The cutest baby cardigan knitting pattern can be found right here. Give it a heart for Valentine’s day or make it in a single color for everyday wear!
I simply adore baby makes!! There is just something about these tiny little projects that I can’t resist.
Design Story and Inspiration for the Valentine Baby Cardigan Knitting Pattern
I originally designed this knit baby hoodie for I Like Knitting magazine. It was for a Valentine issue and I am really over the moon with how it turned out!
I wanted to design a light jacket or cardigan for this issue, and I knew it had to be Valentine-themed, so a heart shaped cardi seemed like just the thing! The editors agreed, so I chose the yarn and got down to work.
About the Yarn
I really love Berroco yarns, and their Ultra Wool did not disappoint! It worked up wonderfully and was the perfect choice for this pint sized project.
If you’d like to substitute, any worsted weight yarn that gets gauge will work fine, as the yarn used is a nice medium worsted that is a very common size.
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Pattern Details
This pattern is worked in separate pieces and seamed. The heart is created with intarsia, with the opposite side beginning with a purl row so that the sides mirror each other.
Add the zippered closure and you’ll see the sweet heart on the front! This little hooded cardigan is also perfect in a single color for everyday wear. Use your imagination!
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Valentine Baby Cardigan
What You’ll Need
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Wool (100% Superwash Wool; 219 yards [200 meters]/100 grams): #3305 Oat (MC, 2 (2, 3, 3) balls), #3350 Chili (CC, 1 ball) (worsted weight #4 yarn)
Needles: US size 6 (4.0 mm) straight, US size 8 (5.0 mm) straight
Notions: Tapestry needle, one 8 (9, 10)” separating zipper
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Finished Chest Size 18 (19.5, 21)” for baby sizes 6m (12m, 18m)
Shown in size 6m
Gauge: 22 sts and 28 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking
Stitch Abbreviations
Knit (k)
Purl (p)
Pattern Notes
Worked in St st unless otherwise noted.
The Left Front after the needle change beg working with CC with a purl row which makes the chart exactly the opposite on this side.
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Valentine Baby Cardigan Knitting Pattern
Back
With MC and smaller needles, CO 48 (52, 56) sts.
Work in K2, P2 Rib for 1.5”.
Increase 2 sts evenly across. (50 (54, 58) sts)
Change to larger needles and CC.
Work 1 row even in St st, beg with a knit row.
Change to MC.
Cont even in St st for 54 (59, 65) rows.
Shape Neck
Row 1: Work across 16 (18, 20) sts, with second ball of yarn BO 18 (18, 19) sts, work across last 16 (18, 20) sts. (16 (18, 20) sts each side)
Row 2: Working both sides at the same time, work even in St st.
Rows 3-4: Decrease 1 st at neck edge. (14 (16, 18) sts each side)
Row 5: Work even in St st.
BO all sts.
Right Front
With MC and smaller needles, CO 24 (26, 28) sts.
Work in K2, P2 Rib for 1.5”.
Increase 1 st evenly across. (25 (27, 29) sts)
Change to larger needles and CC.
Work 1 row even in St st, beg with a knit row.
Change to MC.
Cont in St st, work even for 17 rows.
Work Rows 18-39 of chart in St st.
Work even in St st with MC for 7 (9, 15) rows.
Shape Neck
Row 1: BO 5 sts, work even in St st across. (20 (22, 24) sts)
Rows 2-7: Dec 1 st at neck edge. (14 (16, 18) sts)
Work even in St st for 7 (10, 10) rows.
BO all sts.
Left Front
Work same as Right Front to change to larger needles and CC.
Work 1 row even in St st, beg with a purl row.
Cont working as Right Front to end.
Sleeve (make 2)
With MC and smaller needles, CO 24 (26, 30) sts.
Work in K2, P2 Rib for 1”.
Increase 2 sts evenly across. (26 (28, 32) sts)
Change to larger needles and CC.
Work 1 row even in St st, beg with a knit row.
Change to MC.
Cont in St st, increase 1 st each side every 4th row 3 (0, 0) times, then every 5th row 4 (7, 5) times, then every 6th row 0 (0, 2) times. (40 (42, 46) sts)
Work 4 (5, 6) rows even in St st.
BO all sts.
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Hood
With MC and smaller needles, CO 86 (92, 98) sts.
Work in K2, P2 Rib for 5 rows.
Change to larger needles and CC.
Work 1 row even in St st, beg with a knit row.
Change to MC.
Cont in St st, work even for 2 (3, 3) rows.
Dec 1 st each end of next row. (84 (90, 96) sts)
Dec 1 st each end of every 3rd row 9 (9, 10) times. (66 (72, 76) sts)
Work even in St st for 3 (4, 5) rows.
BO 24 (27, 28) sts at beg of next 2 rows. (18 (18, 20) sts)
Work even on rem sts for 38 (40, 44) rows.
BO all sts.
Finishing
Block all pieces.
Sew zipper in place along front edges, cutting top of zipper to fit as necessary.
Sew Front to Back at shoulder seams.
Sew back seams of Hood.
Sew Hood around neck edge.
Sew Sleeves and side seams.
Weave in ends.
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Today we learned how to knit the Valentine Baby Cardigan knitting pattern and I hope you enjoyed this free pattern! I had such fun designing it!
Happy Knitting!
Amanda
