Sweet as Sunshine Baby Sweater

This baby cardigan knit pattern would look adorable on your little girl!  With spring on the way, this Sweet as Sunshine Baby Sweater from Vickie Howell is perfect for upcoming Easter brunches, too!  It's easy to make and also makes a great baby gift!

Materials:

• Stitch.Rock.Love. Sheep(ish) from Caron (70% Acrylic/30% Wool; 3oz/85g, 167yds/153m (#0012 Yellow(ish): 3 (4, 4, 5, 6 balls))
• One pair size US 8 (5mm) needles or size to obtain gauge
• One size US G-6 (4mm) or larger crochet hook
• 2 buttons 1/2"/13mm diameter
• Yarn needle

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 21 3/4 (23, 26 1/2, 29 3/4, 34)"/55 (58.5, 67.5, 75.5, 86.5)cm
Length: 11 1/4 (11 3/4, 13 1/2, 14 1/2, 15 1/2)"/28.5 (30, 34.5, 37, 40.5)cm

SIZES
18 months (2 yrs, 4 yrs, 6 yrs, 8 yrs)

Instructions:

GAUGE:  In Stockinette st, 18 sts and 24 rows = 4"/10cm

ABBREVIATIONS:  Smock 6: Insert RH needle from front between 6th and 7th sts on LH needle and draw loop through to front; keeping loop fairly snug, place it on LH needle and knit it together with first st on LH needle.

STITCHES USED:

• Stockinette stitch (St st): Knit on RS, purl on WS.
• Smocked Pattern: (multiple of 4 sts + 2)

1. Rows 1, 3, 5, and 7 (WS): K2, *p2, k2; rep from * to end.
    
2. Rows 2 and 6: Knit the knit sts and purl the purl sts as they face you.
    
3. Row 4: P2, *Smock 6, k1, p2, k2, p2; rep from * to end.
    
4. Row 8: P2, k2, p2, *Smock 6, k1, p2, k2, p2; rep from * to last 4 sts, k2, p2.
    
5. Rep Rows 1-8 for Smocked Pattern.

BACK:

1. CO 96 (104, 116, 132, 152) sts.
    
2. Knit 4 rows.
    
3. Work in St st until piece measures 5 1/2 (6, 7, 7 1/2, 8)"/14 (15, 18, 19, 20.5)cm from beg, ending with a WS row.
    
4. Next Row (RS): *K2tog; rep from * to end—48 (52, 58, 66, 76) sts. Purl 1 row.
    
5. Shape Armhole (RS): BO 2 (2, 3, 7, 10) sts at beg of next 2 rows—44 (48, 52, 52, 56) sts.
    
6. Next Row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1—42 (46, 50, 50, 54) sts.
    
7. Work in Smocked Pattern for 16 (16, 16, 16, 24) rows.
    
8. Work in St st until armhole measures 5 (5, 5 3/4, 6 1/4, 7 1/4)"/12.5 (12.5, 14.5, 16, 18.5)cm from beg of shaping, ending with a WS row.
    
9. Shape Right Shoulder (RS): K10 (12, 12, 12, 14), turn, purl to end. BO 10 (12, 12, 12, 14) sts. Cut yarn.
    
10. Shape Neck and Left Shoulder (RS): Join yarn at neck edge, BO next 22 (22, 26, 26, 26) sts, knit to end. Purl 1 row. BO remaining 10 (12, 12, 12, 14) sts.

LEFT FRONT:

1. CO 48 (52, 58, 66, 76) sts.
    
2. Knit 4 rows.
    
3. Work in St st until piece measures 5 1/2 (6, 7, 7 1/2, 8)"/14 (15, 18, 19, 20.5)cm from beg, ending with a WS row.
    
4. Next Row (RS): K1 (0, 1, 1, 0) st(s), *k2tog; rep from * to last 1 (0, 1, 1, 0) st(s), k1 (0, 1, 1, 0)—25 (26, 30, 34, 38) sts. Purl 1 row.
    
5. Shape Armhole (RS): BO 2 (2, 3, 7, 10) sts, work to end—23 (23, 27, 27, 27) sts. Purl 1 row.
    
6. Next Row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to end—22 (22, 26, 26, 26) sts.
    
7. Work in Smocked Pattern for 16 (16, 16, 16, 24) rows.
    
8. Work in St st until armhole measures 4 1/2 (4 1/2, 5, 5 1/2, 6 1/2)"/11.5 (11.5, 12.5, 14, 16.5)cm from beg of shaping, ending with a RS row.
    
9. Shape Neck (WS): BO 12 (10, 14, 14, 12) sts, purl to end—10 (12, 12, 12, 14) sts.
    
10. Work in St st until armhole measures same as Back to shoulder, ending with a WS row. BO all sts.
     

RIGHT FRONT:

1. Work as for Left Front, reversing all shaping, and working armhole dec as follows: (RS) Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.

SLEEVES:

1. CO 26 (28, 32, 34, 36) sts.
    
2. Knit 7 rows. Purl 1 row.
    
3. Shape Sleeve (RS): Cont in St st, inc 1 st each side every 4 rows 10 (9, 11, 12, 14) times—46 (46, 54, 58, 64) sts. Work even until piece measures 9 (9 1/4, 9 3/4, 10 1/2, 12)"/23 (23.5, 25, 26.5, 30.5)cm from beg, ending with a WS row.
    
4. Shape Cap (RS): BO 2 (2, 3, 7, 10) sts at beg of next 2 rows—42 (42, 48, 44, 44) sts.
    
5. Next Row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1—40 (40, 46, 42, 42) sts.
    
6. Work even until cap measures 2 1/2 (2 1/2, 3, 3, 3)"/7 (7, 7.5, 7.5, 7.5)cm from beg, ending with a WS row. BO all sts.

FINISHING:

1. Block pieces to measurements. Sew shoulder seams. Set in Sleeves; sew side and Sleeve seams.

Neckband:

1. With RS facing, beg at Right Front neck edge, pick up and knit 44 (42, 52, 52, 50) sts around neck shaping. Knit 5 rows. BO all sts knitwise.
    
2. Sew buttons to Right Front, one at top of Smocked Pattern, and one 1"/2.5cm below.

Button Loops:

1. With RS facing and crochet hook, join yarn to Left Front edge, opposite top button, *work crochet chain long enough to wrap around button, slip st edge to join*, sc to opposite next button, rep from * to *, fasten off.
    
2. Using yarn needle, weave in ends.