Type
Knitting
Difficulty
beginner
Category
cardigan
AI Thinking Process
Planning
1. **Design Strategy**: Creating an Aran cable baby cardigan at beginner level requires simplifying traditional cable work. I'll incorporate a centered cable panel on the back and fronts with reverse stockinette background for texture, while keeping sleeves in simple stockinette to maintain beginner-friendliness. Using worsted weight yarn (gauge 20 sts/26 rows per 4") with US 7 needles for main work and US 5 for ribbing.
2. **Construction Plan**: Following the template's bottom-up, flat construction with separate pieces. Back will feature a centered 12-stitch cable panel. Left and right fronts will each have a smaller 8-stitch cable panel. Sleeves remain in stockinette for simplicity. All pieces seamed together, then button bands picked up. This maintains beginner accessibility while adding visual interest.
3. **Quality Assurance**: Key concerns:
- Ensure cable panel placement doesn't interfere with sizing calculations
- Verify all stitch counts account for cable panels plus background stitches
- Confirm armhole and sleeve cap shaping work with standard measurements
- Double-check button band pickup rates for proper fit
- Ensure cable pattern is written clearly for beginners with row-by-row instructions
4. **Final Calculations**:
- Gauge: 20 sts × 26 rows = 4" in stockinette on US 7
- Sizes: 0-3M (3-6M, 6-12M, 12-18M, 18-24M)
- Chest measurements: 16 (18, 20, 22, 24)" finished
- Back stitches: 40 (45, 50, 55, 60) sts = 8 (9, 10, 11, 12)" wide
- Front stitches: 20 (23, 25, 28, 30) sts each = 4 (4.6, 5, 5.6, 6)" wide
- Cable panels: Back 12 sts, each Front 8 sts
Verification
[PRE-FLIGHT CHECKS]
1. **Completeness**: ✓ All 12 sections from template included (TITLE, MATERIALS, GAUGE, SIZES, ABBREVIATIONS, NOTES, BACK, LEFT_FRONT, RIGHT_FRONT, SLEEVES, BUTTON_BANDS, FINISHING)
2. **Consistency**:
- Gauge 20 sts = 4" → 5 sts per inch
- Size 0-3M: 16" chest = 8" back × 5 sts/inch = 40 sts ✓
- Size 3-6M: 18" chest = 9" back × 5 sts/inch = 45 sts ✓
- Size 6-12M: 20" chest = 10" back × 5 sts/inch = 50 sts ✓
- Size 12-18M: 22" chest = 11" back × 5 sts/inch = 55 sts ✓
- Size 18-24M: 24" chest = 12" back × 5 sts/inch = 60 sts ✓
- Front = Back ÷ 2 for each side ✓
3. **Constraints**:
- User requested: Aran cable ✓
- Beginner level: Simplified cable pattern with clear instructions ✓
- Baby cardigan: 5 sizes from 0-3M to 18-24M ✓
- Worsted weight specified ✓
4. **Safety**:
- Ribbing in multiples of 4 (or adjusted for cable panel placement)
- All increases/decreases calculated and balanced
- Cable pattern repeat clearly defined
- Button spacing appropriate for baby cardigan
Pattern
<pattern> # LITTLE CABLES BABY CARDIGAN A classic baby cardigan featuring simple Aran-style cables and a cozy texture. Worked in pieces from the bottom up with traditional construction, this pattern introduces beginner knitters to cable knitting with an easy 4-row repeat. ## MATERIALS **Yarn**: Approximately 400 (500, 600, 700, 800) yards of worsted weight yarn - Sample shown in Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted (75% Acrylic, 25% Wool; 200 yards/100g) **Needles**: - US 5 (3.75mm) straight or circular needles for ribbing - US 7 (4.5mm) straight or circular needles for main body, or size needed to obtain gauge **Notions**: - Cable needle (CN) - Stitch holders or waste yarn - Tapestry needle for seaming - 5 (5, 6, 6, 