Thank you to all the testers who helped me with this sweater. I appreciate all your suggestions.

LIL' DARLIN' BABY SWEATER
copyright © Dot Matthews 08/31/05

  
SIZE: 3 to  6 months
SKILL: intermediate
SUPPLIES: hook size H and F; scissors; blunt needle; stitch markers; 330 yds yarn
YARN: Caron Simply Soft 6 oz skein, 100% acrylic, 4 ply worsted weight, light blue
MEASUREMENTS: front = 10 1/2" (measured across front from side to side, with ties tied); sleeves = 6"(underarm to cuff); neck to hem (beore collar) = 8"
GAUGE: 6 sc = 2"; 8 rows = 2"
STITCHES: chain, single crochet, slip stitch; double crochet; half double crochet; shell
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:
SHELL = 5 double crochets all in the same stitch or space
sc2tog = insert hook in next st, pull yarn thru, insert hook in next st, pull yarn thru, yo pull yarn thru all 3 loops.
ABBREVIATIONS: ch = chain; sc = single crochet; sl st = slip stitch; hdc = half double crochet; sc2tog = single crochet 2 together; st = stitch; sts = stitches; ea = each; sk = skip;

INSTRUCTIONS

With H hook , ch 35

TIP: Place marker in center st of ea corner (3 sc in one stitch makes a corner). Always sc to the marker, then do 3 scs in the stitch with the marker. Move marker up ea row.

ROW 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook,
sc in next 4 sts, 3 sc in next st (corner made)
sc in next 5 sts, 3 sc in next st, (corner made)
sc in next 10 sts, 3 sc in next st, (corner made)
sc in next 5 sts, 3 sc in next st, (corner made)
sc in next 5 sts. Ch 1, turn (42 scs)

ROW 2: sc in next 6 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 7 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 12, sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 7 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 6 sts. ch 1, turn (50 scs)

ROW 3: sc in next 7 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 9 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 14 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 9 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 7 sts, ch 1 turn. (58 scs)

ROW 4: sc in next 8 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 11 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 16 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 11 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 8 sts, ch 1 turn. (66 scs)

ROW 5: sc in next 9 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 13, sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 18, sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next  13, sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 9, sts, ch 1 turn. (74 scs)

ROW 6: sc in next 10 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 15 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 20 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 15 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 10 sts, ch 1 turn. (82 scs)

ROW 7: sc in next 11 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 17  sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 22 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 17 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 11 sts, ch 1 turn. (90 scs)

ROW 8: sc in next 12 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 19 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 24 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 19 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 12 sts, ch 1 turn. (98 scs)

ROW 9: sc in next 13 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 21 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 26 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 21 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 13 sts, ch 1 turn. (106 scs)

ROW 10: sc in next 14 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 23 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 28 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 23 sts, 3 sc in next st,
sc in next 14 sts, ch 1 turn. Remove markers. (114 scs)

ROW 11: sc in next 16 sts,
ch 5, sk next 25 sts, sc in next 32 sts,
ch 5, sk next 25 sts, 
sc in next 16 sts, ch 1, turn. (64 sc)

ROW 12: sc in ea sc and ea ch around. ch 1, turn. (74 sc)

ROW 13: sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, *sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st. Repeat from * across to last 4 sc, sc in last 4 sc. ch 1, turn. (97 sc)

TIP: Shell = 5 dc in same st

ROW 14: sc in first sc, *sk next 2 sts, shell in next st, sk next 2 sts, sc in next st. Repeat from * across. ch 2, turn. (16 shells)

ROW 15: 2 dc in first sc, sk next 2 dc, *sc in next dc, sk next 2 dc, shell in next sc, sk next 2 dc. Repeat from * end with 2 dc in last sc. ch 1, turn. (15 shells & 1/2 shell at ea end)

ROW 16: sc in first dc, sk next dc, *shell in next sc, sk next 2 dc, sc in next dc, sk next 2 dc. Repeat from * ending with sc in top of beg ch. ch 2, turn. (16 shells)

ROW 17: Repeat row 15

ROW 18: Repeat row 16

ROW 19: Repeat row 15

TIP: For a longer sweater, repeat row 15 and 16 until desired length, ending with a row 16 (right side of sweater)

ROW 20: Repeat row 16. End row 20 with 3 sc in top of beg ch. AT end of row 20, do not turn, you will now work up the right side of the sweater.

