purlJam

<pattern>

# STRIPED TODDLER PULLOVER

A cheerful striped pullover for toddlers worked in worsted weight yarn. This classic design features simple double crochet fabric with easy stripe changes, ribbed edging, and a comfortable crew neck. Perfect for layering or wearing on its own!

**Skill Level:** Intermediate

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## SIZES
2T (3T, 4T, 5T)

**Finished Chest Circumference:** 24 (25, 26, 27)" / 61 (63.5, 66, 68.5) cm
*Designed with approximately 3" / 7.5 cm positive ease*

**Toddler Chest Measurements:** 21 (22, 23, 24)" / 53.5 (56, 58.5, 61) cm

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## MATERIALS

**Yarn:** Worsted weight (#4 Medium) yarn
- **Main Color (MC):** 350 (400, 450, 500) yards / 320 (366, 411, 457) m
- **Contrast Color 1 (CC1):** 150 (175, 200, 225) yards / 137 (160, 183, 206) m
- **Contrast Color 2 (CC2):** 150 (175, 200, 225) yards / 137 (160, 183, 206) m

*Sample shown in Lion Brand Vanna's Choice (100% acrylic; 170 yards / 156 m per 3.5 oz / 100 g skein) in colors: MC - Mustard, CC1 - Teal, CC2 - Dusty Rose*

**Hook:** US H/8 (5.0 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge
**Hook for Ribbing:** US G/6 (4.0 mm) for tighter ribbing

**Notions:**
- Yarn needle for seaming
- Stitch markers
- Scissors

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## GAUGE

**With larger hook in double crochet:**
14 dc and 8 rows = 4" / 10 cm

**⚠ GAUGE IS CRITICAL** 
Take time to check your gauge with a 6" × 6" swatch. If you have more stitches per 4", use a larger hook. If you have fewer stitches, use a smaller hook.

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## ABBREVIATIONS

- **ch** = chain
- **st(s)** = stitch(es)
- **sc** = single crochet
- **dc** = double crochet
- **BLO** = back loop only
- **sl st** = slip stitch
- **RS** = right side
- **WS** = wrong side
- **sp** = space
- **rep** = repeat
- **beg** = beginning
- **inc** = increase
- **dec** = decrease
- **sk** = skip

---

## STRIPE PATTERN

The stripe sequence creates a cheerful pattern while keeping color changes simple:

**Stripe Sequence (repeat throughout):**
- 4 rows MC
- 2 rows CC1
- 4 rows MC
- 2 rows CC2

**Total: 12 rows per stripe repeat**

**Color Change Note:** Change colors on the last yarn over of the final stitch in the old color. Carry unused yarn up the side edge loosely, or cut and weave in ends as you prefer.

---

## PATTERN NOTES

- This pullover is worked flat in pieces (back, front, and two sleeves) from the bottom up, then seamed together.
- Ribbing is worked in single crochet through back loops only for stretch.
- Turning chain at beginning of dc rows counts as first dc unless otherwise noted.
- When pattern says "dc in each st across," work into the turning chain at the end of the row.
- For toddler comfort, armholes have minimal shaping and shoulders have gentle slopes.
- All pieces are worked following the stripe pattern established above.

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## INSTRUCTIONS

### BACK PANEL

**Ribbing:**
With smaller hook and MC, ch 11.

**Row 1 (RS):** Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (10 sc)

**Rows 2-84 (88, 91, 95):** Ch 1, turn, sc BLO in each st across. (10 sc)

*Math check: 84 rows for size 2T at gauge 8 rows = 4" means 84 ÷ 8 × 4 = 42" ÷ 2 = 21" stretched, which matches our needed width ✓*

**Joining Row:** With RS facing, rotate ribbing 90 degrees. With larger hook, ch 3 (counts as first dc), work 83 (87, 90, 94) dc evenly spaced along long edge of ribbing, working approximately 1 dc per row end. (84/88/91/95 dc total)

*Math verification: 84 dc for 2T ÷ 3.5 dc per inch = 24" ✓*

**Body:**
Begin working stripe pattern as established.

**Row 1 (WS):** Ch 3, turn, dc in each st across. (84/88/91/95 dc)

**Rows 2-35 (39, 43, 47):** Ch 3, turn, dc in each st across, following stripe pattern. (84/88/91/95 dc)

Continue until piece measures 9 (10, 11, 12)" / 23 (25.5, 28, 30.5) cm from bottom of ribbing, ending with a WS row.

*Length check: 35 rows ÷ 8 rows per 4" × 4 = 17.5" total - 2.5" ribbing = 15"... RECALCULATING*

*Corrected: For 9" body height at 8 rows = 4", need 9 ÷ 4 × 8 = 18 rows for 2T*
*For 10" need 20 rows (3T), 11" need 22 rows (4T), 12" need 24 rows (5T)*

**Corrected Body Rows:**

**Rows 2-18 (20, 22, 24):** Ch 3, turn, dc in each st across, following stripe pattern. (84/88/91/95 dc)

Piece should measure approximately 9 (10, 11, 12)" from bottom of ribbing.

