Baby Colorwork Cardigan In New Colors
Babies inspire some of our prettiest ideas, and when a little one is on the way or has recently arrived, we channel our best intentions into our knitting needles. One such result is our Baby Colorwork Cardigan!
Previously known as our Baby Fair Isle Cardigan, we’ve updated the name for accuracy’s sake since neither the colorwork pattern nor the yarn actually come from the Shetland Islands. The yarn, in fact, is our incredibly soft and cozy Posy, a machine-washable blend of merino, cashmere, and nylon, perfect for the messy work of being a baby.
In addition to the name, we have also brought this pattern’s skein requirements and colors up to date. Posy is now only available in a new 50-gram skein size and also has a brand new palette that introduces five gorgeous new colors, including the pretty range of blues in the version shown here.
Aside from these changes, our Baby Colorwork Cardigan remains the same crowd favorite with its super simple bottom up, one-piece construction. A built-in button band means no picking up stitches, and crochet-loop buttonholes save the complication of keeping track of when to knit one in. So, instead of fussy details, your sense of purpose can be all heart… The best part of knitting for babies!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Whitney Van Nes.
Share your progress + connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoBabyColorworkCardigan, and #PurlSohoPosy. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- Main Color (MC): 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 (CC) A, B, C, and D: 1 skein of Posy. Each skein is approximately 159 yards/ 50 grams; 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 . . .
6-MONTH SIZE
- Main Color, Mourning Dove
- Contrast Color A, Maple Wood; Color B, Pink Papaya; Color C, Azalea Glow; Color D, Pink Nectar
2-YEAR SIZE
- Main Color, Drizzle Gray
- Contrast Color A, Blue Dusk; Color B, Bellflower Blue; Color C, Cloudless Sky; Color D, Heirloom White
You’ll also need…
- US 2 (3 mm), 20- or 24-inch circular needles
- A set of US 2 double pointed needles
- US 3 (3.25 mm), 20- or 24-inch circular needles
- A set of US 3 double pointed needles
- Stitch markers
- Stitch holders or scrap yarn
- A size B (2.25 mm) crochet hook
- Two to six 3/8-inch buttons. We used Purl Soho’s Small Round Buttons in Khaki and Gray.
- 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.
I would like to buy the yarn needed to make all four of the baby color work designs shown in this email in the largest child size please! Can you out that order together for me and then I will give you my credit card?
Thank you
Hi Mary,
Thanks for writing in! Please email our customer service team at customerservice@purlsoho.com and they can help you from there!
Warmly,
Gianna
Are there any options for a bigger size. I would need a 3.
Hi Christine,
Thanks for writing in! This pattern only includes sizes for Newborns, 6 Months, 1 Year, and 2 Years. Thank you for expressing your interest, I will be sure to pass this along to the rest of the team!
Warmly,
Gianna
If the yarn is fingering, use a sport or DK weight yarn, up your needle size, measure at least 3 different size three toddler sweaters for sleeve length and body of sweater beginning under the arm to bottom edge of the body. I just go into a store and take a tape measure. I found the charts online inconsistent. Now if the baby is really fat, try worsted weight, go up another needle size unless the dk needle works great (make a swatch)
Is this a top down knit with no sewn seams?
Hi Pj,
Thanks for reaching out! This sweater is knit from the bottom up, starting with each sleeve in the round from cuff to underarm. Then you will work the Body in
one piece from the hem to the underarms and join Sleeves. You will ten work the raglan and the yoke finishing with the neckband! And yes, there are no seams in the sweater.
Happy knitting!
Gianna
I wanted to knit this for Nee baby. Having to purchase. 4 full skein to do the pattern however, makes it extremely expensive. Would have been nice to offer small bundles of. Contrasting colors
Hi Phyllis,
Thanks for reaching out and expressing your interest is bundles, I will be sure to pass this along to the rest of the team!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hello there! I love this pattern, and I can’t wait to knit it for my wee little neighbor. What color buttons did you use for the Drizzle Gray 2-yo size in the photo above? Was it Pastel Gray, Pastel Blue, or Gray?
Hi Hillary,
Thanks for writing in! We used the shade Gray button for the Drizzle Gray Cardigan!
Warmly,
Gianna
When making the first sleeve, the directions say to k5 (size 1) then place the previous 10 stitches on a stitch holder, leaving 44 stitches. It is unclear to me if these 44 stitches are to be knit before cutting yarn and placing them on a stitch holder or if only the first 5 stitches are knit.
Hi Julie,
Thanks for writing in! You will only knit those 5 stitches and then will place the 10 stitches on the holder!
All the best,
Gianna
Ok. So knit 5 and place the previous 19 stitches onto holder, so are the knit 5 included in the ten that go onto the holder?
Hi Stephanie,
Yes, you’re absolutely correct! The 5 stitches that you knit are included in the 10 previous stitches you place on the holder. Hope this helps clarify!
All the best,
Lili
I am confused about the “place previous 10 stitches on holder”. Previous compared to what?
Purl (33) , place previous 10 on stitch holder , p (67) place previous 10 on stitch holder
Are those 10 stitches the last 10 just purled? From the right hand needle? Or the next ten to be worked , from the left hand needle?
Hi Debbi,
Thanks for reaching out. The “previous 10 stitches” refer to the last 10 you just purled! Hope this helps clarify things.
All the best,
Lili
Yes completely thanks!
I am confused about the decrease row. Directions have you begin decreasing before the first stitch marker (at the first sleeve), and repeat 4 times , but then says 8 stitches are reduced. Does this mean you repeat the ssk, k1 k1, k2 together 4 more times at the next stitch marker at the second sleeve?
Hi Debbi!
Thank you so much for writing in. The decrease row has you decrease two stitches, one on either side of the marker, for each of the four markers around the row, for a total of eight decreased stitches spaced evenly throughout the row. After the decreases around the first marker, you will repeat the instructions in the brackets by knitting to three stitches before the next marker, and decrease as instructed around the marker (slip slip knit (ssk), k1, slip marker (sm), k1, knit 2 together (k2tog)). Continue on like this around the row, knitting between the markers and decreasing on either side of the marker, for a total of eight decreased stitches.
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Margaret
Can I substitute German short rows for the wrap and turns?
Hi Chantal,
Yes, you can absolutely modify this pattern to use German short rows instead! All you’ll need to do is knit one additional stitch before making the double stitch. So for example, if the pattern says “knit until 3 stitches remain, wrap and turn,” you’ll actually need to “knit until 2 stitches remain, make double stitch.”
All the best,
Lili
Hello! Is this knit in the round then cut up the center using a steek? If not, can you suggest a pattern that does use a steek. I’d like to learn more about cutting and steeking, along with shaping the neckline. Thanks so much!
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for writing in! This cardigan is not made by steeking, but if you’d like to try out that technique, I’d recommend our Tiny Stripes Cardigan + Vest pattern. That sounds like it’s exactly what you’re looking for!
All the best,
Lili
Size 2 – Confused about direction for sleeve: “K6, place previous 12sts on holder. 46 sets remain”. Should I k 6, place 12sts from RIGHT hand needle on holder (6 of those sts would be the 6 sts that I just knit)? Is that correct? Please clarify. Thank you
Hi Deb,
Thanks for writing in! Yes, that is correct. You will first knit 6 stitches and then place those stitches plus the 6 before that onto a holder or scrap yarn.
I hope this helps but let us know if you have any more questions!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella