This double breasted baby cardigan, knit in a simple texture stitch, is an interpretation of a baby cardigan from the 1940s.

Shown in size Medium (6 mos)

Sizes

Directions are for infant’s size Newborn (3 mos).  Changes for sizes Small (6 mos) and Medium (9 mos) are in parentheses.

Finished Measurements

Chest (closed) – 19(21-23)”

Length – 7(8-9)”

Materials

3(4-5) Hanks Berroco Pure Pima (50 grs), #2233 Burnt Orange

Straight knitting needles, sizes 4 (3.50 mm) and 5 (3.75 mm) OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE

Four ¾” buttons

Gauge

23 sts = 4”;  32 rows = 4” in Pat St on larger needles

TO SAVE TIME, TAKE TIME TO CHECK GAUGE

Pattern Stitch (Multiple of 2 sts + 1)

Note:  Due to the nature of this pattern, the number of sts will vary from row to row.  Sts decrease on Row 3 and return to the original number on Row 4.

Row 1 (RS):  Knit.

Row 2:  Purl.

Row 3:  K1, * k2 tog, rep from * across.

Row 4:  * K1, knit into the bar between the st just worked and the next st, rep from * to last st, end k1.

Rep these 4 rows for Pat St.

Back

With smaller needles, cast on 55(61-67) sts.

Ribbing:  Row 1 (RS):  K1, * p1, k1, rep from * across.

Row 2:  P1, * k1, p1, rep from * across.  Rep these 2 rows until piece measures 1¼” from beg, end on WS.  Change to larger needles and work even in Pat St until piece measures approximately 3(3½-4)” from beg, end on WS with Row 4 of Pat St.

Shape Armholes:  Bind off 2 sts at beg of the next 2 rows – 51(57-63) sts.  Dec 1 st each side every RS row twice – 47(53-59) sts.  Work even until armholes measure 4(4½-5)”, end on WS.  Bind off.

Left Front

With smaller needles, cast on 33(35-37) sts.  Work in ribbing same as back for 1¼”, end on WS.  Change to larger needles and work even in Pat St until piece measures approximately 3(3½-4)”, end on WS with Row 4 of Pat St.

Shape Armhole and Neck:  Next Row (RS):  Bind off 2 sts, work to last st, end k2 tog (neck dec) – 30(32-34) sts.  Dec 1 st at armhole edge every RS row twice.  AT THE SAME TIME, dec 1 st at neck edge every RS row 15 times more.  When all decs have been completed, work even on 13(15-17) sts until armhole measures 4(4½-5)”, end on WS.  Bind off.

Right Front

Work same as left front until piece measures ¾”, end on WS – 33(35-37) sts.

Buttonhole Row (RS):  Work 15 sts, bind off 2 sts, work to end.

Following Row:  Work in ribbing as established, cast on 2 sts over sts bound-off on previous row.  Complete to correspond to left front, reversing all shaping.  Bind off for armhole and shoulder on WS row.  Dec for neck at beg of RS rows.  Work second buttonhole at beg of neck shaping.

Sleeves

With smaller needles, cast on 33 sts.  Work in ribbing same as back for 1¼”, end on WS.  Change to larger needles and work in Pat St, inc 1 st each side every 1(¾-½)” 4(7-9) times, working incs in Pat St as sts become available – 41(47-51) sts.  Work even until sleeve measures approximately 6¼(7¼-8¼)” from beg, end on WS with Row 4 of Pat St.

Shape Cap: Bind off 2 sts at beg of the next 2 rows – 37(43-47) sts.  Dec 1 st each side every RS row 6 times, then EVERY row 4 times, end on WS.  Bind off remaining 17(23-27) sts.

Finishing

Sew shoulder seams.

Front/Neckband:  With smaller needles, cast on 9 sts.  Work in ribbing same as back for ¾”, end on WS.

Buttonhole Row (RS):  Work 3 sts, bind off 2 sts, work to end.

Following Row:  Work in ribbing as established, cast on 2 sts over sts bound off on previous row.  Work even until piece measures 3(3½-4)” from beg, end on WS.  Work second buttonhole.  Work even until piece, when slightly stretched, reaches around neck and down left front to cast-on edge, end on WS.  Bind off in ribbing.  Sew inner edge of band to front and neck edges of sweater with second buttonhole at beg of neck shaping.  Sew in sleeves.  Sew side and sleeve seams.  Sew on buttons.