About this pattern
This cardigan has a classic top-down raglan construction, knit flat in 1 piece. It starts with a provisional cast on for a double neckband, continues on to raglan (raised back-neck is worked with short rows – wrap and turn method).
Once the yoke is finished, you put sleeve stitches on hold and first finish the main body (with optional stripes) with I-cord bind off along the hem, and only then the sleeves with ribbed cuffs.
The lace collar and buttonbands are picked up and knitted on at the very end, the bands are worked sideways in hollow rib. Buttons are seamed on after blocking.

‘Malyshka’ means baby-girl in Russian, I designed this cardigan when I found out I was pregnant with a girl. I wanted something simple and classy, but with a definite feminine touch.
The Peter Pan lace collar and stripes on the main body are optional, so you can go for a more formal / perfectly unisex style, which was discovered by one of my testers who made one for her daughter, and one - for her son.

Please note, some of the pattern photos are from my testers who are not on Ravelry. You can see many more FO’s from this pattern on Instagram under the pattern hashtags: #malyshka_cardigan and even more under the Russian one - #малышкофточка
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Sizing
‘Malyshka’ pattern includes 10 sizes: 6-12 months (12-18 months, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years) {5 years, 6 years, 7 years, 8 years, 9-10 years}.
They have garment bust (when buttoned) of 52 (55, 56, 57, 60) {62, 63, 65, 66, 71} cm / 20.5 (21.5, 22, 22.5, 23.5) {24.5, 25, 25.5, 26, 28}“

WHAT YOU WILL NEED
Yarn: heavy fingering-weight wool (~350-400m/380-440 yds per 100g/3.5oz).
If you want to make stripes / collar in a different color, you can use some leftovers (you will need a maximum of 150m/175 yds for that). Alternatively, you can make the stripes in lace-weight mohair held double and double-strand mohair with main yarn for the collar (see my sample on title page).
Please note: the pattern was developed for 100% merino, if you use yarns with other content, your row to stitch gauge ratio might vary. In this case follow garment dimensions instructions, rather than row count.
Original yarn: Sandnes garn Babyull Lanett + Lana Gatto ‘Silk Mohair’ (75% mohair, 25% silk; 212m/230yds per 25g/0.9oz)

All substitute yarns used during the test are listed in the yarn section.

Yardage:

• You will need a total of 350 (440, 525, 610, 700) {790, 875, 960, 1050, 1140} m / 380 (480, 570, 670, 770) {860, 960, 1050, 1150, 1250} yds of MC
• If using CC, 175 m /190 yds will be plenty.

Needles

• Main needles: 3.5 mm / US 4, or size to get gauge on a 60-80cm /24-32” cable, depending on the size worked + DPNs / short circulars for the sleeves, if you don’t want to magic loop
• Smaller needles (for hem, cuffs and picking up sts) – 3 mm/US2.5, or 0.5mm/1-2 US sizes smaller than your main ones, same cable + DPNs / short circulars for the sleeves, if you don’t want to magic loop
• Larger needles (only if you will be knitting a lace collar) 4 mm/US6, or 0.5mm/2 US sizes larger than your main ones

Notions

• Crochet hook ~3.5 mm/E, or same size as main needles
• Waste yarn in a contrast color and same weight as main one
• Stitch markers; (gauge) ruler and tape measure; tapestry needle; scissors; row counter (optional)
• 5-7 buttons with 10mm/0.4” diameter

Gauge
25 sts x 34 rows in stockinette (flat) on main needles

Required techniques

• knitting and purling flat
• Provisional and Backwards loop cast-on methods
• Short rows (German method)
• Basic increases (lifted) and decreases
• Reading charts (optional)
• I-cord Bind Off, Traditional Bind Off and elastic bind off of your choice for 1x1 rib (e.g. Russian bind off, Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off, etc.)

All difficult steps have photo- and some also video-tutorials (my own explanations / links to non-affiliated technique tutorials).

Pattern tech-edited and translated into English by Olga Barshai GingerHandcrafts