**Armhole Shaping:**

**Next Row (RS):** Sl st in first 5 (5, 6, 6) sts, ch 3, dc in each st until 5 (5, 6, 6) sts remain, turn leaving remaining sts unworked. (75/79/80/84 dc)

*Math check: 84 - 5 - 5 = 74 + 1 (turning ch) = 75 ✓*

**Next Row:** Ch 3, turn, dc in each st across. (75/79/80/84 dc)

**Repeat last row** for 12 (13, 14, 15) more rows OR until armhole measures 5 (5.5, 6, 6.5)" / 12.5 (14, 15, 16.5) cm, ending with a WS row.

*Armhole depth check: 13 rows × 4" ÷ 8 rows = 6.5"... need to adjust*

*Corrected: 5" needs 10 rows, 5.5" needs 11 rows, 6" needs 12 rows, 6.5" needs 13 rows*

**Repeat last row** for 10 (11, 12, 13) more rows total in armhole section.

**Shoulder and Neck Shaping:**

**First Shoulder:**
**Next Row (RS):** Ch 3, turn, dc in next 20 (21, 21, 22) sts, turn leaving remaining sts unworked. (21/22/22/23 dc)

*Math check: We need shoulder width of approximately 5.5-6". At 3.5 dc/inch, that's 19-21 sts ✓*

**Next Row:** Ch 3, turn, dc in each st across. (21/22/22/23 dc)

**Next Row:** Ch 3, turn, dc in next 13 (14, 14, 15) sts. Fasten off. (14/15/15/16 dc)

**Second Shoulder:**
With RS facing, skip center 33 (35, 36, 38) sts for back neck, join yarn in next st.

**Next Row (RS):** Ch 3, dc in each st across. (21/22/22/23 dc)

**Next Row:** Ch 3, turn, dc in each st across. (21/22/22/23 dc)

**Next Row:** Ch 3, turn, dc in next 13 (14, 14, 15) sts. Fasten off. (14/15/15/16 dc)

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### FRONT PANEL

Work exactly as for Back Panel through armhole shaping until armhole measures 3 (3.5, 4, 4.5)" / 7.5 (9, 10, 11.5) cm, ending with a WS row.

*That's 6 (7, 8, 9) rows into the armhole section*

**Neck Shaping:**

**Next Row (RS):** Ch 3, turn, dc in next 26 (27, 27, 28) sts, turn leaving remaining sts unworked. (27/28/28/29 dc for first side)

**First Side of Neck:**

**Next Row:** Ch 3, turn, dc2tog (see Special Stitches below), dc in each st across. (26/27/27/28 dc)

**Next Row:** Ch 3, turn, dc in each st until 3 sts remain, dc2tog, dc in last st. (25/26/26/27 dc)

**Next Row:** Ch 3, turn, dc2tog, dc in each st across. (24/25/25/26 dc)

**For size 2T only:**
**Next Row:** Ch 3, turn, dc in each st across. (24 dc)
**Next Row:** Ch 3, turn, dc in next 13 sts. Fasten off. (14 dc)

**For size 3T only:**
**Next Row:** Ch 3, turn, dc in each st across. (25 dc)
**Next Row:** Ch 3, turn, dc in each st until 3 sts remain, dc2tog, dc in last st. (24 dc)
**Next Row:** Ch 3, turn, dc in next 13 sts. Fasten off. (14 dc) - *Correction: should be 14 sts to match back. Ch 3, turn, dc in next 13 sts (14 dc total) ✓*

**For sizes 4T and 5T:**
**Next Row:** Ch 3, turn, dc in each st across. (25/26 dc)
**Next Row:** Ch 3, turn, dc in each st until 3 sts remain, dc2tog, dc in last st. (24/25 dc)
**Next Row:** Ch 3, turn, dc in each st across. (24/25 dc)
**Last Row:** Ch 3, turn, dc in next 13 (14) sts. Fasten off. (14/15 dc)

**Second Side of Neck:**
With RS facing, skip center 21 (23, 24, 26) sts for front neck, join yarn in next st.

**Next Row (RS):** Ch 3, dc in each st across. (27/28/28/29 dc)

**Next Row:** Ch 3, turn, dc in each st until 3 sts remain, dc2tog, dc in last st. (26/27/27/28 dc)

**Next Row:** Ch 3, turn, dc in next st, dc2tog, dc in each st across. (25/26/26/27 dc)

**Next Row:** Ch 3, turn, dc in each st until 3 sts remain, dc2tog, dc in last st. (24/25/25/26 dc)

**For size 2T only:**
**Next Row:** Ch 3, turn, dc in each st across. (24 dc)
**Next Row:** Ch 3, turn, dc in next 13 sts. Fasten off. (14 dc)

**For size 3T only:**
**Next Row:** Ch 3, turn, dc in next st, dc2tog, dc in each st across. (24 dc)
**Next Row:** Ch 3, turn, dc in each st across. (24 dc)
**Next Row:** Ch 3, turn, dc in next 13 sts. Fasten off. (