TIES AND EDGING

TIP: sc around the posts of the stitches when working in the ends of rows.

RIGHT FRONT:
ch 1, work sc's evenly spaced up side to yoke. sc in first row of yoke,
ch 25 (for tie), sl st in 2nd ch from hook,
sl st in ea ch back down to yoke.
sc in end of rows to 2nd row from end
ch 25 (for tie), sl st in 2nd ch from hook,
sl st in ea ch back down to yoke.
3 sc in last row of yoke. (place marker in center st of 3 sc)
 
NECK EDGE:
1 sc in ea ch across neck edge to last ch,
3 sc in last ch (place marker in center st of 3 sc). Turn work so you can sc across the left front side

LEFT FRONT:
ch 25 (for tie), sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sl st in next 23 chs,
work sc's evenly spaced down left side, make 2nd tie to correspond with the right side.
sc evenly spaced down to last st. Turn work so you can sc across bottom edge.

BOTTOM EDGE:
3 sc in next sc,
sc in ea st across, end with 2 sc in last st. Join in first sc.
Fasten off and weave in ends.

SLEEVES (make 2)
sleeves are worked in rounds

First Sleeve

attach yarn in center ch at under arm.

 TIP: When joining rounds, skip beginning chain and join in first stitch

ROUND 1: ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 2 chs, sc in next 25 sc, sc in last 2 chs. Join in first sc. (30 sc) DO NOT TURN AT END OF ROUNDS

ROUND 2: ch 1, sc in same st as join, *sk next 2 sc, shell in next st, sk next 2 sc, sc in next sc. Repeat from * around. Join in first sc. (5 shells)

ROUND 3: ch 2, 4 dc in same st as join, *sk next 2 dc, sc in next dc, sk next 2 dc, shell in next sc. Repeat from * around. Join in first dc. (5 shells)

ROUND 4: sl st in next dc, ch 1, sc in same dc, *sk 2 dc, shell in next sc, sk next 2 dc, sc in next dc. Join in first sc. (5 shells)

ROUNDS 5 thru 10: (Repeat rounds 3 and 4) 3 times

TIP: for longer sleeves, repeat rounds 3 and 4 until sleeves are as long as needed.

ROUND 11: ch 2, hdc in same st as join, hdc in next st, *sc in next 3 dcs, hdc in next 3 sts, repeat from * around, hdc in last st. Join in first hdc. (30 sts)

TIP: sc2tog = insert hook in next st, pull yarn thru, insert hook in next st, pull yarn thru, yo, pull yarn thru all 3 loops. Sc2tog is a decrease

ROUND 12: ch 1, sc in same st as join, *sc2tog, sc in next st. Repeat from * around. (20 sts)

RIBBING
Switch to F hook for ribbing, starting with round 2, work in back loops only

ROW 1: ch 5, turn sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 3 chs, sl st in next 2 sc on sleeve.

TIP: Turn your project so you can work in the 4 scs made on the ch. From here on around the edge of the sleeve, you will work UP the 4 sts of the ribbing, then DOWN the 4 sts of the ribbing. Then sl st in the next 2 sts on the sleeve.

ROW 2: sc in back loop of next 4 scs, ch 1, turn.

ROW 3: sc in back loops of next 4 sc, sl st in next 2 sts on sleeve. Turn. Do not ch to turn. Skip over the sl sts.

REPEAT ROWS 2 and 3 around the sleeve until ribbing meets, ending with row 2.

To seam ribbing together, insert hook thru back loops of row just made and foundation ch together, sl st in ea st (thru both thicknesses) across.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

SECOND SLEEVE: same as first sleeve.

COLLAR
switch to H hook

Open sweater up and lay out flat, with right side facing up, and neck edge at top.  Attach yarn in the first st of the neck edge on the right.

ROW 1: ch 1, sc in same st, sc in ea st across, end with last sc in center st of corner ch 2, turn (37sc)

ROW 2: 2 dc in first sc, dc in ea st across to last st, 2 dc in last st. ch 2, turn (39 dc)

ROW 3: repeat row 2. (41 dc)

ROW 4: repeat row 2 (43 dc)

ROW 5: repeat row 2. ch 1, turn.  (45 dc)

ROW 6: sc in ea st across. (45 sc)

Fasten off and weave in all ends.