Used measuremets from Coffee Bean, but inspired by Poppleton’s cardigan, a version of Jennifer Little’s Bellyphant, I cast on 54 on 5’s using DK aiming for a 3 month size. I intended to switch to 6’s for the body, but I forgot. K2p2 in delft for 1”. Switch to silver for 2 rows stockinette 8 pm, 8 pm, 22 pm, 8 pm, 8 pm. Switch back to delft begin increases 1 stitch before each marker: m1r, k1, slip m, m1l. Continue for 4”, split for sleeves. Add 2 sts under each arm. Continue stockinette for 5” (including k2p2 bottom). Separated for sleeves at 4”. I had 22 each front. Cast on 2 sts under each arm. Put 36 sts for each sleeve on scrap. I had 49 sts on back. Body = 97 sts total. Knit 1”. Knit 2 row silver stripe. Knit 3 rows. Begin elephants and heart. Knit 3 rows delft, 2 more silver stripe, 1 more delft, and began ribbing (doing a k2tog in the middle of the back to make an even # of sts) 1 1/4”. Picked up 4 stitches at underarm and the 36 sleeve stitches on 6’s because I knit tighter magic loop. Next 2 rounds k2tog and ssk to close up any underarm holes and get rid of the additional 4 sts. Reduced after an inch k2tog and ssk to 34 sts and another k2tog and ssk after another inch to 32 sts. Knit in delft until sleeves were 4 1/4”. Then knit 2 rows of silver, 1 row of delft, and k2p2 until sleeves were 5 1/4”. Picked up 50 sts for buttonholes approximately 3 of 4. 4 from neckband, 1 from silver row, 26 between stripes, 2 from silver, 11 between stripes, 1 from silver, 5 from bottom band. Button holes every 6 sts. If I had it to do again, I’d probably space the buttons further apart. I’d also pick up all the stitches from ribbing.

Made a hat to match. This is our boy at about 2 months. It’s a little big on him.

A couple of notes on the yarn: The Knit Picks yarn worked perfectly with the Valley yarn if anyone else is contemplating this pairing. Both are super soft. I like the Knit Picks’ richness of hue, but the Valley is less expensive for phenomenal quality.

The 4th picture shows my third grandson wearing the sweater. It’s really held up all these years.