Ellen's Cardigan - Petite Knit (Baby)

Ellen’s Cardigan is a beautifully practical children’s cardigan, knitted flat from the top down with classic raglan shaping. The neckline is shaped using short rows for a comfortable, well-balanced fit, and the cardigan is worked in smooth stockinette stitch with a vertical rib running along the front edges.

The button bands are worked cleanly at the end, with buttonholes added afterwards — meaning you can focus on the knitting without juggling buttonhole placement mid-project. The sleeves are worked in the round from picked-up stitches, and a lovely extra detail is the addition of inner pockets, making this a truly thoughtful, wearable garment.

This is a versatile pattern that works equally well for everyday wear or as a special handmade gift.

This is a printed pattern, not a digital download. Construction details

Knit flat from the top down

Raglan increases

Short-row neckline shaping

Stockinette stitch body

Vertical ribbed button bands

Sleeves worked in the round

Inner pockets included Sizes

6–9 mo (9–12 mo) 12–18 mo (18–24 mo)
2–3 yrs (3–4 yrs) 4–5 yrs (5–6 yrs)
6–7 yrs (7–8 yrs) 8–9 yrs (9–10 yrs) 10–12 yrs

Finished chest circumference:
56 (60) 62 (64) 66 (68) 70 (72) 75 (77) 79 (81) 83 cm

Length:
29 (31) 32 (34) 37 (39) 41 (44) 46 (48) 50 (51) 52 cm Gauge

21 sts × 28 rows = 10 × 10 cm
in stockinette stitch on 4 mm needles, after blocking Needles

3 mm and 4 mm circular needles (60 or 80 cm)

3 mm and 4 mm double-pointed needles
(or Magic Loop) Yarn requirements (generic & correct)

This cardigan is worked holding two strands together throughout:

Strand 1: a light fingering / 4-ply alpaca or wool yarn

Strand 2: a lace-weight silk mohair yarn

The finished fabric is light, warm, and softly textured — perfect for children’s garments. Total yarn required (by metreage) Size Fingering / 4-ply yarn Lace mohair yarn 6–9 mo ~250 m ~210 m 9–12 mo ~500 m ~210 m 12–18 mo ~500 m ~210 m 18–24 mo ~500 m ~210 m 2–3 yrs ~500 m ~210 m 3–4 yrs ~500 m ~315 m 4–5 yrs ~500 m ~315 m 5–6 yrs ~500 m ~315 m 6–7 yrs ~750 m ~315 m 7–8 yrs ~750 m ~420 m 8–9 yrs ~750 m ~420 m 9–10 yrs ~750 m ~420 m 10–12 yrs ~750 m ~420 m

These totals already account for both strands and include allowance for pockets and finishing. Notions

6 buttons (approx. 12 mm) Difficulty

★★★☆☆ (3 out of 5)