Bernat Knit Yoke Baby Cardigan & Hat Free Pattern

Pattern Description:

This is an intermediate skill level pattern for a knitted yoke baby cardigan and a matching hat. The cardigan is worked from the neck edge down, with the body in one piece and sleeves in rounds.

It includes instructions for both boy’s and girl’s versions, featuring buttonholes. The hat is worked in rounds.

Materials Needed & Measurements:

• Yarn:
  • Bernat® Softee Baby™
  • Colors: Prettiest Pink (30205) or Aqua (30201)
  • Quantity: 2 to 3 balls, depending on the chosen size
• Yarn Weight: 5 oz/140 g; 362 yds/331 m
• Hook: This pattern uses knitting needles, not a hook.
  • Size U.S. 6 (4 mm) Susan Bates® circular knitting needle 24″ [60 cm] long
  • Set of 4 size U.S. 6 (4 mm) Susan Bates® double-pointed knitting needles
  • Note: The pattern specifies to use the size needed to obtain gauge.
• Notions:
  • Susan Bates® Split-Lock Stitch Count Markers
  • 3 buttons
  • Susan Bates® Steel Yarn Needle
• Measurements:
  • To fit chest measurement:
    • 6 months: 17″ [43 cm]
    • 12 months: 18″ [45.5 cm]
    • 18 months: 19″ [48.5 cm]
    • 24 months: 21″ [53.5 cm]
  • Finished chest:
    • 6 months: 23″ [58.5 cm]
    • 12 months: 24″ [61 cm]
    • 18 months: 25½” [65 cm]
    • 24 months: 27½” [70 cm]
  • Hat: Two sizes, designed to fit babies aged 6-12 (18-24) months.

Stitches & Abbreviations Used:

• Alt = Alternate(ing)
• Beg = Beginning
• Cont = Continue(ity)
• Dec = Decreasing
• Inc = Increasing
• K = Knit
• K2tog = Knit next 2 stitches together
• M1 = Make 1 stitch by picking up horizontal loop lying before next stitch and knitting into back of loop
• P = Purl
• PM = Place marker
• Rep = Repeat
• Rnd(s) = Round(s)
• RS = Right side
• SM = Slip marker
• Ssk = Slip next 2 stitches knitwise one at a time. Pass them back onto left-hand needle, then knit through back loops together
• St(s) = Stitch(es)
• WS = Wrong side
• Yo = Yarn over

Instructions for Making the Bernat Knit Yoke Baby Cardigan & Hat Pattern:

Cardigan

The cardigan is worked from the neck edge down. Once the yoke is complete, the Body is worked in one piece in rows, and the Sleeves are worked in rnds on double-pointed needles.

