Sunshine Yellow Knit Baby Cardigan

This precious, easy baby sweater pattern is perfect for knitters of all skill levels.

By: Lindsay Welbers for AllFreeKnitting.com

By: Lindsay Welbers for AllFreeKnitting.com

Maybe you're expecting, maybe someone close to you is expecting, or maybe you just have a whole lot of love to give and would like to knit for charity. Regardless of your reason, a simple baby cardigan pattern is a must-have, but it's hard to come by one which is simple enough for anybody to knit and perfect for either a little boy or a little girl. The Sunshine Yellow Knit Baby Cardigan is one of those baby sweater knitting patterns for beginners and advanced knitters alike that any parent would be delighted to have for their little one. Knit with a raglan sleeve, there's no seaming on this gorgeous baby cardigan, and therefore no fuss.

Easy

Knitting Needle Size4 or 3.5 mm, 6 or 4 mm, Circular Knitting Needles, Double-Pointed Knitting Needles (DPNs)

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

Gauge18 and 25 rows = 4 inches in Stockinette st

Finished SizeNewborn (3 months, 6 months, 9 months)

Materials List

Lily Sugar'n Cream Solids & Denim yarn (200 yards, 113 grams) - One ball
4 Stitch markers
Waste yarn
Four 5 3/4" buttons
Size US 6 and US 4 needles in each circular and DPNs.

Baby Cardigan

Notes

Finished Measurements:
- Chest and hem: 21 (22, 23, 24) inches
- Sleeve: 6 (6.5, 7, 7.5) inches long, 4 (4.75, 5.5, 6.25) inches around at wrist
- Length: 8 (9, 10, 11) inches
The armholes are held on waste yarn while you work the body.
Knitting the first stitch on both sides will help keep the work from curling.
Buttonholes are worked in a double yarnover inside a purl stitch.

Body

Using size 4 US needles cast on 30 (36, 42, 48) sts. K1, p1 for 4 rows.

Setup row:

Change to size 6 US needles and k1, p4 (4, 5, 5) sts, PM, p5 (7, 9, 11) sts, PM, p10 (12, 12, 14) sts, PM, p5 (7, 9, 11) sts, PM, p4 (4, 5, 5) sts, k1.
Right side - Increase row:

(Work to 1 st before marker, M1R, MM, M1L) 4 times, knit to end.
Wrong side – Purl row:

K1, p to last stitch, k1.

Continue working these 2 rows until 134 (140, 146, 152) sts live on the needles.
Separate the sleeves:

K1, p to marker, remove marker, put 31 (33, 35, 37) sts on waste yarn, cast on 2, mm, p back sts, remove marker, put 31 (33, 35, 37) sts on waste yarn, cast on 2, mm, p to last stitch, k1.

Work in straight stockinette until piece measures 7 (8, 9, 10) inches from cast on edge.
Ribbing:

Switch to: Size 4 US needles.

K1, P1 to end for 6 rows

Cast off.

Arms (make two)

Using DPNs, pick up 31 (33, 35, 37) sts and 4 from body for a total of 35 (37, 39, 41) sts.

Starting at the center of the underarm, k2tog, k to last 2, ssk.

Knit 4 rows.

Repeat for 5 (5, 6, 6) more decrease rows.

After working a total of 32 (34, 36, 38) rows switch to size 4 US DPNs
Work 6 rows in k1, p1 ribbing.

Cast off.

Button band:

Using size 4 needles pick up 27 (29, 31, 33) sts along front opening of cardigan.

K1, p1 for four rows.

Row 5: (K1, p1, k1, p1, k1, 2YO, p1). Repeat 3 (3, 4, 4) more times, work in pattern to end.
Row 6: Work in established ribbing until you come to YO st, P3tog. Repeat to end of row.
Row 7-9: Work in established ribbing.
Row 10: Cast off.