Materials:
Less than 50g baby wool (I used Shepherd 3-ply baby wool)

Needles:
3.75mm or size you require to give tension (gauge) of 6.5 sts per inch
Garment measures approx 13″ around. If knit with DK yarn and 4mm needles it will measure 18″ around.

This garment is worked in one piece, so that there are no seams to irritate the small body.

Lower body:
Cast on 93 sts, work in garter st for 55 rows, working buttonholes on rows 39 and 53 as follows: k2tog, yo, k to end.

Right front and sleeve:
Knit 25 sts, cast on 18; leave all other sts on a length of spare wool.
Work 5 more rows on these 43 sts, then start v-neck shaping each 4th row inside 3 border sts – k3, k2tog, k to end. Continue until 36 rows have been completed on sleeve (35 sts)
Cast off.

Left front and sleeve:
Slip last 25 sts from spare wool onto a needle, cast on 18, k to end.
Work same as right front with neck shaping as follows : K to last 5 sts, K2tog, k3.

Back and sleeves:
Slip remaining 43 body sts on to needle. Pick up and knit 18 sts from cast on edge of right sleeve, knit across 43 back sts, pick up and knit 18 sts from cast on edge of left sleeve. Knit straight for 36 rows.

Cast off 32 sts at beginning of next 2 rows. Knit 6 rows across remaining sts for back of neck. Cast off.

To complete:
Join seams along top of sleeves, noting that 3 border sts on fronts are joined to sides of rows worked across back neck. (My preferred joining methods are grafting or 3 needle cast off from the right side.)

Notes and Variations
When casting on for sleeves use a loose cast-on or an invisible cast-on.

Incorporate any simple pattern into the garment – work about 9 rows before starting any pattern, and keep the 3 edge sts in garter st. A garter st lace pattern looks effective, or simple colour patts eg narrow stripes or slip st patts.

If doing multi-colour patts, omit the edge sts, i.e. cast on 87, and for fronts work 22 instead of 25. Omit rows at back of neck. Pick up sts around front edges and back of neck and work 5 rows, working buttonholes on right or left front as appropriate.

Finished size: 11-12″ square

Stitch: Astrakan aka Trinity

Pattern: 4-row repeat with approx. 1 1/4″ border of garter stitch

Directions:

Cast on 44 stitches and knit for 5 or 6 rows, forming border of garter
stitch. Then switch to pattern as follows:

Row 1: K4, *[K1, P1, K1 ALL into next stitch; P3 together] repeat from * to within 4 stitches of end of row, K4.

Row 2: K4, P 36, K4

Row 3: K4, *[P3 together; K1, P1, K1 ALL into next stitch] repeat from * to within 4 stitches of end of row), K4.

Row 4: Repeat row 2.

Repeat these 4 rows until the cloth is approx. 1 1/4″ so less than square, then knit 5 or 6 rows and bind off.

Using the same yarn, braid, crochet or I-cord a 2″ length and attach to corner of cloth for hanging loop.

Variation: Scrubby Soap Sack
Follow the instructions but make a rectangle about 5″ wide instead of a square, fold in half width-wise and stitch up the 2 side seams. Weave some yarn through the unstitched end to make a drawstring and add loop as above. Put a bar of soap inside the envelope, tie it closed with slip-bow and use as a loofa.

Another idea (better, I think) is to make a cord long enough to fit over the hand as a wrist loop for the soap sack, making it easier to use in the shower, which kids love!