Spielanzug in Schachenmayr Catania and Egypto Cotton - 4855 - Downloadable PDF

Spielanzug Knitting Pattern – Schachenmayr Catania and Egypto Cotton (Pattern 4855)

This free downloadable PDF knitting pattern by Schachenmayr provides instructions for knitting a charming baby and toddler playsuit (Spielanzug) – a one-piece overall garment designed to keep little ones cosy and stylishly dressed. The pattern is worked in Schachenmayr Catania and Schachenmayr Egypto Cotton, both sport-weight cotton yarns, making this an ideal warm-weather or layering piece for infants and young children.

Sizes and Fit

The pattern covers four sizes: 62/68 and 74/80, corresponding to approximate ages from newborn through toddler. Instructions are presented with the smaller sizes before the slash and the larger sizes after, with single figures applying to all sizes. This clear dual-size formatting makes it straightforward to follow the correct shaping instructions for your chosen size.

Design Details and Construction

The playsuit features a classic striped colourwork design worked in a repeating stripe sequence using White (Weiß) and Navy (Marine). The construction begins with the back panel (Rückenteil), cast on in White and worked in stockinette stitch following the established stripe sequence, beginning with four rows of White.

A standout decorative feature of this pattern is an elephant motif worked in stranded colourwork using a charted stitch pattern (Zählmuster). This intarsia or Fair Isle-style chart is placed centrally across the middle stitches of the back panel, adding a delightful pictorial element perfectly suited to a children's garment. The surrounding stitches on either side of the motif continue in the stripe sequence while the chart is being worked, and once the chart is complete, all stitches resume the stripe pattern.

Leg Openings and Shaping

The leg openings are shaped by casting on stitches incrementally on both sides across multiple right-side rows, building up the overall stitch count to 97 stitches (size 62/68) or 107 stitches (size 74/80). The stepped increases are worked as follows:

• 1 × 7 (or 10) stitches added on each side
• 2 (or 3) × 4 stitches added on each side
• 3 × 3 stitches added on each side
• 4 (or 3) × 2 stitches added on each side
• 2 × 1 stitch added on each side

This gradual stepped cast-on creates smooth, rounded leg openings characteristic of well-fitted overall garments.

Neckline Shaping

The neckline is shaped at a height of 38 cm (size 62/68) or 42 cm, corresponding to 136 or 152 rows respectively. The central 23 stitches are worked first, with additional decreases of 1 × 2 stitches and 2 × 1 stitch worked on each side in every second row to create a neat rounded neckline. The adjacent 18 stitches on each side are then placed on hold for the shoulder straps or button bands, and the outer stitches are cast off to complete the neckline shaping.

Techniques Used

• Stockinette stitch (glatt rechts) – the primary stitch pattern throughout the garment body
• Stripe colourwork – alternating rows of White and Navy in a set sequence
• Charted motif knitting (Zählmuster) – working an elephant design from a stitch chart, combining colourwork with pictorial knitting
• Stepped cast-on shaping – used to form the leg openings by adding stitches incrementally over multiple rows
• Neckline decreasing – gradual bind-offs and decreases to shape the rounded neck opening
• Stitch