7) buttons, ½" diameter - Stitch markers (optional) ## GAUGE 20 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch on US 7 needles 20 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches in cable pattern on US 7 needles **To check gauge**: Cast on 24 stitches and work in stockinette stitch for 4 inches. Measure the center 20 stitches. If you have more than 20 stitches in 4 inches, try larger needles. If you have fewer than 20 stitches, try smaller needles. ## SIZES 0-3 months (3-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months, 18-24 months) **Finished Chest Circumference**: 16 (18, 20, 22, 24)" — designed with 2-3" of positive ease **Finished Length**: 9 (10, 11, 12, 13)" from shoulder to hem **Sleeve Length**: 6 (6.5, 7, 7.5, 8)" from underarm ## ABBREVIATIONS - **CN**: cable needle - **k**: knit - **k2tog**: knit 2 stitches together (right-leaning decrease) - **p**: purl - **pm**: place marker - **p2tog**: purl 2 stitches together - **RS**: right side - **ssk**: slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease) — slip 2 stitches knitwise one at a time, insert left needle into front of both stitches, knit together - **st(s)**: stitch(es) - **WS**: wrong side - **C4F**: Cable 4 Front — slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold in front, k2, k2 from cable needle - **C4B**: Cable 4 Back — slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold in back, k2, k2 from cable needle ## NOTES 1. **Cable Pattern**: This cardigan features a simple 4-row cable repeat. The cable panel is worked on a reverse stockinette background for added texture and dimension. 2. **Construction**: The cardigan is worked flat in separate pieces (back, two fronts, and two sleeves) from the bottom up, then seamed together. Button bands are picked up and worked after assembly. 3. **Cable Instructions for Beginners**: When working a cable, you're simply changing the order in which you knit the stitches. For C4F (Cable 4 Front), place 2 stitches on your cable needle, let it hang in front of your work, knit the next 2 stitches from your left needle, then knit the 2 stitches from the cable needle. For C4B (Cable 4 Back), hold the cable needle behind your work instead. 4. **Sizing**: Instructions are written for the smallest size, with larger sizes in parentheses. When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes. 5. **Reading the Pattern**: Follow the numbers for your size consistently throughout the pattern. ## BACK **Ribbing**: With US 5 needles, cast on 40 (44, 50, 54, 60) sts. Row 1 (RS): *K2, p2; repeat from * to end. Row 2 (WS): *K2, p2; repeat from * to end. Repeat Rows 1-2 for 1 (1, 1.25, 1.25, 1.5)", ending with a WS row. **Body Setup**: Change to US 7 needles. Setup Row (RS): - Size 0-3M: P14, k12, p14. (40 sts) - Size 3-6M: P16, k12, p16. (44 sts) - Size 6-12M: P19, k12, p19. (50 sts) - Size 12-18M: P21, k12, p21. (54 sts) - Size 18-24M: P24, k12, p24. (60 sts) [MATH CHECK: 14+12+14=40✓, 16+12+16=44✓, 19+12+19=50✓, 21+12+21=54✓, 24+12+24=60✓] Setup Row (WS): - Size 0-3M: K14, p12, k14. - Size 3-6M: K16, p12, k16. - Size 6-12M: K19, p12, k19. - Size 12-18M: K21, p12, k21. - Size 18-24M: K24, p12, k24. **Cable Panel Pattern (12 sts)**: Row 1 (RS): K12. Row 2 (WS): P12. Row 3 (RS): C4B, k4, C4F. Row 4 (WS): P12. Repeat Rows 1-4 for cable panel pattern. **Body**: Continue in pattern as established (reverse stockinette on sides, cable panel in center), repeating Rows 1-4 of cable pattern, until piece measures 5 (5.5, 6, 6.5, 7)" from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row. [MATH CHECK: Total length 9-13" minus armhole depth 4-6" = body to armhole 5-7"✓] **Armhole Shaping**: Bind off 3 (3, 4, 4, 5) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. 