Pepino (Solanum muricatum) is a large ovoid bay native to South America. Its golden yellow skin is marbled with brown stripes. Its sweet flavour is similar to melon flavour. I choose to name a little striped baby sweater after the pepino.

Pepino is knitted in one piece from the bottom up until the armholes. Then the back and the fronts are knitted separately. Shoulders are joined using the Kitchener stitches bind off. The stitches for the sleeves are picked up around the armholes, and then knitted in the round from the top down. Pepino is a cute and simple baby sweater. The double-breasted front will keep the baby warm. The sample has been design for boy. For a girl you may close it along the other side, working the stripes on the right front.

Gauge: 29 sts x 39 rows over 4” x 4” 10 cm x 10 cm worked in stocking sts on US 2.5/3 mm after blocking.

Metric and imperial measures are given.
Sizes
Pepino is proposed in six sizes: 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months. with chest circumference of the sweater: 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 cm.
Material
Yarn
Fonty, BB merino (100% merino superfine SW, 50 g/1.76 oz, 200 m/218 yds).
Main colour: 2 (2, 2, 3, 3, 3) balls.
Contrasting colour 1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1) balls.
The sample is shown for 3 months size, worked in MC: 877, blue; CC: 855, white.
Needles

• 2 needles US 2.5/3 mm for body (circular or straight according to your own choice) or size to obtain gauge.
• 1 circular needle US 2.5/3 mm for the sleeves (or the size to obtain gauge while working in the round. You may choose to use dpns).
• 1 circular needle US 1.5/2.5 mm for picking up stitches (or one size less than your main needle).

Notions

• 2 stitch markers.
• 4 stitches holders (or scrap yarn).
• 1 tapestry needle.
• 4 small buttons (0,9 mm).
• Fine ribbon: (10”, 25 cm), optional. Level Intermediate

A huge thank you to my wonderful knitters that gave me many advices and improved a lot this little pattern. Thank you Bstyle, Deborah, Ultragold, Kathleenjones, DoMyBest for all your work and good comments.