This cardigan is a design collaboration with my nephew, Oscar. His vision was specific and unwavering: black and blue with snowflakes. Our original brainstorming session took place in the summer, and though 3 year olds don’t care about wearing snowflakes year-round, we thought maybe some people would want some alternative options—this is why the pattern includes two additional motifs envisioned by Oscar: sprinkles, and yellow triangles. Oscar says that the triangles are specifically supposed to be yellow, but I think he’d be happy to see what you come up with.

The cardigan is seamless and worked flat from the bottom up. The body joins the sleeves at the underarms, and the yoke is shaped with raglan decreases. The buttonbands and collar are picked up to be worked flat, and the collar is shaped with short rows. Simple colourwork and set in pockets make for cute details, and the alternative motif options open up creative possibilities.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL / SKILLS REQUIRED

Difficulty: intermediate
Skills required: long tail cast on, increasing, decreasing, stranded colourwork, wrong side colourwork, picking up stitches, short rows, buttonholes

MATERIALS

Yarn:
Brooklyn Tweed Quarry, 100% Targhee-Columbia wool 200 yards / 183 meters per 100g / 3.5 oz skein
C1: 1 (2, 2, 2, 2) skeins (shown in “Lapis”)
C2: 1 (2, 2, 2, 2) skeins (shown in “Obsidian”)
C3: 1 (1, 1, 1, 1) skeins (shown in “Moonstone”)
Optional triangle motif only C4: 1 (1, 1, 1, 1) skein (pictured in swatch, “Citrine”)

Or
Chunky weight yarn
C1: 200 (230, 250, 320, 365) yards / 185 (210, 230, 295, 335) metres
C2: 180 (220, 230, 300, 350) yards / 165 (200, 210, 275, 320) metres
C3: 100 (120, 140, 160, 200) yards / 95 (110, 130, 145, 185) metres
Optional triangle motif only C4: 20 (25, 30, 35, 40) yards / 18 (22, 28, 32, 36) metres

Needles:
US 11 / 8 mm 24” / 60 cm circular needle
US 11 / 8 mm DPNs or circular needles for magic loop for sleeves; DPNs recommended for pocket linings
US 10.5 / 6.5 mm 24” / 60 cm circular needle
US 10.5 / 6.5 mm DPNs or circular needles for magic loop for cuffs

or sizes needed to obtain gauge

NOTIONS

Stitch markers
Tapestry or yarn needle
Waste yarn
Four - .75” / 19 mm buttons

GAUGE

Using US 11 / 8 mm needles, 12 stitches and 18 rows = 4” / 10 cm in stockinette stitch, blocked

SIZE INFORMATION

Sized to fit children approximately 2 (4, 6, 8, 10) years of age
Chest circumference (finished measurements): 25 (27, 29, 31, 33)” / 63.5 (68.5, 73.5, 78.5, 84) cm
Intended ease: approximately 3 – 6” / 7.5 – 15 cm positive ease in chest
Shown in 27” / 68.5 cm size with 4” / 10 cm positive ease