Baby Fair Isle Cardigan In Posy
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.
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.
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.
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!
If you love the yarn used in this project, you’ll love all of our other yarn, too! Explore our 35+ lovingly created yarn collections, in nearly every natural fiber and spectacular color you can imagine… Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn shop!
Update: New Name!
April 9, 2021
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
- 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.
- 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: 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: Posy in Color A, Beetle Blue; Color B, Teal Twilight; Color C, Black Cherry; Color D, Chili Pepper
You’ll also need…
- US 2 (3 mm), 20- or 24-inch circular needles, depending on the
- US 3 (3.25 mm), 20- or 24-inch circular needles
- Set of US 2 double pointed needles
- Set of US 3 double pointed needles
- Stitch markers
- Stitch holders or scrap yarn
- A size B (2.25 mm) crochet hook
- Two or six 3/8-inch buttons. We used Purl Soho’s Small Round Buttons, in Khaki for the Mourning Dove sweater and Cream for the Heirloom White one.
- A Baby Colorwork Cardigan Pattern
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
The Baby Colorwork Cardigan Pattern is available for purchase as a PDF download only.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
Hi, Is the color work in a chart or is it written out? Haven’t worked with a chart yet so just curious. Thanks!
Hello Jane,
Thank you for reaching out! The color work is charted in this pattern- I think this pattern is a great first time chart.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Is this knit in the round and steeked or worked flat?
Hello Sarah,
This is a great question! The sleeves are knit in the round, but the body is knit flat.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Is this sweater seamless? Love the look of it.
Hello Brenda,
Thank you for this question and your kind words! This sweater is indeed seamless.
Happy knitting,
Marilla
This is lovely, but is there purling in fair isle or is this steeked?
Hello Hannah,
Thank you for reaching out! This sweater is not steeked and there is purling in the fair isle yoke.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
what weight wool is it knitted in?
Hello Judy,
Great Question! We knit this sweater up in our Posy yarn which is a fingering weight yarn.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Is there a hidden zipper going up the front? I can’t tell from any of the commentary.
Hi Lundy,
Thanks for reaching out! This sweater does not have a zipper, but it does include instructions for adding as many buttons and button holes as you like! We used just two buttons at the neck of the sweater for our sample, but you could use up to 6 buttons spaced down the front of the cardigan if you prefer.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
That helps. I, too, was wondering what the front closure was.
Hi, is there a version for an adult sweater?
Hi Elinor,
Thanks for reaching out! The largest size that we have for this sweet sweater is a 2 year size. We will certainly keep your request in mind for the future.
Best,
Cassy
Certainly an adult version would be great!
Totally agree!
yes, please!
And also for older kids would be nice 🙂
I would LOVE an adult sized pattern too. Couldnt we just 10x size 2-year pattern? It’s a thought.
Thx
Hi Annette,
Thanks for expressing your interest! I will be sure to pass this along to the rest of the team!
Warmly,
Gianna
Echoing the encouragement to add an adult pattern!
Thank you for your interest! We will be sure to pass your feedback along to our team, and in the meantime, I can recommend the Friendly Fair Isle Sweater for an adult fair isle sweater project.
I hope this helps, and happy knitting!
All the best,
Margaret
I made this for my granddaughter and she wears it constantly, loves it, and is outgrowing it. She would love the exact same sweater in a larger size (4 or 5). Apparently a lot of others would like this in larger children’s sizes as well. Any way I can get some help on adjusting this to a larger size?
Hi Ava,
Thanks for reaching out! I’m afraid that we do not have a larger version of this sweater, but what you could do is follow the pattern as written, just at a larger gauge with thicker yarn! This way, you wouldn’t need to adjust the pattern at all, and the sweater will come out larger.
All the best,
Lili
Hi there I’d love to see an adult version too!
Lovely pattern. I’d be making this for a baby boy, and think that ribbed edges along the front of the cardigan would make it a bit older-looking and “boyish.”
Is it possible to just decrease the number of cast on stitches for the body and pick up a reasonable number of stitches along the edge for the front/buttonhole edges?
Thank you!
