Ready to Play Romper

Knitted play suit for baby with cables and moss stitch in DROPS Merino Extra Fine. Size 1 - 24 months.

DROPS Baby 33-21
DROPS design: Pattern me-065-by
Yarn group B
----------------------------------------------------------

SIZE:
Size: 1/3 - 6/9 - 12/18 - 24 months
Size in cm: 56/62 - 68/74 - 80/86 - 92

MATERIALS:
DROPS MERINO EXTRA FINE from Garnstudio (belongs to yarn group B)
100-150-150-200 g colour 37, misty forest

KNITTING TENSION:
22 stitches in width and 30 rows vertically in stocking stitch = 10 x 10 cm.

NEEDLES:
DROPS CIRCULAR NEEDLE SIZE 3.5 mm, length 40 cm for stocking stitch.
DROPS CIRCULAR NEEDLE SIZE 3 mm, length 40 cm for rib.
DROPS CABLE NEEDLE - for cables.
Needle size is only a suggestion! If you have too many stitches on 10 cm switch to a larger needle size. If you have too few stitches on 10 cm switch to a smaller needle size.

DROPS MOTHER-OF-PEARL BUTTON ARCHED (white), NO 521: 2 pieces for all sizes

----------------------------------------------------------

EXPLANATION FOR THE PATTERN:

----------------------------------------------------------

GARTER STITCH (worked in the round):
1 ridge = 2 rounds. Knit 1 round and purl 1 round.

GARTER STITCH (back and forth):
1 ridge = knit 2 rows.

PATTERN:
See diagrams A.1 to A.4

DECREASE TIP:
Work until 2 stitches remain before A.1, decrease as follows: Knit 2 together, work stitches in A.1, slip 1 stitch knitwise, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over.

----------------------------------------------------------

START THE PIECE HERE:

----------------------------------------------------------

PLAY SUIT – SHORT OVERVIEW OF THE PIECE:
Piece is worked back and forth in 2 parts, bottom up to after leg opening. Then work piece in the round before dividing at the waist, and finishing front piece back and forth on needle.

BACK PIECE:
Cast on 14-16-18-20 stitches on circular needle size 3.5 mm with Merino Extra Fine and work in stocking stitch back and forth. AT THE SAME TIME cast on 2 new stitches at the end of every row 9-9-9-10 times in total in each side = 50-52-54-60 stitches on needle and piece measures approx. 6-6-6-7 cm. Put piece aside and work the front piece.

FRONT PIECE:
Cast on 14-16-18-20 stitches on circular needle size 3.5 mm with Merino Extra Fine and work in stocking stitch back and forth for 5-5-5-6 cm.
SIZE 1/3 months - 6/9 months - 12/18 months: Now cast on 6 new stitches at the end of every row 3 times in total each side.
SIZE 24 months: Cast on 6 new stitches in each side at the end of every row 2 times, then 8 new stitches in each side 1 time = 50-52-54-60 stitches on needle and piece measures approx. 7-7-7-8 cm.

BODY:
Slip stitches from front and back piece on to same circular needle = 100-104-108-120 stitches on needle. Insert 1 marker in each side (= 50-52-54-60 stitches between markers) - NOW MEASURE PIECE FROM HERE. Continue to work - beginning of the round should be 8 stitches before first marker thread. Work A.1 (= 16 stitches), stocking stitch over the next 34-36-38-44 stitches in stocking stitch, A.1 (= 16 stitches), stocking stitch over the next 34-36-38-44 stitches in stocking stitch. Marker threads are in the middle of A.1 in each side.

Continue this pattern in the round. When piece measures 2-3-5-7 cm, decrease 1 stitch on each side of both A.1 - READ DECREASE TIP (= 4 stitches decreased). Repeat decrease every 2 cm 4 times in total = 84-88-92-104 stitches on needle. When piece measures 10-11-14-16 cm from markers (piece measures approx. 17-18-21-24 cm from cast-on edge) work an elevation at the back as follows – NOTE: To avoid holes at every turn pick up loop between 2 stitches and knit twisted together with next stitch on needle: work knit over knit and A.1 over A.1 as before over the first 58-60-62-68 stitches, i.e. until after the second repetition of A.1 (= front piece), knit until 5 stitches remain before A.1 at the beginning of round, turn and purl back until 5 stitches remain before A.1 in the other side, turn piece. Knit until 10 stitches remain before A.1, turn piece and purl until 10 stitches remain before A.1 in the other side. Turn piece and knit until the middle of the first A.1.

