The Journey Begins ---- Section 1 & 2

Butterscotch has volunteered to be the Host for this event.  He is wearing the smallest sample of Baby Compass for this assignment and he loves it.  Butterscotch will oversee the journey and keep us on track.

This post will combine Section 1 (Neckband) and Section 2 (Back Neck Panel) as they are pretty quick and easy to follow.  I am new at this kind of event and I hope it will be enjoyed as a KAL and also a reference for knitters to check out in the future.

Each posting will contain the current section schematic, picture, comments and explanations as to the method and reasons for doing so .  Questions, participants post and pictures are welcome, the more the better. There are eight sections in total and then there is a hat.  Welcome.

Are you ready, let the journey begin -----

Section  1:  Neckband. 

The pattern begins with the cast-on for the neckband.  There are 5 sizes in each version.  The first buttonholes are worked in the neckband.  Buttons will be sewn over the buttonholes on the left band for girls and on the right band for boys.  Your choice of pattern and size will give you the cast on #'s.

Section 1

Section 1 Schematic

The neckband instruction in the pattern is pretty straight forward.   Next -  move on to Section 2:

Section 2 Back Neck Panel

The Set Up Row for section 2 provides the number of stitches for the Left Front, the Left Side of Neck, Back Neck Panel, the Right Side of Neck and the Right Front.

You will note that there is a M1 in the centre of the Back Neck Panel.


Reason for MI:   The cast on for the neck band must be an even number of stitches to accommodate the K2, P2 rib and the two buttonbands that are equal to each other, however, the overall pattern for the cardigan/jacket contains a three row repeat of the seed stitch.  Seed stitch is worked on a (K1, P1) repeat to last stitch, then K1.  That requires an odd number of stitches, thus the M1 in the centre back.

Close-Up of Garter/Seed Pattern.

Section 2 (Back Neck Panel):  The pattern repeat begins with the second row of the panel pattern.  The reason for this is that the stitches that are knit across the neckband to do the set up replace the first row of the pattern, thus you start with row 2.  Each pattern lists the number of pattern repeats for the required size which include that first set up row.

You will notice that in each panel the first stitch is a K1B and the last stitch is Yfwd, Sl 1.  This creates a nice edge for the garterstitch buttonbands and also makes an easy edge to pick up stitches along the sides of the panels.

Section 2 ends with the final row of the Garter/Seed Stitch Pattern which is a (WS) row.  Break Yarn. 
----- End of Section 2 - ---------

Section 3 Right Sleeve Panel will begin tomorrow, as it won't take long to work the first two sections.  More time will be allowed for sections that take more time to complete.  If you fall behind, no problem, the detailed posts will be available as a reference in the future. 

Have a great day, knitting. 

- MommaBearKnits------