Knitting: Cabled Variation of the Basic Seamless Bitty Pullover

 As soon as I finished designing the Basic Seamless Bitty Pullover (free pattern here), my mind was whirling with the possibilities. I adore cables, so that was the first variation on the list.

I loved the cable pattern from the front of this sweater (free from ABC Knitting Patterns), but I didn't want to do the seaming. So I tried it out on this style, and it worked beautifully.

There is a cable that extends down the arm, too.

This should also fit 18" dolls, like this Madame Alexander doll.


For those of you who like row-by-row directions, here you go ... It may look intimidating, but you'll quickly get the hang of it.

If you see any typographical errors, please let me know. Two (or more) sets of eyes are always better than one at catching typos!

Cabled Variation of the Basic Seamless Bitty Pullover

Materials

DK/sportweight yarn – 2 balls (1.75 ozs/50 g) The cables take more yarn (about 60 grams total), so be safe and make sure you have two skeins for this one.

needles – size 6 (DPNs and 16”) and size 4 (DPNs and 16”)

waste yarn in a contrasting color - two scraps to hold sleeve stitches

Gauge

8 rows = 1”, 5 sts = 1”

Instructions – Main Sweater

Using larger needles, cast on 68 sts (instead of the original 66). Place marker and join to work in the round. Work in 1x1 ribbing for 1 round. Switch to smaller needles. Continue in 1x1 ribbing for 15 rounds (2”). The extra inch forms the turtleneck.

Set-up Rnd: Switch to larger needles. K18, pm, k16, pm, k18, pm, k16, sm. (68 sts)

NOTE: Switch to 16” circular needle when you have enough stitches.

Rnd 1: *kfb, p1, k4, p2, k2, p2, k4, p1, kfb, pm (front); kfb, k4, p1, k4, p1, k4, kfb, pm (sleeve); repeat from * one more time. (76 sts)  increase rnd

Rnd 2: *k2, p1, k4, p2, k2, p2, k4, p1, k2, sm (front); k6, p1, k4, p1, k6, sm (sleeve); repeat from * one more time.

Rnd 3: *kfb, k1, p1, k4, p2, k2, p2, k4, p1, k1, kfb, sm (front); kfb, k5, p1, k4, p1, k5, kfb, sm (sleeve); repeat from * one more time. (84 sts)  increase rnd
(You should be able to switch to the 16” circular on this row.)

Rnd 4: *k3, p1, k4, p2, k2, p2, k4, p1, k3, sm (front); k7, p1, k4, p1, k7, sm (sleeve); repeat from * one more time.

Rnd 5: *kfb, k2, p1, k4, p2, k2, p2, k4, p1, k2, kfb, sm (front); kfb, k6, p1, k4, p1, k6, kfb, sm (sleeve); repeat from * one more time. (92 sts)  increase rnd

Rnd 6: *k4, p1, C4B, p2, C2, p2, C4B, p1, k4, sm (front); k8, p1, C4B, p1, k8, sm (sleeve); repeat from * one more time.  cable rnd

Rnd 7: *kfb, k3, p1, k4, p2, k2, p2, k4, p1, k3, kfb, sm (front); kfb, k7, p1, k4, p1, k7, kfb, sm (sleeve); repeat from * one more time. (100 sts) increase rnd

Rnd 8: *k5, p1, k4, p2, k2, p2, k4, p1, k5, sm (front); k9, p1, k4, p1, k9, sm (sleeve); repeat from * one more time.

Rnd 9: *kfb, k4, p1, k4, p2, k2, p2, k4, p1, k4, kfb, sm (front); kfb, k8, p1, k4, p1, k8, kfb, sm (sleeve); repeat from * one more time. (108 sts) increase rnd

Rnd 10: *k6, p1, k4, p2, k2, p2, k4, p1, k6, sm (front); k10, p1, k4, p1, k10, sm (sleeve); repeat from * one more time.

Rnd 11: *kfb, k5, p1, k4, p2, k2, p2, k4, p1, k5, kfb, sm (front); kfb, k9, p1, k4, p1, k9, kfb, sm (sleeve); repeat from * one more time. (116 sts) increase rnd

Rnd 12: *k7, p1, C4B, p2, C2, p2, C4B, p1, k7, sm (front); k11, p1, C4B, p1, k11, sm (sleeve); repeat from * one more time.  cable rnd

Rnd 13: *kfb, k6, p1, k4, p2, k2, p2, k4, p1, k6, kfb, sm (front); kfb, k10, p1, k4, p1, k10, kfb, sm (sleeve); repeat from * one more time. (124 sts)  increase rnd

Rnd 14: *k8, p1, k4, p2, k2, p2, k4, p1, k8, sm (front); k12, p1, k4, p1, k12, sm (sleeve); repeat from * one more time.

