Knitting Galore: Knitted Childs Tuxedo

One for the boys! This Tuxedo is easy to knit and looks the part - perfect for that special occasion.

Sizes: 12 months (2 yrs, 3 yrs).

Materials: Worsted Weight Yarn: 100 grm black, and 50 grm white.

Knitting needles, sizes 4mm and 5mm.

seven white 5/8" buttons, and two black 5/8" buttons.

Gauge: 20 sts and 24 rows = 4 inchs in stockinette stitch on 5mm needles.

Back: With black yarn and size 4mm needles, cast on 46(52, 55) sts.

Work in k1, p1 ribbing for 12 rows.

Change to size 5mm needles, and inc 10 sts evenly across next row, knitting all sts (right side). Work even in stockinette stitch until piece measures 7(7 ½, 8 ½) inches from beg.

Shape Armhole: Cast off 4 sts at the beginning of next two rows.

Dec one st each side every right side row 3(4,5) times. 42(46, 47)sts remain.

Work even until piece measures 12 (13, 14) inches from beg.

Cast off.

Right Front: With black, and size 4mm needles, cast on 26(29, 31) sts.

Work in k1, p1,ribbing for 12 rows, increasing 5 sts evenly across last row.

Change to size 5mm needles.

With white, k 17, then knit 14(17,19) with black (right side).

Row 2: Purl across all black sts with black, then with white; (k3, p1) 3 times, end k5.

Row 3: With white, k5, (sl 1, p3) 3 times, then knit to end with black.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 for pattern. Work even until piece measures 7(7 ½, 8 ½) inches.

Armhole Shaping: Cast off 4 sts at armhole edge, then dec 1 st at armhole edge every right side row 3(4,5) times. Work even until piece measures 10 ½ (11 ½, 12 ½ ) inches.

Neck Shaping: Put 5 sts of button band on a stitch holder. Cast off 2 sts at neck edge on next right side row, then dec 1 st at neck edge on next two rows. Decrease 1 st every right side row 3 times 12(14, 15) sts rem. Cast off in respective colours.

Left Front: With black and size 4mm needles, cast on 26(29,31) sts.

Work in p1, k1 ribbing for 12 rows, making buttonholes on rows 5 and 9 of ribbing as follows: work to last 4 sts; yo, k2tog, rib 2. Increase 5 sts evenly across last row.

Change to size 5mm needles.

K14(17,19) with black, then knit 17 with white (right side).

Row 2: With white, k5, (p1, k3) 3 times; purl across all black sts.

Row 3: With black, knit all black sts; then with white, (p3, sl 1) 3 times, k5.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 for pattern, making first buttonhole in center of buttonhole band on row 5 of white, then every 10 rows. Decrease for armhole and neck same as right front, only reversing shapings. (Last buttonhole should end up just before buttonhole band sts are put on stitch holder).

Sleeves (make two): With size 4 needles and white, cast on 26 sts.

Work in k1, p1 rib for 4 rows. Change to larger needles and black. Starting stockinette stitch with a knit row, inc 8 sts across row (34 sts). Continue in st st , inc 1 st each side every 5(7,8) rows 7(8,9)

times. When sleeve measures 7(7 ½ ,8 ½ ) inches from beginning, start armhole shaping.

Armhole Shaping (follow respective size shaping):

Size 12 months: Cast off 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows, then 2 sts at beg of next 4 rows, then 1 st at beg of next 4 rows, 2 sts at beg of next 4 rows, then 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows. Cast off rem sts.

Size 2 yrs: Cast off 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows, then 2 sts at beg of next 4 rows, then 1 st at beg of next 4 rows, 2 sts at beg of next 2 rows, then 3 sts at beg of next 4 rows. Cast off rem sts.

Size 3 yrs: Cast off 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows, then 2 sts at beg of next 6 rows, work 2 rows even, then cast off 2 sts at beg of next 6 rows, then 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows. Cast off rem sts.

Finishing: Sew shoulder seams and side seams. Sew sleeve seams. Sew sleeves into

armholes.

Neckband: Pick up sts around neck as follows: With white, and size 4mm needles, work along sts of buttonband on right front (keeping band in garter stitch), pick up 12 sts along right neck edge, pick up 17(20,22) sts along back, 12 sts down left front, and along buttonhole band sts of left front (keeping this in garter st also). Work 5 sts garter st, p1, k1 rib to last 5 sts, then 5 sts garter st. Cast off loosely after 7 rows.