After knitting Nimbus with Berroco Peruvia Quick, I had almost an entire ball of yarn left over. I decided to make a Big Boy Sophisticate for little cousin Cole, since he is too big now for the original (and besides, it is summer so by the time it is cold enough for a sweater he will be waaay too big). Peruvia Quick is super bulky, so I decided to stick with the larger size, knowing that in this yarn it would come out to be a 24 month (or bigger) size. My gauge was 12 sts/ 4″, and I ended up with a 24″ chest.
This isn’t going to be the most practical of toddler sweaters because it will be hand wash only, but babies need nice things to wear sometimes, right? I decided to make it even more sophisticated and manly by adding woven leather buttons (also, this adds to the impracticality of the project, of course). Ooooh, he will look like a little librarian!
This is the second Baby Sophisticate I’ve made and I’m happy to say that it didn’t make me miserable to re-knit my own pattern :-). Maybe it was the novelty of the bulkier yarn, but I’m sure it helped that it was super fast. I was also glad to get a chance to test the pattern again – I followed the writen instructions and it produced a real-life baby sweater, so that made me feel good. There are 38 projects on Ravelry now, and those people have been able to produce real-life baby sweaters as well. It’s kind of like magic! :-)
It IS magic. I love knitting.
Stockinette 
hello, just came across your blog and love your Baby Sophisticate cardi. I’m expecting a baby boy any minute now and i think this cardi would be great. I looked at your original pattern and wondered where the button holes should go. Have I missed something? i’m not very good at reading patterns as I’m a novice knitter and prefer making up patterns myself. Do you recommend a basic eyelet button hole for this pattern?
thanks,
joy
I’m glad you like the pattern and congratulations on your expected arrival! The buttonholes are created when you make the collar of the sweater. I made 4 buttonholes simply by knitting two together and then working a yarn over (K2tog, YO). I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions!
I tried the pattern using several needles and weights of yarn. The sweater came out to fit a small baby doll. I can’t figure out what i did wrong. HELP
Hi! I’m sorry that the pattern hasn’t been working out for you! In the first version of the pattern, the age ranges for both sizes were significantly overestimated. In the newest version of the pattern the age ranges should be correct, and I haven’t heard of any size issues except for those who were unable to obtain gauge. If the sweater is coming out way to small, I would suggest trying a bulkier yarn and a larger needle to get a larger sweater. If that doesn’t work, you can add more increases during the yoke to make the sweater bigger. I hope this helps!
Hi, I just started this sweater and I love knitting it. I’m a novice knitter as well, I’ve read some issues with the sizing of the sweater, I’m knitting the 6 – 12 months size, and using the suggested mission falls and US size 8. Have you heard of any issues? Thanks for sharing this beautiful pattern!
Hi! Thanks for your comments on the pattern! The first version of the pattern did have some sizing issues, but they should be all cleared up in the newest version. As long as you’ve got gauge you should be fine, but if you think it is going to come out small, you can add one or two yoke increases just to be sure. I hope it turns out well!
I love the look of this sweater, for myself! How hard would it be to convert this to an adult size? Are you aware of any sites that somehow automatically does this?
I’m glad you like the sweater! I’m actually working on an adult version right now, but it might be a little while before it is up! Check back later! If you want to take a go at it yourself I don’t think it would be too difficult to scale up the pattern by adding more raglan increases. As far as a site to help you scale the pattern, I’m not aware of any, sorry! Hope this helps!
ps- I found your blog randomly and the patterns are nice and modern looking! Thanks.
I would love to do the larger version as I have some yarn screaming out to be used for this however, when you made the Big Boy Cole version what size needles did you use and what length did you do the arms and body?
Hi! Thanks for your questions – I should have put these details in the original post! I used a size 10 needle with the bulkier yarn and had a gauge of 12sts/4″. Based on these standards (I was knitting for a 24 month old), I made the body (measured from the underarm) and the sleeves both 8.5″ long. The chest came out to be 24″ with my larger gauge and knitting the large size from the pattern. The little guy I was making this for is short for his age, so you might want to add a little extra length to the body (an inch or so), if your kiddo is not. Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any more questions!
I too am interested in knowing what adjustments should be made for a toddler size! Thanks!
Thank you for the prompt reply. Hope to test the gauge and start this evening
Thank you sooooo much for the link to teach me how to do the knit & turn st.
I have never knitted on circular needles…. so I still have a few questions. When working on the sleeves from the double pointed needles, am I working in the round or like if I was using straight needles in which I would sew up a seam along the inside of the seam when I am finished with the sweater? I am a novice yet…but I am trying hard because I REALLY want to knit this sweater.. I LOVE IT! I am also a little nervous about picking up the sts to make the collar. I hope I pick up the right st.
Thank you for your patience.
Hi Claudette!
I hope the video helped! When you work the sleeve stitches, you are working in the round so that you don’t have to seam up the sleeves. It would work either way, though, so if you started working the sleeves straight, you could continue and seam them up at the end. Working in the round saves you from having to do this and also eliminates purling! When you are ready to pick up the stitches for the collar, take a look at this tutorial. Good luck! : )
do this many people search blogs on yarn???
Hi,
I love this sweater! How do I alter your pdf to knit it up for my 24 month size? Is there some sort of formula to apply to all of the directions! This will be my first sweater!
Thanks so much.
Hi Kate!
Thanks for your comments! If you wanted to make this in a larger size, it would be necessary to cast on a larger number of stitches (based on your gauge and how large you want the neck opening to be), then you could work more raglan increases in order to make the yoke deeper and the body and sleeves bigger. Since it is a top down design you could try the sweater on as you go to make sure that the chest and sleeves are big enough. Hope this helps!
I just finished this gem of a sweater for my 1 yr. old granddaughter.I love this sweater!!! I have a 5,4,3,2,yr. old grandchildren also and would love to knit this for them also.I read through the comments above and seen you had stated to increase the yoke size…how? Do i just keep increasing then try it on them? how do i know where the yoke should end though? please help? Thank you! p.s. you are very talented with your designs, please continue with this endeavor:o)
I just finished this wonderful sweater….. What a true Classic pattern! I have just to take pics & find the nicest buttons.
Many thanks for posting this pattern!
I’m hoping to make this sweater for both my grandsons for Christmas. My 9 month old Logan is wearing sz 24 month now. Yikes. I consider myself a novice knitter so I’m hoping what you have noted here will be enough, but I really wish the pattern had the adjustments for larger sizes. My 2 month old Brody is pretty skinny so the 6-12 month should be perfect. I love this pattern!
I’ve never made a cardigan before, this will be my first. Many thanks for the lovely pattern and great instructions.
Good Morning, I am wondering if I could make this jacket up & have permission please to sell some. I do alot of knitting for charity, and sell some garments I make to be able to purchase more wool. I dont make profit out of my knitting. I look forward to hearing from you. Many Thanks.
Kind regards
Jennifer.