Koigu Baby Bubble Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Koigu Baby Bubble Cardigan

What Is Being Made

The Koigu Baby Bubble Cardigan is a knitted cardigan designed for babies aged 6-12 months. This garment features a distinctive bubble stitch texture created through dip stitch techniques, combined with striped colorwork. The cardigan is constructed as a single piece for the back and fronts, with separate sleeves, and includes a ribbed edge band and button closure.

Construction Method

This cardigan is worked flat on circular needles and features a bottom-up construction method. The back and front pieces are knitted in one piece until the armholes, at which point the work is split for separate front and back shaping. The design uses seamed construction, with pieces joined together after completion. A V-neck shaping is created by binding off stitches at regular intervals on the right front, while the left front follows a symmetrical decrease pattern.

Stitch Techniques

The cardigan showcases several key knitting techniques:

• Dip Stitch: The signature bubble texture is created using dip stitches, which involve knitting into a stitch from an earlier row—specifically four rows below the current working row. This creates the characteristic raised bubble effect throughout the garment.
• Stockinette Stitch: Smooth stockinette stitch forms the foundation between bubble pattern rows, providing structure and drape.
• Ribbing: The pattern begins with 1x1 ribbing (knit 1, purl 1) for the first six rows, creating a neat, elastic edge.
• Striping: The pattern employs a consistent color sequence: two rows worked in the main color followed by four rows in a contrasting color. This creates horizontal stripes throughout the body of the cardigan.
• Slip Stitch Edge: The first stitch of every row is slipped rather than knitted, which creates clean, finished edges suitable for seaming.

Pattern Details and Sizing

The finished cardigan is sized for 6-12 month old babies with a cast-on of 187 stitches. The body is worked to a length of 20 centimeters (8 inches) before armhole shaping begins. The right front features a V-neck created by binding off one stitch every fourth row until 34 stitches remain. The back piece measures 29 centimeters (11.5 inches) in total length, while the fronts reach 30 centimeters (12 inches). The cardigan closes with four buttons.

Materials and Tools

The pattern calls for Koigu Pencil Box yarn, with the designer using nine different colors to create the striped and bubble effect. The yarn is worked on US 2 (2.75mm) circular needles measuring 80 centimeters (32 inches) in length for the main body. Additional tools include two US 2 (2.75mm) double-pointed needles for smaller sections, two safety pins for securing stitches, a darning needle for finishing, a stitch holder or waste yarn for managing stitches during construction, and four buttons for the front closure.

Design Notes

The pattern is designed by Elke Schroeder and offers flexibility in color selection. The designer notes that knitters may choose their own color combinations and can vary the contrast colors used in the body piece after every three bubble rows if desired. The safety pins secure the first and last four stitches on each side during initial ribbing, as these stitches are reserved for the edge and neck band, which is worked after the main body is complete.