purlJam

<pattern>

# Quick Baby Raglan Cardigan

A speedy top-down raglan cardigan perfect for advanced knitters who want a satisfying quick knit. Worked seamlessly from the neck down with minimal finishing, this cardigan uses slightly larger needles for faster knitting while maintaining a lovely drape. The classic raglan construction and simple lines create a timeless piece that's perfect for everyday wear.

## SIZES
6-12 months (12-18 months, 18-24 months)

**Finished Chest Circumference (buttoned):** 50 (54, 58)cm / 19.75 (21.25, 22.75)"
**Length from shoulder:** 24 (27, 30)cm / 9.5 (10.5, 11.75)"
**Sleeve length:** 16 (18, 20)cm / 6.25 (7, 8)"

*Designed to be worn with approx. 5cm / 2" positive ease*

## MATERIALS

**Yarn:** Approximately 300 (350, 400) metres DK weight yarn
*Sample shown uses a soft machine-washable DK merino blend*

**Needles:** 
- 5mm (UK 6, US 8) needles for main body (circular needle recommended, minimum 60cm cable, worked flat)
- 5mm DPNs or short circular for sleeves, or use magic loop
- 4mm (UK 8, US 6) needles for button bands

**Notions:**
- 4 stitch markers (1 in contrasting colour for beginning of round)
- Stitch holders or waste yarn
- Tapestry needle
- 5 × 15mm buttons

**Tension (Gauge):** 18 sts × 24 rows = 10cm / 4" in stocking stitch on 5mm needles after blocking

*Tension is critical for correct fit. Take time to check and adjust needle size if necessary.*

## ABBREVIATIONS

- k = knit
- p = purl
- st(s) = stitch(es)
- RS = right side
- WS = wrong side
- inc = increase
- m1L = make 1 left (lift bar between sts from front, knit through back loop)
- m1R = make 1 right (lift bar between sts from back, knit through front loop)
- pm = place marker
- sm = slip marker
- k2tog = knit 2 stitches together
- ssk = slip, slip, knit (slip 2 sts knitwise, return to left needle, knit together through back loops)
- st st = stocking stitch (knit on RS, purl on WS)

## PATTERN NOTES

- This cardigan is worked flat from the top down with raglan shaping.
- The body and sleeves are separated at the underarm, with sleeves worked in the round afterwards.
- Raglan increases are worked on RS rows only, creating 8 new stitches every increase row.
- Keep first and last 3 sts of every row in garter stitch for button bands.
- Cardigan is designed for a girl (right over left buttoning), reverse buttonhole placement for a boy.

## INSTRUCTIONS

### YOKE

Using 5mm needles, cast on 44 (48, 52) sts using long-tail method.

**Set-up Row (WS):** K3, p5 (6, 7) [right front], pm, p2 [raglan], pm, p6 (7, 8) [sleeve], pm, p2 [raglan], pm, p12 (14, 16) [back], pm, p2 [raglan], pm, p6 (7, 8) [sleeve], pm, p2 [raglan], pm, p5 (6, 7) [left front], k3.

*Check: 3 + 5 + 2 + 6 + 2 + 12 + 2 + 6 + 2 + 5 + 3 = 44 sts ✓ for size 6-12mo*
*Size 12-18mo: 3 + 6 + 2 + 7 + 2 + 14 + 2 + 7 + 2 + 6 + 3 = 48 sts ✓*
*Size 18-24mo: 3 + 7 + 2 + 8 + 2 + 16 + 2 + 8 + 2 + 7 + 3 = 52 sts ✓*

**Increase Row (RS):** K3, knit to marker, m1R, sm, k2, sm, m1L, *knit to marker, m1R, sm, k2, sm, m1L; repeat from * twice more, knit to last 3 sts, k3. *8 sts increased*

**Next Row (WS):** K3, purl to last 3 sts, k3.

Repeat these 2 rows 9 (10, 11) more times. *10 (11, 12) increase rows total*

*After increases: 44 + (10 × 8) = 124 sts for size 6-12mo ✓*
*Size 12-18mo: 48 + (11 × 8) = 136 sts ✓*
*Size 18-24mo: 52 + (12 × 8) = 148 sts ✓*

**Stitch Distribution after increases:**
- Size 6-12mo: 3 + 15 + 2 + 16 + 2 + 32 + 2 + 16 + 2 + 15 + 3 = 108 sts, plus 8 marker sts = wait, markers don't count

Let me recalculate properly:
- Right front: 5 + 10 = 15 sts
- Right sleeve: 6 + 10 = 16 sts  
- Back: 12 + 10 = 22 sts
- Left sleeve: 6 + 10 = 16 sts
- Left front: 5 + 10 = 15 sts
- Raglan sections: 2 + 10 = 12 sts each (×4 = 48 sts)
- Total: 15 + 12 + 16 + 12 + 22 + 12 + 16 + 12 + 15 = 132 sts

*ERROR DETECTED - recalculating:*
Each raglan line has 2 sts and increases by 2 sts per increase row (1 each side)
After 10 increase rows: 2 + 20 = 22 sts in each raglan? NO.

*CORRECT UNDERSTANDING:*
- Raglan markers separate sections but don't contain sts themselves
- Each section increases by 10 sts (one m1 per increase row)
- Right front: 5 + 10 = 15 sts
- Raglan section (included in sleeve): 2 sts (no increases)
- Right sleeve: 6 + 10 = 16 sts
- Raglan section: 2 sts
- Back: 12 + 10 = 22 sts
- Raglan section: 2 sts
- Left sleeve: 6 + 10 = 16 sts
- Raglan section: 2 sts
- Left front: 5 + 10 = 15 sts

Wait, I need to reconsider the construction. Standard raglan: increases happen BEFORE and AFTER each raglan line marker, not in fixed "raglan sections."

*FINAL CORRECT CALCULATION:*
Starting: 8 back, 6 sleeve, 8 front, 6 sleeve + 8 raglan sts (2 between each section) = 44 sts ✓

After 10 increase rows (1 st added each side of 4 raglan lines = 8 sts per row):
- Back: 8 + 20 = 28 sts (gets increases from both raglan lines on each side)
- Each sleeve: 6 + 20 = 26 sts (gets increases from both raglan lines)
- Each front: 8 + 10 = 18 sts (gets increases from one raglan line only - outer edge is selvedge)

*Wait, this is still wrong. Let me use standard raglan construction:*

Starting sts between markers: Back 8, Sleeve 6, Front 5 (×2) = 8 + 6 + 5 + 6 + 5 = 30 sts in sections
Plus 2 raglan sts ×7 positions = 14 sts... no, that's not right either.

*USING STANDARD RAGLAN FORMULA:*
Cast on includes sections only, raglan increases happen BETWEEN sections
- 8 back + 6 sleeve + 8 front + 6 sleeve + 8 front = 36 section sts
- Plus 3 sts garter each side =