When times are tough, we mend and repair to make clothing last. This classic sweater is inspired by a ‘money-poor but family-rich’ boy of childhood fiction, Charlie.

CONSTRUCTION
Cheer up has you cast on at the neckline, and work flat forming a rounded garter neck line, before working the garter stitch sleeves and stocking stitch front and back, until you reach the required chest size.
From here the arm stitches are put on to waste yarn (or a stitch holder), and the body finished with either a classic hem or ‘hem in need of repair’. Once the body is completed, the sleeve stitches are returned to the needles and worked in the round. As with the body, the sleeves may be completed with a classic hem, or ‘hem in need of repair’. For older children, the sleeves are extended into hand warmers.

SKILLS REQUIRED

• backwards loop cast on (for under arms)
• knitting small circumferences in the round
• long tail cast on (for neckline)
• short rows in garter stitch
• working drop stitches
• working top down raglan construction

If you are not familiar with these techniques you may need to reference a knitting guide book, or view videos on the internet.

YARN
8ply/dk weight yarn (200-250m/100g)
This pattern is suitable for yarn with good elasticity and memory – a wool or wool blend.
Suggested yarn:
Red Riding Hood Yarns Belle (434m/200g)
sizes 35cm – up to 0.5 skein
sizes 37.5cm to 50cm – up to 1 skein
sizes 52.5cm to 57.5cm – up to 1.5 skeins
sizes 60cm to 65cm – up to 2 skeins
sizes 67.5cm to 72.5cm – up to 2.5 skeins