Valley Yarns Sweet Sabina Child's Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Sweet Sabina Child's Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Sweet Sabina Child's Cardigan is a classic button-front cardigan designed for infants and toddlers, available in three sizes to fit children aged 6-12 months, 1-2 years, and 2-3 years. The finished garment features a chest measurement of 22" (24", 26") and a length of 11½" (13", 15"), making it a practical layering piece for young children. The cardigan includes set-in sleeves measuring 7½" (8½", 9"), a ribbed collar, and button bands with functional buttonholes for easy dressing and undressing.

Techniques Used

This cardigan is constructed using the bottom-up seamed method, meaning the lower body is knitted first, followed by the sleeves, and pieces are then sewn together. The garment is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, which is a fundamental technique for creating traditional cardigan construction. The design incorporates 3-needle bind-off for joining shoulder seams, a professional finishing technique that creates a strong, neat seam. Strategic decreasing is used at armhole edges to shape the garment and create proper sleeve cap fit. Increasing is worked at the beginning and end of sleeve rows to gradually expand the sleeve width from cuff to cap. Picking up stitches is employed for the front bands and collar, allowing these elements to be knitted directly from the finished edges rather than sewn on separately.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern is a 4-row repeat pattern stitch that alternates knit and purl stitches in a structured sequence. Row 1 (right side) features K1, *P1, K3 repeated to the last 2 stitches, then P1, K1. Row 2 consists of purl across. Row 3 reverses the pattern with *K3, P1 repeated to the last 3 stitches, then K3. Row 4 is purl across. This creates a textured, all-over pattern that adds visual interest while remaining manageable for beginner knitters. The pattern stitch is worked over a multiple of 4 stitches plus 3 edge stitches. Garter stitch (knit every row) is used for the lower body edging and front bands, providing a stable, non-curling finish. Yarn-over and knit-2-together decreases (yo, k2tog) are used to create decorative buttonholes spaced evenly across the right front band.

Materials

This cardigan is knitted with Valley Yarns Longmeadow, a practical blend of 60% cotton and 40% microfiber. Each skein weighs 50 grams and contains 117 yards of yarn. The pattern requires 3 (4, 5) skeins depending on the child's size, providing approximately 351 to 585 yards of total yardage. Two needle sizes are used: US Size #4 needles for ribbed edgings and bands, and US Size #6 needles for the main pattern stitch. The pattern calls for stitch holders to temporarily hold stitches during construction, particularly for the back neck stitches during shoulder shaping. Five (5, 6) buttons measuring ¾ inch are required to close the front of the cardigan.

Gauge and Fit

The pattern specifies a gauge of 22 stitches and 28 rows equal 4 inches when measured over the pattern stitch on the larger (US #6) needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential for the cardigan to fit correctly, as the finished measurements are directly dependent on this gauge. The pattern provides three distinct sizes with graduated increases in chest width and length, allowing for growth through the toddler years.

Construction Details

The lower body begins with a cast-on edge and is worked in garter stitch edging before transitioning to the main pattern stitch on larger needles. Sleeves are cast on with a smaller number of stitches and increased gradually every 4th row to achieve the proper cap width. Armhole shaping is accomplished through decreases worked at the edges every row for 3 rows on both front and back pieces. The shoulder seams are joined using the 3-needle bind-off technique, which simultaneously binds off and seams the shoulders in one step. The center back neck stitches are placed on a holder during this process. Front bands are picked up from the finished front edges and worked in garter stitch, with buttonholes created on