Make your little one a cute baby cardigan for the warmer weather with this free and easy pattern.

The pattern uses basic knitting stitches, including ribbing and stocking stitch.

It will also introduce you to shaping, through increases and decreases.

*Please scroll down to see the printable pattern*

*Don’t forget to pin and share!*

I used lovely cotton from Rico design for the pattern, but any baby cotton will knit up well.

The buttons I used, I bought from John Lewis in the UK the last time I was there.

Baby Cardigan To Knit Free Pattern

This sweet little cotton baby cardigan is really easy to knit, which makes it a great project for any beginners.

The baby girl cardigan or baby boy cardigan can be made in any colour of your choice.

The cotton I used – Rico Cotton Aran is lightweight and comes in an array of colours, 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.

Baby Cardigan Knitting Pattern

If you are learning how to knit, this knit cardigan pattern will be good for you to try out.

I chose a lovely light green colour for this project but I was tempted to make it in clay (brown) or nature (white).

You can add small buttons to fasten, but remember to secure them well, so they don’t fall off.

SHOP

You can scroll down to see the free pattern below or you may choose to purchase the printable ad-free pdf version from my shop.

This written pattern for beginners includes one size – 0-3 months, if you would like to knit for 3-6 months or 6-9 months, those sizes are available on the pattern for sale in my shop.

Thank you for your support!

Yield: Baby cardigan

Baby Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Make your little one a cute cotton baby cardigan for the warmer weather with this free and easy pattern.

Active Time 4 hours

Total Time 4 hours

Difficulty Easy/beginner

Estimated Cost $10

Materials

3 x balls of yarn suitable for 4mm (US 6)/5.5.mm (US 9) knitting needles.
I used Rico Creative Cotton Aran in the colour 67 – pastel green.
Any medium weight yarn.

Tools

1 Pair of 4mm (US 6) straight knitting needles
1 x Pair of 5.5mm (US 9) straight knitting needles
Stitch holder
Scissors
Tape measure
Darning needles
2 Buttons

Instructions

Back

With 4mm (US 6) needles cast on 40 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″ from the cast on edge.

Shape the armholes >

Cast off 2 sts of 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. 25″ from the cast on edge.

Shape the shoulders >

Cast off 7 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 19sts. Work 1″ in rib stitch (k1,p1).
Change to 5.5mm (US 9) needles and work stocking stitch until the piece measures 3.5″ 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 sts remain. Continue without any shaping until work measures 6.75″ ending with a purl row.
Cast off.

Right Front >

With 4mm (US 6) needles cast on 19sts. Work 1″ in rib stitch (k1,p1).
Change to 5.5mm (US 9) needles and work stocking stitch until the piece measures 3.5″ 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 sts remain.
Continue without any shaping until work measures 6.75″ ending with a purl row.
Cast off.

Sleeves >

Make 2 the same.
With 4mm (US 6) needles cast on 23 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 sts.
Continue to work in st st until piece measures 5″ 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 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 sts up the right front, 13 up the V slope, 14 from the stitch holder, 13, down the V slope, 20 sts down the left front.
Work 2 rows rib stitch – (k1, p1).
Next row: Make 2 buttonholes > Rib 2 sts *yarn over, purl 2 sts, rib 6sts*. 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.

Notes

Gauge >

6 sts in 1”

Size >

This pattern is to fit baby size 0-3 months

For sizes 3-6 months and 6-9 months, please see the pattern available in my shop, that has all 3 sizes.

Abbreviations >

Approx = Approximately

Beg = Begin(ning)

Cont = Continue(ing)

Dec = Decrease

Inc = Increase

K = Knit

K2tog = Knit 2 sts together

P = Purl

Rem = Remaining

Rep = Repeat

RIB = K1, P1

St(s) = Stitch(es)

St St = stocking stitch – knit 1 row, purl 1 row

YF = Yarn Forward

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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