FO: Build Me Up, Buttercup Baby

Buttercups are fun. Plus, they are diverse.

Buttercups in a field:

(from gilest at flickr.com)

Buttercup Powerpuff Girls graffiti on a wall in Europe:

(from metaphorge at flickr.com)

Buttah-cup, the Princess Bride:

And now, Buttercup Cardi:

Buttercup Cardi for a Toddler
Pattern: My own (see below)
Yarn: Schaefer Elaine and Misti Alpaca Chunky
Needles: US 11 and US 10
Extras: Flower buttons

Buttercup cardi with butter cream cupcakes!

Lilac buttercup buttons!

I declare, 'tis a feast for the senses! OK, OK, enough with the buttercup variations. I started with a skein of Schaefer Elaine in color "Snooks." It was so lovely that it cried out to be knitted into a child's garment. I paired it with Misti Alpaca Chunky in color "Lemon" for a quick raglan cardi with a short-row shaped collar.

Here's the (very quick and easy) pattern:

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MATERIALS:

(MC) 1 skein Schaefer Elaine (99% wool/1% nylon; 300 yds) - color "Snooks"
(CC) 1 skein Misti Alpaca Chunky (100% baby alpaca; 108 yds) - color "Lemon"
Pair of US 11 and 10 needles
Tapestry needle
3 Buttons

GAUGE:

12 sts x 16 rows = 4" square on larger needles

BACK

With larger needles and MC, cast on 42 stitches.

Begin stockinette stitch for 4 inches.

Next row: k1, k2tog, knit until last 3 sts, ssk, k1.

St st for 5 rows.

Next row: k1, k2tog, knit until last three sts, ssk, k1.

St st for another 9 rows.

Begin raglan shaping

Next row: (RS) Bind off 3 sts knitwise, k to end

Next row: (WS) Bind off 3 sts purlwise, p to end

Next row: k1, k2tog, work to last 3 sts, ssk, k1.

Next row: Purl all stitches.

Repeat last two rows 6 more times.

Bind off all stitches.

LEFT FRONT

With MC, cast on 21 sts.

Begin stockinette st for 4 inches.

Next row: k1, k2tog, knit to end.

St st for 5 rows.

Next row: k1, k2tog, knit to end

St st for another 9 rows.

Begin raglan shaping

Next row: (RS) Bind off 3 sts, k to end

Next row: (WS) Purl all stitches.

Next row: k1, k2tog, knit to end

Next row: Purl all stitches.

Repeat last two rows 2 more times.

Begin neck shaping

Next row: (WS) Bind off 3 stitches purlwise, purl to end

Next row: k1, k2tog, knit to end

Next row: p1, p2tog, purl to end.

*At this point, you're shaping the armhole on the right side (knit side) and shaping the neck on the wrong side (purl side)

Repeat last two rows 2 more times

Next row: Knit all stitches.

Next row: P1, p2tog, p1.

Bind off.

RIGHT FRONT

With MC, cast on 21 stitches.

Begin stockinette stitches for 16 rows.

Next row: Knit to last three stitches, ssk, k1.

Work 5 rows in St st.

Next row: Knit to last three stitches, ssk, k1.

St st for another 8 rows.

Next row (WS): Bind off 3 stitches, purl to end.

Begin raglan shaping

Next row: knit to end.

Next row: p1, p2tog, purl to end.

Repeat last two rows 2 more times.

Begin neck shaping

Next row: Bind off 3 stitches, knit to end.

Next row: P1, p2tog, purl to end.

Next row: K1, k2tog, knit to end.

*You are now shaping the armhole on the wrong side (purl side) and shaping the neck on the right side (knit side)

Repeat last two rows 2 more times.

Next row: p1, p2tog, purl to end

Bind off.

SLEEVES (make two)

Using CC yarn and larger needles, cast on 22 stitches.

Knit 5 rows in garter stitch.

Change to MC and St st for 20 rows.

Next row: k1, k2tog, knit to last three sts, ssk, k1.

St st for three rows.

Next row: k1, k2tog, knit to last three sts, ssk, k1.