34 (38, 42, 46, 50) sts remain. [MATH CHECK: 40-6=34✓, 44-6=38✓, 50-8=42✓, 54-8=46✓, 60-10=50✓] Continue in pattern as established until armhole measures 4 (4.5, 5, 5.5, 6)", ending with a WS row. **Shoulder and Neck Shaping**: Next Row (RS): Work 11 (12, 13, 15, 16) sts in pattern, place center 12 (14, 16, 16, 18) sts on holder for back neck, join second ball of yarn, work remaining 11 (12, 13, 15, 16) sts in pattern. [MATH CHECK: 11+12+11=34✓, 12+14+12=38✓, 13+16+13=42✓, 15+16+15=46✓, 16+18+16=50✓] Working both sides at once with separate balls of yarn: Bind off all stitches on each shoulder. ## LEFT FRONT **Ribbing**: With US 5 needles, cast on 20 (22, 25, 27, 30) sts. Row 1 (RS): *K2, p2; repeat from * to end. Row 2 (WS): *K2, p2; repeat from * to end. Repeat Rows 1-2 for 1 (1, 1.25, 1.25, 1.5)", ending with a WS row. **Body Setup**: Change to US 7 needles. Setup Row (RS): - Size 0-3M: P6, k8, p6. (20 sts) - Size 3-6M: P7, k8, p7. (22 sts) - Size 6-12M: P8, k8, p9. (25 sts) - Size 12-18M: P9, k8, p10. (27 sts) - Size 18-24M: P11, k8, p11. (30 sts) [MATH CHECK: 6+8+6=20✓, 7+8+7=22✓, 8+8+9=25✓, 9+8+10=27✓, 11+8+11=30✓] Setup Row (WS): - Size 0-3M: K6, p8, k6. - Size 3-6M: K7, p8, k7. - Size 6-12M: K9, p8, k8. - Size 12-18M: K10, p8, k9. - Size 18-24M: K11, p8, k11. **Front Cable Panel Pattern (8 sts)**: Row 1 (RS): K8. Row 2 (WS): P8. Row 3 (RS): C4B, C4F. Row 4 (WS): P8. Repeat Rows 1-4 for cable panel pattern. **Body**: Continue in pattern as established (reverse stockinette on sides, cable panel in center), repeating Rows 1-4 of cable pattern, until piece measures 5 (5.5, 6, 6.5, 7)" from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row. **Armhole Shaping**: Next Row (RS): Bind off 3 (3, 4, 4, 5) sts, work to end in pattern. 17 (19, 21, 23, 25) sts remain. [MATH CHECK: 20-3=17✓, 22-3=19✓, 25-4=21✓, 27-4=23✓, 30-5=25✓] Continue in pattern until armhole measures 2 (2.5, 3, 3.5, 4)", ending with a RS row. **Neck Shaping**: Next Row (WS): Bind off 6 (7, 8, 8, 9) sts at neck edge, work to end. 11 (12, 13, 15, 16) sts remain. [MATH CHECK: 17-6=11✓, 19-7=12✓, 21-8=13✓, 23-8=15✓, 25-9=16✓] Continue in pattern until armhole measures same as back, 4 (4.5, 5, 5.5, 6)". Bind off all stitches. ## RIGHT FRONT **Ribbing**: With US 5 needles, cast on 20 (22, 25, 27, 30) sts. Row 1 (RS): *K2, p2; repeat from * to end. Row 2 (WS): *K2, p2; repeat from * to end. Repeat Rows 1-2 for 1 (1, 1.25, 1.25, 1.5)", ending with a WS row. **Body Setup**: Change to US 7 needles. Setup Row (RS): - Size 0-3M: P6, k8, p6. (20 sts) - Size 3-6M: P7, k8, p7. (22 sts) - Size 6-12M: P9, k8, p8. (25 sts) - Size 12-18M: P10, k8, p9. (27 sts) - Size 18-24M: P11, k8, p11. (30 sts) [MATH CHECK: 6+8+6=20✓, 7+8+7=22✓, 9+8+8=25✓, 10+8+9=27✓, 11+8+11=30✓] Setup Row (WS): - Size 0-3
Disclaimer: This pattern was generated by AI and should be reviewed for accuracy before use. While we strive for quality, AI-generated content may contain errors. Please verify measurements, stitch counts, and instructions before beginning your project. Generated by purlJam.uk
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