Over the Rainbow Toddler Sweater

SIZES
2 years (4 years, 6 years)

MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 26 (28 1/2, 31)" [66 (72.5, 78.5) cm].
Length: 12 (13, 14)" [30.5 (33, 35.5) cm].

MATERIALS

• Sheep(ish)™ by Vickie Howell (85 g/3 oz, 153 m/167 yds)
  Contrast A Teal(ish) (00016) 2 2 2 balls
  Contrast B Turquoise(ish) (00017) 1 1 1 ball
  Contrast C Magenta(ish) (00006) 1 1 1 ball
  Contrast D Red(ish) (00015) 1 2 2 ball(s)
  Contrast E Coral(ish) (00014) 1 1 1 ball
  Contrast F Yellow(ish) (00012) 1 1 1 ball
  Contrast G Lime(ish) (00021) 1 1 1 ball
• Size 6 mm (U.S. J-10) or size needed to obtain gauge
• Stitch markers
• Yarn needle
• Chart

GAUGE
15 sc and 16 rows = 4" [10 cm].

ABBREVIATIONS
Ch(s) = Chain(s)
Sc = Single crochet
Sl st = Slip stitch
Sc2tog = Single crochet 2 together - Insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and draw up a loop, (2 loops on hook), insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook

INSTRUCTIONS
Notes:
1. When making back, the rainbow is worked first. Shoulders are then added. Finally, lower section is worked from bottom of rainbow down to lower edge.
2. The fronts and sleeves are each worked from the top down.
3. To change color, work last stitch of old color to last yarn over. Yarn over with new color and draw through all loops on hook to complete stitch. Proceed with new color. Fasten off old color.

BACK
Rainbow
With B, ch 4; join with sl st in first ch to form a ring.
Row 1: Work 6 sc in ring, turn; do not join, work back and forth in rows.
Row 2 (RS): Ch 1, 2 sc in each st across, turn - 12 sc.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 4: Ch 1, [2 sc in next st, sc in next st] 6 times; change to A in last sc, turn - 18 sc.
Row 5: With A, ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 6: Ch 1, sc in first st, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts] 5 times, 2 sc in next st, sc in next st; change to C in last sc, turn - 24 sc.
Row 7: With C, ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 8: Ch 1, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts] 6 times; change to D in last sc, turn - 30 sc.
Continue to change color in following color sequence: Work 4 (6, 8) rows with D, 2 rows with E, 2 rows with F, 4 rows with G, 4 rows with B.
Row 9: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 10: Ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts] 5 times, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts, turn - 36 sc.
Row 11: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 12: Ch 1, [sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st] 6 times, turn - 42 sc.
Row 13: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 14: Ch 1, sc in next 3 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 6 sts] 5 times, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts - 48 sts.
Row 15: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 16: Ch 1, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 7 sts] 6 times, turn - 54 sts.
Row 17: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 18: Ch 1, sc in next 4 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 8 sts] 5 times, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts - 60 sts.
Row 19: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 20: Ch 1, [sc in next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st] 6 times, turn - 66 sts.
Row 21: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 22: Ch 1, sc in next 5 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 10 sts] 5 times, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts - 72 sts.
Row 23: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 24: Ch 1, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 11 sts] 6 times, turn - 78 sts.

Sizes 4 (6) years only:
Row 25: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 26: Ch 1, sc in next 6 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 12 sts] 5 times, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 6 sts - 84 sts.

Size 6 years only:
Row 27: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 28: Ch 1, [sc in next 13 sts, 2 sc in next st] 6 times, turn - 90 sts.

All Sizes
Fasten off.

Shape First Shoulder
With WS of rainbow facing, miss first 10 (12, 14) sts of lat row, join A with sl st in next st.
Row 1 (WS): Ch 1, beginning in same st as join, sc2tog, sc in next 18 sts, sc2tog, turn - 20 sts.
Row 2: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn - 18 sts.
Rows 3 - 10: Repeat last 2 rows 4 times - 2 sts.
Row 11: Ch 1, sc2tog - 1 st.
Fasten off.

Shape Second Shoulder
With WS of rainbow facing, miss next 14 (16, 18) unworked sts following first shoulder, join A with sl st in next st.
Work Rows 1 - 11 of first shoulder - 1 st.
Fasten off.

Lower Section
With RS facing, working across opposite side of foundation ch of rainbow, join D with sl st in first ch.
Row 1 (RS): Ch 1, work 44 (48, 52) sc evenly spaced across lower edge of rainbow, turn.
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.
Repeat Row 2 and change color. in following color sequence: Work 1 more row with D, 2 rows with G, 4 rows with C, 2 rows with E, 2 rows with D, 2 rows with F, 1 row with D.
Continue to work rows with D only until piece measures 12 (13, 14)" [30.5 (33, 35.5) cm] from top of rainbow.
Fasten off.

