Debbie Bliss Dido Dinosaur Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Debbie Bliss Dido Dinosaur Cardigan

What Is Being Made

The Debbie Bliss Dido Dinosaur Cardigan is a charming baby cardigan knitted from soft Baby Cashmerino yarn. This garment features playful dinosaur motifs and is designed to fit infants and toddlers ranging from newborn through 36 months old. The cardigan is a classic button-up style, making it practical for everyday wear while the dinosaur intarsia designs add a whimsical touch suitable for babies and young children.

Finished Measurements

The cardigan is available in six size options with the following specifications:

• Ages 0-3 months: Chest 50cm (19¾ in), Length 25cm (9¾ in), Sleeve length 13.5cm (5¼ in)
• Ages 3-6 months: Chest 54cm (21¼ in), Length 26.5cm (10½ in), Sleeve length 15cm (6 in)
• Ages 6-9 months: Chest 57cm (22½ in), Length 28cm (11 in), Sleeve length 17cm (6¾ in)
• Ages 9-12 months: Chest 60cm (23¾ in), Length 30cm (11¾ in), Sleeve length 19cm (7½ in)
• Ages 12-24 months: Chest 63cm (24¾ in), Length 31.5cm (12½ in), Sleeve length 20.5cm (8 in)
• Ages 24-36 months: Chest 66cm (26 in), Length 33.5cm (13¼ in), Sleeve length 22cm (8¾ in)

Knitting Techniques Used

This intermediate-level cardigan employs several advanced knitting techniques to create its distinctive appearance and structure:

• Intarsia: The dinosaur motifs are created using the intarsia technique, which involves working with separate lengths of yarn for different colored sections. This method produces a clean, flat fabric without the bulk that stranding would create, making it ideal for baby garments.
• Stranded colorwork: In addition to intarsia, stranded knitting is used in sections where colors are carried across the row. When working stranded patterns, yarn not in use is stranded loosely across the wrong side to maintain fabric elasticity, which is essential for a comfortable fit on babies.
• Bottom-up construction: The cardigan is knitted from the bottom upward, allowing for easy adjustments to length and a more intuitive fitting process.
• Seamed assembly: Pieces are seamed together, creating neat, durable seams that withstand the wear and washing required for baby garments.
• Buttonholes: Functional buttonholes are incorporated into the front bands, allowing the cardigan to fasten securely with buttons.
• Stripe patterns: Horizontal or vertical stripes may be incorporated as part of the overall design aesthetic.
• Raglan shaping: The armholes are shaped using raglan decreases, which cast off stitches at the beginning of rows to create the characteristic diagonal lines from underarm to neckline.

Stitches Used

The Debbie Bliss Dido Dinosaur Cardigan utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with shaping techniques:

• Stocking stitch (stockinette stitch): The primary stitch throughout the cardigan, created by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows. This produces the smooth, flat fabric ideal for displaying the dinosaur intarsia designs.
• Knit and purl stitches: Basic knit and purl stitches form the foundation of all colorwork and shaping.
• Decrease stitches: Slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over (skpo) is used for raglan shaping and other decreases, creating neat, single-stitch decreases.
• Make one increase (m1): Increases are worked by picking up and working into the back of the loop lying between the stitch just worked and the next stitch, creating an invisible increase.
• Cast-off stitches: Used to bind off stitches