Child's Top-Down Seamless Cardigan with Set-In Sleeves

Free Child Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Introducing the Child's Top-Down Seamless Cardigan with Set-In Sleeves – a versatile and stylish piece for your little one's wardrobe. This cardigan is knitted from the top down in one piece, eliminating the need for any seams. The body and sleeves are worked in stockinette stitch in rows and rounds respectively, creating a classic look. The addition of two-color stripes adds an extra pop of color and interest to this already beautiful design. Whether it's for layering on cooler days or for a special occasion, this cardigan is sure to be a treasured addition to your child's wardrobe.

Size: 2 (4, 6, 8)

Finished measurements
Chest: 24 [26, 28, 30] inches (60 [66, 72, 76] cm)

Materials:

LB Collection Organic Wool aran weight yarn 185 yards (169 meters) / 100 gr, color 114 Redwood - 1 (2, 2, 2) skein (A)
O-Wool Legacy worsted weight yarn (100% wool) color Clay 130 yards (97 meters) / 50 gr - 2 (4, 4, 5) skeins (B)
7 small buttons.

Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm) circular and dpn

Gauge: 18 st x 24 rows = 4" x 4" (10 x 10 cm) for stockinette st

Stockinette in rows:
Row 1: knit
Row 2: purl
Repeat from row 1.

Stockinette Stitch in rounds:
all rows - knit

Rib 1x1:
k 1, p1 - all rows or rounds

Make 1 increase (M1) - I used the increase described by Elizabeth Zimmerman
Make a backward loop over the right-hand needle and in the next row purl as a regular stitch. See picture here

Sleeve increases:

Sleeve cap is shaped with raised increases. Please note that the right and the left increases are slightly different.

RRI (Right Raised Increase) - insert the right needle into the stitch below the stitch on the left needle, and lift it onto the left needle; knit the raised st, drop it, then knit the original stitch on the left needle.

LRI (Left Raised Increase) - first knit the stitch and drop it from the left needle; insert the tip of the left needle two rows below the right needle and raise the stitch to the left needle; knit the raised st and drop it.


Directions

Construction Notes
The cardigan is worked from top to bottom, back and forth without seams. The top of the back is knitted first, then the top parts of the front are picked up from the top of the back. Then sts are picked up along the side edges of the fronts for sleeve caps and from this the cardigan is worked as one-piece. Cardigan is worked in stockinette st in rows, sleeves are worked in stockinette st in rounds.

Color Sequence
The cardigan is worked with stripes, the color changes after the sleeves are divided the same on the bodice and the sleeves. The first stripe starts from the 9th row after the sleeves are picked up for the sleeve caps.

A - 8 rows from the sleeve caps
B - 2 rows
A - 8 rows
B - 4 rows
A - 6 rows
B - 6 rows
A - 4 rows
B - 8 rows
A - 2 rows
B - 12 rows
A - 2 rows
B - 8 rows
A - 4 rows
B - 6 rows
A - 6 rows
B - 4 rows
A - 8 rows
B - 2 rows
A - 12 rows
Depending on the size you are making you might not need all the color changes listed above. Work the rib in the color of the last color change.

Top of Back

Cast on 18 (18, 20, 22) sts and purl one row (wrong side).
Continue to work as follows:
Row 1 and all odd rows: k2, m1, k1, m1, knit to last 3 sts, m1, k1, m1, k2. Repeat 1st row 4 (5, 5, 5) more times.
Row 2 and all even rows: purl
Rows 3-10 (3-12, 3-12, 3-12): repeat rows 1-2. Now you have 38 (42, 44, 46) sts

Top of Front

Right Front
Pick up and knit 12 (14, 14, 14) sts along the right shoulder slope. Work stockinette for 12 (14, 14, 16) rows.

Left Front
Pick up and knit 12 (14, 14, 14) sts along the right shoulder slope. Work stockinette for 12 (14, 14, 16) rows.

Bodice with sleeves.

Work left front sts, place marker, pick up 8 (10, 10, 12) sts along the side of the left front for the sleeve cap, place marker, work back sts, place marker, pick up 8 (10, 10, 12) sts along the side of the right front for the sleeve cap, place marker, work right front sts, turn. Continue to work cardigan in one piece.

V-neck shaping: increase by 1 st at the beginning and the end of the row in every odd row 6 (8, 9, 10) times.

AT THE SAME TIME
Sleeve shaping: work front to marker, move marker, LRI (see above), work sleeve sts to 1 st before the marker, RRI (see above), move marker, work back sts to marker, move marker, LRI, work sleeve sts to 1 st before the marker, RRI, move marker, work front sts.
Work as established 10 (11, 11, 11) times in every odd round.

Continue with:
Sleeve and armhole shaping: work front to 1 st before the marker, RRI, move marker, LRI, work sleeve sts to 1 st before the marker, RRI (see above), move marker, LRI, work back sts to 1 st before the marker, RRI, move marker, LRI, work sleeve sts to 1 st before the marker, RRI, move marker, LRI, work front sts.

Work as established 6 (6, 7, 8) times in every odd round

Divide for sleeves

Next row: work the left front sts, transfer the left sleeve sts to a length of yarn, cast on 3 sts with single cast on for the underarm, work back sts, transfer right sleeve sts to a length of yarn, cast on 3 sts with single cast on and work right front stitches.

Continue to work bodice in stockinette back and forth for 52 (58, 64, 72) more rows or until desired length.

Work 8 rows of rib. Work the first rib row as follows: *k3, k2tog (knit 2 together), repeat to the end of the row.

Cast off.

Sleeve

Sleeves are worked in rounds.
Transfer sleeve sts from the yarn to the needles and pick up 3 sts over the 3 underarm sts. Place a marker at the beginning of the round.

Work 42 (54, 60, 68) rounds or to desired length. To shape the sleeve, work k3tog (knit 3 together) at marker in every 6th round, 6 (7, 8, 9) times.

Work 8 rows of rib. The first rib row work as follows: *k 3, k2tog (knit 2 together), repeat to the end of the row.

Cast off.


Finishing

Buttonbands

Pick up stitches along the fronts and the neckline of the cardigan and work 9 rows of rib. Cast off. On the left buttonband make 7 buttonholes by working *yo (yarn over), k2tog in the 5th row.

Sew on buttons.


Enjoy!