Diamond Baby Cardigan (knit in pieces) - Symmetrical neck shaping on both fronts

Top-down look, worked flat in pieces: back, left front, right front and sleeves. Diamond texture centered on body panels; neck shaping mirrored on left and right fronts so each front is finished separately for a perfectly even neckline.

Sizes (finished chest)

• Newborn (0-3m): 18 in / 46 cm
• 3-6 months: 20.5 in / 52 cm
• 6-12 months: 23 in / 58 cm
• 12-18 months: 26 in / 66 cm

Finished measurements

• Back width (measured flat): Newborn 9 in / 23 cm; 3-6m 10.25 in / 26 cm; 6-12m 11.25 in / 28.5 cm; 12-18m 12.5 in / 32 cm
• Length from shoulder to lower edge: Newborn 8.5 in / 21.5 cm; 3-6m 9.75 in / 24.5 cm; 6-12m 11 in / 28 cm; 12-18m 12.5 in / 32 cm
• Sleeve length (from underarm): Newborn 4.5 in / 11.5 cm; 3-6m 5.25 in / 13.5 cm; 6-12m 6 in / 15 cm; 12-18m 6.75 in / 17 cm

Yarn

DK / Light Worsted weight baby yarn. Approximate yardage/ meters:

• Newborn: 225 yd / 206 m (approx 2 x 50 g / 100 g balls depending on yardage)
• 3-6m: 300 yd / 274 m (approx 3 x 50 g or 2 x 100 g)
• 6-12m: 350 yd / 320 m
• 12-18m: 400 yd / 366 m

Use a soft washable baby-friendly DK yarn (superwash wool, wool blend, acrylic, etc).

Needles

• Main needles: US 6 / UK 6 / 4.0 mm
• Smaller needles for ribbing: US 5 / UK 7 / 3.75 mm
• Optional: set of double-pointed needles or short circular if you prefer to seam sleeves in the round (sleeves are worked flat in this pattern)

Notions

• Tapestry needle
• 4–5 small buttons (about 3/4 in / 18–20 mm), depending on size and spacing
• Stitch markers
• Waste yarn for provisional cast-on if you prefer to pick up neckline differently

Gauge

22 sts and 28 rows = 4 in / 10 cm in stockinette using US 6 / 4.0 mm needles. Check your gauge and adjust needle size if needed.

Abbreviations

• k = knit
• p = purl
• k2tog = knit two together (right-leaning decrease)
• ssk = slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
• yo = yarn over
• m1L = make one left (lift strand between sts from front to back)
• m1R = make one right (lift strand from back to front)
• RS = right side
• WS = wrong side
• st(s) = stitch(es)

Diamond texture (worked over an 8-st and 8-row repeat)

Pattern repeat (8 sts x 8 rows). Work diamond motif centered on each panel. Written as a multiple of 8 sts.

Row 1 (RS): *k3, p2, k3* repeat
Row 2 (WS): *p3, k2, p3* repeat
Row 3: *k2, yo, k1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1, yo* (shaping into diamonds)
Row 4: as Row 2
Row 5: *k1, yo, k3, k2tog, yo, k1*   (diamond peak)
Row 6: as Row 2
Row 7: repeat Row 3
Row 8: as Row 2

Use these 8 rows to build vertical diamond motifs. If you prefer lace diamonds, substitute appropriate lace chart; this written texture is intentionally stable for baby wear.

Construction notes

This cardigan is knit flat in pieces: back, left front, right front, and two sleeves. Each front has neck shaping worked on the inner edge so both left and right fronts are finished independently and mirror each other. Diamond motifs are centered on each panel; where stitch counts do not divide exactly by 8 you will place extra stocking-stitch stitches at the outer edges (selvage) to balance the pattern.

Stitch counts used in this pattern

All stitch counts are given in the order: Newborn / 3-6m / 6-12m / 12-18m.

• Back cast-on: 50 / 56 / 62 / 68 sts
• Each front cast-on: 25 / 30 / 33 / 38 sts
• Sleeve cast-on: 36 / 40 / 44 / 48 sts

Back

1. Using smaller needles (US 5 / 3.75 mm), cast on the Back cast-on sts. Work 1x1 rib (k1, p1) for 1 in / 2.5 cm (about 3-4 rows). Change to main needles.
2. Row 1 (RS): Knit across, placing a marker to denote the beginning of the row if desired. Begin diamond pattern: work diamond pattern centered across the row. To center: divide available sts as (edge selvedge sts) + (diamond repeats) + (edge selvedge sts). If counts don't divide exactly, add the extra stitch(es) evenly to both edges.
3. Work even in pattern until Back measures (from cast-on/rib edge) Newborn 5 in / 12.5 cm; 3-6m 6 in / 15.5 cm; 6-12m 7 in / 18 cm; 12-18m 8.25 in / 21 cm, ending on WS.
4. Armhole shaping (RS): Bind off 3 sts at beginning of next 2 rows. Then decrease 1 st each side every RS row 0 / 1 / 2 / 3 times (depending on size) to shape armholes so that final armhole depth is approx: Newborn 3.5 in / 9 cm; 3-6m 3.75 in / 9.5 cm; 6-12m 4 in /10 cm; 12-18m 4.25 in / 11 cm. Continue diamond pattern while shaping (if necessary, drop partial repeats at the edge and resume pattern).
5. When armhole shaping complete, work straight until armhole measures desired length (see measurements above). Bind off for shoulders: work to last 10 / 12 / 13 / 14 sts, bind off next 10 / 12 / 13 / 14 sts, work to end; turn and bind off remaining sts. Alternatively use three-needle bind-off at shoulder seam after seaming.

