Sirdar Duck Cardigan and Blanket Knitting Pattern

Sirdar Duck Cardigan and Blanket Pattern Overview

Design N° 5376 presents two coordinated knitting projects for babies aged 0-2 years: a charming cardigan and a matching blanket, both crafted from luxurious Sirdar Snuggly Cashmere Merino double knitting yarn. This advanced-level pattern combines classic baby garment construction with decorative techniques to create heirloom-quality pieces suitable for gift-giving or personal keepsakes.

Sirdar Snuggly Cashmere Merino Yarn

Both projects utilize Sirdar Snuggly Cashmere Merino, a premium double knitting weight yarn that blends natural merino wool with cosy cashmere fibers. This luxurious fiber combination provides excellent stitch definition, making it ideal for detailed colorwork and textured designs. The yarn has been rigorously tested to ensure it remains soft and gentle against a baby's tender skin through repeated washing. Sirdar, established in West Yorkshire in 1980, is a British yarn company with generations of hand knitting heritage, and the Snuggly brand is specifically formulated to keep infants warm and comfortable.

Cardigan Construction and Specifications

The cardigan is designed for babies aged 0-3 months through 18-24 months, with six graduated size options. Chest measurements range from 42 cm (16½") for newborns to 56 cm (22") for the largest size, with corresponding full length measurements from 25 cm (9¾") to 36 cm (14"). Sleeve length increases from 16 cm (6¼") to 25 cm (9¾") across the size range. The cardigan features button closures, with four buttons for the three smallest sizes and five buttons for the larger sizes.

The cardigan employs a three-color yarn scheme using Sirdar Snuggly Cashmere Merino double knitting: Yarn A in shade 456 (Royal), Yarn B in shade 473, and Yarn C in shade 472. Yarn requirements vary by size, with Yarn A requiring between 3 and 5 balls (50g each), while Yarns B and C are used as small oddments (10g and 15g respectively).

Cardigan Techniques and Construction Methods

This advanced pattern incorporates multiple sophisticated knitting techniques to create visual interest and texture:

• Intarsia colorwork: The pattern uses intarsia technique to integrate the three yarn colors into the design, allowing for detailed color patterning without carrying yarn across the back of the work
• Stripes: Horizontal or vertical striping is incorporated into the cardigan design using the multiple yarn shades
• Seamed construction: The cardigan is worked flat in separate pieces and then seamed together, a traditional method that provides structural stability and clean finishing
• Bottom-up assembly: The cardigan is knitted from the bottom edge upward, allowing for ease of fitting and adjustment during construction

Blanket Construction and Specifications

The matching blanket is offered in one size, measuring 61 cm wide by 79 cm long (24" × 31¼"), making it an ideal size for pram use, tummy time, or as a decorative throw. The blanket requires 6 balls of Yarn A in shade 456 (Royal), plus small oddments of Yarn B (15g) and Yarn C (10g) for coordinating color details.

Blanket Techniques and Construction Methods

The blanket employs similar advanced techniques to the cardigan, creating a coordinated set:

• Intarsia colorwork: Decorative color patterning is integrated throughout the blanket using the intarsia method
• Stripes: Coordinating stripe patterns tie the blanket visually to the cardigan design
• Seamless or seamed construction: The blanket may be worked as a single piece or assembled from sections, depending on pattern instructions
• Worked flat: The blanket is knitted flat on needles rather than in the round, allowing for straightforward edge finishing

Yarn and Materials Summary

All projects use Sirdar Snuggly Cashmerie Merino in double knitting weight (DK), supplied in 50g balls. The pattern specifies three coordinating shades: shade 456 (Royal) as the primary color, with shades 473 and 472 as accent colors. Double knitting yarn weight provides excellent stitch definition for the colorwork techniques employed and creates a fabric with