Ella Baby Cardigan Pattern

Learn how to knit a baby cardigan step by step with this lovely pattern!

The Ella Baby Cardigan Pattern is a great go-to baby sweater for baby showers and birthdays alike. Since baby knits are so small, they seem to just fly off the needles, but that doesn't mean they look like they didn't take any time at all. This cardigan features a lovely, lacy panel beneath a three-button front that leaves the rest of the cardigan open, giving the little one room to grow. While we love it in pink, we think it would look just as nice in blue for a boy, or white or yellow for a gender-neutral gift.

Intermediate

Knitting Needle Size8 or 5 mm, Circular Knitting Needles

Yarn Weight(4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight and Aran (16-20 stitches to 4 inches)

Gauge16 sts and 20 rows = 4" (10.2cm) in St st

Finished SizeNewborn–6 mos size - 20" (51cm) chest

Materials List

Willow Yarns™ Cub (60% cotton/40% acrylic; 50g/88yd) - 731995-0012 Parchment (4 balls)
US size 8 (5mm) 29" circular needle or size needed to obtain gauge
Stitch markers
Yarn needle

Instructions

CO 1 st, pm, CO 8 sts, pm, CO 12 sts, pm, CO 8 sts, pm, CO 1 st—30 sts.

Row 1 and All WS Rows: P.
Row 2: Kfb, (kfb, k to 1 st before m, kfb) 3 times, kfb—38 sts.
Row 4: Kfb twice, (kfb, k to 1 st before m, kfb) 3 times, kfb twice—48 sts.
Row 5: CO 6 sts at beg of row, p across—54 sts.
Row 6: CO 6 sts at beg of row, k to 1 st before m, kfb, (kfb, k to 1 st before m, kfb) 3 times, kfb, k to end—68 sts.
Row 8: K to 1 st before m, kfb, (kfb, k to1 st before m, kfb) 3 times, kfb, k to end.
Row 9: K4, p to last 4 sts, k4.
Rows 10-11: Rep Rows 8-9.
Row 12 (Buttonhole Row): K2, yo, k2tog, k to 1 st before m, kfb, (kfb, k to1 st before m, kfb) 3 times, kfb, k to end.
Rows 13-17: Rep Rows 8-9.
Row 18: Rep Row 12.
Rows 19-21: Rep Rows 8-9—124 sts at end of Row 21, 18 sts for each front, 28 sts for each sleeve, and 32 sts across the back.

Divide for Sleeves

K to first m, *slide 28 sleeve sts to holder, using the backward lp CO, CO 6 sts to right needle for underarm**, k across back sts; rep from * to **, k across front sts—80 sts.

Next Row: P across all body and underarm sts

Body

Inc Row: K8, (m1, k9) 8 times—88 sts.
WS: P.
Row 1: K6, (yo, k2tog) across to last 4 sts, k4.
Row 2: K4, p to last 4 sts, k4.
Row 3-5: K.
Row 6: Rep Row 2.

Rep Rows 1-6 until body measures 6" (15.2cm) from underarm, ending after a WS row.

K 6 rows. BO

Sleeves

Join yarn to center of 6 CO sts. Pick up and k3, k around 28 sts from holder, pick up and k3 from CO. Pm for beg of rnd—34 sts.

K every rnd, dec 1 st at beg of rnd and 1 st at end of rnd every sixth rnd 4 times—26 sts.

Work even until sleeve measures6" (15.2cm). (P 1 rnd. K 1 rnd) 3 times. BO.

Neck Edge

Join yarn to right front neck edge, pick up and k approx 40 sts. K 1 row.

Next Row: K2, yo, k2tog, k to end. K 3 rows. BO.Weave in ends and block.