Sager-Brown UMCOR Baby Sweater Pattern

The first hint of fall is in the air. I needed a coat and an umbrella to get to church comfortably this morning. Comfort, warmth, plenty of food are things I am fortunate enough to expect in my life. I am blessed and grateful for it. I think I'll spend part of today knitting some hats for Arkansas Children's Hospital or some baby sweaters for UMCOR.

UMCOR stands for United Methodist Committee on Relief. This organization does great work in the United States and around the world when disaster strikes. The Sager-Brown UMCOR Depot is in Baldwin, Louisiana. School kits, baby kits, and flood buckets are just some of the resources they compile and distribute to places of need around the globe.

Here is a pattern for a baby cardigan that goes in the baby kit:

UMCOR Baby Cardigan
Instructions are for size 6 mos. Changes for sizes 1, 2, and 3 years are in parenthesis.

Materials:
1 2-oz. skein of acrylic sport yarn (DK weight)
#4, 5, or 6 needles (gauge: 5 stitches and 6 rows = 1" stockinette)

Back:
Cast on 50 (53, 55, 58) stitches and work in garter stitche (knit every row) for 8 rows.
Change to stockinette stitch (alternating knit one row, purl one row) and work until piece measures 5 inches (5-1/2, 6, 6-1/2). Increase 1 stitch at each end of every other row 3 times, 56 (59, 61, 64) stitches.

Back Sleeves:
At the beginning of the next 2 rows, cast on 20 (25, 30, 35) stitches using knit-on method. Working first and last 4 stitches in garter stitch and stitches in between in stockinette, work even on 96 (109, 121, 134) stitches for 2 inches (2-1/4, 2-1/2, 2-3/4). Next row, work across first 34 (40, 46, 52) stitches in pattern, place marker and knit 28 (29, 29, 30) stitches, place another marker and work across the last 34 (40, 46, 52) stitches in pattern. Continue in pattern for 8 rows, working garter stitch on all stitches between markers and on the 4 edge stitches.

Shape neck:
Work across to marker, knit 4 stitches, bind off next 20 (21, 21, 22) stitches, knit 4 stitches, slip marker, and work to end. Continue only on left side of neck or attach a second ball of yarn and work both sides at one time, reversing shaping.

Front Sleeves: Work for 1 inch, keeping in pattern, ending at neck edge. Next row, cast on 10 stitches (10, 10, 11); knit 14 stitches (14, 14, 15) before marker, work to last 4 stitches, knit 4. Continue for 8 rows, keeping garter stitch at cuff and neck edges. Then contiue for 2 more inches, keeping only the first and last 4 stitches in garter stitch and all other stitches in stockinette stitch, ending at sleeve edge. Next row, bind off first 20 stitches (25, 30, 35).

Front Sides:
Work across next 28 stitches (29, 30, 32). Continue on remaining stitches keeping 4 stitches at front edge in garter stitch and decreasing 1 stitch at arm edge every other row 3 times. Continue in pattern on remaining stitches until front measures the same as the back from underarm to garter stitch border. Work 8 rows in garter stitch. Bind off. Complete right side to match left front.

Finishing:
Sew sleeve and side seams. Attach yarn at neck edge and, using a small crochet hook, work chain stitch for 5 inches. Fasten off. Repeat on other neck edge. Make another pair of ties 2 inches down from the neck. I-cord or ribbon may also be used for ties. Weave in ends.