Next row: Purl

Repeat last two rows 6 more times.

Bind off.

FINISHING

Sew sleeves to back and fronts.

Block to measurements.

Sew sleeve seams and side seams. (I left the cuffs of the sleeves unsewn to create a little vent detail)

BUTTONHOLE BAND (Right front)

With right side facing and smaller needles, pick up 30 stitches with CC.

Knit 1 row.

Buttonhole row: K10, ssk, YO, k3, ssk, YO, k3, ssk, YO, k3.

Next row: Knit all sts.

Bind off.

BUTTON BAND (Left front)

With right side facing and smaller needles, pick up 30 stitches with CC.

Knit 3 rows.

Bind off.

BOTTOM HEM

With right side facing and smaller needles, pick up 86 sts with CC.

Knit 3 rows.

Bind off.

COLLAR

With right side facing and smaller needles, pick up 56 sts with CC along neck edge.

Knit 3 rows.

Begin Short Row Shaping

Knit to last 16 sts, turn. Repeat.

Knit to last 12 sts, turn. Repeat.

Knit to last 8 sts, turn. Repeat.

Knit 10 rows.

Bind off.

Final measurements:

sleeve width: 9"; sleeve length from hem to neck: 10"

front bottom hem width: 8"; front chest width: 7"; front length (MC) from top of hem to point of raglan: 14"; front length including garter hem: 15"

back length: 14"; back length with garter hem: 15"; back chest width: 14"; back bottom hem width: 16"

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At the moment, I've only written up the one size. Haven't had time to do calculations for other sizes, but will in the near future. Also, I left the sleeves a little short because I thought they were cute as 3/4-ish sleeves. But I had yarn leftover to make full length sleeves. Just add another inch worth of sleeve before raglan shaping. It's my first stab at writing up a pattern, so if there are any errors or you have any questions, just let me know.

In closing, I cannot take credit for the cupcakes. They are from Magnolia Bakery. They are delicious. Magnolia has opened up a store on the Upper West Side. I am going to die from sugar shock. An extra shot of cupcakes for a happy, happy Friday!

Fluffy Bits

Last week was stressful. It was all capped off by my losing my cell phone in a cab and figuring this out only after I was ensconced in my PJs. I have lost my phone, oh, about five times over the past four years. The first time was a pickpocketing, so maybe not my fault. Second time I left it in a cab. Third time I left it in a bar. Fourth time was an unfortunate incident when I tossed my jeans into the washer...without checking my pockets. This brings the total to five. I was about to give myself an ulcer.

I borrowed my roommate Don's phone to call my friend Maya to ask if I had left my phone at her place. She said she'd seen it in my pocket as I left but checked again anyway. No phone. As I was on her land line, she got a call from my cell phone on her cell phone. She asked what the caller's name was, and heard a garbled, "I like this," after which the caller hung up. So she assumed that the caller had just decided to keep my phone. We decided I needed to cancel the phone. While I was in the process of canceling the phone, Maya called me again and told me to cancel the canceling. The girl had called back and said, "My name is Alexis." Maya had somehow misheard "Alexis" as "I like this." Long story short, Alexis's mother called me back and told me to meet her on their corner this morning and I did. She gave me my phone back. I gave her a Starbucks gift card as a thank you for relieving me from potential ulcers. There are some really nice people in the world.

Easter and all that stress is now over but I'm still into the pastels.

This is a ball of Schaefer Elaine. It's 99% wool/1% nylon and it's a thick-and-thin yarn with a sproingy texture. I've been staring at it lovingly in the store for a while but couldn't think what I would make with it. So I'm making the store a sample out of it.

It's going to be some sort of raglan cardi for a two-year-old size. I'm kind of making it up as I go, so who knows what it will look like in the end. It looks like a candy necklace melted onto cream.

Even the leftover Peeps are coming out to play:

BTW, I tried these new "sugar-free" Peeps the other day. Yuck. That's all I have to say about that.

I also seamed up the Asymmetrical Cardi and I just need to knit up the collar and button bands.