Bird Sweater knittingforolive

Bird Sweater is a simple and basic staple sweater that showcases a sweet bird design on the front. The pattern provides charts for both a Blue Tit and a Robin, and you can choose which one to make. The body is worked back and forth, while sleeves are worked in the round. The front is worked from the bottom up and the back from the top down. Bird Sweater is knit using 2 strands of Merino.
You begin working bottom up and back and forth, starting with front hem. You continue with stockinette stitch and colorwork back and forth over front, and shape for armholes. Stitches are bound off for the neckline and each shoulder is subsequently worked separately back and forth until shoulder pieces are joined with new cast on stitches at back neck. You then work the back top down to the hem, back and forth. Side seams are grafted and you pick up stitches for the sleeves and work these in the round down to the cuffs. The sweater is finished with a ribbed neckband.
The colorwork patterns for Blue Tit and Robin are charted only and they are worked using the intarsia technique.

Sizes: 1 (2, 4, 6) years
Finished measurements: Chest circumference: approx. 60 (68, 76, 80) cm [23½ (26¾, 30, 31½)]”; Length from shoulder to hem: approx. 32 (34, 38, 43) cm [12½ (13½, 15, 17)]”; Sleeve length from underarm to cuff: approx. 21 (23, 26, 30) cm [8¼ (9, 10¼, 11¾)]”
Yarn: MC: 2 strands Knitting for Olive Merino (250 m [273 yd] / 50 g [1.8 oz]), fingering-weight yarn, 3 (4, 4, 5) balls. CC: 2 strands Knitting for Olive Merino, either 1 ball of each contrast color, or 5 g of leftover yarn in each contrast color. Sample (Blue Tit) is in Merino in Oatmeal colorway (MC) and Quince, Blue Tit, Dusty Sea Green, Licorice, Snowflake and Dusty Dove Blue colorways (CC). Robin is knit in Robin, Hazel, Oatmeal, Powder and Licorice colorways (CC).
Needles: 3.5 mm / US4 and 4.5 mm / US7 circular needles, or in size to obtain gauge
Gauge (after blocking): 20 sts and 29 rows = 10 cm [4”] in st st with 4.5 mm / US7 needles
Notions: Stitch markers, waste yarn or stitch holders, tapestry needle