If you’re a novice knitter this is a great starter, a very easy basic cardigan. Easy and quick to knit will make an ideal gift for a newborn baby. Knit in a plain colour or a multi is suitable for boy or girl. A very easy raglan sleeved cardigan. A raglan sleeve is one where the sleeve reaches all the way to the neckline, covering the shoulder it gives a looser fit, making movements easier, without being baggy. It’s also easier sew up than an in-set sleeve because the curves on both sides of the sleeve/torso seam match.
I chose a multicolourd fleck it makes a simlpe cardigan a little more interesting.
Size: Newborns Finished chest measurements – 20”
Gauge: 25 sts=4″ in St st with larger needles
Materials: Baby soft double knit type yarn
Size 4 US (3.5 mm) needles or size needed to obtain gauge
Size 5 US (3.75 mm) needles or size needed to obtain gauge
Stitch holders
4 buttons
Instructions
Back
With smaller needles, Cast on 61 sts.
K1, P1 rib for 12 rows.
Inc 1 st at end of last row.
Change to larger needles and work 36 rows in St st.
Shape Armholes
Cast off 4 sts at beginning of next 2 rows.
Row 1: K1, slip 1, pass slipped stitch over, work to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1.
Row 2: Purl.
Repeat these 2 rows until 24 sts remain, ending with a purl row.
Cast off.
Left Front
With smaller needles, Cast on 35 sts.
K1, p1 rib for 11 rows.
Next row: K1, p1 rib 7 sts, then slip these sts to a stitch holder, work rib to end.
Change to larger needles and work 36 rows in St st.
Shape Armholes And Neck
Row 1 (RS): Cast off 4 sts, work to last 2 sts, K2tog.
Rows 2 and 4: Work even in St st.
Row 3: K1, sl1, psso, work to end.
Row 5: K1, sl1, psso, work to last 2 sts, K2tog.
Rep last 4 rows until 2 sts rem.
K2tog.
Fasten off.
Right FrontWith smaller needles, Cast on 35 sts.
K1, p1 rib for 2 rows.
Row 3 is button hole row. K1, p1 rib 3 sts, yo, K2tog, work rib to end.
K1, p1 rib 8 more rows.
Next row: K1, p1 rib. Slip last 7 sts worked to stitch holder.
Change to larger needles and work 37 rows in St st.
Continue working to correspond with left front, reversing shaping.
SleevesMake two.
With smaller needles, Cast on 33 sts.
K1, p1 rib for 16 rows (this makes a nice cuff you can turn back to adjust sleeve length as needed).
Change to larger needles.
Work 36 rows St st and AT THE SAME TIME inc 1 st each end of Rows 3, 11, and 19 – 39 sts.
Shape Armhole And Cap
Cast off 4 sts beg next 2 rows.
Purl one row.
Cont in St st and dec 1 st each end next and every 4th row until 7 sts rem as follows:
K1, sl1, psso, work to last 3 sts, K2tog, k1.
Cast off.
FinishingSew raglan seams together.
Left Front Band
Slip 7 sts from holder to smaller needles.
Rejoin yarn and work k1, p1 rib to center of back of neck.
Cast off.
Right Front BandWeave in ends on WS.
Sew on buttons.
Work as left but make 3 more button holes evenly spaced as before.
Sew on bands.
Join all seams.
Once you’ve got a good basic cardigan pattern you can change it by adding some pattern in various ways. just a couple rows, just the front or the whole cardigan. Or you can add a little colour as shown in photos.
knittinggalore 