This long-sleeved, ruffled-edge cardigan is cropped to fit well over a little girl’s full skirted dress, but you could easily lengthen the body if desired. The fun yellow ruffles capture the exuberance and joy of spring. And did we mention, it’s great for twirling in?
Skill Level: Easy
Size: 3 (6, 12, 18, 24) months Finished Chest Size 18.75 (20.75, 21.75, 22.75, 24.75)” to fit bust 16 (17, 18, 19, 20)”
About 3-5” positive ease recommended.
Shown in size 12 months
Gauge: 20 sts and 28 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st on larger needles after wet blocking
Materials
Yarn: Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran (100% Cotton; 93 yards [85 meters]/50 grams): 601 Paper White (MC, 2 (2, 3, 3, 4) balls), 624 Mustard Yellow (CC, 1 (1, 2, 2, 2) balls)
Needles: US size 2 (2.75 mm) 47” circular, US size 3 (3 mm) 47” circular
Notions: Markers, stitch holders, tapestry needle, removeable markers or scraps of yarn, one 0.75” / [20 mm] button, US size F/5 (3.75 mm) crochet hook (for making button loop)
Abbreviations
Sk2p – Slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over the knit 2 together. (2 sts dec’d)
Pattern Notes
The body is worked flat in one piece to the armholes. Both the body and the sleeves start with the ruffle, so you’re starting with a LOT of stitches (that’s why you need a long needle to accommodate the number of stitches), but don’t worry, the number of stitches decreases quickly!
Pattern
Body
With smaller needles and CC, CO 276 (312, 312, 336, 360) sts.
Knit 1 row.
Starting with a k row, work 6 rows in St st, ending with a p row.
Next Row (RS): *Sl 1, k2tog, psso; rep from * across row. (92, 104, 104, 112, 120 sts)
Change to larger needles and MC.
Beginning with a p row, work in St st for 15 (18, 19, 21, 25) rows.
Next Row: Work 23 (26, 25, 27, 29) sts, place sts on holder for Front, work 46 (52, 54, 58, 62) sts for Back, place rem 23 (26, 25, 27, 29) sts on another holder for other Front.
Back
Shape Armhole
Working only on sts for Back, BO 1 (2, 2, 2, 2) sts at beg of next 2 rows. (44 (48, 50, 54, 58) sts)
Dec 1 st each end every other row 2 (3, 0, 2, 2) times. (40, 42, 50, 50, 54 sts)
Work even in St st until Armhole meas 3.75 (3.75, 4.5, 5, 5.5)”.
Shape Shoulders
BO 10 (10, 6, 6, 7) sts at beg of next 2 rows. (20 (22, 38, 38, 40) sts)
BO 0 (0, 7, 7, 7) sts at beg of next 2 rows. Place rem 20 (22, 24, 24, 26) sts on holder for back of neck.
Right Front
Transfer Right Front sts from holder to needle, with RS facing. Join yarn.
Shape Armhole
BO 1 (2, 2, 2, 2) sts at armhole edge on next WS row. (22 (24, 23, 25, 27) sts)
Dec 1 st on armhole edge of each WS row 2 (3, 0, 2, 2) times. (20 (21, 23, 23, 25) sts)
Work even in St st until Armhole meas 2”.
Shape Neck
With WS facing, work 15 (16, 19, 19, 20) sts. Slip last 5 (5, 5, 5, 6) sts to holder. Turn work. Starting on this row, dec 1 st at neck edge every row 5 (6, 6, 6, 6) times. (10 (10, 12, 12, 13) sts)
Work even in St st until Armhole meas 3.75 (3.75, 4.5, 5, 5.5)”.
Shape Shoulders
BO 10 (10, 6, 6, 7) sts at beg of next WS row. (0 (0, 6, 6, 6) sts)
BO 0 (0, 6, 6, 6) sts at beg of next WS row.
Left Front
Transfer Left Front sts from holder to needle, with WS facing. Join yarn.
Shape Armhole
BO 1 (2, 2, 2, 2) sts at armhole edge on next RS row. (22 (24, 23, 25, 27) sts)
Dec 1 st on armhole edge of each RS row 2 (3, 0, 2, 2) times. 20 (21, 23, 23, 25) sts)
Work even in St st until Armhole meas 2”.
Shape Neck
With RS facing, work 15 (16, 19, 19, 20) sts. Slip last 5 (5, 5, 5, 6) sts to holder. Turn work.
Starting on this row, dec 1 st at neck edge every row 5 (6, 6, 6, 6) times. (10 (10, 12, 12, 13) sts)
Work even in St st until Armhole meas 3.75 (3.75, 4.5, 5, 5.5)”.
Shape Shoulders
BO 10 (10, 6, 6, 7) sts at beg of next RS row. (0 (0, 6, 6, 6) sts)
BO 0 (0, 6, 6, 6) sts at beg of next RS row.
Sleeves (make 2)
With smaller needles and CC, CO 75 (84, 93, 96, 102) sts.
Knit 1 row.
Starting with a k row, work 4 rows in St st.
Next Row (RS): *Sl 1, k2tog, psso; rep from * across row. (25 (28, 31, 32, 34) sts)
Change to larger needles and MC.
Beginning with a p row, work in St st, inc 1 st each end of every 13 (20, 17, 13, 17)th row 2 (1, 2, 2, 3) times, then every 0 (0, 0, 14, 0) row 0 (0, 0, 1, 0) time. (29, 30, 35, 38, 40 sts).
Work even in St st until MC portion of Sleeve meas 5.25 (5.75, 7, 7.5, 9.5)”.
Shape Cap
BO 1 (2, 2, 2, 2) sts at beg of next 2 rows. (27 (26, 31, 34, 36) sts)
Dec 1 st each end of every row 2 (0, 0, 0, 0) times, then dec 1 st each end of every other row 7 (9, 10, 11, 12) times.
BO rem 9 (8, 11, 12, 12) sts.
Finishing
Collar
With RS of work facing, smaller needles, and MC, pick up 5 (5, 5, 5, 6) sts from Right Front neck holder, 10 (11, 13, 14, 15) sts from Right Front neck edge, 20 (22, 24, 24, 26) sts from Back neck holder, 10 (11, 13, 14, 15) sts from Left Front edge, and 5 (5, 5, 5, 6) sts from Left Front neck holder. (50 (54, 60, 62, 68) sts)
Knit 6 rows.
Change to CC.
Knit 1 row.
BO all sts loosely.
Sew in Sleeves. Seam Sleeves.
Front Bands
Left Front
With RS of work facing, smaller needles, and MC, pick up about 27 (30, 38, 39, 44) sts from top of collar to bottom of MC portion of front edge.
Knit 6 rows.
Change to CC.
Knit 1 row.
BO all sts loosely.
Repeat on Right Front.
Button Loop
With CC and crochet hook, chain 10 sts. Fasten off.
Fold in half and sew to top of Right Front Band.
Sew button on Left Front Band to match.
Weave in all ends.