Left Front (work Right Front mirrored)

Note: Left Front has button band on right edge (when wearing). Right Front is mirror image and will have buttonholes (or buttons, depending on your choice). Below instructions are for Left Front (mirror for Right Front):

1. Using smaller needles, cast on Front cast-on sts. Work 1x1 rib for 1 in / 2.5 cm. Change to main needles.
2. Begin diamond motif centered on the panel; leave an approx 3–4 sts at outer edge as selvage so pattern sits centered toward the middle of the cardigan. Work even in pattern until piece measures from cast-on Newborn 4.5 in / 11.5 cm; 3-6m 5.25 in / 13.5 cm; 6-12m 6.25 in / 16 cm; 12-18m 7.5 in / 19 cm.
3. Armhole shaping: Bind off 3 sts at armhole edge once, then decrease 1 st at armhole edge on every RS row 0 / 1 / 2 / 3 times as for back; continue diamond pattern on remaining sts.
4. Work until armhole measures same as back. Now begin neck shaping on the inner (button) edge as follows to create a gentle curved neckline. Neck shaping instructions are worked on the inner edge (right side of Left Front). Continue diamond pattern across remaining sts and allow the outer selvedge to continue in pattern where possible.
5. Neck shaping (RS; work on inner edge only):
   • Row 1 (RS): Work to last 6 sts, k2tog, k4. (1 decrease)
   • Row 2 (WS): Purl back.
   • Row 3: Work to last 7 sts, k2tog, k5. (1 decrease)
   • Row 5: Work to last 8 sts, k2tog, k6. (repeat every RS row) Continue decreasing on RS rows every 4th row 0 / 2 / 3 / 4 times until shoulder shaping begins. The spacing may be adjusted to maintain diamond motif; if a diamond row falls where you need to decrease, work decrease within the stocking stitch area—the neck edge is shaped to remove 6–10 sts total depending on size.
6. Shoulder shaping: Bind off the same number of shoulder sts as the back for symmetry. Use three-needle bind-off or mattress stitch for joining. If desired, leave sts on a holder to graft later.

Right Front

Work as for Left Front, mirrored. For buttonholes: place 4 small buttonholes evenly along the right front edge as you work the button band (or add buttonholes after seaming). Example buttonhole row (RS) when band width is 1 in / 2.5 cm from the front edge: k to buttonhole position, bind off 2 sts, k to end; on next row cast on 2 sts over the gap (use backward loop or cable cast-on) to recreate buttonhole. Place buttonholes roughly 1 in / 2.5 cm apart with first buttonhole about 0.5 in / 1.25 cm below neck edge.

Sleeves

1. Using smaller needles, cast on Sleeve cast-on sts. Work 1x1 rib for 1 in / 2.5 cm. Change to main needles and begin diamond pattern centered across sleeve (or work stockinette and place a vertical diamond column centered if you prefer).
2. Increase for sleeve shaping: Increase 1 st each side every 6th row 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 times (adjust so final sleeve cap width matches armhole opening). Place increases into the stocking stitch edges outside the diamond panel so pattern maintains symmetry.
3. Work until sleeve from cast-on to underarm measures approximately: Newborn 4.5 in / 11.5 cm; 3-6m 5.25 in / 13.5 cm; 6-12m 6 in / 15 cm; 12-18m 6.75 in / 17 cm. Bind off 3 sts at start of next 2 rows for underarm, then work straight until sleeve cap shaping matches back/armhole depth. Bind off remaining sts and seam.

Buttonband / Collar

1. Pick up sts along the front edges and around neck: pick up approx 1 st for each row along the fronts and neck edge. Using smaller needles, work 1x1 rib for 1 in / 2.5 cm to form buttonbands and neckline rib. For a rounded neckline you may pick up fewer sts at the center back and add short rows before ribbing; this pattern uses a simple ribbed band for a clean finish.
2. Sew on buttons opposite the buttonholes. Space buttons evenly so the front edges lie flat.

Finishing

• Block each piece gently to measurements. Pin the diamond motifs straight so they line up across seams.
• Seam shoulders first: align and graft or mattress stitch shoulders.
• Set in sleeves and seam side and sleeve seams using mattress stitch for an invisible join.
• Weave in ends. Sew on buttons. Steam lightly if needed (follow yarn care instructions).

Tips & Notes

• Because the diamond motif is an even repeat, plan placement before you begin: mark center lines and use stitch markers to keep repeats centered when seaming.
• If your stitch count does not divide evenly into the diamond repeat, distribute the extra 1–3 stitches evenly at the outer edges so diamonds remain centered.
• This pattern intentionally keeps the diamond motif intact around the body and reduces shaping into the stocking-stitch front band for stability and clean buttonband placement.
• Adjust neckline depth by changing frequency of decreases on the front inner edge. Work fewer decreases for a shallow neckline or more for a deeper V.

Abbreviated pattern summary (quick cheat-sheet)

• Cast on: Back, Fronts, Sleeves (see counts).
• Work rib, switch to main needles and diamond texture.
• Shape armholes on back and fronts, maintain diamond pattern; shape neck on each front inner edge (mirror).
• Work sleeves flat with increases; seam and pick up stitches for ribbed buttonband and neck.

If any of the above steps don't match your preferred finishing or fit, please adapt stitch counts and shaping to match your gauge and desired ease; the instructions are intentionally modular so you can shift diamond repeats or rib depth.

Pattern created for personal and small-sale use. For support or questions: email team@verde.uk. Visit https://purljam.verde.uk and follow #purljam for updates.

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