Ruby's Swirly Sweater

I first met Gramma Ruby at my job as a cardiac nurse. She came to her office visit in the company of two of her daughters.  Tall and straight backed she carried her purse firmly under one arm and held the arm of a daughter with the other.  A darling ten year old girl and a little wiggly four year old boy traipsed in after this group.  Seated in the exam room the little children pressed up against their Great Gramma Ruby and asking for snacks our introductions began.  The most important part of Gramma Ruby's examination was making note of her family.  She said, " I loves me some babies." She is in her 90's and has over 40 children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Her eyes gleam and she smooths the folds in her skirt when she tells me this truth.  It is all I need to know, and yet there is so much more for her to tell me. It would take an age.  I have five minutes and I want them to last forever.   I knit myself a Gramma Ruby in her honor. 

My own Gramma Arnold taught me to knit when I was a fumble fingered little girl. Wool scratchy and loose in my hands.  What we teach our children is what defines us. What we remember becomes us.  Teach well.

Psalm 92:14

They will still yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green,

Gramma hard at work

Gramma Ruby 

Gramma Ruby's Swirly Sweater

hand knit size 18" to 22" doll. 
in-the-round, top-down, raglan, eyelet lace, cap sleeves               
Worsted weight yarn  I used Caron Simply Soft in Orchid
Sz US 8 circular needle
abbreviations: 
CO, cast on
k1fb, knit one front and back
pm, place marker
sm, slip marker
stc, stitch or stitches
yo, yarn over
k, knit
p, purl
tog, together
~Begin~
CO 14 stc
row1:  k1,start raglan sleeve k1fb, pm, k1fb, pm, k1fb, start back k6, start 2nd raglan sleeve k1fb, pm, k1fb, pm, k1 (20 stc)
row2:  p
row3:  k1, k1fb ( v neck increase)  k to stc before marker k1fb in front of and after each marker, k all stc between markers, k to last 2 stch, k1fb, k1 
row4:  p (30 stc)
row5-row15:  k1, k1fb, k to stc before marker k1fb in front of and after each marker, k all stc between markers, k to last 2 stch, k1fb, k1 continue same for all odd rows
row 6-row16:   p (purl even rows)
row 17:  end of V-neck increases and beginning button holes.  k to first stc before marker k1fb in front of and after each marker, k all stc between markers, continue k  to last 2 stc, k1, yo, k1
row18: p1, p2tog, p to end ~button hole~
row19,21: k to stc before marker k1fb in front of and after each marker, k all stc between markers, k to end.
row20, 22:  p
row23:   k to stc before marker k1fb in front of and after each marker, k all stc between markers, k to last 2 stc, k1, yo, k1   (beginning second button hole)
row24:  p1, p2tog, p across row. ~button hole~
row25:  k to first marker, bo all stc between markers for cap sleeve, k across back to second set of markers, bo all stc between markers, k to end. (remove markers)
row26:  k1, p1, joining stc at underarms all across the row. cap sleeves made.
row 27: eyelet row (k2, yo, k1fb) to end. 
row28:  k1, ( k2tog, k2) across row. ~eyelet~
row29-35:  k (odd rows)
row30-36:   p (even rows)
row37:  (k2,yo) across row ending with k3

My mom's baby dress circa 1912

row38:  (k2, k2tog) across row
row 39:  k
row40:  p
row41: (k2, yo) across row
row42: (k2,k2tog) across row
row43-45: k2, p2 across row
row46: bind off


finishing:  weave in all ends, sew on two 3/4" buttons
                  weave 1/4" satin ribbon into eyelet row waste. 
~this is a free pattern of my own design for your personnel use only please, all mistakes are mine and mine alone~ 
please let me know of any glaring errors ( I am not a perfectionist, but I  do try)  :)





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