THE KNIT-A-SQUARE GO-OVER...LET'S KEEP THE BIGGER CHILDREN WARM TOO
Knitted version Crocheted version
This garment was designed in response to the need for an outer garment for older children to wear over whatever clothes they own, during the cold season in South Africa. It is meant to be a loose-fitting, ‘boxy’ outer sweater – comfortable enough that it can even be slept in on very cold nights. If you can knit or crochet a square, you can make a GO-OVER!!! It requires no skill beyond that of a beginner-level knitter.
BASIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR SIZE 8-14. (SIZE 4-6 IN BRACKETS) Since this garment is designed primarily to provide warmth, we suggest using worsted weight or chunky yarn and garter stitch, if knitting or single crochet if crocheting…basically any stitch in either method that will produce a fairly tight weave.
FRONT AND BACK Knit or crochet eight 10” squares (size 4-6 make 8” squares) See General Instructions below if you prefer to work front and back in one piece. Join 4 for back and 4 for front (leaving top 5” (31/2” for size 4-6) of front unstitched for neck opening) Join front to back at shoulder (leaving 4” on each side at neck edge unstitched for neck opening)
SLEEVES Knit or crochet eight 8” squares (7” squares for size 4-6). See General instructions if you prefer to work sleeve in one piece. Join 4 squares for each sleeve. Join sleeve to front and back at shoulder making sure to stretch sleeve out enough to create 16” (14”) armhole opening Sew up underarm seam
WRIST OPENING The wrist opening can be left as is (which allows a cuff to be rolled back if the sleeves are long for the child). It can also be drawn in using various methods.
(1) the simplest method – using 2 double strands of yarn, do a running stitch around wrist, draw up and tie off
(2)Crochet version – SC into every other stitch for 2 rows, do 2 rows even
(3)Knitted version – Pick up and knit every other stitch along sleeve edge. Row 2 – Knit 2 together for entire row. Row 3-5 – Knit
GENERAL COMMENTS If you prefer, the front and back can be worked 10x20” panels (8x16” for size 4-6), or the front and back can be worked in 20” squares (16” squares for size 4-6). Just remember to divide your work at the top of the front panel to allow for the front neck slit. Sleeves can also be worked in one piece – 16” square (14” for size 4-6) The number of stitches and hook or needle size required will depend on the yarn you are using. Generally worsted weight is best on 5.00 mm needles or a 5.00mm hook. For chunky weight – 6.00 mm needles or hook work best.
Don’t worry if your GO-OVER is a bit bigger or smaller – FOR SURE IT WILL FIT SOMEONE WHO NEEDS IT. The most important thing about the GO-OVER is that it has large enough armhole and neck openings to accommodate hoodies or whatever else underneath.
Have fun with this pattern – be as creative as you like with colours, stripes etc, It is meant to be simple and basic – there is NO right or wrong.
Please visit the album GO-OVER VARIATIONS in our photo section to see the many variations that have been made.
WHEN MAILING YOUR GO-OVER….. PLEASE BE SURE TO MARK THE CUSTOMS SLIP “KNITTING FOR CHARITY – NO COMMERCIAL VALUE” SO THERE WILL BE NO DUTY CHARGES INCURRED IN SOUTH AFRICA.
Tags: larger, patterns, sizes, sweaters
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Anne Powell on -
Sandy left some observations in the Canadian Corner which bear repeating here
I wondered if you should mention that most of these children basically wear everything they own to keep warm, so the GO OVER will mean they can reduce the bulk of what they wear and allow their clothes to be washed too. They and their carers work hard to keep them clean and Ronda says you often see children running around over the weekends with next to nothing on while their clothes are washed - even when it is freezing. At least they would have their GO-OVERS!
