Gardiner Yarn Works Little Cable Hoodie Knitting Pattern

Gardiner Yarn Works Little Cable Hoodie

What Is Being Made

The Little Cable Hoodie is a children's seamless cardigan designed by Chrissy Gardiner, sized for ages 2T through 12 with chest measurements ranging from 24 inches to 33 inches. This pullover-style sweater features a zippered front closure, a roomy hood, and simple cable trim detailing. The garment is worked in a bottom-up construction method, making it an accessible project for knitters progressing beyond beginner level.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several key knitting techniques that build foundational skills:

• Seamless construction: The body is worked flat initially, then components are joined together without seaming, creating a polished, professional finish with minimal finishing work required.
• Bottom-up construction: The sweater is knitted starting from the hem and working upward toward the shoulders and neckline, allowing for easy length adjustments during the knitting process.
• Cable work: Simple cables are incorporated as decorative trim elements throughout the design, adding visual interest and texture without overwhelming a newer cable knitter.
• Worked in the round: Portions of the garment, including the hood and ribbed sections, are worked circularly using double-pointed needles or circular needles to eliminate seaming on these components.

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with cable techniques:

• Stockinette stitch (st st): The primary fabric stitch, creating a smooth, classic appearance for the body of the sweater.
• Ribbing (k2, p2): Used for cuffs, waistband, and trim sections to create elasticity and a finished appearance.
• T2B (twist 2 back): A cable stitch variation that twists two stitches to create the simple cable detail trim featured throughout the design.
• Slip stitch (sl1): Used at the beginning of rows to create neat, finished edges.
• Make one (m1): An increase technique for shaping the garment as needed across different sizes.
• Knit two together (k2tog): A decrease stitch used for shaping and finishing.

Materials

The Little Cable Hoodie requires worsted-weight yarn in quantities appropriate to the child's size: approximately 505 yards for size 2T, increasing to 1020 yards for size 12. The sample garment was created using Dream in Color Classy yarn in the colorway Pansy Go Lightly.

Essential needles and notions include:

• A set of size 8 (5mm) double-pointed needles or a pair of size 8 (5mm) circular needles for working in the round
• A 24-inch size 8 (5mm) circular needle for the body (or sized to achieve the correct gauge)
• A cable needle for managing cable stitches
• Stitch markers to track pattern repeats and section divisions
• Waste yarn for holding stitches temporarily
• A yarn needle for weaving in ends and any necessary seaming

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 18 stitches and 22 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch on size 8 (5mm) needles. Accurate gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements. The garment lengths range from 13.5 inches for the smallest size to 19 inches for size 12, with proportional width adjustments across all six available sizes.