Paintbox Yarns Little Blossom Baby Cardigan Crochet Pattern

Paintbox Yarns Little Blossom Baby Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Little Blossom Cardigan is a crocheted baby cardigan designed by Lynne Watterson. This garment is sized to fit infants from newborn through 24 months, with finished chest measurements ranging from 18 inches (46 cm) for the 0–3 month size up to 25½ inches (65 cm) for the 18–24 month size. The cardigan features a button front closure and is worked as a single continuous piece from the back and fronts through the armholes, then shaped at the shoulders for a tailored fit.

Techniques Used

The Little Blossom Cardigan employs seamed construction, meaning pieces are worked separately and then joined together using a sewing needle. The garment is crocheted in a stitch pattern that achieves a gauge of 17 stitches and 14 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) when worked with the recommended hook size. The back and front sections are initially worked as one piece to the armholes before being shaped separately at the shoulders, a technique that reduces finishing work while maintaining structural integrity.

Stitches Used

This intermediate-level pattern utilizes fundamental crochet stitches including:

• Single crochet (dc in UK terminology) and double crochet (treble in UK terminology) for the primary fabric
• Half double crochet (htr in UK terminology) for textural variation
• Chain stitches (ch) for foundation and stitch creation
• Slip stitch (sl st) for joining rounds and finishing edges
• Decrease stitches such as single crochet 2 together (sc2tog) and double crochet 2 together (dc2tog) for shaping at the shoulders
• Increase stitches (inc) for expanding the fabric where needed

The pattern is written using US crochet terminology with UK terminology provided in parentheses, allowing crafters familiar with either system to follow the instructions accurately.

Materials

The Little Blossom Cardigan requires Paintbox Yarns Baby DK yarn in Baby Blue. Yarn quantities are approximate and based on average requirements, with yardage varying by size: 2 balls (3.5 oz / 100 g total) for the 0–3 and 6–12 month sizes, and 3 or 4 balls for the larger sizes. The pattern calls for two crochet hooks—a US E4 (3.5 mm) hook and a US G6 (4 mm) hook—allowing the crafter to adjust tension and achieve the correct gauge. Additional materials include 2 to 4 buttons (depending on size), scissors, and a sewing needle for seaming the finished pieces together.

Pattern Notes

This is an intermediate-level pattern suitable for crocheters with foundational skills in basic stitches and shaping techniques. The pattern uses standard abbreviations and repeat notation (figures in square brackets indicate the number of times to repeat a sequence). Paintbox Yarns recommends using only the specified yarn to ensure the finished garment meets the intended finished measurements and drape. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is intended for personal use only.