Strawberry Baby Cardigan

The strawberry baby cardigan is a cozy, girly cardigan for your little one. Make one using this free, cute knitting pattern and she'll wear it while you sing "Strawberry fields forever..."

Materials:

• NaturallyCaron.com Spa 75% microdenier acrylic, 25%Bamboo, 3 oz/85 g, 251 yds/230 m ball): 9 (12, 15) oz--Shown in: #0001 Rose Bisque
• One pair size US 7 (4.5 mm), or size to obtain gauge
• One pair size US 6 (4 mm)
• 3 (3, 4) buttons—3/4" diameter
• Yarn needle
• Pattern

Instructions:

 SIZES: Toddler’s 2 (3–4, 5–6)

KNITTED MEASUREMENTS:
Chest 24 (26, 28)"/61 (66, 71) cm
Length 13 (15, 17 1/2)"/33 (38, 44.5) cm

GAUGE
In Stockinette stitch, using US size 7 (4.5 mm) needles, 20 sts and 24 rows = 4"/10 cm

STITCHES USED
Garter stitch (Garter st)

Stockinette stitch (St st)

Twist to left (TL): Skip first st, knit in back of second st on left-hand needle, knit in first st and slip both sts to right-hand needle.

Twist to right (TR): Skip first st, knit in front of second st on left-hand needle, knit in first st and slip both sts to right-hand needle.

Smock Pattern (multiple of 4 sts plus 2)

Row 1 (RS): K1, *k1, p2, k1; repeat from * across, end with k1.

Row 2 (WS): P1, *p1, k2, p1; repeat from * across, end with p1.

Row 3 (RS): K1, *TL, TR; repeat from * across, end with k1.

Row 4: P1, *k1, p2, k1; repeat from * across, end with p1.

Row 5: K1, p1, *TR, p2; repeat from * across, end with TR, p1, k1.

Row 6: P1, *k1, p2, k1; repeat from * across, end with p1.

Row 7: K1, *TR, TL; repeat from * across, end with p1.

Rows 8, 10, 12 and 14: *P2, k2; repeat from * across, end with p2.

Row 9, 11 and 13: *K2, p2; repeat from * across, end with k2.

Repeat Rows 1-14 for smock pattern

BACK

1. Using size 6 needles, cast on 90 (98, 106) sts. Knit 4 rows. Change to size 7 needles. Work even in St st until piece measures 7 1/2 (9, 11)" from beginning, end with a WS and decrease 32 (36, 40) sts evenly across last row—58 (62, 66) sts. Begin smock pattern and work until piece measures 8 1/2 (10, 12)" from beginning, end with a WS row.
    
2. Shape Armholes
    
3. Continuing in smock pattern, bind off 4 (4, 4) sts at beg of next 2 rows—50 (54, 58) sts.
    
4. Work even until armhole measures 4 1/2 (5, 51/2)", end with a WS.
    
5. Bind off loosely.

LEFT FRONT

1. Using size 6 needles, cast on 44 (48, 52) sts. Knit 4 rows. Change to size 7 needles. Work even in St stuntil piece measures 7 1/2 (9, 11)" from beginning, end with a WS row and decrease 14 (14, 14) sts evenly across last row— 30 (34, 38) sts. Begin smock pattern and work until piece measures 8 1/2 (10, 12)" from beginning, end with a WS row.
    
2. Shape Armhole
    
3. Continuing in smock pattern, bind off 4 (4, 4) sts at armhole edge once—26 (30, 34) sts.
    
4. Work until armhole measures 2 1/2 (3, 3)" from beginning, end with a RS row.
    
5. Shape Neck
    
6. (WS) Bind off 6 (7, 8) sts, work in pattern to end—20 (23, 26) sts.
    
7. At neck edge, decrease 1 st every other row 5 (5, 5) times—15 (18, 21) sts.
    
8. Work even until armhole measures same as Back to shoulder.
    
9. Bind off loosely.

RIGHT FRONT
Work as for Left Front, reversing all shaping.

SLEEVES

1. Using size 6 needles, cast on 34 (34, 36) sts. Knit 4 rows. Change to size 7 needles. Work even in St st until piece measures 2" from beginning, end with WS row. Increase 1 st each side of next RS row, then every 6 rows 4 (5, 6) times—44 (46, 50) sts. Work even until piece measures 7 (9, 11)" from beginning, end with a WS row.
    
2. Shape Cap
    
3. Continuing in St st, bind off 4 (4, 4) sts at beg of next 2 rows—36 (38, 42) sts.
    
4. Decrease 1 st each side of next RS row, then every other row 6 (7, 7) times—22 (22, 26) sts.
    
5. Next row (RS): K1, k2tog across, end with k1—12 (12, 14)
    
6. Purl next row.
    
7. Next row (RS): K2tog across.
    
8. Bind off sts purlwise.

FINISHING

1. Block pieces to measurements. Sew shoulder seams. Set in Sleeves; sew sleeve and side seams.
    
2. Button Band
    
3. With RS facing, using smaller needles, pick up and k 58 (66, 74) sts along Left Front edge.
    
4. Knit 3 rows.
    
5. Work in k2, p2 rib for 4 rows.
    
6. Knit 3 rows
    
7. Bind off sts knitwise.
    
8. Buttonhole Band
    
9. Place markers for 3 (3, 4) buttonholes on Right Front edge along smocked section, with first one 1/2" from neck edge. Work first 5 rows as for Button Band.
    
10. Next row: *Work in pattern to marker, k2tog, yo; repeat from * for remaining buttonholes, work in pattern to end.
     
11. Work remainder of band as for Button Band.
     
12. Sew buttons to Button Band opposite buttonholes.
     
13. Collar
     
14. With RS facing, using size 6 needles, pick up and k 52 (56, 60) sts around neck edge.
     
15. Row 1: Knit
     
16. Row 2: K3, purl across to last 3 sts, k3.
     
17. Repeat Rows 1 and 2 a total of 3 (4, 5) times.
     
18. Next row: Knit, increasing 10 (10 12) sts evenly across row.
     
19. With size 7 needles, bind off sts knitwise.
     
20. Using yarn needle, weave in ends.