Softee Baby - Strawberry Cocoon (knit)

MEASUREMENTS
Approx 20 ins [51 cm] around x 22 ins [56 cm] long.

MATERIALS
Bernat® Softee Baby (140 g/5 oz; 361 m/395 yds)
Main Color (MC) (30424 Soft Red) 1 ball
Contrast A (30233 Fresh Green) 1 ball
Black embroidery floss for embroidery.

Sizes 3.75 mm (U.S 5) and 4 mm (U.S. 6) circular knitting needles 24 ins [60 cm] long or size needed to obtain gauge.

GAUGE: 22 sts and 28 rows = 4 ins [10 cm] with larger needles in stocking st.

ABBREVIATIONS: www.bernat.com/abbreviations

INSTRUCTIONS
Body
With A and smaller needle, cast on 124 sts. Do not join. Working back and forth across needle in rows, proceed as follows:
Knit 9 rows, noting 1st row is WS and inc 10 sts evenly across last row. 134 sts.
Change to MC, larger needle and proceed as follows:
1st row: (RS). Knit.
2nd row: K1. *(K1. P1. K1) into next st. P3tog. Rep from * to last st. K1.
3rd row: Purl.
4th row: K1. *P3tog. (K1. P1. K1) into next st. Rep from * to last st. K1.
5th row: Purl.
Rep 2nd to 5th rows until work from beg measures approx 16 ins [40.5 cm], ending with 5th row.

Shape bottom: 1st row: (WS). K1. *K1. P3tog. (K1. P1. K1) into next st. P3tog. Rep from * to last 5 sts. (K1. P1. K1) into next st. P3tog. K1. 102 sts.
2nd and alt rows: Purl.
3rd row: K1. *K2. P3tog. (K1. P1. K1) into next st. Rep from * to last 5 sts. P3tog. (K1. P1. K1) into next st. K1.
5th row: K1. *K2. (K1. P1. K1) into next st. P3tog. Rep from * to last 5 sts. (K1. P1. K1) into next st. P3tog. K1.
7th row: As 3rd row.
9th row: K1. *K3. P3tog. Rep from * to last 5 sts. K1. P3tog. K1. 68 sts.
11th row: K2. *K2tog. K4. Rep from * to end of row. 57 sts.
13th row: K2. *K2tog. K3. Rep from * to end of row. 46 sts.
15th row: K2. *K2tog. K2. Rep from * to end of row. 35 sts.
17th row: K2. *K2tog. K1. Rep from * to end of row. 24 sts
Break yarn, leaving a long end. Thread end through rem sts and tighten securely. Sew back seam.

Leaves
With smaller needles and A, cast on 10 sts.
**1st row: (WS). Knit.
2nd row: yo. Knit to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows 16 times more, ending with 2nd row. 27 sts.
Next row: (WS). Knit.
Next row: K2tog. Knit to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows 16 times more. 10 sts at end of last row. Place marker at end of last row.**
Rep from ** to ** 5 times more, ending at marked row. Cast off.
Sew cast on and cast off edges tog. Sew straight edge along cast on edge of Body, slightly gathering.
With embroidery floss, embroider French knots on Leaves.