib with the right side facing, the first shoulder worked will be the left side. All the decreases are made on right side or odd numbered rows.

Row 64:  (wrong side) k1, p1 across row.

Neck decreases:

Row 65:   Slip 1 knitwise, k1, psso; k1, p1 across row. (12 sts.)

Row 66:  k1, p1 across row.

Row 67:   Slip 1 knitwise, k1, psso; p1, k1 across row. (11 sts.)

Row 68:  k1, p1 across row.

Shoulder decreases:

Row 69:  k1, p1 across to last 2 sts, p2tog.  (10 sts.)

Row 70:  p1, k1 across row.

Row 71:  k1, p1 across to last 2 sts., k2tog.  (9 sts.)

Row 72:  k1, p1 across row.

Row 73:  k1, p1 across to last 2 sts., p2tog.  (8 sts.)

Row 74:  p1, k1 across row.

Row 75:  k1, p1 across to last 2 sts., k2tog.  (7 sts.)

Row 76:  k1, p1 across row.

Row 77:  k1, p1 across to last 2 sts., p2tog.  (6 sts.)

Row 78:  p1, k1 across row.

Row 79:  k1, p1 across to last 2 sts., k2tog.  (5 sts.)

Row 80:  k1, p1 across row.

Row 81:  Slip 1 knitwise, k1, psso; k1, p2 tog.  (3 sts.)

For the crocheted ties, slip your crochet hook through the three stitches and draw your yarn through.  Then work a chain for about 12 - 14 inches.  The crocheted ties are not as stretchy as the knitted ones, so you might want to make these slightly longer.  When you reach the desired length, work back on the chain by inserting your hook in the second chain stitch nearest the end and slip stitch in each chain until you are back to the beginning.  Fasten the yarn securely and weave in the ends.  I have a “mini-tutorial” for making the crocheted ties on my blog.  http://downcloverlaine.blogspot.com/2010/05/ties-that-bind.html

For the knitted ties, slip these 3 sts. to a dpn work an I-cord for approximately 12 inches.  Fasten off and run end down through middle of I-cord.  Don't worry if the

I-cords look a little wonky.  A firm tug will usually straighten them out and after the bib is washed, you won't even notice!  A good tutorial for making the I-cords can be found here:  http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/knitting-tips

NECK AND SHOULDER SHAPING – RIGHT SHOULDER

With wrong side facing, slip sts. from stitch holder to left needle and join yarn at neck edge.  All the decreases are made on right side or odd numbered rows.

 Row 64:  (wrong side) k1, p1 across row.

Neck decreases:

Row 65:  k1, p1 across to last 2 sts., p2tog.  (12 sts.)

Row 66:  p1, k1 across row.

Row 67:  k1, p1 across to last 2 sts., k2tog.  (11 sts.)

Row 68:  k1, p1 across row.

Shoulder decreases:

Row 69:  Slip 1 knitwise, k1, psso; k1, p1 across row.  (10 sts.)

Row 70:  k1, p1 across row.

Row 71:  Slip 1 knitwise, k1, psso; p1, k1 across row.  (9 sts.)

Row 72:  k1, p1 across row.

Row 73:  Slip 1 knitwise, k1, psso; k1, p1 across row.  (8 sts.)

Row 74:  k1, p1 across row.

Row 75:  Slip 1 knitwise, k1, psso; p1, k1 across row.  (7 sts.)

Row 76:  k1, p1 across row.

Row 77:  Slip 1 knitwise, k1, psso; k1, p1 across row.  (6 sts.)

Row 78:  k1, p1 across row.

Row 79:  Slip 1 knitwise, k1, psso;  p1, k1 across row.  (5 sts.)

Row 80:  k1, p1 across row.

Row 81:  Slip 1 knitwise, k1, psso; k1; p2tog.  (3 sts.)

Work tie to correspond with the one you worked for the other side.

Weave in ends.

Stretch Cloth



Copyright 2011 by Elaine Fitzpatrick. Permission is granted to make and sell items from this pattern provided that credit is given to me as the designer.  Permission is not granted to reproduce the actual pattern, or post it, or distribute it, without my express permission.  Please respect my copyright and play nice!

Size:  approximately 9 ½" X 7 ¾".

Materials:  One skein of worsted weight cotton in a solid color (approximately 98 yards).  The cloth pictured was done in Peaches & Crème in Butterscotch.

Needles:  U.S. Size 6/4.0mm or 5/3.75mm  Because this is a “picture” cloth, you want your fabric to be fairly dense so the design will pop out.  If you are a loose knitter, then you might want to drop down a needle size.

Gauge:  4.5 sts. per inch, not critical. 

Abbreviations:

k = knit

p = purl

sts. = stitches

Pattern:  Cast on 37 sts. 

