Knitting the Bottoms Up Baby Raglan Cardigan
-
- #ILTY Ivory Tweed and Birchwood
-
- Blush Sparkle #ILTY
The Bottoms Up Baby Raglan Cardigan is knit from the bottom up.
About 10 years ago a dear friend of mine knit a number of baby cardigans from a pattern that she had made up. She explained to me how to do it and I jotted down some notes. I recently came upon the notes and tried to recreate the pattern. Unfortunately I was unable to ask her for details because she sadly passed away a couple years ago. This is my attempt to recreate her wonderful little cardigan pattern in 5 sizes.
Skill Level → Intermediate/ Adventurous Beginner
Skills to know ↓
This post contains affiliate inks, meaning that if you choose to click through and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you which helps maintain this site. Thank you!
Yarn
For this project I chose Hobby Lobby’s “I Love This Yarn” in 4 colors:
Soft Pink
Soft Peach
Buttercup
Periwinkle
it’s not just the beautiful colors that make this yarn a top choice – it’s also incredibly practical and easy to care for. It’s also inexpensive!
Made from 100% acrylic, this yarn is machine washable and can be tumble dried, making it a convenient option for everyday use. But that’s not all – its anti-pilling properties mean it can withstand multiple washes and remain as soft and smooth as the day you first knit with it.
Full disclosure: This yarn is a heavy worsted weight yarn. Be sure to swatch! If you need to go down or up a needle size to get 4.5 stitches to the inch, then be sure to do it!
Knitpicks Reflections Options Circular Needles
Size US 7 (4.5mm)
Knitpicks Caspian Options Short Interchangeable Circular Set
Size US 7 (4.5mm)
Needles
16″ circular knitting needles with size US8 (5mm) tips
AND
32″ circular knitting needles with size US8 (5mm) tips
The sweater is knit in 5 sections. The sections are knit with the Size 8 needles with the shorter cord. Then the sections are assembled onto the needles with the 32″ (or longer) cord.
A note about Gauge
Gauge is 20 stitches = 4 inches
Want your sweater to fit perfectly? Don’t skip this crucial step! Make sure you knit a swatch first to check your gauge. Don’t be afraid to switch to size 7 or 9 needles to get that perfect fit.
Pattern
The Bottoms Up Baby Raglan Cardigan is written for 4 sizes with these approximate yarn estimates:
0-3 months 250 yards
3-6 months 300 yards
6-12 months 350 yards
12-18 months 400 yards
18-24 months 500 yards
This baby cardigan is knit in 5 sections with the shorter cable:
Right Front: (the panel that is to the right when you are wearing it)
Right Sleeve: (for the right arm)
Back
Left Sleeve: (for the left arm)
Left Front: (the panel on the left when you are wearing it)
Each section, when completed, is placed on scrap yarn. The sections will be placed on the longer cord in this order when they are all made. Alternatively, each section may be placed as you knit them on the needles with the longer cord.
Joining Sections:
Lay out all pieces in the following order from left to right:
Left Front, Left Sleeve, Back, Right Sleeve, Right Front.
Transfer all sections to a long circular needle, placing markers between each section, discarding the scrap yarn.
The sections are knit together and then the raglan decreases will begin.
The neck is finished off with a K2, P2 ribbing.
Then the sweater is seamed up the sleeves and down the sides. For convenience I have added a link to this YouTube video for the mattress stitch technique
Using the Afterthought Buttonhole Method, make the buttonholes.
Here is a link illustrating the Afterthought Buttonhole Method on YouTube: Youtube Video Afterthought Buttonhole
If you’d like to try embroidering an initial onto the sweater like I did, here is the tutorial that I used.
