MillaMia Bianca Cardigan Crochet Pattern

MillaMia Bianca Cardigan

What Is Being Made

The MillaMia Bianca Cardigan is a practical wrap-over style baby cardigan designed for infants and young children. This crochet garment is sized across six sizes, ranging from 0-3 months through 36-48 months, making it suitable for babies from newborn to approximately four years old. The wrap-over design provides practical functionality for dressing and undressing babies, while the cardigan silhouette offers classic styling suitable for everyday wear.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level crochet project employs several key construction techniques:

• Worked Flat: The cardigan pieces are created flat using a crochet hook rather than worked in the round, allowing for straightforward shaping and construction.
• Seaming: Individual pieces are sewn together to create the finished garment, providing clean seams and professional finishing.
• Buttonholes: Strategic buttonholes are incorporated into the design, allowing the wrap-over cardigan to fasten securely.
• Button Closure: Buttons are attached to complete the fastening system, ensuring the garment stays closed during wear.

Stitches Used

The Bianca Cardigan utilizes fundamental crochet stitches appropriate for creating a structured baby garment:

• Double Crochet (dc) / Single Crochet (sc): The primary stitch used throughout the pattern, creating a dense, warm fabric suitable for a baby cardigan.
• Treble Crochet (tr) / Double Crochet (dc): Used for pattern variation and texture, adding visual interest to the finished piece.
• Chain Stitch (ch): Foundation stitches used to begin the project and create stitch counts.
• Slip Stitch (sl st): Used for joining and finishing techniques throughout construction.
• Treble 2 Together (tr2tog) / Double Crochet 2 Together (dc2tog): Decrease stitches employed for shaping the cardigan pieces.

Materials

The Bianca Cardigan is crafted using high-quality baby-appropriate materials:

• Yarn: MillaMia Naturally Baby Soft yarn in 50g/1¾oz balls. Yardage varies by size, requiring between 2 and 5 balls depending on the selected size. The yarn is available in multiple colorways including Softest Silver (623), Porcelain White (600), Soft Rose (611), Lemon (620), Bonbon (632), and Starry Sky, allowing crafters to choose from pale neutrals or stronger shades to suit personal preference.
• Hook: A 3mm (US 2 or 3) crochet hook is required for this project.
• Notions: Buttons are needed to complete the wrap-over closure system.

Tension and Sizing

The pattern specifies a tension of 16 stitches and 10 rows to a 10cm/4in square over pattern using a 3mm hook. Achieving correct tension is essential for proper fit. The cardigan is available in six sizes with chest measurements ranging from 46cm (18¼in) for the 0-3 month size to 66cm (26in) for the 36-48 month size. When selecting a size, the pattern recommends choosing based on chest measurements rather than age, as babies vary greatly from average sizes. The chest should measure 5cm to 10cm larger than the baby's actual chest for proper fit and comfort.