Hayfield 4677 Cardigans Knitting Pattern

Hayfield 4677 Easy Knit Baby Blossom Chunky Cardigans

What Is Being Made

These are baby cardigans designed for newborns through children aged 7 years. The pattern offers two distinct styles: a Round Neck Cardigan and a V Neck Cardigan, both featuring button closures. The cardigans are sized to fit chest measurements ranging from 41cm (16 inches) for newborns up to 66cm (26 inches) for 6-7 year olds, with corresponding full lengths from 24cm (9½ inches) to 48cm (19 inches). Sleeve lengths are adjustable to accommodate growth and personal preference.

Techniques Used

This beginner-level knitting pattern employs seamed construction with pieces worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round. This approach makes the pattern accessible to newer knitters while still producing professional results. The flat-worked pieces are subsequently seamed together to create the finished garment. The pattern includes essential tension guidance to ensure proper fit and finished measurements, emphasizing that working to the stated tension of 14 stitches and 19 rows over 10cm (4 inches) is critical for success.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch throughout these cardigans is stocking stitch (also called stockinette stitch), which creates a smooth, classic fabric with a neat right side and bumpy wrong side. The pattern also incorporates fundamental knitting techniques including knit stitches, purl stitches, yarn forward increases, and decreases to shape the garment pieces. Slip stitches are used for edge finishing, and the pattern includes pass slipped stitch over (psso) decreases for shaping.

Materials and Yarn

Both cardigan styles are knitted using Hayfield Baby Blossom Chunky yarn in 100g balls. The Round Neck Cardigan requires shade 352, while the V Neck Cardigan uses shade 350. Yarn quantities vary by size: sizes 0-6 months and 6-12 months require 1-2 balls respectively, sizes 1-2 years and 2-3 years require 2 balls each, and sizes 4-5 years and 6-7 years require 3 balls. The chunky weight yarn works up quickly, making these projects relatively fast to complete.

Needles and Notions

The pattern requires two pairs of knitting needles: 6½mm (UK size 3, USA size 10.5) needles for the main fabric and 5½mm (UK size 5, USA size 9) needles for ribbed edgings or cuffs. The Round Neck Cardigan requires 4 buttons for the smallest sizes (0-6 months, 6-12 months, and 1-2 years) and 5 buttons for larger sizes (2-3 years and above). The V Neck Cardigan requires 3 buttons for the smallest three sizes and 4 buttons for the larger sizes. A special note in the pattern advises checking the yarn ball to determine whether to knit from the outside or inside, ensuring that the decorative flower motifs in the Baby Blossom Chunky yarn appear above the leaf details.