Baby Cardigan (Lace Rib Panel) - Knit in Pieces

Beautiful lacy panel worked across each piece. Worked flat in pieces: back, left front, right front, sleeves. Neck shaping is on the two front pieces so the lace pattern continues to the shoulder while the inner neck edge is eased. Pattern repeats every 12 rows (see stitch pattern below). Gauge, yarn suggestions and exact stitch counts are given for three baby sizes. Adjust by casting on multiples of the stitch repeat if you need a different finished chest.

Sizes (Finished chest)

• Small / Newborn: 16 in (40.5 cm)
• Medium / 3-6 months: 18 in (46 cm)
• Large / 6-12 months: 20 in (51 cm)

Materials

• Yarn: DK weight (Light Worsted). Approximate amounts: Small 250 yards (230 m), Medium 300 yards (275 m), Large 350 yards (320 m).
• Needles (straight or circular for flat knitting): US 6 / UK (old) 4 / 4.0 mm. For a slightly firmer edge you may prefer US 5 / UK (old) 6 / 3.75 mm for bands. Use the size that gives correct gauge.
• Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch markers, set of 4 or 5 double-pointed needles (or circular for small circumference sleeves) for sleeves if working in the round before seaming, 4–6 small buttons.

Gauge

23 sts x 28 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette using US 6 (4.0 mm). Because lace affects stitch count and drape, swatch the 12-row lace pattern over the number of pattern repeats you plan to work and measure. Adjust needle size if necessary.

Abbreviations (US terms)

• K = knit
• P = purl
• K2tog = knit 2 together (right-leaning decrease)
• SSK = slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
• YO = yarn over
• sts = stitches
• RS = right side
• WS = wrong side

Lace Stitch Pattern (work over a multiple of 8 sts; starting offsets noted in rows)

Repeat rows 1–12 as written.
Row 1 (RS): K3, *k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k3; repeat from * across.
Rows 2,4,6,8,10,12 (WS): Purl.
Row 3: K2, *k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k1; repeat from * to last st, k1.
Row 5: K1, k2tog, *yo, k5, yo, k3tog; repeat from * to last 8 sts, yo, k5, yo, ssk, k1.
Row 7: K2, *yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, k1; repeat from * to last st, k1.
Row 9: K3, *yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k3; repeat from * across.
Row 11: K4, *yo, k3tog, yo, k5; repeat from * to last 7 sts, yo, k3tog, yo, k4.
Repeat rows 1–12 for pattern.

Pattern Notes

• The lace stitch is worked across the whole piece; each piece's cast-on must be a multiple of 8 (the stitch repeat) unless you are adding edge stitches for bands. When instructions say "work in lace pattern" keep the 12-row sequence and mergeto edges where instructed.
• All pieces are worked flat. Seams are sewn after blocking. Neck shaping is worked on the left and right fronts independently; keep the lace motif running to the shoulder while decreasing/binding off at the inner neck edge.

Stitch counts to cast on (multiples of 8)

These sample counts fit the stated finished chest sizes using the sample gauge. If your gauge differs, cast on multiples of 8 to preserve the lace repeat.

• Small (Newborn): Back 40 sts; Left Front 24 sts; Right Front 24 sts; Sleeves 32 sts.
• Medium (3-6m): Back 44 sts; Left Front 26 sts; Right Front 26 sts; Sleeves 36 sts.
• Large (6-12m): Back 48 sts; Left Front 28 sts; Right Front 28 sts; Sleeves 40 sts.

Back

1. Cast on back sts for your size (see counts above). Work 6 rows garter stitch (knit every row) for a neat back neck/hem edge, or work 1x1 rib for 1/2" (1.25 cm) if you prefer.
2. Begin lace pattern: Work rows 1–12 of the stitch pattern across the row, repeating the sequence until the back reaches the desired length to underarm: about 6.5" (16.5 cm) from cast-on for Small, 7" (18 cm) for Medium, 7.5" (19 cm) for Large. (Measure to the underarm level; adjust for desired ease.)
3. Armhole shaping / shoulders: Bind off 3 (4, 4) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows to create shoulder shaping, then continue in pattern across remaining sts until back measures approximately 8 (8.5, 9)" (20, 21.5, 23 cm) from cast-on, ending after a full 12-row pattern repeat. Alternatively: bind off 4 sts twice, leaving the remaining center sts for back neck, depending on your shoulder shaping preference. Place live stitches on holder if finishing shoulders later by mattress stitch.

Left and Right Fronts (work two; mirror shaping)

These directions are written for the Right Front (RS is worked as shown). For the Left Front, reverse the shaping instructions so decreases/bind-offs occur on the opposite edge (inner neck edge).

