Fuss Free Baby Cardigan Pattern

Pattern Description:

The Fuss Free Baby Cardigan is for 0-3 (3-6) month sizes, worked in stocking stitch with garter stitch. 

It features a raglan set-up, separated sleeves, and easy button bands with optional buttonholes. It uses DK weight yarn, circular/DPNs, and a stretchy Russian bind-off for button bands.

Materials Needed & Measurements:

• Yarn: 100g dk weight yarn. The sample sweater uses 60g of dk weight yarn, with approximately 10g for the collar, hems, and button bands, suitable for using up a 50g ball from a stash with a contrasting trim.
• Yarn Weight: dk weight yarn.
• Hook: The pattern uses knitting needles: 4mm circular needle and 4mm DPNs if required for sleeves (or use magic loop).
• Notions:
  • 4 stitch markers
  • 2 lengths waste yarn or stitch holders x2
  • 4 buttons
  • Tapestry needle
  • Scissors
  • Tape measure
• Measurements:
  • Finished size: 0-3 (3-6) months.
  • Chest measurement: 19.5” (21”).
  • Garment length: Measures 3.5 (4.5) “ from underarm.

Stitches & Abbreviations Used:

• K: knit
• P: Purl
• RS/WS: Right/wrong side
• K2 tog: k2 together
• pm: place marker
• sm: slip marker
• st: stitch
• kfb: knit into front & back
• yo: yarn over
• pwise: purlwise
• wyib/f: with yarn in back/front
• m1r: make 1 right (with LH needle, pick up thread in between 2 st from front to back, Ktbl)
• m1l: make 1 left (with LH needle, pick up thread between 2 st from back to front, k this st)

Instructions for Making the Fuss Free Baby Cardigan Pattern:

Casting On and Initial Garter Stitch Rows

• Cast on 50 (56) st.
• Knit 1 row.
• For the following 8 rows, work in garter stitch, always Sl 1st st pwise wyib. This creates 4 garter ridges and prepares for easy button bands.

Raglan Set-Up and Increases

This section establishes the raglan shaping for the cardigan.

• On the next (RS) row:
  • Sl 1st st pwise wyib.
  • K 7 (8) st for front, then pm.
  • K 7 (8) st for sleeve, then pm.
  • K 20 (22) st for back, then pm.
  • K 7 (8) st for sleeve, then pm.
  • K 8 (9) st for front.
• You will now begin the raglan increase pattern, repeating two rows 12 times in total.
  • Row 1 (RS – Increase Row): K to 1 st before m, kfb, sm, kfb, Repeat from 3 times, k to end. (The kfb increase option is explicitly used here).
  • Row 2 (WS – Purl Row): Sl 1st st pwise wyif, p to end.
• After repeating Rows 1 and 2 twelve times, you will have the following stitch counts:
  • For 0-3 month size: 154 st total (21 each front, 33 each sleeve, 46 back).
  • For 3-6 month size: 160 st total (22 each front, 34 each sleeve, 48 back).

Separating Sleeves from Body

Next, you will separate the sleeve stitches onto waste yarn to work the body.

• On the Next (RS) row:
  • K to 1st marker (remove the marker as you reach it).
  • Using a tapestry needle, slide the sleeve st onto waste yarn. Tie a knot in the waste yarn to secure the stitches.
  • K across the back stitches.
  • Slide the 2nd set of sleeve st onto another strand of waste yarn. Tie a knot.
  • K to the end of the row.

Working the Body

After separating the sleeves, you will continue working the body of the cardigan.

• Continue to work in stocking stitch (knit RS rows, purl WS rows) for the main body.
• Work until the garment measures 3.5 (4.5) “ from underarm.
• Once the desired length is reached, K 8 rows in garter stitch.
• Cast off.

Sleeves

Now you will work each sleeve individually.

• Slip the held sleeve sts onto your circular needle or DPNs.
• Rejoin yarn and K 1 round.
• Pick up and K 3 (5) st at the underarm.
• Place marker (pm) and join to work in the round.
• Work (K1 round, p1 round) x2.
• Cast off firmly.
• Repeat for the 2nd sleeve.

Button Bands

The final step involves creating the button bands for your cardigan.

• With the RS facing, pick up and K each slipped st along the left side of the garment.
• K 8 rows (this forms 4 garter ridges).
• Optional Buttonholes: If desired, on Row 4 of the button band, work 4 sets of (yo, K2tog) at evenly spaced intervals.
• Bind off using the stretchy Russian bind-off.

Russian Bind-Off Technique

The Russian Bind-Off produces a very stretchy edge, which is suitable for button bands.

• K 1 st.
• Sl that st back to the LH needle.
• *K2tog, sl that st back to LH needle..
• Repeat from * until all st are bound off.

Finishing

• Attach the 4 buttons to the corresponding side of the cardigan.
• Weave in any loose ends using your tapestry needle.

Download Free PDF: