purlJam

# Little Explorer Cardigan
### A DK cardigan for children aged 3–7 featuring broken rib and a moss-stitch diamond panel

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## MATERIALS

- **Yarn:** DK weight wool or wool-blend, approximately:
  - 3 (3, 4, 4, 5) × 100g balls — roughly 1400–1900 m total depending on size
- **Needles:**
  - 3.25 mm (UK 10 / US 3) straight needles — for ribbing and bands
  - 4.0 mm (UK 8 / US 6) straight needles — for main fabric
- **Notions:**
  - 5 buttons, approximately 15 mm diameter
  - Tapestry needle
  - Stitch holders or waste yarn
  - Stitch markers
  - Tape measure

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## TENSION (GAUGE)

- **22 sts × 28 rows = 10 cm** over stocking stitch on 4.0 mm needles, after blocking.
- Always work a tension swatch before starting. Adjust needle size if necessary.

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## SIZES

Designed for children's chest sizes:
**3 (4, 5, 6, 7) years**

| Measurement | 3 yrs | 4 yrs | **5 yrs** | 6 yrs | 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To fit chest | 56 cm | 58 cm | **61 cm** | 64 cm | 66 cm |
| Finished chest | 66 cm | 69 cm | **71 cm** | 74 cm | 77 cm |
| Length (back) | 32 cm | 34 cm | **36 cm** | 38 cm | 40 cm |
| Sleeve length | 26 cm | 28 cm | **30 cm** | 32 cm | 34 cm |

*Instructions are written for size 3 years, with sizes 4, 5, 6, and 7 in parentheses. The **5-year size is in bold** in this pattern as the primary target size.*

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## ABBREVIATIONS

- **k** — knit
- **p** — purl
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **RS / WS** — right side / wrong side
- **k2tog** — knit 2 sts together (right-leaning decrease)
- **ssk** — slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
- **BO** — bind off (cast off)
- **CO** — cast on
- **rep** — repeat
- **rem** — remaining
- **st st** — stocking stitch (knit RS, purl WS)
- **m1** — make 1 (lifted increase)
- **Broken Rib** — see Notes
- **Moss Panel** — see Notes

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## NOTES

**Broken Rib (unconventional ribbing):** Worked over a multiple of 4 sts + 2.
- **Row 1 (RS):** k2, *p1, k3; rep from * to end.
- **Row 2 (WS):** Knit all sts.
Repeat Rows 1–2. This rib has more drape and texture than standard 1×1 rib.

**Moss Panel (over 9 sts):** A vertical decorative panel of moss (seed) stitch with stocking-stitch borders.
- **Row 1 (RS):** p1, (k1, p1) 4 times.
- **Row 2 (WS):** k1, (p1, k1) 4 times.
- **Row 3 (RS):** As Row 2.
- **Row 4 (WS):** As Row 1.
Repeat Rows 1–4.

**Construction:** Cardigan is knitted flat in pieces from the bottom up. Body (back, left front, right front) and sleeves are worked separately, then seamed. Button bands are picked up and knitted last.

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## BACK

With 3.25 mm needles, **CO 74 (78, 78, 82, 86) sts.**

Work Broken Rib for 14 rows, ending with a WS row.

Change to 4.0 mm needles.
Work in st st (k RS, p WS) until back measures **22 (23, 22, 23, 24) cm** from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

*[Math check: 78 sts ÷ 22 sts/10cm = 35.5 cm wide ✓ matches half-finished-chest 35.5 cm for size 5.]*

### Armhole Shaping
- **Next Row (RS):** BO 4 sts, knit to end. **70 (74, 74, 78, 82) sts.**
- **Next Row (WS):** BO 4 sts, purl to end. **66 (70, 70, 74, 78) sts.**
- **Decrease Row (RS):** k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. *2 sts dec.*
- Purl 1 row.
- Repeat the last 2 rows **3 (3, 4, 4, 5) more times**. **58 (62, 60, 64, 66) sts** rem.

*[Math check size 5: 78 − 4 − 4 − (2 × 5) = 60 ✓]*

Continue in st st until armhole measures **13 (13, 14, 15, 15) cm**, ending with a WS row.

### Shoulder & Neck
- **Next Row (RS):** BO 6 (6, 6, 7, 7) sts, knit until 6 (6, 6, 7, 7) sts on right needle after BO, BO centre 34 (38, 36, 36, 38) sts loosely (or place on holder), knit to end.
- Place shoulder sts on holders.

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## FRONTS (make 2 — one left, one right)

With 3.25 mm needles, **CO 38 (42, 42, 42, 46) sts.**

Work Broken Rib for 14 rows, ending with a WS row.

Change to 4.0 mm needles.

### Establish Moss Panel
The 9-st Moss Panel is placed near the front edge.

**For LEFT FRONT (as worn):**
- **Row 1 (RS):** k29 (33, 33, 33, 37), work Row 1 of Moss Panel over 9 sts.
- **Row 2 (WS):** Work Row 2 of Moss Panel over 9 sts, p29 (33, 33, 33, 37).

