Meant to be worn open, this simple cardigan is knit in one piece for back and fronts, and sleeves are sewn in.

Design Story and Inspiration for this Easy Baby Cardigan

I love cardigans and am planning many more for the blog, so I decided to start with a simple and free baby cardigan knitting pattern!  I really like open front cardigans, but if you like your baby sweater to stay closed, feel free to put a simple and safe tie on the front.

Yarn Options for Our Free Baby Cardigan Knitting Pattern

For this pattern I chose Lion Brand Feels Like Butta. It’s wonderful for baby items as it’s easy to care for, super soft and is made from polyester. It’s a worsted weight yarn (category #4) and is one of my favorites.

You can use any worsted weight yarn you like that gets gauge.  If it’s a warmer time of year I would recommend a cotton yarn but any worsted weight yarn will do if it gets the right gauge. Remember that gauge is really important when knitting a sweater, cardigan or anything that has to fit!

You can make this in one color, two like I did, or get crazy with stripes!  No matter what, it’s a great stash buster pattern as it doesn’t use a lot of yarn.  I had plenty left over after making the smallest size using two colors.

Pattern Details for This Classic Baby Cardigan

This knitted baby cardigan uses k2p2 ribbing and basic Stockinette stitch to work up an adorable project that is suitable even for a beginner knitter.

This free knitting pattern is worked from the back to the fronts in one piece.  The sleeves are worked separately and sewn in.  Finally, the front bands are picked up and knit in k2p2 rib.

I designed this free pattern with several sizes, starting with newborn and going up to 18 months.  If you want to knit one for a premature baby you could try using a DK weight yarn and checking your measurements against a ready-to-wear preemie sized top.

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Simple Baby Cardigan

What You’ll Need

Yarn: Lion Brand Feels Like Butta – 1 (1, 2, 2, 3) skeins Seafoam (MC) and 1 skein Neutral (CC)
Knitting Needles: US sizes 6 (4.00mm) and 8 (5.0mm) straight needles
Notions: Yarn needle, stitch holder, scissors

Skill Level: Easy
Size: Finished Chest Size 16 (17, 17.75, 18.5, 20)” to fit Preemie (3m, 6m, 12m, 18m)
Gauge: 20 sts and 30 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Stockinette stitch (St st) with larger needles

Abbreviations
Main Color (MC)
Contrasting Color (CC)
Knit (k)
Purl (p)

Pattern Notes
Sweater body is made in one piece, from the bottom of the back to the bottom of the fronts.  Sleeves are knit separately and sewn in.

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Simple Baby Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Back

With smaller needles and CC, cast on 40 (42, 44, 48, 52) sts.

Work in K2P2 rib for 1 (1, 1, 1.5, 1.5) inches.  Change to larger needles and MC.

Work in St st until back measures 10 (10.75, 11.5, 12.25, 13) inches from beginning.

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Divide for Front

K 12 (13, 12, 14, 15), place 16 (16, 20, 20, 22) sts on st holder for back neck, join second ball of yarn, k 12 (13, 12, 14, 15).

Working both fronts at same time, work in St st until piece measures 9 (9.75, 10.5, 10.75, 11.5) inches from divide.

Change to smaller needles and CC.

Work in K2P2 rib for 1 (1, 1, 1.5, 1.5) inches.  Bind off in rib.

Sleeve (Make 2)

With smaller needles and CC, cast on 20 (24, 24, 28, 28) sts.

Work in K2P2 rib for 1 (1, 1, 1.5, 1.5) inches, increasing 2 (0, 0, 0, 0) sts on last row – 22 (24, 24, 28, 28) sts.

Change to larger needles and MC.  Begin working in St st.

Inc 1 st each side every 7 (8, 7, 8, 8)th row 5 (5, 7, 6, 7) times – 32 (34, 38, 40, 42) sts.  Work even in St st until sleeve measures 6 (6.5, 7.5, 8, 8.5) inches from beginning.  Bind off.

Finishing

Block pieces to measurements.

Sew sleeves, sew underarm and side seams.

Front Bands

Starting at bottom right front, with smaller needles and CC, pick up and knit 50 (54, 58, 62, 65) sts along right front, 16 (16, 20, 20, 22) sts from back neck holder, 50 (54, 58, 62, 65) sts from left front – 116 (124, 136, 144, 152) sts.

Work in K2P2 rib for 1 (1, 1, 1.5, 1.5) inches.  Bind off in rib.

Weave in ends.

Final Thoughts on This Simple Knit Baby Cardigan

I had SO much fun designing this little baby cardi, and I hope you love it as much as I do! It’s a simple and fun knit and took me about 3 days working on it very part-time. I’m a pretty slow knitter, so I’m sure many of you could finish it much faster than that. 😀

Happy Knitting!
Amanda