Baby Bunnies Cardigan

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: Finished Bust Size 23¼ (24¾, 27, 28¼, 29¾)” to fit bust 21 (23, 25, 26½, 28)” ages 2 (4, 6, 8, 10) years.

2” positive ease recommended.

Shown in size 23”

Gauge: 22 sts and 31 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking.

Materials

Yarn:

 Drops Merino Extra Fine (100% Wool; 115 yards [105 meters]/50 grams): 15 Light Greyish Green (MC), 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) balls; 07 Light Brown (CC1), 1 ball; 01 Off White (CC2), 1 ball

Needles: US size 6 (4 mm): 24” circular and DPNs; US size 4 (3.5 mm): 24” circular and DPNs

Notions: Markers; stitch holder or waste yarn; cable needle; tapestry needle; 6 (7, 7, 8, 9), ½” diameter buttons

Special Stitches

Mb (make bobble)

K1, return st to LH needle, kfbfbf, (turn, p5, turn, k5) twice, (sl 2nd st over first st on RH needle) 4 times.

Kfbfbf

Knit into the front and back of the same stitch twice, then knit into the front of the st again.

2/2 LC

Sl 2 sts to cn, hold in front, k2, k2 from cn.

2/2 RC

Sl 2 sts to cn, hold in back, k2, k2 from cn.

4/4 RC

Sl 4 sts to cn, hold in back, k4, k4 from cn.

Band of Bunnies Pattern

Row 1 (WS): P2 with CC1, k4 with MC, p2 with CC1 – 8 sts.

Row 2 (RS): K2 with CC1, p4 with MC, k2 with CC1.

Row 3: Rep Row 1.

Rows 4-9: Rep Rows 2-3.

Row 10: With CC1, 4/4 RC.

Row 11: With CC1, purl.

Row 12: With CC1, knit.

Row 13: With CC1, purl.

Row 14: With CC1, knit.

Row 15: With CC1, purl.

Row 16: With CC1, knit.

Row 17: With CC1, purl.

Rows 18-25: Rep Rows 10-17.

Row 26: K3 with CC1, mb with CC2, k4 with CC1.

Row 27: With CC1, purl.

Row 28: With CC1, knit.

Row 29: With CC1, purl.

Row 30: With CC1, 2/2 LC, 2/2 RC.

Pattern Notes

The cardigan is worked back and forth from the top down with a garter stitch border and buttons down the front. The buttonband is incorporated as the cardigan is worked. After the body is worked, the sleeves are worked from held live yoke stitches. The bunnies, worked on a reverse stocking stitch panel, are stranded with cabling and bobbles to make them stand out, while the rest of the garment is worked plain stockinette stitch.

Pattern

Yoke

With smaller circular needle and MC, CO 68 (76, 80, 84, 96) sts.

Row 1 (WS): Sl1 pwise wyif, k3, pm, k9 (10, 11, 12, 14), pm, k10 (12, 12, 12, 14), pm, k22 (24, 26, 28, 32), pm, k10 (12, 12, 12, 14), pm, k9 (10, 11, 12, 14), pm, k4.

Note: Use two different color markers in Row 1, one color for the first and final markers and the another for the rem central markers.

Row 2: Sl1 pwise wyif, k to m, sm, (k to 1 st before m, m1R, k1, sm, k1, m1L) 4 times, k to last m, sm, k to end – 8 sts inc’d; 76 (84, 88, 92, 104) sts.

Row 3: Sl1 pwise wyif, k to end, slipping markers as you go.

Row 4 (Buttonhole row): Sl1 pwise wyif, k to m, sm, (k to 1 st before m, m1R, k1, sm, k1, m1L) 4 times, k to final m, sm, k1, yo, k2tog, k1 – 8 sts inc’d; 84 (92, 96, 100, 112) sts.

Note: After this buttonhole row has been completed, a buttonhole should be added every following 16th row. There should be 8 garter ridges on the RS between buttonholes.

Row 5: Sl1 pwise wyif, k to end, slipping markers as you go.

Row 6: Sl1 pwise wyif, k to m, sm, (k to 1 st before m, m1R, k1, sm, k1, m1L) 4 times, k to final m, sm, k to end – 8 sts inc’d; 92 (100, 104, 108, 120).

Rows 7: Rep Row 5.

Change to larger circular needle

Row 8 (RS): Sl1 pwise wyif, k to m, sm, (k to 1 st before m, m1R, k1, sm, k1, m1L) 4 times, k to last m, sm, k to end – 8 sts inc’d; 100 (108, 112, 116, 128) sts.

Row 9: Sl1 pwise wyif, k to m, p to last m, slipping markers as you go, k to end.

Work Rows 8-9, 15 (16, 18, 19, 19) times total, remembering to add a buttonhole every 16th row – 212 (228, 248, 260, 272) sts, divided up as follows: 4 (4, 4, 4, 4) sts for Right Front buttonband, 27 (29, 32, 34, 36) sts for Right Front, 46 (50, 54, 56, 58) sts for Right Sleeve, 58 (62, 68, 72, 76) sts for Back, 46 (50, 54, 56, 58) sts for Left Sleeve, 27 (29, 32, 34, 36) sts for Left Front, 4 (4, 4, 4, 4) sts for Left Buttonband.