LEFT FRONT
Beginning at shoulder with A, ch 10.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each remaining ch across, turn - 9 sc.
Row 2 (RS): Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in each st across; change to B in last sc, turn - 10 sc.
Row 3: With B, ch 1, sc in each st across to last st, 2 sc in last st, turn - 11 sc.
Row 4: Ch 1, sc in each st across to last st, 2 sc in last st, turn - 12 sc.
Rows 5–14 (16, 18): Repeat last 2 rows 5 (6, 7) times and change color in following color sequence: Work 2 (4, 6) more rows with B, 4 rows with G, 2 rows with F, 2 rows with E, change to D at the end of Row 14 (16, 18) - 22 (24, 26) sts.
Row 15 (17, 19): With D, sc in each st across, turn.
Repeat last row and change color in following color sequence: Work more rows with D, 2 rows with C, 2 rows with A, 4 rows with B, 4 rows with D, 2 rows with G, 4 rows with C, 2 rows with E, 2 rows with D, 2 rows with F, change to D at the end of the last row.
Continue to work rows with D only until piece measures same as back.
Fasten off.

RIGHT FRONT
Beginning at shoulder with A, ch 10.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each remaining ch across, turn - 9 sc.
Row 2 (RS): Ch 1, sc in each st across to last st, 2 sc in last st; change to B in last sc, turn - 10 sc.
Row 3: With B, ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in each st across, turn - 11 sc.
Row 4: Ch 1, sc in each st across to last st, 2 sc in last st, turn - 12 sc.
Rows 5 - 14 (16, 18): Repeat last 2 rows 5 (6, 7) times and change color in following color sequence: Work 2 (4, 6) more rows with B, 4 rows with G, 2 rows with F, 2 rows with E, change to D at the end of Row 14 (16, 18) - 22 (24, 26) sts.
Row 15 (17, 19): With D, sc in each st across, turn.
Repeat last rows and change color in following color sequence: Work 3 (5, 7) more rows with D, 2 rows with C, 2 rows with A, 4 rows with B, 4 rows with D, 2 rows with G, 4 rows with C, 2 rows with E, 2 rows with D, 2 rows with F, change to D at the end of the last row.
Continue to work rows with D only until piece measures same as back.
Fasten off.

SLEEVES (make 2)
Beginning at top of sleeve with A, ch 41 (45, 49).
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each remaining ch across, turn - 40 (44, 48) sc.
Rows 2 and 3: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 4: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn - 38 (42, 46) sc.
Rows 5 - 7: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 8: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn - 36 (40, 47) sc.
Rows 9 - 28 (32, 36): Repeat last 4 rows 5 (6, 7) times; change to B in last st of last row - 26 (28, 30) sc.
Rows 29 (33, 37) - 31 (35, 39): With B, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 32 (36, 40): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, sc2tog; change to D in last sc, turn - 24 (26, 28) sc.
Rows 33 (37, 41) - 37 (41, 45): With D, ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 38 (42, 46): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn - 22 (24, 26) sc.
Rows 39 (43, 47) - 44 (48, 52): Repeat last 6 rows once more - 20 (22, 26) sc.
Row 45 (49, 53): Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.
Repeat last row until piece measures 12 (13, 14)" [30.5 (33.5, 35.5) cm] from beginning.
Fasten off.

POCKETS (make 2)
With B, ch 4; join with sl st in first ch to form a ring.
Row 1: Work 6 sc in ring, turn; do not join, work back and forth in rows.
Row 2 (RS): Ch 1, 2 sc in each st across, turn - 12 sc.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 4: Ch 1, [2 sc in next st, sc in next st] 6 times, turn - 18 sc.
Row 5: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.
Row 6: Ch 1, sc in first st, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts] 5 times, 2 sc in next st, sc in next st, do not turn - 24 sc.
Row 7: Working in ends of rows across straight edge of pocket, ch 1, sc evenly spaced across, turn.
Row 8: Ch 1, sc in each sc across.
Fasten off.

FINISHING
Sew shoulder seams. Center tops of sleeves over shoulder seam and sew in place. Sew side and sleeve seams, using matching colored yarn.

Front Edging and Ties
With RS facing, join B with sl st in lower front corner, to work up front edge.
Row 1: Ch 1, sc evenly spaced up front edge, around neck edge, and down other front edge to opposite lower corner, turn.
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.
Place three markers across one front edge. Place first marker 1 1/2" [4 cm] above lower edge, place 2nd marker at beginning of neck shaping, and place last marker evenly spaced between the first two. Repeat to place three markers across other front edge.
Row 3: Ch 1, [sc in each st to next marker, ch 21, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 19 ch (tie made)] 6 times, sc in each remaining st across.
Fasten off.
Sew one pocket to each front, angle the pockets so that the straight edge is oriented towards the arms. Only sew along the curved edges. Using yarn needle, weave in all ends. Block lightly, if desired.

See this crochet design along with others in: 26 Homemade Christmas Gifts for Kids: Christmas Crochet Ideas!