Lacy Leaf Baby Cardigan

The cardigan is in size to fit 24-inch chest.Honestly, I think the motif would be more prominent with a
more rigorous blocking. 

So happy my colleague loves it and bought it instantaneously upon seeing it!

As you've noticed from my previous baby bonnet pattern, I LOVE LOVE LOVE lacy leaf motif and try to incorporate them whenever and wherever I can in my patterns. Here is the pattern of a feminine lacy baby cardigan/ sweater I made using blended cotton a while ago, before I gave birth to my now 10-month old daughter.

This sweet card is suitable as a layering clothing. It is knitted top down, and the sleeves are made by picking up stitches left on waste yarn during splitting for sleeves. The yoke is in stockinet stitch and the increase is raglan style, which means there's basically no room for confusion in increasing! To add feminine flair to this lovely piece, lacy leaf stitch is started after the underarm.

Materials needed: 

Yarn : see table for yardage 

Needles : 3mm 60cm-long circular needles, 3mm dpn

Notions : markers, darning needle, buttons.

Gauge: 27 stitches x 36 rows = 4 x 4 inches on 3mm needles

Abbreviations:

CO : cast on

k : knit

k2tog : knit 2 together 

kfbf : knit front and back and front (increase 3 stitches)

m1L : make one left

m1R : make one right 

p : purl

mb : make bobble 

pm : place marker

psso : pass slipped st over

R : row

WS : wrong side

RS : right side 

sm : slip marker

ssk : slip first st purlwise, slip second st knit wise, pass  

          both st back to left needle, knit both st together 

st : stitch

yo : yarn over

Make bobble:

Small bobble: (k1, yo, k1, yo, k1) in a single st, k5 together

Large bobble: (k1, yo, k1, yo, k1) in a single st, turn, p5, turn, k5, turn, p2tog, p1, p2tog, turn, slip one knitwise, k2tog, psso.

Sizes: To fit chest of 15, 17, 18 and 22 inches

Neck band:

CO 46 (55, 59, 73) st.

R1 (WS): *p1, k1* repeat **.

R2 (RS): increase 8 st evenly. Note: I used kfbf (57, 63, 67, 81 st).

R3 & R5: repeat R1

R4: increase 8 st evenly. Note: I used kfbf (62, 71, 75, 89 st)

Continue to yoke.

Yoke:

R1 (RS): k9 (k12, k12, k15), m1L, k1, pm, k1, m1R, k9( k10, k10, k12), m1L, k1, pm, k1, m1R, k18 (k19, k21, k27), m1L, k1, pm, k1, m1R, k9 (k10, k10, k12), m1L, k1, pm, k1, m1R, k9 (k12, k12, k15).

R2 (WS) and all WS: p

R3 and all RS: k to first st before marker, m1L, k1, sm, k1, m1R, k to first st before marker, m1L, k1, sm, k1, m1R, k to first st before marker, m1L, k1, sm, k1, m1R, k to first st before marker, m1L, k1, sm, k1, m1R, k till last st

Repeat R2 & R3 until there are 158 (183, 211, 257) st on the needles. Count the st at the WS.

Split for sleeves: k26 (k30, k36, k37), place 28 (30, 36, 56) st on waste yarn, back loop cast on 4 st, k57 (k63, k67, k71), place 28 (30, 36, 56) st on waste yarn, back loop cast on 4 st, k26 (k30, k36, k37).

Continue to body.

Body:

For all sizes:

Knit stockinette stitch for 3 rows, end with row on WS.

R1: k3, *k2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k3* until the last 11 st, k2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k4.

R2 & all WS: p

R3: k3, *k1, k2tog, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, ssk, k2* until the last 11 st, k1, k2tog, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, ssk, k3.

R5: k3, *k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, ssk, k1* until the last 11 st, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, ssk, k2.

R7: k1, k2tog, *k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, slip 1 purlwise, k2tog, psso* until the last 10 st, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, ssk, k1.