Laura
Hi Laura,
Thanks for reaching out! You could certainly change the front edging to ribbing if you prefer! I would subtract 6 stitches from the pattern and omit the ribbed border that is worked at the beginning and end of each row. You will have to keep in mind, when joining the sleeves to the body and when working the colorwork, that you will be subtracting 3 stitches from each front section. Those 6 stitches should remove about an inch from the circumference, so you can then work button and buttonhole bands that are about an inch wide.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Hi there would you have the same pattern for a 3 year old pls?? Thank you!
Hi Rachel,
Thanks for writing in! Unfortunately we do not have instructions for resizing this pattern for a 3 year old; however, I will be sure to pass your suggestion along to the design team!
Best,
Julianna
Regarding the Fair Isle pattern, what does ‘no stitch’ mean? Thank you!
Hello Alexis,
Thank you for reaching out- this is a great question! This is one of those times in knitting when something is so simple that it becomes confusing. When you come to a no stitch square in your chart, you just ignore it and move on to the next stitch. It is quite literally “no stitch”.
I hope this clears things up for you and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hello, thanks for this wonderful pattern. Its the first time I’m making a sweater and i have a question about joining the sleeves. I’ve completed the body and have placed 10 stitches on scrap yarn for both sleeves. I also have each sleeve done, with ten stitches on holding yarn. When joining the sleeves, do I double stitch the ten stitches of the sleeve and the body together? Or so i knit the ten atitches of the body, followed by the ten stitches of the sleeve? Sorry for the confusion. Have a great day! Cheers, Jacquie
Hi Jacquie,
Thanks for reaching out! We have a tutorial on Joining Sleeves to Body which should be quite helpful in this situation! You will actually be leaving the ten stitches each from the sleeves and body on the holder until the end of the sweater, when you will close up this hole using Kitchener stitch.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Hello! Which color of the Purl Soho buttons are shown in the photos? Thanks 🙂
Hello Emilie,
Thank you for reaching out! We just checked the samples for you- the Creme buttons are used for the cardigan knit in Morning Dove, and we used the white buttons for the cardigan knit in Heirloom White.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hi. I have a questions regarding the decrease instructions at the bottom of page three. Following them exactly as written, it would seem to me that it says to ssk right before the first sleeve, sm, then k1, sm (all happening at the first sleeve,) then K2tog 4 times, which would also put those decreases in the first sleeve. Then no other decreases on that row. I would have thought there would be an some even decreasing on each side. Do I then just purl on the way back, do the decreases on the purl side? What am I missing? Thank you.
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for reaching out! This line is a bit confusing since it includes both brackets and parentheses, but the repeat section is the entire bracketed section. You will be going all the way back to the first bracket, which begins with “[knit to 3 stitches before next marker…” When worked correctly, you will be decreasing two stitches on each side of each marker and they will be evenly spread out through the whole yoke instead of just in the first sleeve.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
Always worried about the darker colors bleeding onto the lighter during blocking. It’s been a heart break in the past. Could this be a concern with the red and blue on the white sweater?
Hi Tere,
Thanks for reaching out! This is unfortunately always a concern when working with dark and light colors together in the same piece, especially with hand dyed yarn! Although we work very closely with our mill to stay on top of any production issues that might cause bleeding, we do recommend following our tutorial on Re-Fixing Dye for Posy just to be on the safe side.
Best,
Julianna
Hi
Can this sweater be worked in cotton ?
Hello Marian,
Thank you for reaching out! Unfortunately, we don’t have a cotton yarn that will work up at the correct gauge for this project. This project can be worked up with any fingering weight yarn, as long as you are getting a gauge of 28 stitches and 39 rows per 4 inches in stockinette stitch. I will say that a more slippery yarn, like a cotton, will be more challenging in the fair isle portion of the cardigan.
I hope this helps and let us know if you have any further questions!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Hi. Lovely pattern! Would it be possible to make it in a medium weight yarn? If I follow the instructions with no changes, will it come out with the right proportions but for a bigger size? Thanks!
