Pattern Description:
The Garter Yoke Baby Cardi is a simple, seamless, top-down raglan construction cardigan designed for babies (6-12 months).
It features an optional I-cord button band and can be adapted for different sizes by adjusting yarn weight, needle size, and length accordingly.
Materials Needed & Measurements:
- Yarn: 3 skeins Knit Pick Andean Treasure alpaca or any sport weight yarn.
- Yarn Weight: Sport weight.
- Hook: This pattern uses knitting needles, not a hook. US4 (3.5mm) circular needles and dpns for sleeves are required.
- Notions: Stitch markers (pm), stitch holders, and buttons (to match buttonhole spacing). An I-cord is an optional feature for the button band.
- Measurements:
- Finished chest: 20 inches.
- Finished length: 10 inches.
- Gauge: 22 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette stitch (st st).
Stitches & Abbreviations Used:
- sl1: slip 1 stitch knitwise.
- m1: make 1: lift bar between stitches from front to back and knit through the back loop (k tbl).
- pm: place marker.
- K2tog: knit 2 stitches together.
- Yo: yarn over.
Instructions for Making the Garter Yoke Baby Cardi Pattern:
Neck Band
- CO 60 sts.
- Knit Neck Band (Garter Stitch):
- Rows 1-8: sl1, k59.
Raglan Shaping
This section begins the top-down raglan shaping, incorporating increases for the yoke. The p2s in Row 10 are designed to create distinct stockinette raglan details.
- Row 9 (Increase Row): sl1, k9, m1, pm, k2, pm, m1, k6, m1, pm, k2, pm, m1, k20, m1, pm, k2, pm, m1, k6, m1, pm, k2, pm, m1, k10 (68 sts).
- Row 10 (Wrong Side Row): sl1, k10, p2, k8, p2, k22, p2, k8, p2, k11.
- Repeat Rows 9 & 10: Continue repeating these two rows, ensuring increases are made outside the markers (leaving 2 stockinette stitches between). Repeat until the piece measures 3 3/4-inches and has 188 sts.
Body Separation and Continuation
Once the raglan shaping is complete, the sleeves are placed on holders, and the body of the cardigan is worked.
- Separate Sleeves and Body (Row 1): Dropping markers as you go, work as follows:
- sl1, k27 (right front).
- Place 38 sts on holder (right sleeve).
- k56 (back).
- Place 38 sts on holder (left sleeve).
- k28 (left front).
- You will now have 112 active sts forming the body.
- Body (Stockinette Stitch):
- Row 2: sl1, p110, k1.
- Row 3: sl1, k111.
- Continue Body: Repeat rows 2 & 3 until the piece measures 8 1/2-inches from the top.
Finishing the Body
The body concludes with a garter stitch edge.
- Garter Stitch Edge: For all subsequent rows, sl1, k111 until the piece measures 10-inches from the top.
- Bind off on the wrong side.
Finishing the Sleeves
Both sleeves are worked in the round, starting with stockinette stitch and finishing with a garter stitch cuff.
- Pick up 38 sleeve sts from one of the stitch holders.
- Rnd 1: pm at beginning of round, k38.
- Rnd 2: Join to k in round. k38.
- Continue in stockinette stitch for 3-inches.
- Garter Stitch Cuff:
- Rnd 1: p38.
- Rnd 2: k38.
- Repeat Rnds 1 & 2 for 1-1/2 inches.
- Bind off in purl.
- Repeat all sleeve instructions for the second sleeve.
Adding Button Bands (Optional)
You have the option to skip the button bands and simply garter stitch 5 rows on each front edge, or apply an I-cord to each. If you choose to add bands, follow these steps:
- Button Band (Non-Buttonhole Side):
- With right side facing, pick up and knit each edge stitch on the button side.
- k every row for 1-inch.
- Bind off loosely on the wrong side.
- Buttonhole Band (Buttonhole Side):
- With right side facing, pick up and knit each edge stitch on the buttonhole side.
- k every row for 3/4-inch.
- Follow either the Basic Garter Buttonhole Band or I-cord Buttonhole Band instructions below.
- Option A: Basic Garter Buttonhole Band
- Row 1: k to 1/2-in from edge, K2tog, Yo, k to 2 3/4-in. from edge, K2tog, Yo, k to 5-in. from edge, K2tog, Yo, k to 7 1/4-in. from edge, K2tog, Yo, k to 9-in. from edge, K2tog, Yo, k to end.
- Row 2: k.
- Bind off loosely on the wrong side.
- Option B: I-cord Buttonhole Band
- Using dpn, CO3, slide sts to circ needle holding picked up sts.
- Rnd 1: k2, Yo, K2tog and slide sts back to circ. Repeat this sequence until 1/2-in. from the edge.
- Make Buttonhole: k 2 rnds of I-cord without attaching to the picked up sts ( k3, slide to circ twice) and drop 2 corresponding picked up sts.
- Continue applying I-cord and make additional buttonholes at 2 3/4-in., 5-in., 7 1/4-in. and 9 1/2-in. from the edge.
- At the edge, cut yarn and draw through remaining sts to close I-cord.
- Bind off loosely on the wrong side.
Finishing Touches
- Attach buttons to match buttonhole spacing.
- Weave in all remaining ends.
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