Rows 1 – 7:  (k1, p1) across row.

Row 8:  (k1, p1) x4; k1; p5; k1; p10; k1; p2; k1; (p1, k1) x4.

Row 9:  (k1, p1) x4; k3; p1; k7; p2; k1; p1; k6; (p1, k1) x4.

Row 10:  (k1, p1) x3; k1; p7; k1; p1; k3; (p5, k1) x2; (p1, k1) x3.

Row 11:  (k1, p1) x3; (k6, p1) x2; k2; p1; k8; (p1, k1) x3.

Row 12:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p9; k1; p6; k2; p1; k1; p7; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 13:   (k1, p1) x2; k8; p1; k2; p2; k5; p1; k10; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 14:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p9; k1; p4; k2; p2; k1; p8; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 15:  (k1, p1) x2; k9; p1; k6; p3; k10; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 16:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p9; k2; p6; k1; p9; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 17:  (k1, p1) x2; k10; p1; k7; p1; k10; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 18:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p9; (k1, p3) x2; k1; p9; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 19:  (k1, p1) x2; k10; p1; k3; p2; k2; p1; k10; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 20:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p9; k1; p2; k3; p2; k1; p9; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 21:  (k1, p1) x2; k6; p2; k2; p1; k2; p3; k2; p1; k10; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 22:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p9; k2; p2; k1; p3; k1; p1; k1; p2; k1; p4; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 23:  (k1, p1) x2; (k4, p1) x2; k6; p3; k10; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 24:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p9; k3; p6; k1; p4; k1; p3; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 25:  (k1, p1) x2; k4; (p1, k2) x2; p1; k5; p1; k1; p1; k10; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 26:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p9; k1; p7; k1; p5; k1; p3; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 27:  (k1, p1) x2; k4; p1; k5; p1; k7; p1; k10; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 28:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p9; k1; (p6, k1) x2; p3; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 29:  (k1, p1) x2; k4; p1; k7; p4; k2; p1; k10; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 30:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p9; k3; p10; k1; p4; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 31:  (k1, p1) x2; k5; p1; k7; p1; k4; p1; k10; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 32:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p8; k1; p13; k1; p4; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 33:  (k1, p1) x2; k6; p1; k10; p1; k1; p1; k9; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 34:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p8; k1; p1; k2; p9; k1; p5; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 35:  (k1, p1) x2; k7; p1; k11; p1; k9; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 36:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p8; k1; p11; k1; p6; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 37:  (k1, p1) x2; k6; p1; k12; p4; k6; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 38:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; (p4, k1) x2; p3; k1; p4; k1; p2; k1; p5; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 39:  (k1, p1) x2; k6; p1; k1; p2; k4; p2; k2; p1; k5; p3; k2; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 40:  (k1, p1) x3; k1; p7; k1; p1; k2; p8; k1; p5; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 41:  (k1, p1) x2; k6; p1; k11; p2; k5; p1; k3; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 42:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p2; k1; p4; k1; p1; k1; p10; k1; p6; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 43:  (k1, p1) x2; k6; p2; k10; p1; k2; p4; k4; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 44:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; (p9, k1) x2; p2; k1; p4; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 45:  (k1, p1) x2; (k4, p1) x2; k7; p1; k11; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 46:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p9; k1; p1; k1; p6; k1; p5; k1; p2; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 47:  (k1, p1) x2; k3; p1; k3; p2; k1; p6; k3; p1; k9; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 48:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p8; (k1, p2) x3; k1; p3; k4; p2; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 49:  (k1, p1) x2; k10; (p1, k2) x2; p1; k3; p1; k8; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 50:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p7; k1; p3; (k1, p2) x2; k1; p9; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 51:  (k1, p1) x2; k9; p1; k3; p1; k2; p1; k3; p1; k8; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 52:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p7; k1; p3; k1; p2; k1; p3; k1; p8; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 53:  (k1, p1) x2; k9; p1; k2; p1; k4; p1; k2; p1; k8; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 54:  (k1, p1) x2; k1; p8; k2; p5; k1; p2; k1; p8; k1; (p1, k1) x2.

Row 55:  (k1, p1) x3; k7; p1; k2; p1; k14; (p1, k1) x3.

Row 56:  (k1, p1) x3; k1; p14; k2; p7; k1; (p1, k1) x3.

Row 57:  (k1, p1) x4; k21; (p1, k1) x4.

Row 58:  (k1, p1) x4; k1; p19; k1; (p1, k1) x4.

Row 59:  (k1, p1) x5; k17; (p1, k1) x5.

Rows 60 - 66:  k1, p1, across row.

Bind off in (k1, p1) and weave in ends.