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# Little Monarch Onesie
### A Butterfly-Inspired Baby Onesie in Monarch Colors

A seamless, bottom-up infant onesie featuring stranded colorwork monarch butterfly wings across the body and yoke. Knit in soft sport-weight yarn with a snap or button crotch placket for easy diaper changes. Designed for a 6-month-old baby.

---

## Sizing

**Size:** 6 months
**Finished measurements:**
- Chest circumference: 18" (45.5 cm)
- Body length (crotch to shoulder): 10½" (26.5 cm)
- Inseam: 7" (18 cm)
- Sleeve length (underarm to cuff): 5" (12.5 cm)
- Total length (cuff to shoulder): 17½" (44.5 cm)

**Recommended ease:** 2" positive ease over an actual 16" chest.

---

## Materials

**Yarn:** Sport weight (CYC #2), wool or wool-blend recommended for stitch definition and warmth. A superwash wool is ideal for baby garments.

- **MC (Monarch Orange):** approx. 320 yds / 295 m
- **CC1 (Black):** approx. 180 yds / 165 m
- **CC2 (White):** approx. 40 yds / 37 m

*Suggested yarns:* Knit Picks Stroll Sport, Cascade 220 Sport, or Berroco Vintage Baby.

**Needles:**
- US 4 / 3.5 mm — 16" and 24" circular, plus DPNs (or preferred small-circ method) for ribbing & sleeves
- US 5 / 3.75 mm — 16" and 24" circular, plus DPNs for main body and sleeves

**Notions:**
- 4 stitch markers (1 unique for BOR)
- 4 raglan markers
- Waste yarn / stitch holders
- Tapestry needle
- 3 small buttons (½" / 13 mm) OR 3 sew-on snaps for crotch placket
- Optional: small amount of black embroidery floss for antennae details

---

## Gauge

- **24 sts × 32 rounds = 4" (10 cm)** in stockinette stitch in the round on US 5 / 3.75 mm needles, blocked.
- **22 sts × 28 rounds = 4" (10 cm)** in stranded colorwork on US 5 / 3.75 mm needles, blocked.

*Note: Gauge swatching for both plain stockinette AND stranded colorwork is essential. Adjust needle size as needed to match both gauges; for many knitters, this means going up ½ size for colorwork sections.*

---

## Abbreviations

- **BOR** — beginning of round
- **CC1, CC2** — contrast colors
- **CO** — cast on
- **dec** — decrease
- **inc** — increase
- **k** — knit
- **k2tog** — knit 2 together (right-leaning dec)
- **kfb** — knit into front and back of stitch (1 st inc)
- **m1L / m1R** — make 1 left / right (lifted increase)
- **MC** — main color
- **p** — purl
- **pm** — place marker
- **rnd(s)** — round(s)
- **RS / WS** — right side / wrong side
- **sl** — slip
- **sm** — slip marker
- **ssk** — slip, slip, knit (left-leaning dec)
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)

---

## Pattern Notes

- The onesie is worked **seamlessly from the cuff up**. Each leg is knit separately to the crotch, joined for the body in the round, then the sleeves (also worked from cuff up) are joined to begin the raglan yoke.
- The **crotch placket** is created by working a flat panel with buttonholes on the front-of-crotch edge of the joined legs.
- The **butterfly motif** is worked using stranded colorwork (Fair Isle). Carry floats loosely — no more than 4 sts between color changes. The motif appears across the body front and back, with continuation into the yoke as "shoulders" of the wings.
- Read colorwork charts from **right to left, bottom to top**, as you would for in-the-round knitting.
- All increases/decreases worked 1 st inside markers unless noted.