Right on Sandy - thanks for your comments. Isn't it wonderful and amazing that the clothes even get washed in such bad conditions... those care-givers must be extremely devoted loving people to give these little ones such good care. It must be such hard work - they truly are heroes. -
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Permalink Reply by Sandy McDonald on -
Thanks Anne for copying over this comment. It reminded me that I should put it up on the site as well. Actually to take this conversation one step further, Ronda explained to me recently how important clothes that look presentable are in the culture as a whole, as I had commented on how neat and tidy some of the homeless people look. Many of the homeless are in constant search of a job and so they must spend much time laundering their clothes. What a cycle of despair this must be, especially if you are unwell. Of course this goes for all poverty stricken people all over the world, I think it is just the magnitude of the problem in Africa and how much it has been exacerbated by AIDS, especially for the children.
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Permalink Reply by P. Jeanne Haessler on -
Thanks for the information Sandy. Anne, I remember that comment by Sandy from back when we were making those square vests for the creche children. The more we know about the realities of life over there the more we can tailor our efforts to help them and the more inspired we will be to give only our best efforts every time. :)
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Permalink Reply by Lindy O'Neill on -
Hello Anne
The go-over sounds really good. I will try one of these myself. I have only just started to knit squares for KAS but this will be my next project. I also knit for an Australian based charity-knit4charities-australia too so sometimes I run out of time. Others ie my family members want things to either for themselves or their friends.
If I didn't have to sleep, eat, launder and clean I would have plenty of time!
Lindy O'Neill in Melbourne, Australia -
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Permalink Reply by Elizabeth on -
I haven't done the washing up and I have wet clothes in the washing machine waithing to be hung out becuase I've been knitting all afternoon... does that count? LOL! (What are the vacuum cleaner and ironing board for - I can't remember what they do!)
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Permalink Reply by Elizabeth on
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I'm in the middle of trying to make a go-over where I just knitted a rectangle with big needles (15mm) but with three strands of yarn. I thought using big needles but three strands would (1) mean I could knit faster and (2) will make it more stretchy for go over purposes, but I don't know if it will be too 'holey'. I'll have to see how it goes when I do the front and the sleeves.
I might try making another one with three strands of yarn but on 10mm needles, and might be less holey but still quick to make and stretchy.
What do other people think of this idea? -
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Permalink Reply by P. Jeanne Haessler on
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Elizabeth I think doubled or tripled up yarn strands add alot of wearability, toughness, thickness and warmth to a go-over. It might be abit "stiff" for a younger child, depending on the yarn and stitch used, but honestly if we can make them faster and still make them warm, that's a great thing. I was worrying the "holes" in the single crochet stitch I'm using would be too much but it's just the large gaps we need to avoid. I think you're going to do just fine! The bigger yarns mean bigger more comfy and warmer items. :)
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Permalink Reply by Laurie C. Hake on -
Anne:
Love the Go-Over idea and instructions - will get started as soon as the August challenge squares are in the mail - thanks - Laurie -
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Permalink Reply by RhondaH on -
Anne, Thanks so much for creating the GO OVER and sharing the pattern. I'm still back in July, making a baby blanket, but will keep this in mind for a future project. It's a simple, but very clever, design!
Is there a way to add the pictures (posted elsewhere in the forum) to the pattern instructions? -
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Permalink Reply by Sandy McDonald on
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Hi RhondaH, I have issued Zanny with instructions to do this, but if she can't then I will, as I would love to have all the GO-OVER photos in one place (like in ravelry) - there is an upload files link on the LHS bottom of the reply box. But there will also be download patterns of both Anne and Zanny's version of the GO-OVER on the site - hopefully later today .
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Permalink Reply by Gelareh Taj on -
hi anne its very good idea to make these GO OVERS for older one.
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Permalink Reply by Andrea Palmatier on -
We should make this the September challenge... G-O Fall!
As for the closure at the top, what about a couple of crocheted chains continuing from the top corners of the front squares? Make sense? That way the kidlettes (or adults) could tie them up. Don't know how the knitted squares would work though, being a crocheter! :o) -
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