**For RIGHT FRONT (as worn):**
- **Row 1 (RS):** Work Row 1 of Moss Panel over 9 sts, k29 (33, 33, 33, 37).
- **Row 2 (WS):** p29 (33, 33, 33, 37), work Row 2 of Moss Panel over 9 sts.

Continue as established (Moss Panel against front opening edge, st st on the body side) until front measures **22 (23, 22, 23, 24) cm** from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

### Armhole Shaping (armhole edge only — the side seam edge)
*Armhole edge = opposite edge from the Moss Panel.*

- **Next Row (RS — Left Front):** BO 4 sts at start of row, work to end. **34 (38, 38, 38, 42) sts.**
- Work 1 WS row.
- **Decrease Row (RS):** k1, ssk, work to end as established. *1 st dec.*
- Purl 1 row.
- Rep last 2 rows **3 (3, 4, 4, 5) more times**. **30 (34, 33, 33, 36) sts** rem.

*(For Right Front, mirror shaping: BO 4 at start of WS row; decrease at end of RS row as k2tog, k1.)*

Work straight until armhole measures **8 (8, 9, 9, 9) cm**, ending at the front (Moss Panel) edge.

### Front Neck Shaping
- **Next Row (at neck edge):** BO 10 (11, 10, 10, 11) sts, work to end. **20 (23, 23, 23, 25) sts.**
- **Decrease at neck edge every RS row 8 (10, 11, 9, 11) times** (k2tog/ssk as appropriate at neck edge): **12 (13, 12, 14, 14) sts** rem.

*[Math check size 5: 33 − 10 − 11 = 12 ✓ shoulder sts match Back (6 + 6 = 12) ✓]*

Continue straight until armhole matches back. Place shoulder sts on holder.

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## SLEEVES (make 2)

With 3.25 mm needles, **CO 34 (34, 38, 38, 42) sts.**

Work Broken Rib for 14 rows, ending with a WS row.

Change to 4.0 mm needles.

### Establish Moss Panel
- **Row 1 (RS):** k12 (12, 14, 14, 16), work Row 1 of Moss Panel over 9 sts, k13 (13, 15, 15, 17).
- **Row 2 (WS):** p13 (13, 15, 15, 17), work Row 2 of Moss Panel over 9 sts, p12 (12, 14, 14, 16).

Continue as established. **At the same time**, work increases:

**Increase Row (RS):** k1, m1, work to last st, m1, k1. *2 sts inc (worked into st st sections at each side).*

Work Increase Row every **8th row 7 (8, 8, 9, 9) times** total. **48 (50, 54, 56, 60) sts.**

Continue straight until sleeve measures **26 (28, 30, 32, 34) cm**, ending with a WS row.

### Sleeve Cap Shaping
- **Next Row (RS):** BO 4 sts, work to end.
- **Next Row (WS):** BO 4 sts, work to end. **40 (42, 46, 48, 52) sts.**
- **Decrease Row (RS):** k1, ssk, work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
- Purl 1 row.
- Rep last 2 rows until **20 (22, 22, 22, 24) sts** rem.
- BO 2 sts at the beginning of next 4 rows. **12 (14, 14, 14, 16) sts.**
- BO remaining sts loosely.

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## BUTTON BANDS

Join shoulder seams using a three-needle bind-off or mattress stitch.

### Button Band (Left Front — for boys)
With 3.25 mm needles and RS facing, beginning at neck edge, pick up and knit approximately **3 sts for every 4 rows** along the left front edge — aim for a multiple of 4 + 2.
For size 5: pick up **70 sts**.

Work Broken Rib for 8 rows. BO loosely in pattern.

### Buttonhole Band (Right Front)
Pick up the same number of sts along the right front edge.

Work Broken Rib for 3 rows.

**Buttonhole Row (RS):** Work 3 sts, *BO 2 sts, work 13 (14, 14, 15, 15) sts including st on needle after BO; rep from * 3 more times, BO 2 sts, work to end.

*[Math check size 5: 3 + (2+14)×4 + 2 + remaining ≈ 70 sts ✓ — adjust spacing if your pick-up count differs slightly.]*

**Next Row (WS):** Work in pattern, casting on 2 sts over each gap to complete buttonholes.

Continue in Broken Rib until band measures 8 rows total. BO loosely in pattern.

### Neckband
With 3.25 mm needles and RS facing, pick up and knit sts evenly around the neck edge, including the tops of the button bands. Aim for a multiple of 4 + 2 (approximately 66–74 sts depending on size).

Work Broken Rib for 6 rows. BO loosely in pattern.

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## FINISHING

1. Weave in all ends on the WS.
2. Sew sleeve cap into armhole using mattress stitch, easing to fit.
3. Sew side seams and underarm seams in one continuous line.
4. Sew buttons onto the left front band, opposite the buttonholes.
5. **Block** the finished cardigan by wetting gently, pressing out excess water in a towel, and laying flat to dry to measurements.

Enjoy your handmade cardigan! 🧶