Diamond Baby Cardigan (knit in pieces)

Sizes: Newborn (0-3mo, 3-6mo, 6-12mo, 12-18mo). Finished chest measurements: 16 (18, 20, 22, 24) inches / 41 (46, 51, 56, 61) cm. Allow 1" (2.5 cm) positive ease.

Materials

• Yarn: DK weight / Light Worsted. Approximate yardage: 200 (250, 300, 350, 400) yd / 183 (229, 274, 320, 366) m. Suggested: 100% soft washable baby yarn.
• Needles: US sizes and equivalents: Main needles: US 6 (4.0 mm; UK (old) 8). Smaller needles for rib: US 5 (3.75 mm; UK (old) 9). Use straight needles for pieces or circulars for convenience. For sleeves: set of DPNs or short circular (magic loop).
• Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch markers, 5 (6, 6, 7, 7) small buttons, waste yarn (if preferred) for provisional cast-on, 2 removable stitch markers.

Gauge

22 sts x 28 rows = 4" / 10 cm in stockinette on US 6 (4.0 mm). Gauge can change slightly when working the textured diamond pattern; swatch with the pattern and measure over a 4" /10 cm square. Adjust needle size if necessary.

Abbreviations

• K = knit
• P = purl
• K2tog = knit 2 together (right-leaning decrease)
• SSK = slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
• St(s) = stitch(es)
• RS = right side, WS = wrong side
• CO = cast on, BO = bind off, COtbl = cast on through back loop

Diamond Textured Stitch (multiple of 8 sts; 8-row repeat)

Work pattern over a multiple of 8 sts. When knitting pieces flat, follow RS/WS rows exactly.

Row 1 (RS): K8 across (or repeat pattern K across each 8-st repeat). Row 2 (WS): P8 across. Row 3 (RS): K2, P4, K2. Row 4 (WS): P2, K4, P2. Row 5 (RS): K1, P6, K1. Row 6 (WS): P1, K6, P1. Row 7 (RS): K3, P2, K3. Row 8 (WS): P3, K2, P3. Repeat Rows 1-8 for pattern.

Structure & Overview

The cardigan is worked flat in pieces: Back, Left Front, Right Front, and two Sleeves. Edges are finished with a picked-up button band and a simple I-cord or garter edge (instructions below). Hem and cuffs are worked in 1x1 rib.

Stitch Counts & Cast-On

All cast-on numbers include 3 selvedge sts (garter) at each outer edge for neat seaming unless stated otherwise. Selvedge sts are worked in garter (knit every row) while the diamond pattern sits on the body.

• Back CO: 44 (50, 56, 61, 67) sts.
• Each Front CO: 22 (25, 28, 30, 34) sts.
• Each Sleeve CO: 28 (30, 34, 36, 40) sts.

Body Hem Rib

Using US 5 (3.75 mm): CO specified sts for each piece.

Work 1x1 rib (K1, P1) for 1" / 2.5 cm. Change to US 6 (4.0 mm) and continue into diamond pattern, keeping 3-st selvedge garter edges at outermost edges (k every row on those selvedge sts).

Back

1. CO 44 (50, 56, 61, 67) sts. Work 1" / 2.5 cm in 1x1 rib. Change to US 6 and work diamond pattern across center sts, maintaining 3-st garter selvedge at each edge: work selvedge sts knit every row; work diamond pattern across remaining sts between selvedges.
2. Work until back measures 6.5 (8, 9, 10.5, 11.5) inches / 16.5 (20, 23, 26.5, 29) cm from cast-on edge, ending after a WS row (so pattern aligns).
3. Armhole shaping: BO 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) sts at beginning of the next two rows (i.e., BO 4 at beg of next RS row and BO 4 at beg of next WS row). Continue working pattern across remaining sts until armhole depth = 2.25 (2.5, 2.75, 3.25, 3.5) in / 5.5 (6.5, 7, 8.5, 9) cm, or until total back length = 8.75 (11, 12.25, 13.75, 15) in / 22 (28, 31, 35, 38) cm.
4. Shoulder shaping: Work 2-row shoulder shaping—BO 6 (7, 7, 8, 9) sts at beginning of next 2 RS rows and then BO remaining center neck sts. Alternatively, for neater shoulders, BO outer shoulder sts as follows: Work across to last 12 (14, 15, 16, 18) sts, BO remaining centre for neck, then finish each shoulder separately BO 6 (7,7,8,9) sts twice. (Adjust to match gauge; keep shoulders equal on each side.)

