Euro Baby Laugh Cardigans Knitting Pattern

Euro Baby Laugh Cardigans: Striped and Plain Knit Cardigans

What is Being Made

The Euro Baby Laugh Cardigans collection features two distinct cardigan designs: a Striped Cardigan and a Plain Cardigan, both crafted from Babe Soft Cotton Chunky yarn. These are classic bottom-up constructed cardigans available in six sizes to fit chest measurements ranging from 56cm to 81cm (22 inches to 32 inches). The striped version features alternating color bands throughout, while the plain cardigan offers a solid, versatile option. Both styles are designed with seamed construction and worked flat on straight needles, making them accessible projects for knitters seeking structured, wearable garments.

Techniques Used

These cardigans employ bottom-up construction, meaning pieces are knitted from the lower edge upward, allowing for easy fitting adjustments during the knitting process. The garments are worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, with individual front, back, and sleeve pieces that are later seamed together. The striped cardigan features a striped color sequence created by alternating between main and contrast yarn colors in 8-row repeats throughout the body and sleeves. Both designs incorporate ribbed edging at the lower edge and cuffs, which provides elasticity and a finished appearance. Shaping techniques include strategic cast-off decreases for armhole construction and decreasing stitches at both armhole and neck edges to create proper garment fit and neckline definition.

Stitches Used

• Ribbed Knit (K2, P2): Used for the initial 8 rows at the cardigan hem, creating an elastic, textured border that prevents rolling and provides shape retention
• Stockinette Stitch (St-st): The primary stitch throughout the body and sleeves, creating a smooth, classic fabric with a flat appearance on the right side and bumpy texture on the wrong side
• Knit (K) and Purl (P): Individual stitches combined to create the ribbed and stockinette patterns
• Cast-off (Bind-off): Used to secure stitches, particularly for armhole shaping where 4 stitches are cast off at the beginning of rows
• Decrease stitches: Single stitch decreases worked evenly across rows and at specific edges to shape the armholes and neckline

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Euro Baby Laugh Cardigans are knitted using Babe Soft Cotton Chunky yarn, a medium-weight cotton blend ideal for warm-weather garments. The striped cardigan requires 2 100g balls of the main color (col 23) and 1-2 100g balls of the contrast color (col 17), depending on size. The plain cardigan requires 3-5 100g balls of Babe Soft Cotton Chunky, with yardage varying by size. These yarn amounts are approximate and based on average requirements. The pattern is worked on 5mm (US8) needles for the ribbed cuff sections and 6mm (US10) needles for the main body and sleeves, allowing the fabric to transition from a fitted edge to a more relaxed drape. The cotton fiber content makes these cardigans breathable and suitable for layering in spring and summer months, while the chunky weight ensures quick project completion.

Pattern Details and Sizing

The cardigans are available in six graduated sizes with the following measurements: chest sizes of 56cm, 61cm, 66cm, 71cm, 76cm, and 81cm, with corresponding actual finished chest measurements of 67cm, 70cm, 76cm, 81cm, 87cm, and 90cm respectively. Full length ranges from 32cm to 56cm, and sleeve length varies from 24cm to 42cm depending on the chosen size. The striped cardigan begins with a cast-on of 23 to 31 stitches for the left front piece, with ribbing worked for 8 rows before transitioning to stockinette stitch in the striped color sequence. The armhole shaping occurs after the front piece reaches between 19cm and 38cm in length, with 4 stitches cast off and subsequent decreases worked to create proper sleeve cap depth. Neck shaping is integrated simultaneously with armhole shaping, requiring decreases at both edges to form the cardigan's neckline opening.