Ella Rae Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Ella Rae Jayden Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Ella Rae Jayden Cardigan is a baby and toddler cardigan designed for infants and young children ranging from newborn to 7 years old. This garment is available in six size options to fit chest measurements from 16 inches (41 cm) to 26 inches (66 cm), with finished measurements at the underarm ranging from 18 inches (46 cm) to 28¾ inches (73 cm). The cardigan features a full length from shoulder varying between 9½ inches (24 cm) and 19 inches (48 cm) depending on size, making it suitable for layering or wearing as a standalone piece. Sleeve lengths range from 6 inches (15 cm) to 12½ inches (32 cm). The design includes button closures, with 4 to 6 buttons depending on the size being knitted.

Techniques Used

The Jayden Cardigan employs several key knitting techniques to create its finished structure:

• Bottom-up construction: The cardigan is worked from the bottom edge upward, beginning with the back panel and progressing toward the shoulders and neckline.
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for traditional seaming to join the components.
• Seamed construction: Individual pieces (back, fronts, and sleeves) are knitted separately and then seamed together to form the complete garment.
• Cable work: The pattern incorporates cable stitches as a decorative element, requiring the use of a cable needle to manipulate stitches and create the characteristic twisted rope-like texture.

Stitches Used

The Jayden Cardigan utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with more decorative elements:

• Garter stitch (g st): Used for the initial ribbed edging at the hem, worked for 6 to 10 rows depending on size to create a textured, reversible fabric that lies flat and provides elasticity.
• Cable stitches: The pattern includes two primary cable techniques: C4B (cable 4 back), which involves slipping 2 stitches onto a cable needle, holding them at the back of the work, knitting the next 2 stitches, then knitting the 2 stitches from the cable needle; and C4F (cable 4 front), which follows the same process but holds the cable needle at the front of the work. These stitches create the dimensional cable pattern that runs throughout the cardigan.
• Knit and purl stitches: The main body pattern alternates between knit (K) and purl (P) stitches in a charted pattern that repeats every 4 rows, creating visual interest and texture.
• Yarn overs and increases: The pattern includes yarn over (yo) techniques and strategic increases to shape the garment, particularly in the initial shaping rows after the garter stitch edging.

Materials

The Jayden Cardigan is crafted using premium materials specified for durability and comfort:

• Yarn: Ella Rae Cashmereno Sport, a lightweight sport-weight yarn available in 50-gram balls. The yardage required ranges from 4 balls for the smallest size (0-6 months) to 7 balls for the largest size (6-7 years). The pattern offers two colorway options: shade 108 Strawberry Field for girls and shade 103 Verbena Woods for boys, both from the Speckled collection, which features a subtle variegated texture.
• Needles: Two pairs of needles are required—US 3 (3.25 mm) needles for the initial garter stitch edging and ribbing, and US 5 (3.75 mm) needles for the main body pattern. The needle size change creates a subtle transition between the edging and the patterned sections.
• Additional notions: A cable needle is essential for executing the cable stitch techniques throughout the pattern. Buttons, numbering between 4 and 6 depending on size, complete the front closure.

Pattern Structure and Progression

The Jayden Cardigan follows a methodical construction sequence beginning with the back panel. Stitches are cast on using the smaller needles, and garter stitch is worked for the specified number of rows to create a stable, textured hem edge. After