Key Sweater Junior Knitting Pattern - PetiteKnit
📬 Printed Booklet (Posted to You)
Key Sweater Junior — PetiteKnit knitting pattern
A striped raglan pullover with a two-colour stranded pattern. Work from the top down, shape the neck with short rows after the neck rib, then knit body and sleeves in the round and finish with ribbed edges.
English printed pattern booklet, posted to you. Yarn, needles and the finished garment are not included. This is not a PDF download.
Size and fit
The designer describes a roomy fit of approximately 25 cm positive ease. Compare the child’s actual chest with the finished measurements, as ease varies by size. A 62 cm chest in size 6–7 years has 26 cm of ease.
| Size | To fit chest (cm) | Finished chest (cm) | Length (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 years | 53 | 72 | 36 |
| 2–3 years | 54 | 76 | 38 |
| 3–4 years | 56 | 80 | 42 |
| 4–5 years | 57 | 84 | 43 |
| 5–6 years | 59 | 84 | 45 |
| 6–7 years | 62 | 88 | 48 |
| 7–8 years | 64 | 88 | 49 |
| 8–9 years | 68 | 92 | 50 |
| 9–10 years | 72 | 96 | 52 |
| 10–11 years | 75 | 100 | 53 |
| 11–12 years | 78 | 104 | 54 |
Length is measured mid back, excluding the neck edge. Finished dimensions depend on matching gauge.
Gauge, needles and materials
Gauge: 20 stitches × 28 rows in colourwork and stocking stitch on 4 mm needles = 10 × 10 cm.
Needles: 4 mm circulars: 40 and 60 or 80 cm; 3.5 mm circulars: 40, 60 or 80 cm; 4 mm and 3.5 mm double-pointed needles, unless using Magic Loop.
Designer difficulty: 4 out of 5. Preparation includes raglan increases, short rows, two-colour stranded knitting and working in the round.
Stocked designer yarn options
Option 1: Sandnes Garn Peer Gynt, knitted single stranded. Use separate main and stripe colours. Metres below are converted from the designer’s quantities at 91 m per 50 g.
| Size | Main colour (m) | Stripe colour (m) |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 years | 273 | 182 |
| 2–3 years | 273 | 182 |
| 3–4 years | 364 | 273 |
| 4–5 years | 364 | 273 |
| 5–6 years | 455 | 273 |
| 6–7 years | 455 | 364 |
| 7–8 years | 455 | 364 |
| 8–9 years | 546 | 364 |
| 9–10 years | 546 | 455 |
| 10–11 years | 546 | 455 |
| 11–12 years | 637 | 546 |
Option 2: Sandnes Garn Double Sunday, also a designer-listed single-strand choice. These are its own quantities, converted at 108 m per 50 g; choose one yarn option for the project.
| Size | Main colour (m) | Stripe colour (m) |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 years | 324 | 216 |
| 2–3 years | 324 | 216 |
| 3–4 years | 432 | 324 |
| 4–5 years | 432 | 324 |
| 5–6 years | 432 | 324 |
| 6–7 years | 432 | 324 |
| 7–8 years | 432 | 432 |
| 8–9 years | 540 | 432 |
| 9–10 years | 540 | 432 |
| 10–11 years | 540 | 540 |
| 11–12 years | 648 | 540 |
Check a washed and blocked swatch in both stocking stitch and colourwork. Allow extra yarn for swatching, added length or changed stripes; choose enough of each colour from one dye lot.
Frequently asked questions
Can I choose the child’s size by age alone?
Use the chest measurement first, then compare the finished chest and length. For example, a 62 cm chest in size 6–7 years has 26 cm of ease; adjust length for a child who differs from the age guide.
Does Key Sweater Junior use the adult sweater’s gauge and yarn combination?
No. The junior version uses a single strand at 20 stitches × 28 rows on 4 mm needles. The adult Key Sweater has a different 18-stitch gauge and a companion-strand combination.
Should I check both plain knitting and colourwork tension?
Yes. The stated gauge applies to both stocking stitch and the two-colour pattern. Check that your floats leave enough room for the intended relaxed fit.