R9: k3, *yo, ssk, k5, k2tog, yo, k1* until the last 11 st, yo, ssk, k5, k2tog, yo, k2.

R11: k3, *yo, k1, ssk, k3, k2tog, k1, yo, k1* until the last 11 st, yo, k1, ssk, k3, k2tog, k1, yo, k2.

R13: k3, *yo, k2, ssk, k1, k2tog, k2, yo, k1* until the last 11 st, yo, k2, ssk, k1, k2tog, k2, yo, k2.

R15: k3, *yo, k3, slip 1 purlwise, k2tog, psso, k3, yo, k1* until the last 10 st, yo, k3, ssk, k3, yo, k2.

R17 - R32: repeat R1 - R16.

(R33 - R46): (Only for 20- and 24-inch chest)

R33: k3, *k2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k3* until the last 11 st, k2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k4.

R35: k3, *k1, k2tog, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, ssk, k2* until the last 11 st, k1, k2tog, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, ssk, k3.

R37: k3, *k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, ssk, k1* until the last 11 st, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, ssk, k2.

R39: k1, k2tog, * k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, slip 1 purlwise, k2tog, psso* until the last 10 st, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, ssk, k1.

R41: k3, *yo, ssk, k5, k2tog, yo, k1* until the last 11 st, yo, ssk, k5, k2tog, yo, k2. 

R43: k1, *yo, k1, ssk, k3, k2tog, k1, yo, k1* until last 11 st, yo, k1, ssk, k3, k2tog, k1, yo, k2.

R45: k3, *k3, mb, k1, mb, k4* until last 11 st, k3, mb, k1, mb, k5.

R47: k3, * k4, mb, k5* until last 11 st, k4, mb,k6.

Continue with stockinette at for 3 rows, end with row on WS.

Continue hemming using mistake rib hem.

Sleeves:

Using double pointed needles, pick up 28 (30, 36, 56) st on waste yarn and 4 st casted on using back loop CO.

pm at the middle of armpit section.

17-inch chest:

K for 7 rows, sm, k1, k2tog, k till last 3 st, ssk, k1. (2 st decreased).

k for 7 rows.

Continue with R1-R16 for body.

19-inch chest:

K for 7 rows, sm, k1, k2tog, k till last 3 st, ssk, k1. (2 st decreased).

Decrease 1 more times.

k for 7 rows. 

Continue with R1-R16 for body.

20-inch chest

K for 7 rows, sm, k1, k2tog, k till last 3 st, ssk, k1. (2 st decreased). Decrease 3 more times. 

k 4 rows.

Continue with R1-R16 for body.

24-inch chest:

K for 7 rows, sm, k1, k2tog, k till last 3 st, ssk, k1. (2 st decreased). Decrease 4 more times. 

Continue with R1-R16 for body.

Mistake rib hem:

R1 (RS): k

R2 (WS): *p1, k1*, repeat **, end with p1 on the last st.

Repeat R1 and Rs for 5 more times.

Bind off using Elizabeth Zimmerman’s long tail bind off (to match my long tail CO), you can use any bind off method you like instead.

Button Bands:

Using smaller needles, with RS facing, pick up and knit approximately 2 sts in every 3 rows. 

R1 (WS): p2, (k1, p1), repeat pattern in bracket until 1 st left, p1.

R2 (RS): knit all.

R3: Same as R1.

R4: Work buttonhole row (on one side). Make 5 to 10 buttonholes, evenly spaced in band. 

Repeat R1 and R2 two more times ending with WS. Bind off loosely on RS. 

Buttonhole: k2tog, yo, continue knitting until the next intended buttonhole

Finishing:

Weave in ends, sew buttons to band opposite buttonholes, and block finished garment. 

Download pdf file on Ravelry.

Tell me what you think of this pattern! I'd love to hear your thoughts! Enjoy knitting and share your finished projects (here or ravelry). =)