Striped Three-Button Toddler Cardigan (18 months) - Colourspun Pure Cotton DK

An easy-to-make, cozy drop-shoulder cardigan in three colours of Colourspun Pure Cotton DK. Worked flat in pieces with simple seams so the stripes are fun and easy to manage. Fits approx 18 months with a little ease. Includes an option for balanced stripes or a main-colour-with-accents layout.

Finished measurements

• Chest (circumference): 52 cm / 20.5 in
• Body length (shoulder to hem): 29 cm / 11.5 in
• Sleeve length (from underarm): 20 cm / 7.75 in
• Bicep circumference (approx): 22 cm / 8.75 in

Yarn

Colourspun Pure Cotton DK (100% cotton, DK)

• Typical ball: 50 g = 125 m / 137 yd (use your ball label if it differs)
• Option A - Balanced stripes (recommended if you want similar amounts of each colour): 3 x 50 g (150 g total) = 375 m / 412 yd total
• Option B - Main colour + accents: Main (A) 100 g = 250 m / 274 yd; Contrast B 25 g = 62.5 m / 68.5 yd; Contrast C 25 g = 62.5 m / 68.5 yd (total 150 g)

Needles (US, UK Old, Metric)

• Ribbing / smaller needle: US 5 / UK 9 / 3.75 mm
• Main body needle: US 6 / UK 8 / 4.0 mm
• Optional: short circular 40 cm / 16 in (4.0 mm) for picking up stitches for neckband

Notions

• 3 buttons, 15–18 mm (5/8"–3/4")
• Tapestry needle
• Stitch markers
• Measuring tape, scissors, waste yarn

Gauge

22 sts and 28 rows = 10 cm / 4 in in stockinette on 4.0 mm needles. Always knit a swatch and adjust needle size if needed.

Skill level

Beginner to confident beginner: straight shapes and simple seaming. You should be comfortable with knit/purl, picking up stitches and simple buttonholes.

Abbreviations

• K = knit
• P = purl
• RS = right side
• WS = wrong side
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• CO = cast on
• BO = bind off
• yo = yarn over
• K2tog = knit two together

Stripe scheme (suggestions)

Two simple stripe options:

• Balanced: repeat Colour A 4 rows / Colour B 4 rows / Colour C 4 rows for a clean even stripe (repeat until finished).
• Main-with-accents: Colour A for 8 rows, Colour B 4 rows, Colour A 8 rows, Colour C 4 rows, repeat.

Layout and stitch counts (based on gauge above)

Total stitches cast on for full circumference = 120 sts (54 cm / 21.25 in at gauge shown with ease). Split as: Back = 60 sts; Left Front = 30 sts; Right Front = 30 sts. Sleeves are knit straight as rectangles: 48 sts (approx bicep circumference).

Notes

This is a drop-shoulder style: shoulder seams are short and the sleeve cap is minimal; sleeves are sewn in as rectangles for an easy finish. Fronts include no shaping—buttonband and neckband are worked after seaming so you control the final look. Check length as you knit and stop earlier or later for your preferred fit.

Instructions

Back

1. Using 3.75 mm needles and Colour A, CO 60 sts.
2. Work 1x1 rib (K1, P1) for 6 rows (about 1.5 cm / 5/8"). Change to 4.0 mm needles.
3. Work stockinette (RS: K across, WS: P across) keeping your stripe sequence until the piece measures 29 cm / 11.5 in from cast-on edge (measured with the rib included). At our gauge this is approx 82 rows after the rib—measure instead of counting rows if preferred.
4. BO all sts loosely. Set piece aside.

Left Front (buttonhole side)

1. Using 3.75 mm needles and Colour sequence same as back, CO 30 sts.
2. Work 1x1 rib for 6 rows, change to 4.0 mm and work stockinette to the same length as back (29 cm from cast-on total).
3. On the RS, work a small neck shaping if you want (optional): when piece reaches same length as back, BO 3 sts at neck edge and continue for one further row, then BO remaining sts. Alternatively, BO all sts and shape neck later with the neckband—both are acceptable. For simplicity most knitters will BO all sts at final length.

Right Front (button band side)

1. CO 30 sts and work same as left front.
2. Buttonholes: If you prefer buttonholes in the band rather than a separate band, make them on this front. Example: make 3 buttonholes evenly spaced. To make each buttonhole on a RS row: K to position, yo, K2tog, continue to end of row. Make the first approx 2.5 cm from the neck edge, the last approx 2.5 cm from hem, and the middle one halfway between.
3. BO as for left front when reaching final length.

Sleeves (make 2)

1. Using 3.75 mm needles CO 48 sts (this gives approx 22 cm circumference at gauge; adjust cast-on if you want slimmer/wider sleeves).
2. Work 1x1 rib for 6 rows, change to 4.0 mm and work stockinette until sleeve measures 20 cm from cast-on (including rib) or desired sleeve length.
3. BO all sts. Sew sleeve seams (WS together).

Assembly

1. Block pieces gently to measurements (cotton benefits from a light steam or wet-block; follow yarn washing info below).
2. With RS facing, join left front to back: align shoulder edge and seam 5 cm from edge towards sleeve seam, leaving the remainder for neck opening. Repeat for right front. In practice you will seam each shoulder for about 5–6 cm (2"), leaving the central neck gap for the neckband.
3. Sew sleeve tops into the arm openings. Because this is drop shoulder, you will seam across the top of the sleeve to the body edge. Match underarm points and sew sleeve seam down to wrist hem.
4. Sew side seams of body and underarm seams of sleeve continuously to finish the sides.

Buttonband and Neckband (worked after seaming)

1. Option A - Separate picked-up bands (recommended for neatness): Using 3.75 mm needles and Colour A, pick up and knit about 1 st for every row along the right front edge (from hem to neck) to make the buttonband. Knit 6 rows in garter stitch (knit all rows) or 1x1 rib for 6 rows, making buttonholes where needed on the band row: work buttonhole as K2, yo, K2tog (or work a 2-st buttonhole and compensate with decrease).
2. Repeat picking up on the left front and knit a matching band (no buttonholes) or pick up and knit both sides simultaneously if you prefer perfect symmetry.
3. Neckband: With RS facing and using 4.0 mm circular if you have one, pick up evenly around the neck edge (including picked-up stitches from the front bands where they join) and work 6 rows 1x1 rib on 3.75 mm needles, then BO loosely. Alternatively, work a 6-row garter neck with 3.75 mm straight needles picking up edge sts and knitting back and forth then sewing ends together.

Buttons

Sew on 3 buttons on the right front. Space them evenly over the buttonband: first approx 2.5 cm below the neck, last approx 2.5 cm above the hem, center one centred between them. Test button placement before sewing by holding the band closed.

Finishing

• Weave in all ends. Cotton can show ends, so duplicate-stitch ends if necessary or tuck carefully.
• Light steam block to even stitches and set the shape. Don’t over-stretch cotton when wet.
• Check buttonholes for size and reinforce with small stitches if needed.

Variations & Tips

• To make narrower stripes: change colours every 2 rows instead of 4.
• For a wider or longer cardigan, add rows to body or sleeves in multiples of your stripe repeat.
• For a more fitted sleeve, decrease 1 st at each end every 8–10 rows until desired circumference is reached before binding off.

Care

Machine washable on a gentle cycle or hand wash in warm water. Dry flat to retain shape. Cotton will soften over time but can relax; block lightly to finish.

Support & Credits

Pattern by PurlJam. Website: https://purljam.verde.uk. For help email team@verde.uk. Follow and tag projects with #purljam on socials.

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