Basic Baby Cardigan

by Leslie Gonzalez

Skill Level: Easy

Sizes: 1-3 mo., 6-9 mo, 12 mo.

Finished Measurements:
Chest: 9 (11, 12)
Length: 10 (11, 12)

Materials
Lion Brand Vanna's Choice (100% acrylic; 3.5 oz/
100g; 170 yd/156 m) color dusty rose, 2 (2,2) balls.
Or 300 yards of any #4 med yarn of your choice.
Needles size US 6 (4mm) and 8 (5 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge.
5 1 buttons
5 interlocking markers or waste yarn to mark buttonhole placement

Gauge: 16 sts and 24 rows = 4/10cm in st st. To save time, take time to check gauge.

Construction notes:
The cardigan is worked in separate pieces then seamed together. The neckband and front bands
are picked up and worked after seaming.

Abbreviations:
M1R: Make one right by inserting the right needle between the yarn between the st on the right
and left needle from the back, knit this loop through the front.
M1L: Make one right by inserting the right needle between the yarn between the st on the right
and left needle from the front, knit this loop through the back.
K2tog: Knit 2 sts together
Ssk: slip two sts individually as if to knit, insert the right needle throught the front of the the two
slipped sts, knit them together through the back loop.

Back:
With smaller needles, CO 37 (45, 49) sts. Work k1 p1 ribbing for six rows. Change to larger
needles and work in st st until piece measures 10 (11, 12). Bind off all sts.

Left Front:
With smaller needles, CO 16 (20, 22) sts. Work k1p1 ribbing for six rows. Change to larger
needles and work until piece measures 8 (9, 10) ending with a RS row.
Shape neck:
Next row (WS): Bind off 4 (5, 5) sts, work to end of row. Work one row even. Next row (WS):
Bind off 2 (3,3) sts, work to end of row. Work one row even, Next row (WS): Bind of 1 (2, 2)sts,
work to end of row. Next row work to last three sts, k2 tog k1. 8 (9, 11) sts. Continue without
further shaping until piece measures 10 (11, 12) or is the same length as back. Bind off all sts.

Right Front.
With smaller needles, CO 16 (20, 22) sts. Work k1p1 ribbing for six rows. Change to larger
needles and work until piece measures 8 (9, 10) ending with a WS row.
Shape neck:
Next row (RS): Bind off 4 (5, 5) sts, work to end of row. Work one row even. Next row (RS):
Bind off 2 (3,3) sts, work to end of row. Work one row even, Next row (RS): Bind of 1 (2,2)sts,
work to end of row. Work one row even Next row work to last three sts, k2 tog k1. 8 (9, 11) sts.
Continue without further shaping until piece measures 10 (11, 12) or is the same length as back.
Bind off all sts.
Sleeves:
With smaller needles, CO 21 (25, 27) sts. Work k1p1 ribbing for six rows. Change to larger
needles and work in st st. Next row increasing 1 st each end. Work increase rows thus: K2,
M1R, work to last 2 sts M1L, k2. Repeat the increase row every 6th row five times 33 (37, 39)
sts. Work even until Sleeve measures 7 (8, 9) in. from beg. Bind off all sts.

Finishing:
Seam shoulders together. Seam sleeve to body. Seam arms and sides.

Neck band: With smaller needles and RS facing pick up and knit 1 st for each st of the neck
bound off edges on right, 3 sts for every 4 rows along the right vertical edge of the neck, 1 st for
each bound off back neck edge sts, 3 sts for every 4 rows along the left vertical edge of the neck,
1 st for each st of the neck bound off edges on left neck. Work in k1 p1 ribbing for 4 rows. Bind
off all sts in pattern.

Button and Buttonhole Bands:

Mark for 5 evenly spaced buttonholes for a girl place on right side for a boy place on left side.
Pick up both bands from the right side, using smaller needles and pick up 3 sts for every 4 rows.
Work the button band by working 1x1 ribbing for 5 rows, then bind off all sts in pattern. Work
the button band by working 1x1 ribbing for 2 rows in the third row work buttonhole by making a
buttonhole at the marked spots. Work the button hole thus: yo, k2tog OR yo, p2tog to maintain
the integrity of the ribbing. Work in ribbing for 2 more rows Bind off all sts in pattern.

Place buttons securely on button band opposite buttonholes. Weave in ends and block to
measurement.
This is a great pattern for teaching the basics of sweater construction. It is geared toward
beginner and new knitters who would like to move forward into working on sweaters.

Skills needed before the class:

The student must be comfortable casting on, knitting, purling, and binding off.

Things to teach with this pattern:

Pattern reading

Gauge: Work a gauge swatch to meet the requirements of the pattern

Casting On: Choose a cast on that will adequately support the st st that follows.

Accurate measuring of work in progress

Planning st patterns for seaming, 1x1 ribbing and st st.

Using mirrored increases decreases and how to place them in the work to plan for seaming.

Binding off for shaping mid work.

Seaming of the garment

Picking up sts

Simple buttonholes and evenly spacing buttonholes

Class Schedule
In addition to the materials in the pattern, a stitch holder, waste yarn or spare needle will be
needed.

Week 1:
Cast on and work an 18 st gauge swatch for 4
Cast on garment work 1x1 ribbing then work st st
Homework: complete back and bind off.

Week 2:
Cast on L front
Homework: work to neck shaping. Place on holder or spare needles. Cast on R front and work to
neck shaping.

Week 3:
Work neck shaping on both fronts. Bind off both fronts.
Cast on sleeve. Work through at least 1 set of increases.
Homework: Finish both sleeves and bind them off.

Week 4:
Seam shoulders.
Seam left sleeve to garment
Begin seams for left sleeve and side
Homework: Seam right side

Week 5:
Pick up and work neck band.
Pick up and work buttonhole band through buttonholes.
Show how to weave in ends and explain blocking. Show how to secure buttons.
Homework: Finish button band. Pick up button band, work and bind off. Attach buttons, weave
ends and block.