Switch to circular needle size 3 mm and work 1 round as before over all stitches, AT THE SAME TIME increase 1 stitch between every A.1 = 86-90-94-106 stitches. Work next round as follows: Continue with A.2 over the first 8 stitches (= make sure to begin on same row that should have been worked in A.1), work rib purl 1/knit 1 over the next 27-29-31-37 stitches, work A.3 over the next 8 stitches (= make sure to begin on same row that should have been worked in A.1), work rib purl 1/knit 1 over the next 43-45-47-53 stitches. When piece measures 1 ½ cm, work a row eyelet holes as follows: Work as before over the first 8 stitches, purl 1, * knit 1, purl 1, 1 yarn over, knit 2 together*, repeat from *-* over the next 24-28-28-36 stitches, work 10-8-10-8 stitches as before, purl 1, * knit 1, purl 1, 1 yarn over, knit 2 together*, repeat from *-* over the next 40-44-44-52 stitches, work 2-0-2-0 stitches as before. Then continue pattern and rib as before, until 1 round remains before rib measures 3 cm. Work next round as follows: Work over the first 43-45-47-53 stitches (= front piece), LOOSELY cast off the next 43-45-47-53 stitches with knit over knit and purl over purl (= back piece).

FRONT PIECE:
Insert 1 marker, NOW MEASURE PIECE FROM HERE!
Switch to circular needle size 3.5 mm and work first row from right side as follows: Continue A.2 over the first 8 stitches on needle, 27-29-31-37 stitches in stocking stitch, A.3 over the last 8 stitches on needle. Continue like this back and forth. AT THE SAME TIME when piece measures 1-0-0-1 cm, decrease 1 stitch in each side - READ DECREASE TIP. Repeat decrease every 2nd-4th-6th-6th needle 7-7-6-6 times in total = 29-31-35-41 stitches remain on needle. When piece measures 7-9-11-12 cm from marker - adjust so that next row is from right side), work 6 rows with A.4 over stitches between A.2 and A.3 in each side. Work next row as follows from right side: work 8 stitches (= A.2) and slip these stitches on 1 stitch holder for shoulder strap, cast off the next 13-15-19-25 stitches and work the last 8 stitches (= A.3, shoulder strap).

SHOULDER STRAP:
Continue in A.3 back and forth until shoulder strap measures approx. 18 to 24 cm (or desired length). Cast off. Continue in A.2 back and forth until the other shoulder strap measures approx. 18 to 24 cm (or desired length). Cast off.

ASSEMBLY:

RIB EDGE:
Pick up from right side approx. 50 to 58 stitches along one opening for leg on circular needle size 3 mm with Merino Extra Fine. Purl 1 row from wrong side AT THE SAME TIME increase evenly to 58-62-66-70 stitches. Then work rib = knit 2/purl 2 back and forth with 1 edge stitch in garter stitch in each side. When edge measures 2-4 cm, loosely cast off with knit over knit and purl over purl.
Repeat along the other leg.

Sew opening between legs inside 1 edge stitch - i.e. sew together one rib edge, then sew seam between leg openings and finally the other rib edge.

Fasten a button at the bottom on each shoulder strap. Use holes in eyelet row on rib to button.

TIE:
Cut 2 lengths Merino Extra Fine yarn of approx. 3 metres. Twine the strands tog until they resist, fold the string double so that it twines again. Make a knot at each end. Begin mid front and thread tie up and down through eyelet row on rib in waist.

Diagram explanations

Have you finished this pattern?

Tag your pictures with #dropspattern #readytoplayromper or submit them to the #dropsfan gallery.

Do you need help with this pattern?

You'll find 24 tutorial videos, a Comments/Questions area and more by visiting the pattern on garnstudio.com.
Have you purchased DROPS yarn to make this pattern? Then you are entitled to receive help from the store that sold you the yarn.

© 1982-2025 DROPS Design A/S. We reserve all rights. This document, including all its sub-sections, has copyrights. Read more about what you can do with our patterns at the bottom of each pattern on our site.