Hello Andrea,
Thank you for reaching out! You are correct that If you go up in yarn and needle size the cardigan will come out larger. However, It is hard to say how much bigger it will come out to be or if the proportions will be exactly right. You could knit up a swatch in your desired yarn and needles and calculate some this.
I hope this helps and let us know how it goes!
-Marilla
I, too, would love to see and adult version of this pattern!!
Hi Donna,
Thanks for writing in! I will be sure to pass your request along to the design team!
Best,
Julianna
I bought and completed this pattern 5 years ago for my grandson. I am using it again with the new recommended yarns. Are there any changes to the pattern itself? Also I bought heirloom white for the base and the starfish combo for the color work. So far I have refixed the dye twice and still see some bleeding, especially from the bright pink so I am a little worried about knitting this and having it bleed. Suggestions? Other than that issue the yarn is nice to work with.
Hi Theresa,
Thanks for writing in! We did add one larger size for a 2-year-old, but otherwise the pattern is exactly the same. I’m so sorry that you are having trouble with the Pink Papaya yarn! If you can, I would suggest trying a more intense re-fixing process than our Re-Fixing Dye tutorial. You will need a stainless steel pot that you aren’t planning on using for food again and fill it with cold water and vinegar or citric acid. Add your yarn to the cold water and bring it up to a simmer, and hold at a simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes. Once you are done simmering, turn off the heat let the pot return to room temperature. You can then soak the yarn in tepid water with a bit of wool wash to finish the process.
If the yarn is still bleeding, please do contact us at [email protected] and we will be happy to send a replacement from a different dye lot or come up with another solution. I’m so sorry you have run into so much trouble with these skeins, but we will do our best to make it right!
Best,
Julianna
Seems to have worked out. I knitted a test swatch and washed it in warmer water than I would normally use and there was no bleeding onto the white yarn so no need for the more intensive process. Do I need to repurchase the pattern to get the instructions for the two year size?
Thanks!
Hi Theresa,
Wonderful, I’m so glad the yarn has stopped bleeding! We would be happy to send you a copy of the pattern including the new largest size – just send us an email at [email protected] and we will take care of it!
Best,
Julianna
Hello! I’d like to make this using the Lighthouse pocket posy color scheme. Do you think using Mourning Dove as the main color would provide enough contrast to allow the color work to show? Thanks!
Hi and thanks for writing in! While the color combination won’t be especially high contrast and the effect will be subtle, I do think the colors will show up enough to see the color work. The two colors in the Lighthouse bundle that will be least obvious are Heirloom White and Sour Gooseberry, and in our smaller sized sample above, you can see how Sour Gooseberry shows up well against Mourning Dove. You can also get an idea of the contrast between Heirloom White and Mourning Dove by looking at the two sweaters stacked on top of each other. If you prefer for the colorwork to stand out very strongly, you might prefer either Beetle Blue or Winter Heath for the main color of the sweater.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
I am just finishing this cardigan – it’s great and the instructions have been very clear, but I just can’t figure out how you’re meant to attach the button loops! Can you clarify?
Hi Sara,
Thanks for writing in! If you are not familiar with crocheting, you should find our Crochet Basics tutorial helpful for the button loops! You will be using the chain stitch and slip stitch which are demonstrated in the tutorial.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Thanks! I understand how to make the crochet loops, but it’s the actual attachment to the sweater that I’m not quite understanding. Do you leave the yarn ends long and weave them in, as you do in knitting? Or is there a better way to do it? I trimmed the ends close to the crochet stitches, but then two of the loops just came off of the sweater after they were pulled over the buttons a couple of times.
Hi Sara,
I apologize for the miscommunication! Yes, just like in knitting, you should leave at least a 6 inch tail when attaching your yarn to crochet the button loops, and then weave that tail in securely to make sure it doesn’t come loose. I hope this helps and your button loops stay where they should this time!
Best,
Julianna
Could you just make an i-cord for the loops? It seems like it would be easier than crocheting.
Agree with Sara above that everything as been clear up to this point.
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, if you prefer, I think a 2 stitch i-cord would be an excellent alternative button loop!