---

## Stitch Patterns

**1×1 Rib (worked in the round, any even # of sts):**
- All rnds: *k1, p1; rep from * to end.

**Stockinette (in the round):** Knit every round.

---

## CHART A — Monarch Wing (24-st repeat × 36 rnds)

*Legend:* ■ = CC1 (Black), □ = MC (Orange), ● = CC2 (White)

```
Rnd 36: ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■
Rnd 35: ■ □ □ □ ● □ □ □ □ ● □ □ □ □ ● □ □ □ □ ● □ □ □ ■
Rnd 34: ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■
Rnd 33: ■ □ □ □ □ ● □ □ □ □ ● □ □ □ □ ● □ □ □ □ ● □ □ ■
Rnd 32: ■ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ ■
Rnd 31: ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ ■
Rnd 30: ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ ■
Rnd 29: ■ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ ■
Rnd 28: ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■
Rnd 27: ■ □ □ □ □ □ ● □ □ □ ● □ □ ● □ □ □ ● □ □ □ □ □ ■
Rnd 26: ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■
Rnd 25: ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■
Rnd 24: ■ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ ■
Rnd 23: ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■
Rnd 22: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Rnd 21: ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■
Rnd 20: ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■
Rnd 19: ■ □ □ □ ● □ □ ● □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ● □ □ ● □ □ □ ■
Rnd 18: ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■
Rnd 17: ■ □ □ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ □ □ ■
Rnd 16: ■ □ ■ ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■ ■ □ ■
Rnd 15: ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ ■
Rnd 14: ■ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ ■
Rnd 13: ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■
Rnd 12: ■ □ □ □ □ ● □ □ □ □ ● □ □ ● □ □ □ □ ● □ □ □ □ ■
Rnd 11: ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■
Rnd 10: ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■
Rnd  9: ■ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ ■
Rnd  8: ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■
Rnd  7: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Rnd  6: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Rnd  5: ■ □ □ □ □ □ ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■ □ □ □ □ □ ■
Rnd  4: ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■
Rnd  3: ■ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ ■
Rnd  2: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Rnd  1: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
```
*The chart is worked twice across the body (front + back), creating two mirrored wing impressions when laid flat.*

---

## INSTRUCTIONS

### Legs (Make 2 — both identical)

With **CC1** and US 4 / 3.5 mm DPNs (or preferred small-circ method), CO **40 sts**. Place BOR marker and join in the round, being careful not to twist.

**Cuff:**
- Rnds 1–8: Work 1×1 rib (k1, p1) around. *(40 sts)*

Switch to **US 5 / 3.75 mm** needles and **MC**.

**Decrease rnd:** *k8, k2tog; rep from * around. → **36 sts**

Knit 2 rnds plain in MC.

**Leg colorwork band (optional decorative stripe):**
- Rnd 1: With CC1, knit.
- Rnd 2: With CC1, knit.
- Rnd 3: With MC, *k3 MC, k1 CC1; rep from * around.
- Rnd 4: With CC1, knit.
- Rnd 5: With MC, knit.

**Leg shaping (gradual increases for thigh):**
Continue in MC stockinette. On every **8th rnd**, work increase rnd as follows:
- **Inc rnd:** k1, m1L, knit to last st, m1R, k1. *(+2 sts)*

Work inc rnd **3 times total**, then continue even until leg measures **7" (18 cm)** from CO edge, ending after a plain rnd.
*Stitch count after increases: 36 + 6 = **42 sts**.*

Place all 42 sts on waste yarn and set aside. Make a second leg identically. **Do not cut yarn on the second leg.**

---

### Joining the Legs / Crotch Placket

The body front will have a 3-button placket through the crotch for diaper access. We will join the legs but work the crotch area FLAT for a few rows to create the placket opening.

**Setup:**
1. Slip first leg sts back onto US 5 / 3.75 mm 24" circular.
2. With the second (still-attached) leg on the needle, knit across all 42 sts of leg 2. **This becomes the back.**
3. CO **6 sts** at end of leg 2 using backward-loop cast-on — these are the **left crotch placket sts** (will form the buttonhole band).
4. Join the first leg: knit across all 42 sts of leg 1 (front).
5. CO **6 sts** at end of leg 1 — these are the **right crotch placket sts** (button band).

**Total live sts: 42 + 6 + 42 + 6 = 96 sts.**

Place BOR marker after the final 6 CO sts (this is the right-side seam of the body). Place a second marker after leg-2's 42 sts + 6 CO sts = 48 sts (this is the left-side seam).

*Stitch arrangement:* BOR — 42 back sts — pm — 6 left placket sts — pm — 42 front sts — 6 right placket sts — BOR.

**Working the placket (flat rows for 1"):**
The two 6-st placket panels will overlap. For the next 8 rounds, work the **right placket** (the 6 sts before BOR) as a **buttonhole band**, and the **left placket** as a plain button band, while knitting the rest of the body in the round… we accomplish this by working the placket as a continuous round but adding buttonholes.

