Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Classic Cardi

this is my go-to pattern for making sweaters for babies or toddlers. it is a very simple design but i think that is what makes it most attractive to me. it is versatile, can be either boy or girl, flatters many types of yarn, is easy to adjust gauge with and quite frankly i think it looks classy, hence the name.



this pattern is for personal or charity use only. not for retail sales (small scale craft booths/fairs ok as long as i get credit for pattern) DO NOT sell pattern for any reason, it is to remain free. i retain the copyrights to this pattern, do not use photos, do not copy to any other website, link here.


classic cardi


sizes 6month (12 month, 18 month, 2 years)


materials:


3 (4,5,6) balls sirdar snuggly baby bamboo DK (80% bamboo 20% wool, 104 yards, 50 grams) OR
1(1, 2, 2) ball TLC baby (100% acrylic, sport weight,490 yards, 6 oz.)
size 6 straight or circular needles
size 6 DPNs (optional)
10 +/- 1/2" buttons (will depend on your gauge)
needle and thread
4 stitch markers
cable needle
2 stitch holders or spare yarn

abbreiations:

k- knit
p- purl
k2tog- knit 2 together
skp- slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over
bo- bind off
c4f- cable 4 front
m1- make 1 by picking up bar between stitches with left needle from the back and knitting into the front
pm- place marker
sm- slip marker
yo- yarn over

gauge:

in a word there is no gauge, you can do this pattern with any yarn you want and i will be leaving the directions open to any gauge by giving pattern measurements rather than row counts.
pattern:
start my making a gauge square with whatever yarn you are chosing for this project with appropriate sized needles (examples are made with sirdar baby bamboo and tlc baby)

do a little bit of math, figure out what the gauge of stitchs will be for 9 (10, 11, 12)" and proceed

cast on stitch amount is closest to 9 (10, 11, 12)" in a multiple of 4+2 (minimum of 36 stitches)

work 2x2 rib for 5 rows

time for a little more math if your total numer of stitches is divisable by 6 move on, if not knit all stitches next row spacing increases evenly to bring your total to the next number divisible by 6 (ex. total number is 52, increase 2 stitches evenly to a total of 54)

seperate for raglan pattern by taking your total number subtract 24 and divid by 6 this will be your magic number (ex. total number of 54-24=30. 30/6=5. 5 will be your magic number)

row 1 knit your magic number, place marker, p k4 p, knit your magic number, place marker, p k4 p, knit your magic number twice, place marker, p k4 p, knit your magic number, place marker, p k4 p, knit your magic number

row 2 k all k and p all p

row 3 *knit to marker, m1 before slipping marker, p c4f p, slip marker, m1* repeat *-* 3 more times, knit to end

row 4 rep row 2
row 5 knit to marker, m1 before slipping marker, p k4 p, slip marker, m1* repeat *-* 3 more times, knit to end

rep row 2-5 until the angled cable measures 5(5 1/2, 6, 6 1/2)"

on purl row *p to first k, bo k p4 k* rep *-* 3 more times, p to end

knit to bo gap, slip sleeve stitches to a holder/scrap yarn, knit back stitches to next gap, slip sleeve stitches to second holder/scrap yarn, knit remaining stitches.

knit stockinette st for 4 (5, 6, 7)"

work 5 rows of 2x2 rib. bo

sleeves
(optional to use DPNs to make it seamless, use stitch marker to note start/end for decrease rows)

attach yarn and knit stockinette for 1 inch.

work decreases row: k2, k2tog, k to last 4, skp, k2

work a decrease row every inch until sleeve measures 6 (7, 8, 9)"

work 5 rows 2x2 rib. bo with long tail. use tail to mattress stitch the seam shut being sure to sew shut bound off cable.

repeat for other sleeve

button bands

pick up and knit 3 stitches for every 4 rows up front side of cardigan with a multiple of 4+2 total stitches

work 2x2 rib for 5 rows. bo

pick up same number of stitches on opposite side

work 1 row 2x2 rib

row 2 *k2 p2 k2, k2tog yo* rep to last 6 stitches, finish in rib pattern

work 3 rows 2x2 rib. bo

weave in all ends and sew on buttons to correspond with button holes.

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