Pattern Description:
This versatile baby cardigan is knit top-down, beginning with the neck, followed by raglan increases, the body, and sleeves. It features an Estonian Button Stitch pattern on the body, adding visual interest.
The pattern is suitable for both baby boys and girls, with buttonhole placement options, and can be personalized with different yarn colors and buttons.
Materials Needed & Measurements:
- Yarn: Hobby Lobby’s “Yarn Bee Bamboo-tiful” yarn in Rose is used, or approximately 300 yds of a similar weight yarn. A soft wool yarn of similar weight can be substituted for a warmer sweater.
- Yarn Weight: 3 – Lightweight.
- Hook: Not applicable; knitting needles are used. US size 4 (3.5mm) and US size 6 (4mm) circular needles (40” for magic loop) are specified. Straight needles can be used for the body, then switched to circular or DPN for sleeves if preferred.
- Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch markers, and 5 buttons (5/8” wooden buttons were used).
- Measurements:
- Size: 0-6 months
- Designed to fit chest: 16”
- Actual cardigan chest: 18.75” around
- Length: 10”
- Gauge: 22 sts and 30 rows to 4” in stockinette stitch on US size 6 needles.
Stitches & Abbreviations Used:
- co – cast on
- k – knit
- p – purl
- K2tog – knit 2 together
- m1 – make 1
- kfb – knit in the front and the back of the same stitch
- ssk – slip 2 stitches knitwise to right needle. Insert left needle through the front loops and knit together.
- pm – place marker
- sm – slip marker
- RS – right side
- WS – wrong side
- EBS – Estonian button stitch. This stitch involves skipping the first 2 stitches, inserting the needle between the 2nd and 3rd stitches, drawing a loop, placing it on the main needle, knitting through the back loop of the 1st stitch, pulling it off, slipping two stitches to the working needle, and passing the first stitch over the other two.
Instructions for Making the Button Stitch Baby Cardigan Pattern:
Neck and Raglan Increase
Using 3.5mm (US size 4) straight needles, loosely co 60 sts.
- Rows 1-4: k all sts. Change to 4mm (US size 6) circular needles.
- R5 (Buttonhole Row): For unisex or girl, k to last 4 sts, K2tog, yo, k2. For boy, k2, yo, K2tog, k to end.
- R6 (Set Up Row – WS): k5, p 8, pm, p 8, pm, p 18, pm, p 8, pm, p 8, k5.
- R7 (Increase Row): k5, k to 1st st before marker, kfb, sm, kfb. Repeat from to 3 more times, k to end.
- R8 and all subsequent alternate rows (WS): k5, p to last 5 sts, sm as you work, k5.
- R9: k7, EBS, k to 1st st before marker, kfb, sm, kfb; k to 1st st before 2nd marker, kfb, sm, kfb; EBS, k6, EBS, k6, EBS, kfb, sm, kfb; k to 1st st before next marker, kfb, sm, kfb; k4 EBS k7.
- R11: As R7.
- R13: k11, EBS, k2 , kfb, sm, kfb; k to 1st st before 2nd marker, kfb, sm, kfb; k6, EBS, k6, EBS, k6, kfb, sm, kfb; k to 1st st before next marker, kfb, sm, kfb; k2, EBS, k11.
- R15: As R7.
- R17: k7, EBS, k6, EBS, kfb, sm, kfb; k to 1st st before 2nd marker, kfb, sm, kfb; k4, EBS, k6, EBS, k6, EBS, k4, kfb, sm, kfb; k to 1st st before last marker, kfb, sm, kfb; EBS, k6, EBS, k7.
- R19: As R7.
- R21: k11, EBS, k6, kfb, sm, kfb; k to 1st st before 2nd marker, kfb, sm, kfb; k2, EBS, k6, EBS, k6, EBS, k6, EBS, k2, kfb, sm, kfb; k to 1st st before next marker, kfb, sm, kfb; k6, EBS, k11.
- R23: As R7.
- R25: k7, EBS, k6, EBS, k4, kfb, sm, kfb; k to 1st st before 2nd marker, kfb, sm, kfb; EBS, k6, EBS, k6, EBS, k6, EBS, k6, EBS, kfb, sm, kfb; k to 1st st before last marker, kfb, sm, kfb; k4, EBS, k6, EBS, k7.
- R27: As R7.
- R29: k11, EBS, k6 , EBS, k2, kfb, sm, kfb; k to 1st st before 2nd marker, kfb, sm, kfb; k6, EBS, k6, EBS, k6, EBS, k6, EBS, k6, kfb, sm, kfb; k to 1st st before next marker, kfb, sm, kfb; k2, EBS, k6, EBS, k11.
- R31: As R7.
- R33: k7, EBS, k6, EBS, k6, EBS, kfb, sm, kfb; k to 1st st before 2nd marker, kfb, sm, kfb; k4, EBS, k6, EBS, k6, EBS, k6, EBS, k6, EBS, k4, kfb, sm, kfb; k to 1st st before last marker, kfb, sm, kfb; EBS, k6, EBS, k6, EBS, k7.
- R35: As R7.
- R37: k11, EBS, k6 , EBS, k6, kfb, sm, kfb; k to 1st st before 2nd marker, kfb, sm, kfb; k2, EBS, k6, EBS, k6, EBS, k6, EBS, k6, EBS, k6, EBS, k2, kfb, sm, kfb; k to 1st st before next marker, kfb, sm, kfb; k6, EBS, k6, EBS, k11.
- R39: As R7.
- Next row: k5, p to last 5 sts, sm as you knit, k5.
Body Divide for Body:
- k to 1st marker, remove marker.
- co 0 sts. Using a tapestry needle, slip the next 42 sts onto waste yarn (tie to secure). Remove marker.
- k to the next marker, remove marker.
- co 0 sts. Slip the next 42 sts onto waste yarn as before.
- Remove marker. k to end. (112 sts remain for body).
Work the Body:
Use the EBS pattern across the remaining stitches for the body of the cardigan.
Estonian Button Stitch Body Pattern:
- R1 (WS): k5, p to last 5 sts, k5.
- R2: k7, EBS, k6, EBS repeat from to until 7 sts remain, k7.
- R3: k5, p to last 5 sts, k5.
- R4: k across.
- R5: k5, p to last 5 sts, k5.
- R6: k11, EBS, k6, EBS repeat from to until 11 sts remain, k11.
- R7: k5, p to last 5 sts, k5.
- R8: k across. Repeat these 8
- EBS pattern rows until the cardigan measures 9” from the cast on neck edge, ending with
- R1 or R5 of the pattern.
- Remember to work your buttonholes along one garter stitch band.
- Cast off.
Sleeves
With the RS of the work facing you, starting at the underarm edge, transfer the 42 sts from waste yarn for one sleeve evenly onto 4mm (US size 6) double-pointed needles, or a small circular needle, or a large circular needle for the magic loop method. pm to denote the start of the round.
- R1-5: k.
- R6 (decrease round): k1, K2tog, k to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. (40 sts).
- Continue in stockinette stitch (k every round), working the decrease round every 6th round until 32 sts remain.
- Continue in stockinette stitch without further decreases until the sleeve measures 4.5” from the underarm. Change to 3.5mm (US size 4) needles.
- Work 8 rounds of k1, p1 ribbing.
- Cast off. Repeat for the second sleeve.
Finishing
Weave in all loose ends. Sew up the small underarm gap under each sleeve. Attach 5 buttons to the button band, matching them up with the buttonholes.
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