This sweater, decorated with a frilly punta trim and knitted cat and dog motifs, is my feminine interpretation of Andean folk knitting. Whether the recipient is young, or simply young at heart, this design will delight her.

For a boy, you can make a similar design in neutral colors without the decorative puntas.

Yarn:

Wool yarn will knit up into a warm, cozy sweater. You may want to select a machine-washable wool, a blend, or an acrylic yarn to make a washable sweater for a child.

Any weight of yarn will work. The drawings represent garments made with a medium-weight yarn and US size 7 or 8 (4.5 or 5 mm) knitting needles. Because you are using two colors throughout, the knitting will be significantly heavier than when you work with a single color. You may want to consider a slightly lighter yarn, such as DK yarn and US size 5,6, or 7 (3.75 to 4.5mm) knitting needles or sportweight yarn and US size 3,4, or 5 (3.25 to 3.75mm) knitting needles.

Needle size:
In a size appropriate for the yarn you’ve chosen:

• Circular needle for body: because this is a child’s sweater- 20 to 24 inches (50 to 60 cm)
• Circular needle for puntas and sleeves: 11 to 16 inches (30 to 40 cm) long
• Double pointed needles for lower sleeves: set of 4 or 5
• Crochet hook in size close to knitting needles for puntas