Best,
Julianna
I’m working this pattern. I’m onto page 5 and the short rows. Seems like I’m only doing them on one side? Am I missing something? (Clearly I am)
Hi Kim,
Thanks for reaching out! The short rows for this section should all be on the back of the sweater, not on the sides. When you get to this section of the pattern, you should have four stitch markers placed in your knitting, separating the right front, right sleeve, back, left sleeve, and left front stitches. Short Row 1 has you knit past the first two markers and work your first wrap and turn four stitches before the third marker, which should result in all your wrap and turns being placed in the back stitches.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
I bought this pattern and the needles and yarn from Purl Soho. I bought US 2 and US 3, 24” circular needles. The US 2 needle says it is 3.0 mm. US 2 is supposed to be 2.75mm. When I called customer service they said they didn’t know which size was the one to use. The guessed that possibly since the sweater was a purl soho pattern that maybe they always are written for addi sizes…since that is the brand of needle sold by purl soho. I would like clarification before I cast on. What is the size, in mm, of the needles used for this sweater? Thank you.
Hi Jeanne,
Great question! US knitting needle sizes are not always standard across different needle brands, so sometimes different numbers are assigned to the metric sizes in different brands. We used an Addi US 2, which is a 3.0 mm needle, for the ribbing on this sweater, but since it is just used for the ribbing, you could use a 2.75 mm needle if you prefer without affecting the fit of the sweater. Addi does make a 2.75 mm needle, but it is sold without a US number as it is in between their US 1 and US 2 sizes.
I hope that clears everything up!
Julianna
Thank you!
So glad you added the larger size. I just made it for my 20 month old granddaughter and it looks so cute on her. I had made the newborn size for her brother 5 years ago, I love the pattern. Used the Posy yarn, good to work with and very soft. Don’t know how to add a picture here but there are some on Ravelry. Thanks so much.
I purchased the baby girl fair isle pattern in paper several years ago to knit the sweater for newborn granddaughter. Since that time, I’ve knitted all 3 sizes multiple times. When I was in Purl Soho in February- I reviewed the pattern in Ravelry and purchased 2 posey and 4 pocket posey skeins to knit the pattern in size 2, then realized I don’t have size 2 in my pattern. Do I need to repurchase the pattern toget it in size 2? Thanks for your help, Anne
Hi Anne,
Thanks for reaching out! We would be happy to send you an updated copy of the pattern! Please reach out to [email protected] and we will make sure you have all the sizes you need.
Best,
Julianna
Thank you so much! Best, Anne
Question on the Decrease row. I don’t see where it follows thru to next sleeve. After the knit 2tog 4 times it just has you knit to last 5 stitches p1 k21 p1 k2. I’m missing something. Can you guide me thru Decrease Row (right side)?
Hi Genevieve,
Thanks for writing in! This line can be a bit confusing since it includes both brackets and parentheses, but the repeat section is the entire bracketed section. You will be going all the way back to the first bracket, which begins with “[knit to 3 stitches before next marker…” When worked correctly, you will be decreasing two stitches on each side of the 4 markers and will be evenly spread out through the whole yoke instead of just in the first sleeve. I hope this helps!
Happy Knitting
Jessica
Is there a matching hat pattern?
Hi Melissa,
Thanks for reaching out! We don’t have a hat pattern that matches this cardigan but I will be sure to pass your interest along to the rest of the team! We do have a Fair Isle hat pattern that has a similar pattern to the cardigan called the Friendly Fair Isle Hat!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Any chance you could recommend a cricket sweater pattern for a toddler (2-4 years old) that I could knit using Posy?
Many thanks!
Hi Sara,
Thanks for reaching out! What kind of sweater pattern are you looking for? We have several patterns we offer using posy!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi I’m interested in making this sweater, but the yarn you suggest is not available. Any other yarn suggestions?
Thank you
Hi Rose,
Thanks for reaching out! We’re currently in the process of transitioning our full size Posy and Pocket Posy skeins into 50g skeins this year. We’re hoping to launch this new size in April, but in the meantime we’re having a clearance sale for any remaining colors (which is why we have so few options still available). If you’d rather not wait for the Posy re-release, I’d suggest our Line Weight or Brooklyn Tweed’s Peerie as good alternatives to use! Be aware that neither Line Weight nor Peerie is machine washable the way Posy is!
