Debbie Bliss Lace Edged Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Debbie Bliss Lace Edged Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Debbie Bliss Lace Edged Cardigan is a knitted children's cardigan designed for ages 2 to 5 years. This garment features decorative lace edging and is available in three size options with finished chest measurements ranging from 66cm (26 inches) to 74cm (29¼ inches) and finished lengths to shoulder from 31cm (12¼ inches) to 35cm (13¾ inches), excluding the edging. The cardigan includes a button closure front and coordinating sleeve details.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several advanced techniques to create visual interest and texture. The pattern incorporates cable work, which involves crossing stitches using a cable needle to create twisted rope-like effects throughout the design. Lace edging is worked using yarn overs and decreases to create openwork details that frame the garment. The design also utilizes reverse stockinette stitch (purling on right-side rows and knitting on wrong-side rows) to create contrasting textured panels. Additionally, the pattern includes bobble stitches (abbreviated as MB in the pattern), which are decorative raised bumps created by working multiple stitches into a single stitch, turning the work, and then decreasing them back down. Shaping techniques such as increases and decreases are used throughout to achieve the proper fit across the three size options.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (k) – the fundamental stitch creating smooth stockinette fabric
• Purl stitch (p) – used in reverse stockinette and textured panels
• Stockinette stitch (st st) – the primary fabric base, created by alternating knit and purl rows
• Reverse stockinette stitch (rev st st) – purl on right-side rows and knit on wrong-side rows for textured contrast
• Cable stitches (C2B, C2F) – cable back and cable front crosses that create twisted effects
• Crossed stitches (Cr2L, Cr2R, Cr3R) – crossed left and crossed right variations that create diagonal lines and texture
• Bobble stitch (MB) – a decorative raised stitch created by working multiple stitches into one, turning, and decreasing
• Yarn overs (yo, yf, yrn, y2rn) – creating holes and lace effects
• Decreases (skpo, ssk) – slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over and slip, slip, knit techniques for shaping
• Make one increase (m1) – picking up and working into the loop between stitches
• Knit into front and back (kfb) – creating increases within a row

Materials

This cardigan is crafted using 6, 7, or 8 balls of Debbie Bliss eco baby yarn in Cowslip (depending on size), with each ball weighing 50g. The yarn is worked on 3.25mm (US 3) knitting needles and requires a cable needle for the cable work throughout the pattern. The project is completed with 4 buttons for the front closure. The recommended tension is 25 stitches and 34 rows to a 10cm (4-inch) square over stockinette stitch using the specified needle size, ensuring proper garment fit and drape.