Make your little one a cute baby cardigan for the warmer weather with this free and easy pattern.
If you are learning how to knit, baby knitting patterns are great to start with before you move on to more complicated patterns that include intarsia and other advanced techniques.
An Easy Level Knitting Pattern
This is an easy pattern for those of you who are advanced beginner level, and the techniques you will need to know are casting on, casting off, knit and purl stitches.
The pattern uses basic techniques, including ribbing and stocking stitch.
It will also introduce you to shaping, through increases and decreases.
*Please scroll down to see the free pattern*
The Yarn I Used To Knit The Baby Cardigan
I used Rico Creative Cotton Aran for the cardigan in the colour pastel green (67).
It does on occasion split when you knit, like most cotton but you can fix it and make it look neat with a little patience.
This is a medium weight yarn 04.
You can substitute with most cotton making sure they are compatible with size 4mm (US 6) and 5.5mm (US 9) knitting needles.
Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this pattern:
This pattern is great for any advanced beginner knitters.
- You should be comfortable casting on and casting off, as well as knitting in garter stitch.
- You should be comfortable knitting the purl stitch.
- How to K2tog.
- How to KFB.
- You should be comfortable working in stockinette stitch.
- You should be comfortable picking up stitches.
- You should also be comfortable reading knitting patterns.
- And understanding knitting abbreviations and terms.
More Baby Knitting Patterns
You may also be interested in these baby knits which are also made from 100% cotton:
- Baby Sweater Knitting Pattern
- Garter Stitch Baby Cardigan Pattern
- Easy Baby Booties Pattern
- Baby Hat Knitting Pattern
- Baby Blanket Knitting Pattern
- Baby Bunny Knitting Pattern
- Pom Pom Baby Booties Knitting Pattern
- Bunny Softie Knitting Pattern
Baby Cardigan Pattern
Purchase the inexpensive ad-free, PDF printable pattern in my shop here.
You can also find this pattern in this Ebook here – 10 Baby Knitting Patterns Ebook.
Notes
The cardigan knits up quickly and the simple design makes for a relaxing and enjoyable knit.
- Please do not copy, sell, redistribute or republish this pattern.
- If you wish to share this pattern, link to the pattern page only.
- You may sell items produced using this pattern.
- Do NOT use the copyrighted photos for your product listing.
- For the copyright T&C’s please read my Terms of Use.
Skill Level – Easy
Size –
- This pattern is to fit baby size 0-3 months / 3-6 months / 6-9 months.
- The first set of numbers applies to the small size, the second set to the medium size and the third to the large size.
Gauge – 6 sts / 6 rows in 1 inch
The Supplies You Need
Yarn
- 3, (4, 4) x 50g skeins of yarn suitable for 4mm (US 6)/5.5.mm (US 9) knitting needles.
- I used Rico Creative Cotton Aran 50g/85m/93yds in the colour 67 – pastel green.
- Any medium weight yarn 04.
- Yarn weight guide
Needles
Notions
Other Materials
- 2 x small buttons
Abbreviations / Knitting Abbreviations List
- Beg = Begin(ning)
- Cont = Continue(ing)
- Dec = Decrease (K2tog on knit rows/P2tog on purl rows)
- Foll – Following
- Inc = Increase (KFB)
- KFB – Knit into the front and back of the stitch
- K = Knit
- K2tog = Knit 2 sts together
- P = Purl
- P2tog – Purl 2 sts together
- Rem = Remaining
- Rep = Repeat
- RIB = K1, P1
- St(s) = Stitch(es)
- St, St = stocking stitch – knit 1 row, purl 1 row
- YO – Yarn over
Pattern
BACK
- With 4mm (US 6) needles cast on 40 (44/50) sts and work 1″ in rib stitch (k1,p1).
- Change to 5.5mm (US 9) needles and work stocking stitch until the piece measures 3.5″ (4.25”/5”) from the cast-on edge.
- Shape the armholes > Cast off 2 sts at the beg of the next 2 rows.
- Next row: Knit 3 sts, K2tog, knit to the last 5 sts, K2tog, then knit to the end of the row.
- Decrease 1 st at each end of the next 3 knit rows in the same way.
