I don’t know why I don’t share a lot of kids knitting patterns. I guess my daughter has aged out of them (I still knit for her occasionally but she fits in the smallest of the adult sizes these days) but for the most part they aren’t really on my radar.
(Unless I’m designing them, but that’s usually baby knitting patterns.)
But this cute little kids cardigan caught my eye the other day and I think it would be great to knit for little ones heading into fall. The K? Cardigan by Leila Raven is a top-down, circular yoke cardigan worked in one piece starting with an integrated garter stitch collar, with plenty of stockinette stitch for ease as well as some lacy shale stripes for extra fun. The button band is also garter stitch and worked as you go to make it faster and easier.
The pattern is sized for babies 3-6 months to kids 4-6 years, and it’s based on the Elizabeth Zimmermann Baby Sweater on Two Needles pattern from Knitter’s Almanac, as well as a design used in one of the designer’s other patterns. It’s a fun mashup that’s easy to knit and to wear.
The original design was worked in DK weight yarn, but the designer has expanded the sizing so that you can work the bigger sizes using worsted weight yarn, which makes them a little bigger. There are options for short sleeves and long sleeves, and the lace parts are both written and charted.
I love that it only has buttons at the top, which is great for knitters because you have to make fewer buttonholes, but also easier for kids to wear. It helps keep the sweater on their body but isn’t too constricting (especially when you’re working around a fat little baby belly).
You can get a copy of this pattern from Ravelry.
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