Oscar and Oliver

Zoë Halstead’s matching set of tank top and hat in beautiful winter shades will ensure that its recipient stays warm this season. The blue, green and brown shades contrast brilliantly with the bright red and purple tones for a truly eye-catching set.

Back
Using 3.25mm needles and yarn A, cast on 58 (60, 68) sts
❑ Row 1: ** p0 (1, 1), k2, * p2, k2, rep from * to last 0 (1, 1) st, p0 (1, 1)
❑ Row 2: k0 (1, 1), p2, * k2, p2, rep from * to last 0 (1, 1) st, k0 (1, 1)
❑ These two rows form rib, work four more rows in rib
❑ Change to 4mm needles, yarn B and st st and cont as follows: **

STRIPE SEQUENCE
Work the foll 40 row stripe sequence rep until the work meas 12 (15,19) cm from beg ending with a WS row
❑ Beg with a k row, work five rows in st st in yarn B
❑ Beg with a p row, work two rows in st st in yarn E
❑ Beg with a p row, work two rows in st st in yarn C
❑ Beg with a p row, work seven rows in st st in yarn D
❑ Beg with a k row, work two rows in st st in yarn A
❑ Beg with a k row, work two rows in st st in yarn B
❑ Beg with a k row, work five rows in st st in yarn C
❑ Beg with a p row, work two rows in st st in yarn E
❑ Beg with a p row, work two rows in st st in yarn F
❑ Beg with a p row, work seven rows in st st in yarn A
❑ Beg with a k row, work two rows in st st in yarn C
❑ Beg with a k row, work two rows in st st in yarn D

SHAPE ARMHOLES
Cont to work stripe rep throughout and cont as follows:
❑ *** Cast off five sts at beg of next two rows. 48 (50, 58) sts
❑ Work 2 (4, 6) rows dec one st at each end of every row. 44 (42, 46) sts
❑ Work 11 (7, 9) rows dec one st at each end of next and every foll alt row. 32 (34, 36) sts ***
❑ Cont without shaping until armhole meas 12 (13, 14) cm from cast off sts ending with a WS row

Shoulders and back neck
❑ Cast off seven sts at the beg of the next two rows
❑ Leave rem 18 (20, 22) sts on a spare needle or stitch holder

Front
Using 3.25mm needles and yarn A, cast on 58 (60, 68) sts
❑ Work as for Back from ** to **
❑ Using the Fair Isle technique (stranding unused colours across the WS of piece), work across the six sts of the patt rep as shown on chart to the last 4 (0, 2) sts, work the first 4 (0, 2) sts of the patt rep again
❑ Cont to work the Fair Isle patt until the Front meas the same as the Back to armholes, ending with a WS row

SHAPE ARMHOLES
❑ Work as for Back from *** to ***
❑ Cont without shaping until 14 (16,18) rows less have been worked than for back to shoulders, ending with a WS row

SHAPE FRONT NECK
❑ Next row: patt 12, turn and work on this side first
❑ Dec one st at neck edge on next five rows. Seven sts Patt 2 (4, 6) rows without shaping ending with a WS row
❑ Cast off these sts
❑ With RS facing, rejoin yarn to rem sts, patt 8 (10, 12) and then slip these sts onto a spare needle or stitch holder, patt to end. 12 sts
❑ Dec one st at neck edge on next five rows. Seven sts
❑ Patt 8 (10, 12) rows without shaping ending with a WS row
❑ Cast off

Neckband
❑ Weave in all ends. Sew right shoulder seam
❑ With RS facing, 3.25mm needles and yarn A, pick up and k8 (10, 12) sts down left side of neck, k8 (10, 12) sts from spare needle at front neck, pick up and k12 (14, 16) sts up right side of neck, then k18 (20, 22) sts from spare needle of back neck. 46 (54,62) sts
❑ Next row: k2, * p2, k2, rep from * to end
❑ Next row: p2, * k2, p2, rep from * to end
❑ These two rows form rib, work three more rows in rib
❑ Cast off in rib

Buttonband
❑ With RS facing, 3.25mm needles and yarn A, pick up and k14 sts along row ends of neckband and shoulder edge of back
❑ Next row: k2, * p2, k2, rep from * to end
❑ Next row: p2, * k2, p2, rep from * to end
❑ These two rows form rib, work three more rows in rib
❑ Cast off in rib

BUTTONHOLE BAND
❑ With RS facing, 3.25mm needles and yarn A, pick up and k14 sts along shoulder edge of front and neckband
❑ Work first row of rib as for neckband
❑ Buttonhole row: rib three, yrn, work 2tog, rib five, yon, work 2tog, rib two
❑ Work three rows further in rib as set
❑ Cast off in rib
❑ Overlap buttonhole band over button band and oversew the armhole edges together. When picking up stitches for the left armhole border make sure stitches are picked up through both layers

ARMHOLE BORDERS
❑ With RS facing, 3.25mm needles and yarn A, pick up and k64 (76, 84) sts evenly around armhole edge of front and back
❑ Work five rows in rib as for second size back
❑ Cast off in rib

To make up
Press all pieces following the ball band instructions. Sew side and armhole border seams. Sew buttons to button band to correspond with buttonholes.

Hat
Using 3.25mm needles and yarn A, cast on 82 (88, 94) sts
❑ Work six rows rib as for first (second, first) size of tank top back
Change to 4mm needles, yarn B and st st and cont as follows:
❑ Using the Fair Isle technique (stranding unused colours across the WS of piece), work across the six sts of the patt rep as shown on chart to the last four sts, work the first four sts of the patt rep again
❑ Cont to work the Fair Isle patt until 29th chart row, then cont in two row stripes in colours of your choice until work measures 12.5 (12.5, 14) cm from beg, ending with a WS row

SHAPE CROWN
❑ Next row: * k2tog, rep from * to end. 41 (44, 47) sts
❑ Work three rows
❑ Next row: k1 (0, 1), * k2tog, rep from * to end. 21 (22, 24) sts
❑ Work three rows
❑ Next row: k1 (0, 0), * k2tog, rep from * to end. 11 (11, 12) sts
❑ Break yarn, thread through rem sts, draw up tightly and fasten off

To make up
Weave in all ends. Sew centre back seam, matching stripes carefully. Make a pom pom using all six colours of yarn together, trim to an even shape and sew to centre top of hat.

Click any of the images below to see a larger, clearer shot

Age (months) 0-6 / 6-12 / 12-18
To fit chest 46(cm) / 51 / 56
Actual measurement (cm) 52 / 54 / 61
Length (cm) 24 / 28 / 33
Hat (width around head in cm) 37 / 40 / 42.5