 As we get ready for fall (summer seems to have skipped, rather drowned, us here in the Northeast), I thought I’d share with you my propensity for combining yarns of different weights and colors – doing something different with them and seeing how their properties differ. There’s no better way to do this then by gathering a lighter weight knitted piece and joining it to a heavier weight bodice.
 So to illustrate this, I came up with a gathered toddler top (which will go to a certain young fashionista I know….). It’s based on a combination of an earlier Simply Soft pattern by Kathy Perry and this month’s feature pattern.
The “skirt” is knitted in NaturallyCaron.com Spa using a #1 keyplate (it’s perfect) and the bodice knitted in NaturallyCaron.com Country using a #2 keyplate.
 Tips for using the #1 keyplate:
Note that the needles will be slightly forward after each row. If you knit the row just until the stripper plate clears the last working needle and go no farther, your knitting will go much faster.
Remove one of the two rod weights on each side of the hem. With lighter weight yarns, less weight than normal makes for easier/faster knitting.
Use claw weights or the hooks-and-bands at the sides of your work.
 Occasionally, giving slight pressure on the nose of the carriage going in the direction of your knitting helps the first stitch knit.
Use a yarn with elasticity for best results. Spa is perfect!
 GATHERED TODDLER CARDI
SIZES (ages):
3/4 (5/6, 7/8) years
FINISHED CHEST MEASUREMENT
26 (28, 30)
MATERIALS
NaturallyCaron.com Spa,
color Ocean Spray #0005: 1 (2, 2) balls;
NaturallyCaron.com
Country,
color Spruce #0013: 1 (1, 1) ball;
G/4mm crochet hook; one 1” button.
Helpful tools: claw weights; 3-prong transfer tool
GAUGE
Using Spa & #1 keyplate: 19 sts & 25 rows = 4”/10 cm; using Country & #2 keyplate: 17 sts & 23 rows = 4”/10 cm
 Back:
- WY CO 100 (108, 116) sts. K 4 R. Break off.
- With Spa, K 48 (54, 64) R. (Tips for using a #1 keyplate: remove one rod weight from each side of hem; use one claw weight at each side of work; hold down nose of carriage when starting the first row; slightly push back needles brought slightly forward by the #1 keyplate.)
- K 4 R WY (use a different color than the cast-on edge) & break off. Mark the center and remove sts from bed.
 Bodice:
- Bring forward 56 (60, 64) needles to HP and, starting from “0,” pick up 2 sts from the MY of the skirt and place on ndl #1. Note that using claw weights to hold down the sts of the bodice is helpful.
- Working across, using the 1-prong transfer tool, place 2 sts from the MY of skirt onto each needle, placing just one st on each of the last 6 needles on each side.
- Bring forward 12 (13, 14) ndls on the LHS and with Country, work a closed-edge cast-on. Break off leaving a 12” length.
- Bring forward 12 (13, 14) ndls on the RHS and with Country, work a closed-edge cast-on. Do not break off yarn, but thread through carriage.
- Hang hem over all sts.
- Change to #2 KP. COR.
- Knit across slowly. COL. Check to be sure all sts knitted properly.
- K 29 (33, 37) more rows.
- Place center 24 (26, 28) sts on WY.
- Place rem 28 (30, 32) sts on sleeve sides on WY and remove from machine.
Right Front:
- WY CO 50 (54, 58) sts.
- Work as for back through Step 3 of Skirt.
Bodice:
- Bring forward 28 (30, 32) ndls to HP and pick up sts of Spa as for Back.
- Bring forward 12 (13, 14) ndls on RHS.
- Closed-edge CO with Country, change to #2 KP & thread carriage. COR.
- Hang hem.
- K 1 R. COR.
- Using the 3-prong transfer tool (for full-fashioned shaping, if desired), dec 1 st at neck edge.
- Knit 2 rows.
- Repeat decrease.
- Knit 3 rows.
- Repeat Steps 6-9 until 12 (13, 14) sts decreased over 30 (34, 38) rows.
- Break off Country, leaving a 24” end.
- K 4 R WY & remove work from machine.
Left Front:
1. Same as Right Front, reversing shaping.
FINISHING
 Skirt edging: With Spa, work 1 row sc around down front edge of skirt, through live sts of MY along the lower edge and back up the other side front edge. With WS facing, re-attach Spa at lower front corner and work 1 sc in the first sc along lower edge. *Ch 3, skip next sc, work 1 sc in next sc. Repeat from * along lower edge. Break off. Bodice edging: With Country, leaving a 12” end, work 1 row of sc around neck edge. Break off. With Spa, work 1 sc in first sc of Country. *Ch 1, work sc in next sc. Repeat from * around neck edge. Sleeve edging: As for neck edging. Button loop: With WS facing, with the 12” end of Country, weave yarn up 2 sts up from the back and work 1 sl st to secure. Ch 4. Skip 3 sc and sl st in back to join.
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