Right Front (worked flat)

1. CO 22 (25, 28, 30, 34) sts. Work 1" / 2.5 cm 1x1 rib on US 5; change to US 6 and work diamond pattern across, keeping 3-st garter selvedge at outer edge (rightmost edge when wearing). The left edge (center front) will form button band later; keep the first 3 sts as garter selvedge as well but this side will have buttonholes—see Button Band instructions.
2. Work until front length equals back to armhole (measured same as back). Start armhole shaping to match back: BO 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) sts at armhole edge (left side of piece when laid RS up). Continue until front height equals back to shoulder, then shape neck: At neck edge (right front inside edge), BO 3 sts once, then dec 1 st every RS row 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) times by k2tog at neck edge to create a gentle slope. Work shoulder shaping to match back.

Left Front

Work as for Right Front, reversing shaping (mirror). When making the buttonholes on the right front band (when wearing), you will place them evenly—see Button Band.

Sleeves

1. CO 28 (30, 34, 36, 40) sts on US 5. Work 1" / 2.5 cm 1x1 rib. Change to US 6 and work diamond pattern across, keeping 2 garter edge sts at each edge if you prefer; pattern repeat across the rest.
2. Increase for sleeve shaping: Work increases 1 st each side every 1.25 (1.25, 1.5, 1.5, 1.75) inches until sleeve width at widest point equals 36 (38, 42, 44, 48) sts total (adjust so pattern repeat fits; increases will be made outside the selvedge area: M1 at indicated places).
3. Work until sleeve measures 5 (6, 7, 8, 9) in / 12.5 (15, 18, 20, 23) cm from cast-on. Then shape sleeve cap: BO 3 (3, 4, 4, 5) sts at beginning of next 2 rows, then dec 1 st each side every RS row 2 (2, 3, 3, 4) times, followed by BO remaining sts evenly until cap matches the armhole depth (use same number of rows as back armhole depth). Alternatively use mattress-stitch seam ease to join sleeve.

Finishing

1. Block all pieces lightly to measurements.
2. Seam shoulders using mattress stitch.
3. Set in sleeves and seam side and sleeve seams.
4. Button band (worked last): With RS facing and smaller needles US 5, pick up and knit along right front edge: pick up 3 sts for every 4 rows (or adjust to pick up a neat even number) including the selvedge sts, aiming for 12-18 sts for the band depending on size. Work garter or I-cord edge 6 rows, creating buttonholes on the band opposite the left front. Buttonholes: On the RS row of band, work to the place for buttonhole, BO 2 sts, on next row CO 2 sts through back loop to continue; space 1" / 2.5 cm apart. For neatness, make buttonholes at: starting 1" down from neck edge then every 2" / 5 cm down. Sew band to join if desired or leave free.
5. Sew buttons to align with buttonholes.

Neck & Collar Option

For a neat neck, pick up stitches around the neck (including band base) on US 5 and work 6 rows garter or 1x1 rib, BO loosely.

Notes & Tips

• Because the diamond texture uses only knits and purls, it keeps a soft, warm fabric suitable for baby wear and is reversible if you prefer the purl-diamond side as the RS.
• Keep selvedge stitches garter (knit every row) to prevent rolling and make seaming easier.
• When increasing sleeves, try to increase outside selvedge so the diamond pattern is preserved across the body. Place increases in the stockinette zones between pattern repeats.
• For buttonholes, you can also make horizontal YO buttonholes or use the tubular bind-off band for a rounder edge—both are fine; choose what you prefer for look and function.

Sizing Adjustments

To make the cardigan larger or smaller, add or remove full 8-st multiples across the width so the diamond pattern remains centered. Adjust length by adding pattern repeats before armhole shaping.

Care

Machine wash gentle or hand wash according to yarn label, reshape and dry flat.

Pattern by PurlJam. Website: https://purljam.verde.uk. Support: team@verde.uk. Social: #purljam

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