Happy Hues Baby Cardigan

Skill Level: Beginner

Size: Finished Chest Size 19 (20, 21, 22, 23)” to fit chest 16 (17, 18, 19, 20)”

3” positive ease recommended.

Shown in size 21”

Gauge: 18 sts and 28 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking

Materials

Yarn:

 Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece (80% Cotton, 20% Merino; 215 yards [197 meters]/100 grams): #100 Cotton Ball (MC), 1 (1, 2, 2, 2) balls; #840 Lime Light (CC1), 1 (1, 1, 1, 1) ball; #555 Robin Egg Blue (CC2), 1 (1, 1, 1, 1) ball; #310 Wild Orange (CC3), 1 (1, 1, 1, 1) ball; #343 Sunflower Gold (CC4), 1 (1, 1, 1, 1) ball; #240 Pink-a-boo (CC5), 1 (1, 1, 1, 1) ball

Needles: US size 6 (4 mm): straights or circular for working flat; double pointed needles (DPN) for sleeves and grafting purposes

Notions: 8 Stitch markers; stitch holders or waste yarn; tapestry needle; eight 0.5” (13 mm) buttons

Abbreviations

sl1kwyib – slip one stitch knitwise, with yarn in back

Special Stitches

Garter Stitch (work flat)

Knit all stitches on RS and WS.

Garter Stitch (work in the round)

Alternate knit and purl rounds.

Stockinette Stitch (work flat)

Knit all stitches on RS, purl all stitches on WS.

Pattern Notes

This cardigan is worked from the bottom up in one piece to the underarms. Both Sleeves are worked to the underarms. The cardigan is joined together and the yoke is worked. The buttonband is picked up and worked. Lastly, the sleeve underarm stitches are grafted together.

Pattern

Lower Body

With MC, CO 76 (80, 86, 90, 94) sts.

Work in Garter stitch for ½ (½, 1, ½, 1½)”.

Changing to St st, work 4 rows, increasing 10 sts evenly across first row using any desired increase method. The sample increases were made using kfb. Break yarn – 86 (90, 96, 100, 104) sts.

Change to CC1, work 8 (8, 8, 13, 13) rows in St st. Break yarn.

Change to CC2, work 8 (8, 8, 13, 13) rows in St st. Break yarn.

Change to CC3, work 8 (8, 8, 13, 13) rows in St st. Break yarn.

Change to MC, work in St st until lower Body measures 5 (5½, 6½, 7½, 8½)” from CO edge. Break yarn.

Set lower body aside.

Sleeves (make 2)

With MC and DPN, CO 30 (32, 34, 36, 38) sts, PM, and join in the round, being careful not to twist sts.

Work 4 (4, 8, 4, 10) rnds of Garter st.

Knit 1 rnd.

It is the knitter’s choice whether to break the MC here or to carry it along while working Sleeve stripes. The MC in the sample was carried along. The contrasting colors will not be able to be carried along, however.

Stripe Sequence

Change to CC1, work 1 (1, 1, 2, 2) rnd.

Change to MC, work 8 (9, 10, 10, 10) rnds.

Repeat Stripe Sequence, changing to CC4, then CC2, then CC5, then CC3, and AT THE SAME TIME, on any one round between the CC2 stripe and CC5 stripe, increase 1 st on both sides of the st marker – 32 (34, 36, 38, 40) sts.

After final rnds of MC have been worked, continue working in the rnds with MC until Sleeve measures 6 (6½, 7½, 8, 8½)”.

Joining Body and Sleeves

On both Sleeves place 3 (3, 4, 4, 5) sts on both sides of st marker onto waste yarn. Set aside.

K16 (17, 18, 19, 19) sts from Lower Body, PM, k2 sts, place next 6 (6, 8, 8, 10) sts from Lower Body onto waste yarn, k1 st from Sleeve, PM, k to last st on Sleeve, PM, k last Sleeve st, k2 sts from Lower Body, PM, k33 (35, 36, 38, 38) sts from Lower Body, PM, k2 sts from Lower Body, place next 6 (6, 8, 8, 10) sts from Lower Body onto waste yarn, k1 st from second Sleeve, PM, k to last st on Sleeve, PM, k last Sleeve st, k2 sts from Lower Body, PM, k last 16 (17, 18, 19, 19) sts from Lower Body – 126 (134, 136, 144, 144) sts.

Purl 1 row.

Next Row (RS): *K to marker, sm, p1, k1, p1, sm; rep from * to last marker, sm, k to end of row.

Next Row (WS): *P to marker, sm, k1, sl1kwyib, k1, sm; rep from * to last marker, sm, p to end of row.

Rep last 2 rows for 1”, ending with WS row.

Raglan Decreases

Work next 2 rows a total of 10 (11, 11, 12, 11) times.

Next Row (RS): *K to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1, sm, p1, k1, p1, sm, k1, ssk; rep from * to last marker, sm, ssk, k to end of row.

Next Row (WS): *P to marker, sm, k1, sl1kwyib, k1, sm; rep from * to last marker, sm, p to end of row.

Size 23” only

Work last 2 rows once more, but only decrease sts on sweater back raglan seams. Do not decrease on either fronts – 46 (46, 48, 48, 52) sts

All Sizes

Neck

Work in Garter st for 1”.

BO.

Buttonband

Pick up sts at a ratio of 3 sts to every 4 rows.

Work in Garter st for ½ (½, ½, ¾, 1)”.

BO.

Pick up same number of sts as first buttonband side.

Knit 1 row.

Place buttons on finished buttonband. Mark corresponding place on current buttonband with removable stitch markers. These markers are where your buttonholes will go.

On next row, work desired buttonhole at marker, removing markers as you come to them.

The sample uses k2tog at each marker to create the buttonhole. On the next row, the “bar was lifted” between the stitches to form a small afterthought yarn over.

Work in Garter st until second buttonband measures same as first.

Finishing

Place all sleeve underarm stitches and body underarm stitches onto two double pointed needles. Graft together with a third needle.

Weave in ends. Block to measurements.

Sew buttons on, making sure they are firmly attached. Tip: To make buttons even more secure, sew them on once, then with a new piece of thread, sew them again.