This is the precise instructions for Tommy’s sweater. I found it fits him well and I plan to do variations of the same theme later! It is getting lots of compliments and many friends have told me this is their favorite one on Tommy so far. I just counted - I have made 12 sweaters for him already, one of which I haven’t posted to Ravelry yet. I just began the 13th one this past weekend…..

Thought about the yarn:
True to its name, the color is rich and vibrant and can stands up to hand washing and brutal daily wear. However, it is peeling slightly, so I have to give it a monthly shave. To be fair, I am starting to think it is impossible to find a yarn that doesn’t peel. I do knit loosely for the drape effect, and my toddler does wear the sweater at least twice a week and he is really making it work hard.

1. Cast on 128 stitches. Place marker and join.
2. Work garter stitch edging: K 1 row, P 1 row, K 1 row, P 1 row, K1 row.
3. Work seed stitch edging: K1 P1 for 1 row, then P1 K1 for 1 row. Repeat until the desired length is reached.
4. Knit even until piece measure desired length. Ending last round 4 sts before marker. Knit the next 8 stitches, then put those 8 stitches on a stitch holder or spare yarn. Work 64 sts, then put the last 8 stitches on a stitch holder or spare yarn, work another 56 sts. Break yarn - leave a long tail, which can be used up for the three needle bind off later. Set piece aside.

Start working on sleeves. Make 2 sleeves.

1. With double point needles, cast on 30 stitches. Place marker and join.
2. Work garter stitch edging: K 1 row, P 1 row, K 1 row, P 1 row, K1 row.
3. Work seed stitch edging: K1 P1 for 1 row, then P1 K1 for 1 row. Repeat until the desired length is reached.
4. Increase 1 st each side of marker every 6 rounds for a total of 9 times. There are 48 stitches total after the increases.
5. Work even until desired length.
6. At the last row of, stop 4 stitches before the marker, put 8 stitches on a stitch holder or spare yarn.
   Note: For sleeve 1, break yarn - leave a long tail, which can be used up for the three needle bind off later. Set the piece aside. For sleeve 2, don’t break yarn. This is going to be the left sleeve.

Join pieces together:

1. Pick up the left sleeve. Knit across 40 stitches.
2. Pick up the body and join it to the left sleeve by knitting across 56 stitches. This is the front.
3. Pick up the right sleeve. Knit across across 40 stitches.
4. Knit across 56 stitches of the back. Post marker for end of round. There are now 192 stitches.

Shape yoke:
Round 1. knit 2 stitches, then knit 2 together to decrease 1 stitch. Knit to the 4 stitches before the 3rd marker (which is the marketer between the right sleeve and the back of the body), knit 2 together to decrease 1 stitch.
Round 2. Work left twist cable (see instruction below) across the entire round.
Round 3 and 4. Knit across.
Round 5. Repeat Round 2.
Round 6 and 7. Knit across.
Round 8. Repeat Round2.
Next 3 rounds (9 - 11): Knit across.

Decrease round 1: Knit 3 sts, Knit 2 together. There will be 152 sts left.
Repeat round 2 through round 11 as instructed above.

Decrease round 2: Knit 2 sts, Knit 2 together. There will be 114 sts left.
Repeat round 2 through round 11 as instructed above.

Decrease round 3: Knit 1 sts, Knit 2 together. There will be 76 sts left.
Repeat round 2 (left-twist cable) .
Next 3 rounds: Knit across.

Neck Shaping with short rows:

1. At 8 stitches after the start of the round marker, post a marker to define the left shoulder line. Count 38 stitches, post a marker to define the right shoulder line.
2. Knit to the marker that define the left shoulder line. Wrap the next st, turn work around, and purl to the right shoulder line marker.
3. Wrap the next st, turn work around and knit to 5 sts before the previous wrapped st.
4. Wrap the next sts, turn, and purl to 5 sts before the previous wrapped st.
5. Wrap the next sts, turn, and knit to the end of the round marker.
6. Knit one round, working wraps together with wrapped sts to hide the wraps.

Decrease round 4: K1, K2 together. 51 sts remains.
Knit 1 round.

Bind Off: I recommend doing the Slip-Slip-Knit Elastic Bind Off as instructed in this link: http://slipslipknit.com/?page_id=92

Left-twist cable instruction:
Step 1: Insert your needle into the second stitch on your main needle through the back loop and knit the stitch, leaving it on the needle.

Step 2: Bring your working needle around the front of your work and insert your needle into the first stitch knitwise and knit the stitch as normal.

Step 3: Slip both stitches off the main needle together.

Here is a link that has a video instruction for the left-twist cable: http://newstitchaday.com/left-twist-stitch/ Note that in the example shown in the linked page, there are some purl stitches between every left-twist cable. In this pattern there is no purl stitches between the cable.