• Initial Setup:
  • Cast on 96 (96-100-108) sts using a size U.S. 6 (4 mm) Susan Bates® circular knitting needle. Do not join in rnd; work back and forth across the needle in rows.
  • Knit 5 rows (garter st), noting that the 1st row is the WS.
• Buttonholes:
  • For Girl’s Version only: On the next row (RS – buttonhole row), K to the last 5 sts, ssk, yo, K3.
  • For Boy’s Version only: On the next row (RS – buttonhole row), K3, yo, K2tog, K to the end of the row.
  • Work 2 more buttonholes following the above instructions, spaced 2″ [5 cm] apart, on the Right Front for the Girl’s Version or the Left Front for the Boy’s Version.
• Yoke Increases:
  • 1st row (RS): K7, PM, K14 (14-15-17), M1, K13, M1, K28 (28-30-34), M1, K13, M1, K14 (14-15-17), PM, K7. You will now have 100 (100-104-112) sts.
  • 2nd and alt rows: K7, SM, P to last 7 sts, SM, K7.
  • 3rd row: K7, SM, K14 (14-15-17), M1, K1 (PM on last st), M1, K13, M1, K1 (PM on last st), M1, K28 (28-30-34), M1, K1 (PM on last st), M1, K13, M1, K1 (PM on last st), M1, K14 (14-15-17), SM, K7. You will now have 108 (108-112-120) sts.
  • 5th row: Knit to marked st, M1, K1, M1. Rep from 3 times more. Knit to end of row.
  • 6th row: K7, SM, P to last 7 sts, SM, K7.
  • Rep the last 2 rows 13 (14-15-16) times more, remembering to note the position of the 2 additional buttonholes. You will have 220 (228-240-256) sts.
• Divide for Fronts, Back, and Sleeves:
  • Next row (RS): K7, SM, K29 (30-32-35) for Right Front. Cast on 3 sts, PM on the 2nd cast on st. Slip the next 45 (47-49-51) sts onto a length of yarn for the Right Sleeve. K58 (60-64-70) for Back. Cast on 3 sts, PM on the 2nd cast on st. Slip the next 45 (47-49-51) sts onto a length of yarn for the Left Sleeve. K29 (30-32-35), SM, K7 for Left Front. You will now have 136 (140-148-160) sts remaining for the Body.
• Body (Lower Section):
  • Next row (WS): K7, SM, P to the last 7 sts, SM, K7.
  • Next row: K7, Remove marker. K to the last 7 sts, inc 2 (4-2-2) sts evenly across. Remove marker. K7. You will have 138 (144-150-162) sts.
  • Next row (WS): K7, P to the last 7 sts, K7.
  • Proceed in pat as follows:
    • 1st row (RS): K.
    • 2nd row: K7, P4, K2, P4. Rep from to the last 7 sts, K7.
    • 3rd row: K.
    • 4th row: K7, P1, K2, P4, K2. Rep from to the last 8 sts, P1, K7.
    • Rep the last 4 rows for the pat until the work from the joining row measures 6 (7-7½-8)” [15 (18-19-20.5) cm], ensuring you end on a WS row.
  • Next row (RS): K, dec 4 (6-8-10) sts evenly across. You will have 134 (138-142-152) sts.
  • Knit 8 rows (garter st).
  • Cast off knitwise (WS).

Sleeves

• Initial Setup:
  • 1st rnd (RS): Using a set of 4 double-pointed needles, K45 (47-49-51) sleeve sts. Pick up and K 3 sts at the underarm. Divide these sts onto 3 needles and Join in rnd. PM after the cast on st for the beg of rnd. You will have 48 (50-52-54) sts.
  • Knit in rnds until the work from the pick up row measures 1 (1½-2-2)” [2.5 (4-5-5) cm].
• Decreases:
  • Next rnd: K1, ssk, K to the last 3 sts, K2tog, K1.
  • Knit 7 rnds even.
  • Rep the last 8 rnds 4 times more. You will have 38 (40-42-44) sts.
  • Knit even in rnds until the work from the pick up row measures 6 (6½-7-8)” [15 (16-18-20.5) cm], decreasing 2 sts evenly across the last rnd. You will have 36 (38-40-42) sts.
• Cuff:
  • Next rnd: P.
  • Next rnd: K.
  • Rep the last 2 rnds 3 times more.
  • Cast off purlwise.

Hat

The hat is worked in rounds.

• Initial Setup:
  • Using a set of 4 double-pointed needles, cast on 85 (90) sts. Divide the sts onto 3 needles and Join in rnd. PM for the beg of rnd.
  • 1st rnd: P.
  • 2nd rnd: K.
  • Rep the last 2 rnds 4 times more, increasing 5 sts evenly across the last rnd. You will have 90 (95) sts.
  • Knit in rnds until the work from the beg measures 4 (4½)” [10 (11.5) cm].
• Shape Top:
  • 1st rnd (RS): K16 (17), K2tog. Rep from around. You will have 85 (90) sts.
  • 2nd and alt rnds: K.
  • 3rd rnd: K15 (16), K2tog. Rep from around. You will have 80 (85) sts.
  • 5th rnd: K14 (15), K2tog. Rep from around. You will have 75 (80) sts.
  • 7th rnd: K13 (14), K2tog. Rep from around. You will have 70 (75) sts.
  • Continue in this manner, decreasing 5 sts as established on every following alt rnd until 10 sts rem.

Finishing

• Break yarn, leaving a long end. Draw this end tightly through the rem sts. Pull tightly and fasten securely.
• Pin the garment to the specified measurements. Cover it with a damp cloth, allowing the cloth to dry.
• Sew the buttons to correspond to the buttonholes.
• Pompom: Wind yarn around 3 fingers approximately 60 times. Remove from fingers and tie tightly in the center. Cut through each side of the loops and trim to a smooth round shape. Sew the finished pompom to the end of the Hat.

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