Rowan Honey Bun Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Rowan Honey Bun Cardigan by Erika Knight

What is Being Made

The Honey Bun is an intermediate-level knitted cardigan designed for babies, available in four size options to fit ages 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, and 9-12 months. The finished garment measures 52, 56.5, 61, or 65.5 cm at the lower edge, depending on size selection. This is a classic baby cardigan construction featuring a button-front closure with three grey buttons (1.5cm, 2-hole style) and shaped sleeve extensions that create a distinctive silhouette.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several intermediate knitting techniques that add visual and textural interest to the finished piece. The primary construction method involves working a stitch pattern across the body, with careful attention to maintaining pattern continuity throughout shaping. The pattern includes cable cast-on methodology for creating sleeve extensions, which are added gradually across multiple rows to build the sleeve cap. Increases are strategically placed and incorporated into the existing stitch pattern to ensure seamless integration. The cardigan features left-over-right button band construction with integrated buttonholes on the left front. Shoulder shaping is accomplished through leaving stitches on holders for later finishing, a technique that allows for precise seaming and professional garment assembly.

Stitches Used

The Honey Bun features a distinctive stitch pattern that forms the foundation of the design. The pattern uses brK1 (a special abbreviation meaning to knit together the next stitch with a paired yarn forward lying in front of it) combined with standard knit (K) and purl (P) stitches to create a textured fabric. The core pattern repeat is established over 2 rows: Row 1 consists of K1, then a repeat of brK1 and P1 across, finishing with brK1 and K1. Row 2 mirrors this structure. For shaping sleeve extensions, the pattern employs brKinc2, a specialized increase stitch that works into the next stitch together with a paired yarn forward, creating two stitches from one (K1, yfwd, K1). This technique maintains the visual continuity of the pattern while adding necessary width. Standard increases and the cable cast-on method are used for building the sleeve extensions at the beginning of rows.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Honey Bun is knitted using Cotton Wool yarn from Rowan, a blend fiber that provides both breathability and warmth suitable for baby garments. The pattern requires 2, 2, 2, or 3 x 50gm balls depending on size, with the photographed samples shown in Moon 211 and Piglet 207 colorways. Knitting is worked on 4½mm (US 7) needles—one pair for main construction plus an additional 4½mm needle reserved for casting off shoulders. The pattern specifies a tension of 18 stitches and 32 rows to 10 centimeters measured over the stitch pattern using 4½mm needles, making accurate gauge essential for proper fit in this baby garment.