Mini Manor Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Mini Manor Cardigan in Rowan Cotton Cashmere

What is Being Made

The Mini Manor Cardigan is a children's cardigan designed to fit ages 3–4 through 11–12 years. This knitted garment features a classic button-front cardigan construction with shaped front slopes, set-in sleeves, and ribbed edging. The design includes striped colorwork created by alternating between two yarn colors across the body and sleeves, making it a visually interesting piece suitable for intermediate knitters.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several intermediate knitting techniques that add depth and structure to the finished garment:

• Stockinette Stitch (St St) forms the main fabric body, creating a smooth, classic knit appearance
• Ribbed Edging is worked in a 2x2 rib pattern (alternating knit and purl stitches) at the cuffs, hem, and neckline for elasticity and a polished finish
• Stripes are introduced using two contrasting yarn colors (Paper and Harbour), with the pattern specifying stripe sequences of 6 rows in each color
• Shaping Techniques include decreasing at the front slope edge to create the cardigan's angled front opening, and decreasing at the neck edge to shape the neckline
• Set-in Sleeve Construction involves shaping the armhole and sleeve cap for a fitted, tailored appearance
• Separate Piece Assembly requires knitting the back, left front, right front, and sleeves as individual pieces before seaming them together

Stitches Used

The Mini Manor Cardigan relies on fundamental stitches executed with precision:

• Knit (K) and Purl (P) stitches form the basis of all fabric
• Knit Two Together (K2tog) is used for decreasing, particularly at the front slope and neck shaping
• Ribbing (K2, P2 repeat) creates the elastic cuffs and edging throughout the garment
• Stockinette Stitch (alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side) comprises the majority of the garment fabric
• Cast On and Cast Off techniques secure the beginning and end of knitted pieces

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Mini Manor Cardigan is designed to be worked in Rowan Cotton Cashmere, a luxury blend yarn that combines the breathability of cotton with the softness of cashmere. The pattern calls for two colorways:

• Yarn A (Paper) – 4, 4, 5, 5, or 6 balls of 50-gram weight, depending on size
• Yarn B (Harbour) – 1, 1, 1, 2, or 2 balls of 50-gram weight, depending on size

The striped colorwork pattern requires knitters to carry and manage two yarns simultaneously, switching between them at designated intervals to create the horizontal stripe effect.

Needles Required:

• One pair of 3.5mm (US 4) needles for ribbed sections
• One pair of 4mm (US 6) needles for stockinette stitch body
• One 3.5mm (US 4) circular needle, at least 120–150 cm long (depending on size), for neckline finishing

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a tension of 20 stitches and 28 rows to 10 centimeters measured over stockinette stitch using 4mm (US 6) needles. Achieving correct gauge is essential for proper fit, as the cardigan is sized for five different age ranges (3–4, 5–6, 7–8, 9–10, and 11–12 years) with actual chest measurements ranging from 87.5 cm to 109.5 cm (34½ to 43 inches).

Difficulty Level

Rated as Intermediate, this pattern is suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are