Little Dumpling

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a sweet baby in possession of a large head must be in want of a sweater with a stretchy neckline. Baby noggins are both precious and adorably oversized. And, in my experience, babies never seem entirely willing to fit their large, lovable heads through any article of clothing. Your baby’s head needs a hardworking neckline to make a sweater that is both comfortable for baby to wear and easy for you to pull on and off. Enter my favorite stretchy cast on: the Tillybuddy’s cast on. I learned the Tillybuddy’s cast on years ago from a fellow designer who specializes in socks. Perfect for the cuffs of top-down socks, this cast on can be stretched to a truly impressive size, and it bounces back beautifully to its original size. It’s just what you need for a baby neckline! Plus, this cast on creates a beautiful, clean edge when worked in combination with 1x1 ribbing. While it is a little fiddly to work, the Tillybuddy’s cast on is worth the extra effort. Once your stretchy neckline is complete, the knitting fun really begins. A gently patterned yoke frames the top of this sweater and invites you to play with color. Use scraps, treasured leftovers, or a carefully chosen palette to create something truly magical for your own little dumpling. **Sizes** Newborn (0–6 months, 6–12 months, 1–2 years) **Finished measurements** A: Chest: 18.5 (20.5, 22, 24) inches/46 (51, 55, 60) cm B: Neck circumference: 14 (14.5, 15.25, 16) inches/35 (36, 38, 40) cm C: Body length from underarm to hem bind off: 4.75 (6.5, 7.25, 8.5) inches/12 (16.5, 18.5, 21.5) cm D: Upper arm circumference: 7.25 (8, 8.75, 8.75) inches/18 (20, 22, 22) cm E: Wrist circumference: 6 (6.5, 6.75, 6.75) inches/15 (16, 17, 17) cm F: Sleeve length from underarm to wrist bind off: 6.25 (7.5, 9.5, 11) inches/15 (18, 23, 27) cm G: Yoke length (measured at the front of the neck to the sleeve division): 4.5 (4.75, 5.25, 5.75) inches/11.5 (12, 13.5, 14.5) cm H: Front of the neck drop: 1 (1, 1.25, 1.25) inches/2 (2, 3, 3) cm **Yarn** Lolodidit USA DK (100% superwash Merino wool; 280 yards (255 m) per 4-ounce (115 g) skein) * C1: Narnia; 1 (1, 1, 1) skeins or 65 (75, 85, 95) yards/59 (69, 78, 87) m * C2: Hello Gorgeous; 1 (1, 1, 1) skeins or 15 (16, 18, 20) yards/14 (15, 16, 18) m * C3: Summer Nights; 1 (2, 2, 2) skeins or 225 (320, 415, 505) yards/206 (293, 379, 462) m * C4: Little Darlin; 1 (1, 1, 1) skeins or 25 (28, 30, 35) yards/23 (26, 27, 32) m **Gauge** 20 stitches and 28 rounds to 4 inches (10 cm) over stockinette worked in the round on larger needles (blocked) 20 stitches and 26 rounds to 4 inches (10 cm) over colorwork motif worked in the round on larger needles (blocked)