Since we moved to Shanghai, I’ve made knitting friends from all over the world. When my friend had her first child--far, far away from her Canadian home--I thought baby Maya needed something very Canadian to keep her cozy during our cold, damp Chinese winters: a cardi based on the iconic Hudson’s Bay Company multipoint blanket.

I used the Shawl-Collared Cardigan with Hearts pattern by Sirdar Spinning LTD as the basic pattern, and I incorporated my own Hudson’s Bay Company-inspired details. The original pattern, available for free on Ravelry, is for sizes up to 6-7 years; my pattern is for only the 6 month size.

You’ll need only about a yard of yarn in the four colors, 3 balls of the white. I purchased one ball of each color and five balls of white so I could also make a hat and booties. Patterns to come.

I made navy bobble buttons but small wood toggles would also be appropriate.