Who can resist this little cardigan—if you don’t fancy the pink, try out some different color combinations. A baby cardigan is a fairly speedy project and this makes a fantastic gift for a new baby.
materials
• Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino (55% merino wool/33% microfiber/12% cashmere) light worsted (DK) yarn
3 x 1¾ oz (50 g) balls – approx. 137 yd (125 m) per ball – of shade 006 Candy Pink (pink) (MC)
⅛ x 1¾ oz (50 g) ball – approx. 17.5 yd (16 m)- each of shades 202 Light Blue, 059 Mallard (blue-green), 101 Ecru (off-white)
• US size 2 (2.75 mm) and US size 3 (3.25 mm) straight knitting needles
• US size 2 (2.75 mm), US size 2/3 (3 mm) and US size 3 (3.25 mm) circular knitting needles
• 2 stitch holders
• Yarn sewing needle
• 6 small buttons
gauge (tension)
25 sts and 34 rows over 4 in. (10 cm) square working st st using US size 3 (3.25 mm) needles.
finished size
To fit ages: 3-6:6-9:9-12 months
Chest measurement: 19¾:22:24½ in. (50:56:62 cm)
Length to shoulder: 8¾:9½:10¼ in. (22:24:26 cm)
Sleeve length: 5½:6¼:7 in. (14:16:18 cm)
Notes
Chart is read right to left on odd-numbered (RS) rows and left to right on even-numbered (WS) rows.
Strand colors not in use loosely on WS of work.
Back and Fronts
(make 1)
Using US size 2 (2.75 mm) straight needles and MC, cast on 125:141:157 sts.
Rib row 1: P1, *k1, p1; rep from * to end.
Rib row 2: K1, *p1, k1; rep from * to end.
Rep the last 2 rows 2:2:3 times more.
Change to US size 3 (3.25 mm) needles.
Beg with a k row, work in st st until work measures 4¾:5:5½ in. (12:13:14 cm) from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.
Divide for Back and Fronts:
Next row: K31:35:39, leave these sts on a holder for Right Front, k next 63:71:79 sts and leave these sts on a holder for Back, k to end.
Left front:
Work straight on last set of 31:35:39 sts for 2:4:6 rows, so ending with a k row.
Yoke shaping:
Bind (cast) off 6 sts at beg (front edge) of next row, 3 sts at beg of 3 foll alt rows, then 2 sts on 3:4:5 foll alt rows.
Now dec 1 st at beg of every foll alt row until 3:5:7 sts rem.
Cont straight until Left Front measures 8¾:9½:10¼ in. (22:24: 26 cm) from cast-on edge, ending at armhole edge.
Shape shoulder:
Bind (cast) off.
Back
With WS facing, rejoin yarn to next st on back holder, p63:71:79.
Work straight on these sts for 2:4:6 rows.
Yoke shaping:
Next row: K25:29:33, turn and work on these sts.
Bind (cast) off 3 sts at beg of next row, and 2 foll alt rows, then 2 sts on 3:4:5 foll alt rows.
Now dec 1 st at beg of every foll alt row until 3:5:7 sts rem.
Cont straight until back measures 8¾:9½:10¼ in. (22:24:26 cm) from cast-on edge, ending at armhole edge.
Shape shoulder:
Bind (cast) off.
With RS facing, slip center 13 sts onto a holder, rejoin yarn to rem 25:29:33 sts, k to end.
Next row: P.
Complete to match first side of Back.
Right Front
With WS facing, rejoin yarn to next st on Right Front, p to end.
Work straight on these 31:35:39 sts for 2:4:6 rows.
Yoke shaping:
Bind (cast) off 6 sts at beg of next row, 3 sts at beg of 3 foll alt rows, then 2 sts on 3:4:5 foll alt rows.
Now dec 1 st at beg of every foll alt row until 3:5:7 sts rem.
Cont straight until front measures 8¾:9½:10¼ in. (22:24:26 cm) from cast-on edge, ending at armhole edge.
Shape shoulder:
Bind (cast) off.
Yoke
Join shoulder seams using mattress stitch. With RS facing and using US size 3 (3.25 mm) circular needle and MC, pick up and knit 40:44:48 sts on Right Front neck edge, 35:39:43 sts on right Back neck edge, k across 13 sts from stitch holder, pick up 35:39:43 on left Back neck edge and 40:44:48 sts on Left Front neck edge. (163:179:195 sts)
Beg with a p row, work 3 rows st st.
Dec row: K5, k2tog, *k6, k2tog; rep from * to last 4 sts, k4. (143:157:171 sts)
Next row: P.
Work Rows 1-2 from Chart 1, starting at st 1 and ending at st 5.
Dec row: Using MC, k4, k2tog, *k5, k2tog; rep from * to last 4 sts, k4. (123:135:147 sts)
Work rows 1-5 of Chart 2. NB: This Chart starts on a p row, so work row from left to right.
Change to US size 2/3 (3 mm) circular needle.
Work Rows 6-9 from Chart 2.
Dec row (Row 10 of Chart): K3, *k2tog, k5, k2tog, k3; rep from * to end. (103:113:123 sts)
Work rows 1-2 from Chart 1, starting at st 2 and ending at st 4.
Cont in MC only.
Next row: P.
Dec row: K3 *k2tog, k3; rep from * to end. (83:91:99 sts)
Next row: P.
Dec row: K3, *k2tog, k2; rep from * to end. (63:69:75 sts)
Next row: P.
Change to US size 2 (2.75 mm) circular needle.
Rib row 1: K1, *p1, k1; rep from * to end.
Rib row 2: P1, *k1, p1; rep from * to end.
Rep last two rows once more.
Bind (cast) off.
Button Band
With RS facing and using US size 2 (2.75 mm) straight needles and MC, pick up and knit 55:61:67 sts along Left Front edge.
Work 4 rows rib as given for Back and Fronts.
Bind (cast) off in rib.
Buttonhole Band
With RS facing and using US size 2 (2.75 mm) straight needles and MC, pick up and knit 55:61:67 sts along Right Front edge.
Work 1 row rib as given for Back and Fronts.
Buttonhole row: Rib 2, [rib 2tog, yf, rib 8:9:10 sts] 5 times, rib 2tog, yf, rib 1:2:3 sts. Rib 2 rows.
Bind (cast) off in rib.
Sleeves
(make 2)
Using US size 2 (2.75 mm) straight needles and MC, cast on 36:40:44 sts.
Work 6:8:10 rows in [k1, p1] rib.
Change to US size 3 (3.25 mm) needles.
Beg with a k row work in st st, inc 1 st at each end of 3rd and every foll 4th row until there are 52:58:62 sts.
Cont straight until sleeve measures 5½:6¼:7 in. (14:16:18 cm) from cast-on edge, ending with a p row.
Bind (cast) off.
Finishing
Join sleeve seams using mattress stitch. Sew sleeves into armholes using mattress stitch.
Sew on buttons to match buttonhole positions.
