Pumpkin Cardigan for Baby (3–6 months)

Top-down or bottom-up knit cardigan with a sweet knitted pumpkin applique. Designed to fit babies approximately 3–6 months (chest 17–18” / 43–45.5 cm). Simple construction, suitable for confident beginner’s seaming or intermediate knitters comfortable with button bands and simple shaping.

Finished Measurements

• Chest (easy): 17” (43 cm)
• Body length (center back to hem): 8.5” (21.5 cm)
• Sleeve length (from underarm to cuff): 4.5” (11.5 cm)

Yarn

• DK weight / Light Worsted yarn: approx 200–250 yards (183–229 m). Use one 100 g (3.5 oz) ball or two 50 g (1.75 oz) balls depending on brand. Example: 1 x 100 g / 230 m (250 yd) or 2 x 50 g / 115 m (125 yd).
• Color A: Pumpkin (main)
• Color B: Stem/leaf (contrast)

Needles

• Main needles: US 5 / UK 7 / 3.75 mm (recommended for stockinette)
• Smaller needles for rib: US 3 / UK 9 / 3.25 mm
• 16” (40 cm) circular for body (or two 16” if using magic loop) and set of DPNs or short circulars for sleeves, or use circulars for magic loop.

Notions

• 5 small buttons (9–12 mm)
• Tapestry needle, stitch markers, waste yarn, sewing needle for applique embroidery, small amount of stuffing for pumpkin (toy filling or yarn scraps)

Gauge

22 sts x 28 rows = 4” / 10 cm in stockinette on larger needles. Measure after blocking and adjust needle size if necessary.

Abbreviations (US)

Construction Overview

Worked flat in pieces: back, two fronts, two set-in sleeves. Seamed at shoulders and sides. Button band is picked up and worked after seaming. Pumpkin applique is knitted separately and sewn on.

Back

1. Using smaller needles (3.25 mm), CO 64 sts.
2. Work 1.5” / 4 cm 1x1 rib (k1, p1) for hem.
3. Switch to larger needles (3.75 mm). Knit in stockinette (RS: knit, WS: purl) until piece measures 5.5” / 14 cm from CO, ending with a WS row.
4. Shape armholes: BO 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows (58 sts). Then BO 2 sts at beg of next 2 rows (54 sts). Continue even until armhole measures 3.0” / 7.5 cm (measured from first BO row), ending WS.
5. Shoulder shaping: Work 3-needle or use short rows to shape shoulders: On RS row, knit 14 sts, place next 26 sts on holder for neck, bind off 14 sts for shoulder. Work the other shoulder mirrored. (Alternatively, BO shoulder sts 14, leave center 26 sts for neck.)

Left Front (make 1)

1. Using smaller needles, CO 34 sts.
2. Work 1.5” / 4 cm 1x1 rib for hem.
3. Switch to larger needles. Work stockinette until piece measures same as back to armhole start (approx 5.5” / 14 cm from CO), ending WS row.
4. Shape armhole: BO 3 sts at armhole edge once (31 sts). Continue even until armhole measures 3.0” / 7.5 cm.
5. Shoulder and neck shaping: At neck edge (right side for left front), bind off 8 sts once, then 7 sts once for shoulder (mirror when working right front). Keep remaining sts for shoulder to match back.

Right Front (make 1)

Work as left front mirrored (mirror decreases/BOs for neck/shoulder).

Sleeves (make 2)

1. Using smaller needles, CO 40 sts.
2. Work 1” / 2.5 cm 1x1 rib (k1,p1).
3. Switch to larger needles. Work in stockinette increasing 1 st each side every 10th row 3 times (to shape sleeve) = 46 sts.
4. Work until sleeve measures 4.5” / 11.5 cm from underarm to cuff, or until matching measurement on baby.
5. Cap shaping (set-in style): BO 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows, then BO 2 sts at beg of next 2 rows. Then BO remaining sts when cap height matches armhole depth on body pieces (approx 3.0” / 7.5 cm). Alternatively, leave sleeve straight and ease into armhole for a relaxed fit.

Button Band

1. With RS facing and smaller needles, pick up and knit along right front edge picking up 1 st for each row (approx 34–38 sts depending). Work 1x1 rib for band width 1” / 2.5 cm. On left front pick up same number of sts and work rib, leaving buttonholes on right band: On RS row after band cast on or make buttonhole: work to position, k2tog, yo, continue (or bind off and CO next row). Space 3–4 buttonholes evenly.

Assembly

1. Block pieces gently to measurements.
2. Sew shoulder seams using mattress stitch.
3. Set sleeves into armholes matching notches and easing cap into armhole; sew with mattress stitch.
4. Sew side seams and sleeve seams in one continuous mattress-stitch seam from cuff to hem.
5. Pick up neck stitches around neck edge onto smaller needles and work 1x1 rib for 0.5” / 1.25 cm, BO loosely. This creates a neat neck finish before picking up for buttonband if you prefer a separate neck finish.
6. Sew on buttons opposite the buttonholes.

Pumpkin Applique (knit)

Small knitted pumpkin to sew onto left front or center back. Simple gathered rectangle stuffed to make a round pumpkin.

1. CO 20 sts on smaller needles in Pumpkin color (or contrast as desired).
2. Work garter stitch (k every row) for 18 rows (approx 1.25” / 3 cm) or until rectangle is slightly wider than desired finished pumpkin.
3. BO all sts, leaving long tail for gathering. Fold rectangle WS together and use tail to stitch across short edge, then gather across the long edge tightly so the rectangle forms a puckered round pumpkin. Stuff lightly.
4. Use contrasting yarn to stitch vertical ridges from top (stem side) to bottom with running stitches and pull slightly to form pumpkin sections. Secure.
5. Stem: Make a 4-st i-cord about 1” / 2.5 cm long in stem color, sew to top. Optional knit leaf: CO 8 sts, work short triangular decrease rows to form leaf, sew beside stem.
6. Sew pumpkin to garment securely with small stitches. Add embroidery face or details if desired.

Finishing

• Weave in ends. Block garment gently on a towel to final measurements, avoiding over-stretching.
• Ensure buttons are sewn tightly and pumpkin is secured well (baby safety note: if the cardigan will be used by an active infant, consider making the pumpkin flat or use embroidered pumpkin to avoid small parts coming loose).

Size Notes & Adjustments

This pattern is written for one size (3–6 months). To adjust size: change needle size +/- one size for a small fit change, or increase CO sts by multiples of 4 for wider chest. Add length to body and sleeves by knitting more rows before armhole/sleeve shaping.

Troubleshooting

• Too many stitches/gauge off: change needles to get correct gauge.
• Button band curling: work it in rib and pick up evenly; blocking helps smooth edges.

Example Image

If you need a schematic or a multi-size version, reply with the measurements you want and I’ll expand the pattern. For support: team@verde.uk. Share finished makes with #purljam and visit purljam.verde.uk.

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