A baby cardigan in a stranded design inspired by Pinneguri’s Høstjakka. Knit flat in the round and bottom up. Used the measurements from Junior as a guideline for the size.

I bought the yarn at Stitches West from Mette’s booth. It’s undyed alpaca, and I just fell in love with the colors. They aren’t the same weight, so I’m holding the thinnest yarn (the white) double.

Planned on knitting flat, but after a couple of rounds realized why I hate doing colorwork flat. Cast on a 6 extra sts for the steek and started knitting in the round. I realized there wouldn’t be enough yarn for a cardigan. The advantage of starting at the bottom is that was easy to transform it into a vest.

I borrowed CaliSwede’s sewing machine for the steeks - I didn’t feel comfortable crochet steeking alpaca. I sewed 2 lines of zigzag stitches on each side of the steeks, so the cuts are very well reinforced.

Instructions

• Cast on 130 sts in main color (MC), knit 2-by-2 ribbing for 2.5 cm. Inc 3 sts evenly, joined in the round with 8 steek sts, started pattern.

• Knit in pattern until piece measures 21.5 cm

• Knit 24 sts (right front) in pattern. K next 18 sts in MC in garter stitch (underarm). Knit 46 sts (back) in pattern. K next 18 sts in MC in garter stitch (underarm). Knit 24 sts (left front) in pattern. Repeat 5 times. On 6th row bind off underarm sts, add 8 steek sts over bound off underarm.

• Immediately start decreases for v-neck and arm openings: Decrease 1 st before and after every steek every 2 row 5 times. Decrease 1 st before and after the front steek every 2 row 3 more times.

• Continue knitting in pattern in the round. When piece measures 31 cm, place the middle 18 sts on the back on stitch holder.

• Knit 6 rows flat. Bind off the steek sts.

• Reinforce and cut the steeks

• Weave top of vest together using kitchener stitch.

• Pick up sts around sides and top of arm openings, knit 5 rows of 2-by-2 ribbing, bind off. Sew edges of ribbing to garter stitch edge.

• Pick up sts on sides of cardigan + held sts in the back. knit 5 rows of 2-by-2 ribbing, adding 5 buttonholes on row 3. Bind off after row 5.