I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any other questions!
Warmly,
Kelsey
Thanks Kelsey,
I ll keep checking back to see when the posy is available
Thank you for getting back to me
Rose
Hi,
Love this pattern and plan to knit it soon. Sorry, though, that you have done away with the small amounts of yarn formerly sold to use in this design. To buy 4 skeins of additional colors for the tiny amounts of yarn used seems expensive and excessive. I have been a knitter for over 40 years, but I rarely knit in fingering weight and so suggesting knitters use bits from their stashes doesn’t always work. Having the right bits in the correct weight and colors often isn’t possible. Perhaps this pattern could be offered in a kit like so many of your others? Love you guys but this had to be said.
Hi Ann,
Thanks for reaching out! We developed the new Posy skein size to be the perfect in-between from our original Posy and Pocket Posy! However I totally understand what you mean, thank you for expressing your interest in this, I will be sure to pass this along to the rest of the team!
Warmly,
Gianna
I’m using Posy and I’ve done a gauge test and can’t get the correct tension even with a 3mm needle. I get 24st/10cm dry and after blocking it’s 22st/10cm. I am a tight knitter so I can’t understand it. My rows are OK at 40R/10cm. With a tension of 22st/10cm size 2 and casting on 161sts, the cardy will end up 73cm all round! Cardy will be for a 2 year old so I could go down a size to 1 year old but will the proportions be right? Even size 1 year old will end up 66cm all round. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks.
Hi Jinny,
Thanks for reaching out! I would recommend going down in needle size and try a swatch out with a 2.75mm or 2.5mm needle and see if that helps you achieve the 28 stitches per 4″! I always suggest first adjusting the needle size to get the correct gauge rather than adjusting the size you are making. I also suggest checking out our tutorial All About Guage, it is an excellent resource to use!
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any more questions!
Gianna
Hi, I just started this sweater . I m up to the increase round on the sleeve. It says Repeat round every 2 (2,2,1/2) inches. Then 1 (1,1,3) that’s where I’m confused the 1 (1,1,3).
Thank you
Rose
Hi Rose,
Thanks for reaching out! That simply means you repeat Increase Round every 2 (2, 2, 11⁄2) inches 1 (1, 1, 3) more time(s) depending on the size you are making till you reach 46 (50, 54, 58) stitches! So if you are making the smallest round you would repeat the increase round every 2″ just one more time, if you are making the largest size you would repeat the increase round every 11 1/2″ 3 more times!
I hope this clears things up!
Gianna
I have some yarn I would like to use with this pattern, but it is DK weight. What size needles would I use and would I have to adjust the number of stitches?
Thank you for your help!
Hi Maureen,
Thanks for reaching out! I wouldn’t recommend working this particular pattern in a DK weight yarn, unless you’re wanting the finished size to be larger than the pattern’s current schematics. The Baby Fair Isle Cardigan was designed specifically for a fingering weight yarn, worked on a size US2-3 needle. To go up to a DK weight, you would likely need to work on a needle size closer to a US4 or 5, which would pretty drastically change the measurements and/or require quite a lot of alteration to the pattern directions if you wanted to keep the final measurements the same. Altering a pattern in this way requires significant time and unfortunately, we just don’t have the resources to make that kind of adjustment at the moment!
I’d suggest either sticking with a fingering weight yarn to work this pattern; or, if you want to use your DK weight yarn, then I’d recommend finding a pattern that is already designed for that weight! You can take a look at the options we have for DK weight patterns for babies and toddlers here, or you can take a look on Ravelry for other choices!
Warmly,
Kelsey
Kelsey,
Thank you so much for your help. Your answer was very informative and I will look for another pattern. Thank you!
Maureen
Hi, I up to the part on the sleeve where it’s says K5 place previous 10 stitches onto stitch holder. What previous 10?
