Classic Elite Yarns Goldilocks Collection eBook Knitting

Classic Elite Yarns Goldilocks Collection: Baby Bear Pullover

What Is Being Made

The Baby Bear is a classic guernsey-style pullover sweater designed for babies and toddlers, sized for 6 months to 4 years old. This machine-washable knit features a sophisticated lattice cabled yoke, garter stitch trim, and a button shoulder closure for easy dressing of young children. The design was created by Kim Barnette and is part of the Classic Elite Yarns Goldilocks Collection, which focuses on soft, practical garments for the youngest knitters.

Techniques Used

The Baby Bear pullover employs several intermediate knitting techniques that add visual interest and texture to the finished garment. The construction begins with garter stitch trim at the lower edge, providing a classic, durable finish. The body is worked primarily in stockinette stitch, creating a smooth, refined fabric. The most distinctive technical feature is the lattice cable yoke, which is worked over the shoulder and upper chest area using a cable needle to create crossed stitches that form an intricate geometric pattern. Additionally, the pattern incorporates reverse stockinette stitch edging on either side of the cable section, framing the lattice design. Strategic increases are worked into the pattern to shape the yoke and create proper fit across the shoulders and chest.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The primary stitch used for the body of the sweater, creating a smooth, flat fabric
• Garter Stitch: Used for the trim at the cast-on edge, providing texture and elasticity
• Reverse Stockinette Stitch (Rev St st): Used as edging on either side of the lattice cable section to frame the design
• Lattice Cable: A decorative cable pattern worked over the yoke area, creating a crosshatch or lattice effect
• Make One (M1): Increases used strategically throughout the yoke shaping to expand stitches from the body to the shoulders
• Bind Off (BO): Used to shape armholes and finish edges

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Baby Bear is designed to be knitted in Liberty Wool Light by Classic Elite Yarns, a machine-washable yarn made from 100% wool. This practical fiber choice makes the finished garment easy to care for—an important consideration for baby clothing. The yarn comes in 50-gram balls, with each ball providing approximately 200 yards of yardage. The pattern calls for 3 to 3 balls of yarn in the colorway 6649 Lapis, depending on the size being knitted.

Two sizes of US knitting needles are required to achieve proper gauge and fabric characteristics. US size 3 (3.25 mm) needles are used for the initial garter stitch trim, while US size 4 (3.5 mm) needles are used for the main body and yoke. The pattern also requires a cable needle for working the lattice cable pattern, as well as stitch holders to temporarily hold stitches during construction.

Finished Measurements and Sizing

The Baby Bear pullover is offered in three sizes to accommodate growth from 6 months through 4 years. Chest measurements range from 24½ inches in the smallest size to 29½ inches in the largest size. Length measurements progress from 13½ inches to 15½ inches, ensuring appropriate proportions for each age group. The pattern is rated as Intermediate skill level, making it suitable for knitters with some experience who are comfortable working cables and shaping techniques.