1. Cast on front sts for your size. Work 6 rows garter stitch (or 1/2" of rib) to match back hem/band.
2. Begin lace pattern: Start and continue the 12-row repeat. Keep an eye on the pattern offset: if the pattern requires a K3 lead-in on RS rows, maintain that alignment by working the first row of the 12-row sequence as written for the right-side orientation of this piece. If you cast on a different number of stitches, you may need to work a swatch to choose the correct starting row (rows 1, 3, 5, etc. shift the lead-in).
3. Work even in pattern until piece measures to underarm (same length as back to underarm): approx. 6.5 (7, 7.5)" / 16.5 (18, 19) cm from cast-on.
4. Armhole shaping: Bind off 2 sts at armhole edge once, then dec 1 st at armhole edge every RS row 2 times (or work a small smooth slope using decreases every other RS row) while maintaining the lace pattern on the rest of the piece. Keep the lace pattern intact to the shoulder edge.
5. Neck shaping (work on the inner edge): When front piece measures same length as back to shoulder (or when you have the desired depth to begin neckline), begin shaping the neck by working decreases at the inner neck edge as follows: On RS rows, work to last 8 sts at the neck edge and then either bind off 6 sts once (for a small shallow neckline) OR bind off 3 sts once then dec 1 st at the neck edge every RS row 4 (5, 6) times. Example for Small: bind off 3 sts once at the start of the neck edge, then on each RS row dec 1 st at the neck edge 4 times. For Medium/Large use 5 or 6 decreases respectively. Always continue the lace pattern across the remainder of the front toward the shoulder. (Mirror these steps for the other front so the neckline is symmetric.)
6. Shoulder shaping: When the front piece has the same remaining shoulder width as the back shoulder (after neck shaping), bind off shoulder sts to match the back (for example bind off 3–4 sts at shoulder edge once or twice, matching the back's bind-off method). Leave shoulder sts on a holder if seaming later.

Sleeves

1. Cast on sleeve sts (see counts above). Work 6 rows garter stitch or band as used on body hems.
2. Begin lace pattern and work rows 1–12 across. Increase for sleeve cap: increase 1 stitch each end every 6th row 3–5 times (depending on size) or until sleeve width fits the armhole—maintain lace pattern by working increases in garter edge area if needed; place increases into a plain area adjacent to lace pattern to avoid disrupting repeat.
3. When the sleeve length to underarm measures about 4.5–5.5" (11.5–14 cm) depending on size, shape the cap by binding off a few sts at each end and decreasing to create a shallow cap for seaming. Alternatively, work a simple flat sleeve and ease into the armhole on seaming.

Finishing

1. Block all pieces to measurements: pin the lace pattern open slightly so eyelets are neat and rows are even.
2. Seam shoulders using mattress stitch (sew shoulder seams together. If you left shoulder sts on holders, mattress stitch across bound-off sts).
3. Set in sleeves and seam side and sleeve seams.
4. Button bands: With RS facing and circular needle (or straight), pick up and knit stitches evenly along each front edge. Pick up 1 stitch for every bound-off or 2 rows along the edge and add 1–2 extra stitches at the neck corner so the band lies flat. Work 1x1 rib (K1, P1) or garter for 8–12 rows (or desired width) for the button band. On the right front band (as worn) make buttonholes evenly spaced: buttonhole = k2tog, yo on RS row when band is worked. Make 4–5 small buttonholes depending on length. On the left front band sew matching buttons.
5. Weave in ends. Lightly steam or wet block again if needed.

Neck shaping summary (quick reference)

• Start neck shaping on each front when front length matches back to shoulder.
• Options: Bind off 6 sts once, then work shoulder shaping to match back; OR bind off 3 sts once then dec 1 st at neck edge every RS row 4–6 times (depending on size) to create a smooth curved neckline.
• Always maintain lace stitch across the remainder of the front; carry pattern rows through decreases by substituting a decrease (k2tog or ssk) in the pattern position if required so eyelets remain balanced.

Notes & Tips

• Keeping the lace pattern balanced during shaping: when a decrease occurs where pattern calls for a k3 or k5 section, replace the missing knit(s) with decreases placed so the lace motif remains visually centered. Test on a small swatch.
• If you prefer fewer holes at the front edges, work the first and last 2 sts of each piece in garter stitch or seed stitch as an edge to stabilize the lace.
• To size up, add multiples of 8 sts across body pieces keeping same relative divisions between back and fronts, or add extra repeats to the back and fronts evenly.

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