- Continue straight in st st until the work measures 6. 75″ (7.5”/8.75”) from the cast-on edge.
- Shape the shoulders > Cast off 7 (8/10) sts at the beg of the next 2 rows.
- Leave the rem sts on the stitch holder for later.
LEFT FRONT
- With 4mm (US 6) needles cast on 19 (21/24)sts.
- Work 1″ in rib stitch (k1,p1).
- Change to 5.5mm (US 9) needles and work stocking stitch until the piece measures 3.5″ (4.25”/5”) ending with a purl row.
- Shape the armholes > Cast off 2 sts at the beg of the next row, knit to end.
- Next row: Purl to the last 5 sts, P2tog, Purl 3 sts.
- Then decrease 1 st on each purl row 3 more times in the same way.
- Shape neck > With the right side facing – Row 1: Knit to last 5 sts, K2tog, knit 3 sts.
- Row 2: Purl 3 sts, P2tog, Purl to the end of the row.
- Row 3: As row 1
- Row 4: Purl
- Repeat rows 3 and 4 until 7 (8/10) sts remain.
- Continue without any shaping until work measures 6.75″ (7.5”/8.75”) ending with a purl row.
- Cast off.
RIGHT FRONT
- With 4mm (US 6) needles cast on 19 (21/24)sts.
- Work 1″ in rib stitch (k1,p1).
- Change to 5.5mm (US 9) needles and work stocking stitch until the piece measures 3.5″ (4.25”/5”) ending with a purl row.
- Shape the armholes > Row 1: Knit
- Row 2: Cast off 2 sts, purl to the end of the row.
- Row 3: Knit to the last 5 sts, K2tog, knit 3 sts.
- Row 4: Purl
- Rows 5-8: Repeat rows 3 and 4 twice more.
- Row 9: Knit 3 sts, K2tog, Knit to the last 5 sts, K2tog, knit 3 sts.
- Row 10: Purl to the last 5 sts, P2tog, purl 3 sts.
- Continue to decrease on the neck edge only on each knit row until 7 (8/10) sts remain.
- Continue without any shaping until work measures 6.75″ (7.5”/8.75”) ending with a purl row.
- Cast off.
SLEEVES
- Make 2 the same.
- With 4mm (US 6) needles cast on 23 (25/27) sts.
- Work 1″ in rib stitch (k1,p1).
- Change to 5.5mm (US 9) needles and work stocking stitch, inc 1 st at each end of the first row and every 6th row that follows until you have 29 (31/33) sts.
- Continue to work in st st until piece measures 5″ (6”/7”) from the cast-on edge.
- Shape the top > Cast off 2 sts at the beg of the next 2 rows.
- Row 1: Knit 3 sts, K2tog, knit to the last 5 sts, k2tog, knit 3 sts.
- Row 2: Purl
- Repeat rows 1 and 2 until 17 (19/21) sts remain.
- Cast off 3 sts at the beg of the next 4 rows.
- Cast off.
MAKING UP
- Sew in all of the ends.
- Lay the pieces out flat and with the right side of the work facing, stitch the shoulder seams together.
- Knitted Edging > With 4mm (US 6) needles and the right side of the work facing you, pick up and knit 20 (22/25) sts up the right front, 13 (14/15) up the V slope, 14 (16/18) from the stitch holder, 13 (14/15), down the V slope, 20 (22/25) sts down the left front.
- Work 2 rows rib stitch – (k1, p1).
- Next row: Make 2 buttonholes > Rib 2 sts *yarn over, purl 2tog, rib 6 (8/10)sts*.
- Rep from * once more, then rib to the end.
- Work 1 more row in rib then cast off.
- After that, pin the sleeves into place and stitch into the armhole arches.
- Sew the sleeve and side seams.
- Then sew on the 2 buttons that will fit into the buttonholes opposite.
I love seeing your finished projects!
If you enjoyed making the baby cardigan, I’d love to see yours on Instagram, be sure to tag me @handylittleme.
If you are on Facebook, stop over to the handylittleme Facebook page and share a photo! I’d love to see your work!
Happy Knitting! xoxo
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