Baby knits are so much more than just quick knits. They’re a message of support to the parents (even when we ourselves are the parents!) and talismans of love, with hope and good feelings sown into every stitch. Our Baby Fair Isle Cardigan takes all this energy and adds to it simplicity and timeless beauty.

Baby Fair Isle Cardigan In Posy | Purl Soho

A reinvention of our classic Baby Girl Fair Isle Cardigan, this version downgrades gender (go ahead, make it for girls and boys!) and adds a 2-year-old size, spreading the love to the older set. We also made sure to knit this one up in a machine washable yarn: our new Posy for the Main Color, plus a Pocket Posy bundle for the colorwork. Hand-dyed in Peru, Posy and Pocket Posy are not only wonderfully soft (hello, 15% cashmere) but also hard-working and resilient with their superwash merino base, plus a touch of nylon.

Baby Fair Isle Cardigan In Posy | Purl Soho

Our straightforward Baby Fair Isle Cardigan Pattern hides no nasty surprises. Knit from the bottom up, you’ll work raglan shoulder decreases that shift into yoke shaping and simple colorwork. A few short rows lift the back neck, and finishing couldn’t be easier with a knit-in button band and super easy crocheted button loops.

Baby Fair Isle Cardigan In Posy | Purl Soho

For tiny newborn bundles or tipsy two year olds (and everyone in between!), our Baby Fair Isle Cardigan is a very special knit for the very special people in our lives!

Baby Fair Isle Cardigan In Posy | Purl Soho

Update: New Name!

April 9, 2021
Baby Fair Isle Cardigan In Posy | Purl Soho

Previously known as our Baby Fair Isle Cardigan, we also updated the yardage requirements and colors because Posy has a new 50-gram skein size and a fresh palette of pretty hand-dyed colors. Soft, cozy, and machine-washable, the Baby Colorwork Cardigan is a timeless knit!

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Whitney Van Nes.

Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoBabyFairIsleCardigan, and #PurlSohoPosy. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Materials

  • Post Image
  • Post Image
  • Post Image
  • Post Image
  • Main Color: 2 (2, 3, 4) skeins of Purl Soho’s Posy, 75% superwash merino, 15% cashmere, and 10% nylon. Each skein is 159 yards/ 50 grams; approximately 245 (310, 395, 510) total yards required. (NOTE: We no longer offer Posy, but choose from one of our other fingering weight yarns.)
  • Contrast Colors A, B, C, and D: 1 skein of Posy; approximately 10 (10, 15, 15) yards of A and B; 10 yards of C; and 5 yards of D required.

We used the following colors, shown above…

TOP ROW

  • Main Color: Posy in Mourning Dove
  • Contrast Colors: Pocket Posy in Color A, Azalea Glow; Color B, Pink Papaya; Color C, Marigold Orange; Color D, Sour Gooseberry

BOTTOM ROW

  • Main Color: Posy in Heirloom White
  • Contrast Colors: Pocket Posy in Color A, Beetle Blue; Color B, Teal Twilight; Color C, Black Cherry; Color D, Chili Pepper

You’ll also need…

GAUGE

28 stitches and 39 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch, using larger needles

SIZES

Newborn (6 Months, 1 Year, 2 Years)

  • Finished Chest Circumference: 17 (19, 21, 23) inches
  • Finished Body Length From Bottom Edge To Underarm: 5 (6, 7, 8½) inches
  • Finished Body Length From Bottom Edge To Top Of Shoulder: 8½ (9¾, 11, 12¾) inches
  • Finished Sleeve Length: 5½ (6, 7, 9) inches

SAMPLES: The sweaters pictured here are sizes 6 Months and 2 Years.

PATTERN

Baby Fair Isle Cardigan In Posy | Purl Soho

The Baby Colorwork Cardigan Pattern is available for purchase as a PDF download only.

Baby Fair Isle Cardigan In Posy | Purl Soho