Rnd 15: *kfb, k7, p1, k4, p2, k2, p2, k4, p1, k7, kfb, sm (front); kfb, k11, p1, k4, p1, k11, kfb, sm (sleeve); repeat from * one more time. (132 sts)  increase rnd

Rnd 16: *k9, p1, k4, p2, k2, p2, k4, p1, k9, sm (front); k13, p1, k4, p1, k13, sm (sleeve); repeat from * one more time.

Rnd 17: *kfb, k8, p1, k4, p2, k2, p2, k4, p1, k8, kfb, sm (front); kfb, k12, p1, k4, p1, k12, kfb, sm (sleeve); repeat from * one more time. (140 sts)  increase rnd

Rnd 18: *k10, p1, C4B, p2, C2, p2, C4B, p1, k10, sm (front); k14, p1, C4B, p1, k14, sm (sleeve); repeat from * one more time.  cable rnd

Rnd 19: * k10, p1, k4, p2, k2, p2, k4, p1, k10, remove marker, transfer 34 sleeve sts onto waste yarn, remove marker; repeat from * one more time. (72 working sts) Keep your "beginning of the row" marker in place!

Join front to back by continuing in the round ...

Rnd 20:  * k10, p1, k4, p2, k2, p2, k4, p1, k10; repeat from * one more time. (72 sts)
Rnd 21-23: Repeat Rnd 20.
Rnd 24: * k10, p1, C4B, p2, C2, p2, C4B, p1, k10; repeat from * one more time.  cable rnd
Rnd 25-29: Repeat Rnd 20.
Rnd 30: Repeat Rnd 24. cable rnd
Rnd 31-34: Repeat Rnd 20.
Rnd 35: *k7, k2 tog; repeat from * around. (64 sts)

Switch to smaller needles. Work in 1x1 ribbing for 8 rounds (1”). Bind off in pattern, using a stretchy bind-off. (This is the stretchy bind-off I used.)

Instructions – Sleeves

Transfer 34 arm sts from waste yarn onto larger DPNs. Pick up 4 sts under arm (2 on either side of middle underarm).

Rnd 1-3: k16, p1, k4, p1, k16. (38 sts)

Rnd 4: k1, ssk, k13, p1, k4, p1, k13, k2tog, k1. (36 sts)  decrease rnd

Rnd 5: k15, p1, k4, p1, k15.

Rnd 6: k15, p1, C4B, p1, k15.  cable rnd
Rnd 7: k15, p1, k4, p1, k15.
Rnd 8:  k1, ssk, k12, p1, k4, p1, k12, k2tog, k1. (34 sts)  decrease rnd

Rnd 9-11: k14, p1, k4, p1, k14.

Rnd 12: k1, ssk, k11, p1, C4B, p1, k11, k2tog, k1. (32 sts)  cable and decrease rnd

Rnd 13-15: k13, p1, k4, p1, k13.

Rnd 16: ssk, k10, p1, k4, p1, k10, k2tog, k1. (30 sts)  decrease rnd

Rnd 17: k12, p1, k4, p1, k12.

Rnd 18: k12, p1, C4B, p1, k12.  cable rnd

Rnd 19: k12, p1, k4, p1, k12.

Rnd 20: ssk, k9, p1, k4, p1, k9, k2tog, k1. (28 sts)  decrease rnd

Rnd 21-22: k11, p1, k4, p1, k11.

Rnd 23: ssk, k8, p1, k4, p1, k8, k2tog, k1. (26 sts)  decrease rnd

Switch to smaller DPNs. Work in k1,p1 ribbing for 8 rows (1”). Bind off in pattern, using a stretchy bind-off.

Repeat for second sleeve.

Knitting Abbreviations

C2 = faux cable 2 back (knit 2 sts together, but do not slide them off the needle; knit into the first st; slide both sts off the needle)
C4B = cable 4 back (slip first 2 sts to cable needle and hold in back; knit the next 2 sts; knit the 2 sts from cable needle)
k = knit
k2tog = knit two stitches together
kfb = knit front & back (increase)
pm = place marker
sm = slip marker
ssk = slip, slip knit

Terms of Use

Use this pattern to make as many of these sweaters as you like. Give them away, sell them, do whatever you like with the finished product. All I ask is that you respect my copyright and not sell the pattern itself. Link-backs are appreciated, but the knitting police won't come after you if you don't. All I ask is that you play fair. Oh, and don't mention this to my daughter until after Christmas! :)