At this point the yoke should measure 5½ (6, 6½, 6¾, 7)” from the top of the shoulder.

Separate Sleeves

Next Row (RS): Sl1 pwise wyif, k to 2nd marker, (remove marker and place the Sleeve sts on waste yarn, using backward loop cast-on method, CO 6 sts, k to m) twice, remove marker, k to end, slipping final marker – 132 (140, 152, 160, 168) sts

Body

Row 1 (WS): Sl1 pwise wyif, k to m, sm, p62 (66, 72, 76, 80), m1 pwise 1 (0, 1, 0, 0) time, p to last m, sm, k to end – 133 (140, 153, 160, 168) sts

Row 2 (RS): Sl1 pwise wyif, k to end, slipping markers as you go.

Row 3: Sl1 pwise wyif, k to m, sm, p to last m, sm, k to end.

Work Rows 2-3, 0 (7, 5, 12, 20) times total, continuing to add a buttonhole every 16th row.

Rep Row 2 once more.

Note: If you wish to add extra length, work Rows 2-3 eight more times before working the final Row 2. This will add approx. 2” to the length. For each extra 16-row section, you will require another button.

Row 4 (WS): Sl1 pwise wyif, k to end, slipping markers as you go.

Row 5 (RS): Sl1 pwise wyif, k3, sm, p5 (3, 4, 2, 6), [pm, (pfb, p1) twice, pfb, p6] 10 (11, 12, 13, 13) times, pm, (pfb, p1) twice, pfb, pm, p5 (3, 4, 2, 6), sm, k to end – 166 (176, 192, 202, 210) sts.

Row 6: Sl1 pwise wyif, k3, sm, k to m, sm, work Band of Bunnies Pattern, (sm, k6, work Band of Bunnies Pattern) 10 (11, 12, 13, 13) times, sm, k to end.

Note: This is a WS row, so the chart should be worked from left to right. Unless working the sts from the chart, all sts should be worked in MC. The sections between the Band of Bunnies pattern should be stranded.

Row 7: Sl1 pwise wyif, k3, sm, p to m, (sm, work Band of Bunnies Pattern, p6) 10 (11, 12, 13, 13) times, sm, work Band of Bunnies Pattern, sm, p to last m, sm, k to end.

Cont in patt as est until all 30 rows of the Band of Bunnies Pattern has been completed, continuing to add a buttonhole every 16th row.

Note: When working Row 26, use a separate length of CC2 for each bobble, leaving ends for weaving in.

Row 8 (WS): Sl1 pwise wyif, k3, sm, k5 (3, 4, 2, 6), [remove marker, (p2tog, p1) twice, p2tog, k6] 10 (11, 12, 13, 13) times, remove marker, (p2tog, p1) twice, pfb, remove marker, k5 (3, 4, 2, 6), sm, k to end – 132 (141, 152, 161, 168) sts

Row 9 (RS): Sl1 pwise wyif, k3, sm, p to m, sm, k to end.

Row 10: Sl1 pwise wyif, k to end, slipping markers as you go.

Row 11: Sl1 pwise wyif, k to end, slipping markers as you go.

Row 12: Sl1 pwise wyif, k3, sm, p to m, sm, k to end.

Rows 13-14: Rep Rows 11-12.

Row 15: Rep Row 11.

Change to smaller circular needle.

Rows 16-18: Sl1 pwise wyif, k to end.

Row 19 (buttonhole row): Sl1 pwise wyif, k to final m, sm, k1, yo, k2tog, k1.

Rows 20-22: Sl1 pwise wyif, k to end.

BO all sts.

Sleeves

Place the live sts for one sleeve on the larger DPNs and, working with MC, PU and k8 sts along the underarm cast-on edge, k45 (49, 53, 55, 57), k2tog (one st from held sts and one picked-up st), k3, pm, k3, ssk (one picked up st and one held st), k to m – 52 (56, 60, 62, 64) sts.

Rnds 1-5: Knit.

Rnd 6: K1, ssk, k to 3 sts before m, k2tog, k1 – 2 sts dec’d; 50 (54, 58, 60, 62) sts.

Work Rnds 1-6, 7 (7, 8, 8, 8) times total – 38 (42, 44, 46, 48) sts

Work in St st (k every round) until Sleeve meas 8 (10, 11, 12, 13)”.

Change to smaller DPNs.

Rnds 7: Purl.

Rnds 8: Knit.

Work Rnds 7-8, 3 times total, then Rnd 7 once more.

BO all sts kwise.

Rep for second sleeve.

Finishing

Weave in all ends, pulling the ends of the bobbles tightly before weaving in. Stitch buttons into position corresponding to the buttonholes. Wash the cardigan according to the instructions on the ball band. Lay the cardigan out to the measurements given in the schematic and allow to dry flat.