MillaMia Tokig Cardigan Knitting Pattern

MillaMia Tokig Cardigan

What is Being Made

The MillaMia Tokig Cardigan is a children's knitted cardigan designed to fit ages 2-3 through 10-11 years, with chest measurements ranging from 62cm to 80cm (24½ to 31½ inches). The pattern also includes a coordinating scarf worked in leftover contrast colours from the cardigan project. This is an intermediate-level knitting project that combines plain stockinette stitch with decorative colourwork elements.

Techniques Used

The Tokig Cardigan employs several key knitting techniques suitable for crafters advancing their skills. The garment is worked flat on straight needles, meaning pieces are knitted back and forth in rows rather than in the round. The cardigan is constructed using the bottom-up method, where the body and sleeves are knitted from the lower edges upward toward the shoulders. Seaming is used to join the finished pieces together, creating a traditional garment construction.

The most distinctive technical feature is the stranded colourwork technique, specifically Fair Isle knitting, which appears in a diamond pattern around the chest area. This colourwork element is intentionally limited in scope to make it manageable for intermediate knitters who are beginning to explore Fair Isle techniques. The cardigan features buttonholes along the front opening and is fastened with buttons, making it a fully functional wearable garment.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch throughout the Tokig Cardigan is stockinette stitch (abbreviated as st st), which creates the smooth, classic knitted fabric that forms the base of the garment. The body is predominantly worked in plain stockinette stitch, while the sleeves feature simple stripes in contrasting colours. The diamond pattern on the chest utilizes stranded colourwork within the stockinette stitch structure, requiring the knitter to carry multiple yarn colours across rows while maintaining consistent tension.

Materials and Specifications

The Tokig Cardigan is knitted using MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino yarn, available exclusively through Love Knitting. Two colourway options are provided in the pattern.

First Colourway: The primary option uses Ice (125) as the main colour (MC), with 3 to 4 balls of 50g depending on size. Contrast colours include one ball each of Scarlet (140), Ink Blue (106), Fuchsia (143), Daisy Yellow (142), Berry (163), and Peacock (144). This combination creates bright, vibrant contrast against the white Ice base.

Second Colourway: An alternative palette features Rain (165) as the main colour, with one ball each of Petal (122), Tempest Blue (167), Fuchsia (143), Cloud Grey (127), Butterscotch (168), and Claret (104). This option demonstrates how more muted colour combinations can be equally effective.

The pattern requires two pairs of knitting needles: 3mm (US 2) needles and 3.25mm (US 3) needles. The smaller needles are used for ribbed sections, while the larger needles are used for the main fabric. The cardigan requires 6 to 8 buttons depending on the child's size.

The scarf component requires one ball of MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino in the main colour plus leftover contrast yarns from the cardigan, worked on 3.25mm (US 3) needles. The finished scarf measures 9cm wide by 102cm long (3½ by 40 inches).

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is worked to a tension of 25 stitches and 34 rows over a 10cm (4-inch) square in stockinette stitch using 3.25mm (US 3) needles. Five size options are provided: to fit ages 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, and 10-11 years, with corresponding chest and length measurements detailed for each size.

Project Suitability

The Tokig Cardigan is specifically designed as an ideal introduction to Fair Isle colourwork. The pattern notes that the body is mainly plain knitting with simple striped sleeves, allowing knitters to focus their colourwork learning on the manageable diamond pattern featured around the chest. This structured approach makes it an excellent stepping stone for intermediate knitters ready to expand their technical skills beyond basic stockinette stitch.