Easy Knitted Baby Cardigan Pattern — Newborn (20" Chest) with Buttons
This easy knitted baby cardigan is a cozy, classic pattern for newborns (finished chest 20"). Soft double-knit yarn and simple raglan shaping make it quick to knit, and the little buttons and ribbed edges give a charming finish suitable for everyday wear or a thoughtful handmade gift. You can personalize it by adding stripes or a contrasting trim as shown in the photos.
Size: Newborn. Finished chest measurements – 20”.
Gauge: 25 sts = 4" in St st with larger needles.
Materials:
- Baby soft double knit type yarn
- Size 4 US (3.5 mm) needles or size needed to obtain gauge
- Size 5 US (3.75 mm) needles or size needed to obtain gauge
- Stitch holders
- 4 buttons
Instructions
Back
With smaller needles, cast on 61 sts.
K1, P1 rib for 12 rows.
Inc 1 st at end of last row.
Change to larger needles and work 36 rows in St st.
Shape Armholes
Cast off 4 sts at beginning of next 2 rows.
Row 1: K1, slip 1, pass slipped stitch over, work to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1.
Row 2: Purl.
Repeat these 2 rows until 24 sts remain, ending with a purl row.
Cast off.
Left Front
With smaller needles, cast on 35 sts.
K1, P1 rib for 11 rows.
Next row: K1, P1 rib 7 sts, then slip these sts to a stitch holder, work rib to end.
Change to larger needles and work 36 rows in St st.
Shape Armholes And Neck
Row 1 (RS): Cast off 4 sts, work to last 2 sts, K2tog.
Rows 2 and 4: Work even in St st.
Row 3: K1, sl1, psso, work to end.
Row 5: K1, sl1, psso, work to last 2 sts, K2tog.
Rep last 4 rows until 2 sts rem.
K2tog. Fasten off.
Right Front
With smaller needles, cast on 35 sts.
K1, P1 rib for 2 rows.
Row 3 is buttonhole row. K1, P1 rib 3 sts, yo, K2tog, work rib to end.
K1, P1 rib 8 more rows.
Next row: K1, P1 rib. Slip last 7 sts worked to stitch holder.
Change to larger needles and work 37 rows in St st.
Continue working to correspond with left front, reversing shaping.
Sleeves (Make two)
With smaller needles, cast on 33 sts.
K1, P1 rib for 16 rows (this makes a nice cuff you can turn back to adjust sleeve length as needed).
Change to larger needles.
Work 36 rows St st and at the same time inc 1 st each end of Rows 3, 11, and 19 – 39 sts.
Shape Armhole And Cap
Cast off 4 sts beg next 2 rows.
Purl one row.
Cont in St st and dec 1 st each end next and every 4th row until 7 sts rem as follows:
K1, sl1, psso, work to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1.
Cast off.
Finishing
Sew raglan seams together.
Left Front Band
Slip 7 sts from holder to smaller needles.
Rejoin yarn and work K1, P1 rib to center of back of neck.
Cast off.
Right Front Band
Weave in ends on WS.
Sew on buttons.
Work as left but make 3 more buttonholes evenly spaced as before.
Sew on bands. Join all seams.
Once you’ve got a good basic cardigan pattern you can change it by adding pattern rows in various ways—just a couple rows, just the front, or the whole cardigan. You can also add a little colour as shown in photos.