*Simplified instructions:*

**Rnds 1–8 (joining rnds, MC):**
- Rnd 1: k all 96 sts.
- Rnd 2: k all sts.
- Rnd 3 (buttonhole rnd): k to last 6 sts of rnd, k1, [yo, k2tog, k1] — work [yo, k2tog, k1] once → 1 buttonhole made near end of rnd. (Stitch count unchanged.)
- Rnds 4–5: k all sts.
- Rnd 6 (buttonhole rnd): k to last 5 sts, yo, k2tog, k3.
- Rnds 7–8: k all sts.

*(2 buttonholes worked; the 3rd will be worked just below the body colorwork — see next section.)*

**Decrease to body count:**
After Rnd 8, work a setup rnd to merge the placket sts into the body stitch count for the chest:
- **Setup rnd:** k42 (back), k2tog 3 times across 6 left placket sts → 3 sts; k42 (front), k2tog 3 times across 6 right placket sts → 3 sts. **Total: 42 + 3 + 42 + 3 = 90 sts.**

Knit 1 rnd, working a final buttonhole over the 3 right-placket sts: k to last 3 sts, yo, k2tog, k1. *(3rd buttonhole; st count unchanged.)*

**Final body increase rnd to set up chest:**
- *k15, m1L; rep from * around → 90 + 6 = **96 sts**.
- Knit 1 rnd.
- Next rnd: *k16, m1L; rep from * around → 96 + 6 = **102 sts**.
- Knit 1 rnd.
- Next rnd: *k17, m1L; rep from * around → 102 + 6 = **108 sts**.

*Body stitch count: **108 sts.** This equals 108 ÷ 24 sts/4" gauge ≈ 18" — correct chest circumference. ✓*

Re-establish BOR marker and side markers:
- BOR at right side seam. From BOR: **54 sts back, pm (left side seam), 54 sts front.**

---

### Body — Colorwork Section

The body measures from the top of the crotch placket to the underarm — **approximately 5" (12.5 cm)**, which is about 36 rnds in stranded colorwork at 28 rnds/4".

**Work Chart A** (36 rnds) across all 108 body sts:
- The 24-st repeat works **4.5 times** across 108 sts. To make the math work and keep the pattern symmetric, treat each half of the body (54 sts) as **two 24-st repeats + 6 sts of black border** centered on each side seam.

**Body chart setup (rnd 1 of Chart A):**
- *k3 CC1 (right side seam border), work 24-st Chart A repeat twice (48 sts), k3 CC1 (left side seam border)*; rep from * once for front. **Total: (3 + 48 + 3) × 2 = 108 sts.** ✓

Work all 36 rnds of Chart A. Body should measure approx. 5" (12.5 cm) from end of placket section. If shorter, knit a few plain MC rnds to reach 5".

**Underarm setup (last rnd of body before yoke):**
With MC, knit to 4 sts before left side marker. Place next **8 sts** (4 each side of side marker) on waste yarn for underarm. Knit to 4 sts before BOR. Place final **8 sts** (4 each side of BOR) on waste yarn for underarm.

**Live body sts remaining: 108 − 16 = 92 sts** (46 front, 46 back). Set body aside; do not cut yarn.

---

### Sleeves (Make 2)

With **CC1** and US 4 / 3.5 mm DPNs, CO **32 sts**. Join in the round, pm for BOR.

**Cuff:**
- Rnds 1–8: 1×1 rib. *(32 sts)*

Switch to **US 5 / 3.75 mm** needles and **MC**.

Knit 2 rnds.

**Sleeve colorwork stripe (matches leg):**
- Rnd 1: CC1 knit.
- Rnd 2: MC, *k3 MC, k1 CC1*; rep around.
- Rnd 3: CC1 knit.

Continue in MC stockinette.

**Sleeve increases:**
On the **next rnd**, and every **6th rnd thereafter, 2 times more** (3 inc rnds total):
- **Inc rnd:** k1, m1L, knit to last st, m1R, k1. *(+2 sts each time)*

**Stitch count after increases: 32 + 6 = 38 sts.**

Continue in MC stockinette until sleeve measures **5" (12.5 cm)** from CO edge.

**Underarm setup:** Knit to 4 sts before BOR. Place next **8 sts** (4 each side of BOR) on waste yarn for underarm.

**Live sleeve sts: 38 − 8 = 30 sts.** Cut yarn, leaving a 6" tail. Set aside. Make second sleeve identically; leave second sleeve attached to working yarn for joining.

---

### Joining Yoke

Return to body on 24" circular. With MC and starting at the right back underarm (just past the held back-right underarm sts):

**Joining rnd:**
1. k46 back sts.
2. pm (raglan), k30 left sleeve sts, pm (raglan).
3. k46 front sts.
4. pm (raglan), k30 right sleeve sts, pm (raglan). This becomes the new BOR.

**Total yoke sts: 46 + 30 + 46 + 30 = 152 sts.** ✓

---

### Raglan Yoke Shaping

**Raglan decrease rnd:**
*k to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1, sm, k1, ssk; rep from * 3 more times, k to end. **(−8 sts per dec rnd.)**

Work decrease rnd **every other rnd, 10 times total.**

**Stitch count after 10 dec rnds: 152 − 80 = 72 sts.** ✓
- Back: 46 − 20 = 26 sts
- Each sleeve: 30 − 20 = 10 sts
- Front: 46 − 20 = 26 sts
- Total: 26 + 10 + 26 + 10 = 72 sts ✓

*Yoke depth check: 20 rnds × 4"/32 ≈ 2.5" yoke. For a 6-month onesie, yoke depth should be ~4.5". We'll add a colorwork "wing tops" band before raglan decreases begin to add depth.*

**REVISED YOKE ORDER:**

Before beginning raglan decreases, work the following on all 152 sts:
- **Rnd 1:** CC1, knit.
- **Rnd 2:** CC1, knit.
- **Rnds 3–5:** MC, knit.
- **Rnd 6:** *k3 MC, k1 CC2*; rep from * to last 0 sts (152 ÷ 4 = 38 reps). ✓
- **Rnds 7–9:** MC, knit.
- **Rnd 10:** CC1, knit.

*(10 rnds = ~1.25" added.)*

Now begin raglan decreases as written above (10 dec rnds, every other rnd = 20 rnds ≈ 2.5"). Total yoke before neck = 20 + 10 = 30 rnds ≈ 3.75".

---

### Neckband

With **CC1**, switch to US 4 / 3.5 mm 16" circular.

**Setup dec rnd:** k2tog around as needed to reduce to 64 sts.
- From 72 sts: *k7, k2tog*; rep from * around. → 72 − 8 = **64 sts.** ✓

Work 1×1 rib (k1, p1) for **6 rnds**.

Bind off loosely in rib (a stretchy bind-off such as Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off is recommended for easy on/off over baby's head).

---

### Underarm Grafting

Place the 8 held body underarm sts and the 8 held sleeve underarm sts on two parallel needles. With MC and tapestry needle, **graft (Kitchener stitch) the 8 sts together**. Repeat for second underarm. Weave in ends at corners to close any small holes.

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## Finishing

1. **Weave in all ends** on the wrong side, working into the back of stitches of the same color where possible.
2. **Block** the onesie by soaking in cool water with wool wash for 20 minutes, gently pressing out water in a towel, and laying flat to dry, shaping to finished measurements.
3. **Sew buttons** to the right placket band, aligning with the 3 buttonholes on the left placket. (Alternative: sew on 3 snaps.)
4. **Optional antennae detail:** With black embroidery floss and a sharp needle, work two small French knots with 1" trailing stitches at the front yoke, just below the neckband, to suggest butterfly antennae.
5. **Optional wing accent:** Using duplicate stitch with CC2 (white), add a few additional white "spots" along the black wing borders if desired, mimicking monarch markings.

---

## Final Measurements Verification

| Measurement | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Chest | 108 sts ÷ 24 sts/4" | 18" ✓ |
| Inseam | 7" worked | 7" ✓ |
| Body length (crotch to underarm) | ~5" colorwork + 1" placket | ~6" ✓ |
| Yoke depth | 10 rnds plain + 20 rnds raglan | ~3.75" ✓ |
| Sleeve length | 5" worked | 5" ✓ |
| Neck circumference | 64 sts ÷ 24 sts/4" | ~10.5" ✓ |
| Total length | 7 + 6 + 3.75 = 16.75" + neckband 0.75" | ~17.5" ✓ |

Enjoy dressing your tiny monarch! 🦋