Little Avery Free Pattern

Pattern Description:

Little Avery is a classic knit cardigan designed for any boy or girl. It is constructed top down, features buttons down the front, and is presented as a perfect last-minute shower gift.

Materials Needed & Measurements:

• Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosk Merino DK
• Yarn Weight: DK
• Needle: The pattern uses knitting needles: 7 us (4.50 mm) (or size needed to obtain gauge) and 6 us (4.00 mm).
• Notions: 4(4,4,5) buttons, with a size of ¾” or 1”.
• Measurements:
  • Gauge: 20.0 stitches = 4 inches
  • Yardage: 200(275,350,450)
  • Sizes: 0-3 months (3-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months)
  • Chest measurements: 16”(18”,19”,21”)

Stitches & Abbreviations Used:

• WS – Wrong side
• RS – Right side
• YO – Yarn over
• Sm – Slip marker
• Pm – Place marker
• K2tog – Knit two stitches together
• Rm – Remove marker
• Kfb – Knit into the front and back of the stitch

Instructions for Making the Little Avery Pattern:

Preparation and Casting On

• Needle Size: Begin by using the smaller needles (6 US / 4.00 mm).
• Cast On: Cast on 48(52,56,58) stitches using a long tail cast on.
• Initial Rows (Button Band Setup):
  • Row 1 (WS): Knit to the end.
  • Row 2 (RS): Knit to the end.
  • Row 3 (WS): Knit to the end.
  • Row 4 (RS) (Buttonhole Row): Knit 2, YO, K2tog, Knit to the end.

Yoke Construction (Raglan Increases & Buttonholes)

• Change Needles: After Row 4, change to the larger needles (7 US / 4.50 mm).
• Row 5 (WS – Yoke Setup): Knit 4, purl 6(7,8,9) (front), Pm, purl 6(6,6,6) (sleeve), Pm, purl 16(18,20,20) (back), Pm, purl 6(6,6,6) (sleeve), Pm, purl 6(7,8,9) (front), knit 4.
• Raglan Increase Sequence:
  • Row 6 (RS – Increase Row): Knit to 1 stitch before the next marker, (Kfb, Sm, Kfb, knit until you have 1 stitch before the next marker) work 4 times, knit to the end (8 stitches increased).
  • Row 7 (WS – Purl Row): Knit 4, purl to the last 4 stitches, knit 4.
  • Repeat: Work rows 6 and 7, 3 times total.
• Buttonhole & Increase Sequence:
  • Row 8 (RS – Buttonhole Row & Increase Row): Knit 2, YO, K2tog, knit to 1 stitch before the next marker, (Kfb, Sm, Kfb, knit until you have 1 stitch before the next marker) work 4 times, knit to the end (8 stitches increased).
  • Row 9 (WS – Purl Row): Knit 4, purl to the last 4 stitches, knit 4.
  • Repeat: Work rows 8 and 9 (Buttonhole Row), 1 time total.
• Further Increases:
  • Work rows 6 and 7, 3 times total.
  • Work rows 8 and 9 (Buttonhole Row), 1 time total.
• Size-Specific Increases:
  • For size 0-3 months: Work rows 6 and 7, 1 time.
  • For size 3-6 months: Work rows 6 and 7, 2 times.
  • For size 6-12 months: Work rows 6 and 7, 3 times.
  • For size 12-18 months: Work rows 6 and 7, 3 times, and then rows 8 and 9 (Buttonhole Row), 1 last time.
• Stitch Count: At this point, you will have 152(164,176,186) stitches total and 13(14,15,16) raglan increases.

Dividing for Sleeves and Body

• Row 10 (RS – Divide for Sleeves): Knit to the sleeves, Rm, slip the 32(34,36,38) sleeve stitches onto a piece of scrap yarn, Rm, M1 (make 1 stitch, creating a new stitch), knit across the back, Rm, slip the 32(34,36,38) sleeve stitches onto a piece of scrap yarn, Rm, knit to the end.
• Body Stitch Count: You will now have 89(97,105,111) stitches for the body.
• Initial Body Rows:
  • Row 11 (WS): Knit 4, purl to the last 4 stitches, knit 4.
  • Row 12 (RS): Knit to the end.
  • Row 13 (WS): Knit 4, purl to the last 4 stitches, knit 4.

Main Body Construction

• Texture Pattern: The main body uses a texture pattern where you knit on the RS and purl on the WS for most stitches, interspersed with a ribbing section.
• Body Pattern Rows:
  • Row 14 (RS): Knit to the end.
  • Row 15 (WS): Knit to the end.
  • Row 16 (RS): Knit 4, (Knit 1, purl 1) repeat to the last 5 stitches, knit 5.
  • Row 17 (WS): Knit 4, purl 1, (Knit 1, purl 1) repeat to the last 4 stitches, knit 4.
• Body Length: Repeat rows 14 through 17 until the body of the sweater measures 5”(7”,9”,10”) inches from the underarm. End after working row 17.
• Final Body Rows and Bind Off:
  • Row 18 (RS): Knit to the end.
  • Row 19 (WS): Bind off knitwise.

Sleeves Construction (Worked Separately in the Round)

• Note: Work each sleeve separately, in the round. Place a start of round marker. Leave a 6” tail when starting to sew close the hole under each arm.
• Needle Size: Use the larger needles (7 US / 4.50 mm) for the sleeves.
• Set Up Rounds:
  • Set up round: Knit to the end.
  • Work the set up round, 3 times total.
• Sleeve Texture Pattern Rounds:
  • Round 1: Knit to the end.
  • Round 2: Purl to the end.
  • Round 3: (Knit 1, purl 1) repeat to the end.
  • Round 4: (Knit 1, purl 1) repeat to the end.
• Sleeve Length: Repeat rounds 1 through 4 until the sleeve measures 4 ¼”(6”,7 ½”,8 ½”) inches from the underarm, or to desired length. End after round 4.
• Final Sleeve Rounds and Bind Off:
  • Round 5: Knit to the end.
  • Round 6: Bind off purlwise.
• Second Sleeve: Repeat all sleeve instructions as worked for the first sleeve to complete the second sleeve.

Finishing

• Weave in all your ends.
• Sew the 4(4,4,5) buttons (¾” or 1” size) onto the front.
• Block the cardigan.
• Enjoy!

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