Thank you
Rose
Hi Rose,
Thanks for reaching out! When we say K5 then place the previous 10 stitches on hold, it means that you knit 5 past your stitch marker, then you will place those 5 stitches plus 5 stitches from before the stitch marker on hold, 10 stitches total!
I hope this clears things up, happy knitting!
Gianna
It does ! Thank you
Rose
Hello! I’m planning to knit this in the 6 months size using Posy. I am a loose knitter, frequently need to go down 1 or 2 needle sizes. My swatch is almost 5 inches over 28 cast on size 3 needles. Am I just not meant to knit this project? ☹️
Thanks,
Kate
Hi Kate,
Thanks for writing in. This problem definitely sounds like it’s due to loose knitting, and it’s a good thing that you already know that about yourself! I would try going down a needle size, and also maybe try using a different material needle, as that can impact gauge as well.
I also wanted to let you know about our wonderful tutorial called All About Gauge, which covers some incredibly helpful information. I even learned some interesting, new tidbits myself while looking over it, and you may, too! Hope this helps, and I truly believe that you will find a way to knit this pattern.
All the best,
Lili
What length double pointed needles should I order for the Baby Fair Isle Cardigan?
Hi Teri,
Thanks for reaching out. You can use any length DPNs for this pattern! If you’re nervous about stitches accidentally falling off the needles (I know I always am), then I’d go for 8-inch DPNs instead of 6-inch. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
This is a great pattern and I’m making my third one now in the Mourning Dove Posy. The colors are beautiful and the posy yarn is soft and beautiful. The instructions are very clear. The buttons were out of stock but I found some nearly identical ones at Joann fabrics. I have knit several other baby cardigans and this one by far is the best. If you are on the fence about what size to knit, go for the bigger one. Mine came out on the small size so this time I plan to go up a size or two.
I have your cotton pure and wonder if this sweater would work with this yarn.
Hi Carol,
Thanks for reaching out. Unfortunately, Cotton Pure isn’t a great choice for this pattern, since it’s a sportweight yarn and therefore thicker than Posy. However, you can definitely give it a try by knitting a gauge swatch! If you’re able to achieve the correct gauge (likely on smaller needles), then you can absolutely use this yarn for the pattern. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
I am on page five and knitting 1-yr size. What does it mean to “,make 1right,
Hi Teri,
Thanks so much for writing in! “Make 1 Right” is a method of increasing by 1 stitch that creates a new stitch that leans to the right. Here’s our tutorial on how to Make 1 Right (abbreviated M1R) and Make 1 Left (M1L) in case you’d like more information on that: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/make-one-right-m1r-make-one-left-m1l/
I hope this helps! Have a great rest of your day!
All the best,
Cat
When floating the CC or MC I am not sure if I should carry over or under the one I’ve just knitted with. So, when I resume a floated yarn, do I take it over or under the yarn I just finished with? I just did a row over the last yarn, but the result is very loose. I have between one and five stitches to float over on the pattern. There are usually no more than three to go over and mostly only one or two. My hunch is to take up the float over what I’ve just done, but I’d appreciate confirmation, in case I’m wrong.
Thanks for you great work and wonderful website, especially Free Patterns with these advice blogs.
Hi Judy,
You can do it either way! Some knitters like to bring the dominant color under the background color though, since that can make it pop a bit more.
All the best,
Lili
After finishing the kitchener stitch, I have holes at both ends of the armhole. Are there any tricks to avoiding this in the future? What is the best way to handle the holes?
Hi Anne,
Thank you for writing in! There are a couple of ways you could avoid those holes on a circular yoke although the holes are quite common for this sweater construction. The first thing you could try is picking up an additional two stitches when you begin to work the first round of the sleeve stitches after picking up at the underarm. You will then resolve these stitches by knitting two together (k2tog) with their neighboring stitches in the next round. The next thing you could try is leaving a longer tail when beginning to work your sleeve and then once complete, you could use the tail to weave those holes closed. Lastly, you could take a matching length of scrap yarn and sew the holes closed from the inside leaving a nice clean finish for the finished sweater. I hope this helps!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
Thank you Gavriella!