Patty Cake Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Patty Cake Cardigan in Rowan Summerlite DK

What is Being Made

The Patty Cake Cardigan is a child's knitted cardigan designed by Martin Storey. This garment is tailored to fit children ages 3 to 12 years, with chest measurements ranging from 53–56 cm up to 76–79 cm. The finished cardigan features an actual chest measurement of 66.5 cm to 88 cm depending on the size selected. The design includes a button-front closure with four coconut shell buttons measuring 1.5 cm each.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several shaping techniques essential to cardigan construction. The pattern includes armhole shaping achieved through casting off stitches at the beginning of rows followed by decreasing one stitch at each end over multiple rows. Shoulder shaping is worked by casting off groups of stitches in sequence to create the sloped shoulder line. Back neck shaping involves dividing the work and shaping each side of the neckline separately, with decreases worked at the neck edge while simultaneously casting off stitches to form the shoulder. The cardigan is constructed in separate pieces—back, left front, and right front—which are typical of garment construction in knitting.

Stitches Used

The Patty Cake Cardigan combines stockinette stitch with a bobble pattern as the primary stitch pattern. The pattern employs cable stitches worked using a cable needle, specifically C4B (cable 4 back) and C4F (cable 4 front) abbreviations, which involve slipping stitches onto a cable needle, working the next stitches, and then working the held stitches. Additional stitch techniques include knit through the back loop (K1 tbl) and purl stitches, creating texture and visual interest throughout the garment. The ribbed edging is worked using alternating knit and purl stitches in a 1x1 rib pattern.

Materials and Gauge

This cardigan is knitted using Rowan Summerlite DK, a lightweight yarn suitable for children's garments. The yardage requirements range from 4 to 8 balls of 50-gram skeins depending on the size chosen. The pattern was photographed in the colorway Pear 463. Two sizes of needles are required: 3¼mm (US 3) needles for the ribbed edging and 3¾mm (US 5) needles for the main fabric. A cable needle is also necessary for working the cable stitches. The pattern is worked to a tension of 22 stitches and 30 rows to 10 cm measured over stockinette stitch and bobble pattern using 3¾mm needles, making accurate gauge measurement important for proper fit.