My daughter recently reached a new milestone: walking! While this is incredibly exciting, it also means her clothes are facing a whole new level of wear and tear. I found myself wanting a cardigan for her – something cute, of course, but also sturdy enough to withstand crawling, climbing, and all the adventures of early toddlerhood. Many of the adorable, lacy baby cardigan patterns I found, while beautiful, just didn't seem practical for our rough-and-tumble lifestyle and frequent washing. So, I decided to create my own! The result is a knit baby cardigan designed with both durability and charm in mind. The simple, robust knit will hold up beautifully, while a sweet ruffle edge adds just the right touch of embellishment – a little bit girly, without being overly frilly, making it the perfect practical yet precious layer for your little one.

The Sweet Ruffle Cardigan is knit from the top down, starting with the neck, raglan increase, body, and finally sleeves. The body of the sweater uses a simple stockinette stitch with a ruffle along the bottom edge. You can add personality to the sweater by finishing it with cute buttons. I chose to use Bernat Softee Cotton yarn, but if you live in a colder climate you could also substitute for a soft wool yarn of similar weight for an even warmer sweater.

The free pattern below is for size 6-12m. If you are looking for additional sizes, you can purchase an ad-free PDF of the pattern on my Etsy shop which includes instructions for 7 sizes from newborn - 4 years.

SPECIFICATIONS

SIZES

6-12 months: designed to fit chest chest 18”, actual cardigan chest is 21” around. Length = 11.5”; additional sizes newborn - 4 years available for purchase on my Etsy site.

GAUGE

22 sts and 30 rows to 4” in stockinette stitch on US size 6 needles

MATERIALS

Yarn: I used ~425 yds of Bernat Softee Cotton yarn in Pool Green; though you can also use any DK yarn of similar weight (3 - Lightweight)

Needles: US4 and US6 40” circular needle (for magic loop). If you prefer, you can use smaller circular or DPN for sleeves. I personally use the long circular needles to knit the entire project, but you can choose whatever works best for you.

Additional supplies: yarn needle, scissors, 4 stitch markers, 5 buttons - I used 1/2” white buttons from Amazon; though any 1/2” - 5/8” buttons would work.

ABBREVIATIONS

co - cast on
k - knit
p - purl
k2tog - knit 2 together
kfb - knit in the front and the back of the same stitch; tutorial here.
m1 - make 1 st by lifting the yarn between two stitches and knitting tbl; tutorial here
ssk - slip slip knit
pm - place marker
sm - slip marker
tbl - through the back loop
RS - right side
WS - wrong side

INSTRUCTIONS

(A PDF of this pattern can also be found on Etsy)

Note on buttonholes: Buttonholes need to be evenly placed along one garter stitch band as you knit the body of the cardigan. Suggested spacing: 5 buttonholes spaced ~2 1/4” apart. Note if you alter the length of your cardigan you will need to adjust the buttonhole spacing.

neck and raglan increase

Using 3.5mm (US size 4) straight needles loosely cast on 65 sts

Rows 1 - 4: Knit

Change to 4mm (US size 6) circular needle

R5 (RS): (Buttonhole Row):
For unisex or girl - Knit to last 4 sts, K2tog, yo, K2
For boy - K2, yo, K2tog, knit to end

R6 (WS): (Set Up Row) K5, purl 8, pm, purl 9, pm, purl 21, pm, purl 9, pm, purl 8, knit 5

R7 (RS): K5, *knit to 1st stitch before marker, kfb, sm, kfb*. Repeat from * to * 3 more times, knit to end (73 sts)

R8 (WS): and every alternate row: Knit 5, Purl to last 5 sts, slipping markers as you work, knit 5

R9: same as row 7 (81 sts)

R11: same as row 7 (89)

R13: same as row 7 (97)

R15: same as row 7 (105)

R17: same as row 7 (113)

R19: same as row 7 (121)

R21: same as row 7 (129)

R23: same as row 7 (137)

R25: same as row 7 (145)

R27: same as row 7 (153)

R29: same as row 7 (161)

R31: same as row 7 (169)

R33: same as row 7 (177)

R35: same as row 7 (185)

R37: same as row 7 (193)

R39: same as row 7 (201)

R41: same as row 7 (209)

R43: as row 7 (217)

Next Row: Knit 5, Purl to last 5 sts, slipping markers as you work, knit 5

** Don’t forget to work your buttonholes **

BODY

DIVIDE FOR BODY

Next row: Knit to 1st marker, remove marker, use a tapestry needle to slip the next 47 sts onto waste yarn, tie yarn to form a circle to secure, remove marker, knit to the next marker, remove marker, slip the next 47 sts onto waste yarn as before, remove marker, knit to end (123)

WORK THE BODY

Work the remainder of the body in stockinette stitch as follows:

R1 (WS): k5, purl to last 5 sts, k5

R2: k across

Repeat rows 1 and 2 -- remembering to work your buttonholes -- until you work your final buttonhole row.

Next row (WS): Knit 5, Purl to last 5 sts, knit 5

At this point the cardigan should measure ~2” shorter than the desired finished length, or ~9.5” from neckline.

WORK THE RUFFLE

R1 (RS): k5, *k1, m1* repeat from * to * until last 6 sts, k6 (235)

R2 (WS): and every alternate row: Knit 5, Purl to last 5 sts, knit 5

R3 (RS): k across

Repeat rows 2 and 3 of the ruffle working in stockinette stitch until the ruffle measures ~1.5”; stop after working a right side row.

Change to 3.5mm (US size 4) needles and work 5 rows garter stitch, starting and finishing with a wrong side row. Cast off.

SLEEVES

With the right side of the work facing you and starting at the underarm edge, transfer the 47 sts from waste yarn for one sleeve evenly onto 4mm (US size 6) double pointed needles, or a small circular needle, or large circular needle for magic loop method - depending on your preference.

Place marker to denote the start of round.

R1-5: Knit

R6 (decrease round): k1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1 (45)

Continue to work in stockinette stitch (every round knit), working the decrease round every 7th round until you have 35 sts.

Continue in stockinette stitch without any more decreases until sleeve measures 6.25” from the underarm.

Change to 3.5mm (US size 4) needles. Work 5 rounds garter stitch. Cast off.

Finishing

Weave in loose ends. Sew up the small underarm gap under each sleeve. Attach buttons to button band, matching up with buttonholes.

***You may make and sell products from my patterns but if you do I ask that you link back to my post. Please do not copy and post this pattern and claim it as your own, or attempt to sell this pattern. Please do not re-publish photos as your own.