Rainbow Cloud Sweater for Toddlers

This delightful sweater is ideal for toddlers, combining warmth with a fun design. The main body of the sweater is a soft blue, with cheerful rainbow stripes across the shoulders and a cute cloud with raindrops on one side.

Materials

• Worsted weight yarn in the following colors:
• Light Blue - approx. 200 yards
• Red - 20 yards
• Orange - 20 yards
• Yellow - 20 yards
• Green - 20 yards
• Blue - 20 yards
• Purple - 20 yards
• White - 30 yards for cloud
• Black - 10 yards for embroidery details
• Size 7 (4.5 mm) knitting needles
• Size 8 (5 mm) circular knitting needles
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends and embroidery
• Stitch markers

Gauge

18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch.

Abbreviations

• k: knit
• p: purl
• st(s): stitch(es)
• CO: cast on
• BO: bind off
• RS: right side
• WS: wrong side
• k2tog: knit two together (decrease)
• pm: place marker
• rep: repeat

Instructions

Back

1. CO 60 stitches using light blue yarn.
2. Knit the first 4 rows (this forms the ribbing).
3. Switch to stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl the next) and continue for 14 inches.
4. To shape the armholes, bind off 4 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows.
5. Continue in stockinette stitch until piece measures 18 inches from the cast-on edge, then BO all stitches.

Front

1. CO 60 stitches using light blue yarn.
2. Knit the first 4 rows (ribbing).
3. On the next row, introduce the rainbow stripes:
• Start with k20, switch to red yarn, k10, switch to orange yarn, k10, switch to yellow yarn, k10, switch to green yarn, k10, switch to blue yarn, k10, and finish with purple yarn, k10.
4. Continue knitting in stockinette stitch for 14 inches.
5. Work armhole shaping as for the back (BO 4 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows).
6. Continue in stockinette until the piece measures 18 inches, then BO all stitches.

Sleeves (Make 2)

1. CO 30 stitches using light blue yarn.
2. Knit for 4 rows (ribbing).
3. Switch to stockinette stitch and increase by 1 stitch at each end every 6th row until you have 38 stitches.
4. Continue until the sleeve measures 12 inches. BO all stitches.

Finishing

1. Join the back and front shoulder seams.
2. Sew in the sleeves, making sure to ease the fabric if necessary.
3. For the cloud, crochet or knit a small cloud shape (4 inches wide) using white yarn and sew it onto the front, about 2 inches above the ribbing.
4. Embroider colorful raindrops falling from the cloud using the rainbow colors.
5. Weave in all ends using a tapestry needle.

Enjoy the warmth and touch of this handmade sweater for your little cherub!