This design is part of The Cottage Garden Vol. 2 collection, which is inspired by the Hobbits imagined by J.R.R. Tolkien in The Lord of the Rings --  their dwellings, their values and way of life.
It is available both as an individual pattern and as part of this eBook.

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“Bilbo unwound several folds of old cloth, and held up a small shirt of mail. It was close-woven of many rings, as supple almost as linen, cold as ice, and harder than steel. It shone like moonlit silver, and was studded with white gems.”

In the Lord of the Rings, Bilbo gives his nephew, Frodo, a lightweight and immensely strong mithril chain “shirt” to use as armor as he sets out on his quest.

CONSTRUCTION:

This sweater is worked seamlessly from the top down. The yoke is first worked flat to the bottom of the front slit, then worked in the round. The sleeves are then separated from the body, which is worked in the round to the hem. The sleeves are worked in the round, with two length options. An I-cord bind off finishes the neckline and the hem.

SKILLS REQUIRED:

Long tail cast on (or provisional cast on if preferred), cable cast on, knitting, purling, increasing, decreasing, knitting in the round, picking up stitches, working simple cables, working I-cord bind off (explanation in the pattern), binding off.

SIZES:

• 3mo (6mo, 12mo, 18mo // 2yo, 4yo, 6yo, 8yo, 10yo)

• To fit chest: 16 (17, 18, 19 // 21, 23, 25, 26.5, 28) inches or 40.5 (43, 45.5, 48.5 // 53.5, 58.5, 63.5, 67.5, 71) cm

• Garment chest circumference: 18.5 (19.25, 21, 22 // 23.5, 26, 27.75, 28.75, 30.25) inches or 47 (49, 53.5, 56 // 59.5, 66, 70.5, 73, 77) cm

In general it’s best to go by the recipient’s actual chest measurement when selecting the appropriate size instead of the age label, which are just a reference. You can also choose a size according to how much ease you’d like the garment to have

YARN REQUIREMENTS:

Approximately 275 (300, 350, 400 // 450, 500, 600, 650, 700) yds or 251 (274, 320, 366 // 411, 457, 549, 594, 640) meters of worsted weight yarn

NEEDLES:

• US 6 or 4 mm diameter circular needle (or size needed to match garter stitch gauge) at least 16 inches or 40 cm in length

• matching dpns for sleeve cuffs

• US 8 or 5 mm diameter circular needle (or size needed to match stockinette stitch gauge) 16 inches or 40 cm in length for sizes 2yo and smaller, and 24 inches or 60 cm in length for sizes larger than 2yo

• matching dpns for sleeves

NOTIONS:

• 6 markers, including 2 contrasting ones
• tapestry needle
• 2 stitch holders or pieces of scrap yarn
• cable needle

GAUGE:

19 sts x 26 rounds = 4 inches or 10 cm in stockinette stitch in the round, using larger needles, after blocking

19 sts x 40 rows = 4 inches or 10 cm in garter stitch worked flat, using smaller needles, after blocking

Please adjust needle size if needed to achieve the recommended gauge.