Machine Knit Play Day Child’s Cardigan
by City Farmhouse Studio
Get the printable PDF version of the pattern (without ads) HERE
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Click HERE to read about the Women’s version of this cardigan. This pattern has the same as this child’s version, but sized from XS to 3X. Pattern available in hand and machine knitting instructions. Great patterns to be twinning with your little one!
Premier Serenity Sock Yarn – Soft White – 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5 skeins (get it HERE)
Standard Gauge Machine with Patterning Capability
Standard Gauge Ribber
Punch Card #2
½” Buttons – 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6
Size: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14
Chest: 23, 25, 26.5, 28, 30, 31.5 inches
Gauge:
4” x 4” = 28 st x 36 rows stockinette
4” x 4” = 22 st x 60 rows of tuck pattern
Back:
Set up 90, 100, 108, 118, 126, 138 needles total between machine and ribber for 2×2 rib zig zag row at half pitch. Add extra needles if needed to create zig zag between beds. T4 on both dials. COR. Make zig zag row.
Adjust to T6 on both dials and make 3 rows of circular knit to create cast on.
Align needles to correct orientation for ribbing by adjusting pitch.
Transfer any added stitches from zig zag row to achieve 90, 100, 108, 118, 126, 138 needles in work total.
K 11, 15, 17, 19, 19, 19 rows.
Move all needles to main bed.
K1 row.
Reset RC to 000. T8 on carriage.
K 75, 82, 90, 98, 104, 121 rows.
Decrease 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8 stitches at side of carriage. K 1 row.
Decrease 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8 stitches at side of carriage. K 1 row.
Decrease 1 st on right and left. K 2, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2 rows.
Repeat 2, 0, 0, 7, 8, 9 more times. (RC 83, 87, 95, 116, 124, 143. Needles in work 72, 86, 92, 88, 92, 102)
Decrease 1 st on right and left. K 2, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1 rows.
Repeat 2, 6, 7, 2, 2, 2 more times. (RC 89, 101, 111, 119, 127, 146. Needles in work 66, 72, 76, 82, 86, 96)
K 28, 28, 30, 34, 38, 39 rows. (RC 117, 129, 141, 153, 165, 185. Needles in work 66, 72, 76, 82, 86, 96)
Enable Partial Knit Lever to pass over needles in hold position.
Move LN1 to LN8, 8, 9, 9, 10, 10 to hold position. Move all the needles on right to hold.
K 2 rows. *note – from here on wrap yarn under 1st needle on 1st row knit after putting needles to hold to prevent holes at the neckline.
Place 6, 7, 7, 7, 9, 11 more needles on hold at right. K 2 rows.
Place 5, 6, 6, 7, 3, 3 more needles on hold at right. K 3, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2 rows. (RC 124, 136, 148, 160, 171, 191. Needles in work 14, 15, 16, 18, 21, 24)
For size 12 and 14 only: Place 2 needles on hold at right. K 3, 2 rows. (RC 174, 193. Needles in work 19, 22)
For all sizes: Cut yarn leaving length for tail. Put all needles at left on hold. Bring right most 25, 28, 29, 32, 33, 38 needles to working position.
Adjust RC to 117, 129, 141, 153, 165, 185.
COL.
K 1 row.
Place 6, 7, 7, 7, 9, 11 more needles on hold at right. K 2 rows.
Place 5, 6, 6, 7, 3, 3 more needles on hold at right. K 4, 4, 4, 4, 2, 2 rows. (RC 124, 136, 148, 160, 170, 190. Needles in work 14, 15, 16, 18, 21, 24)
For size 12 and 14 only: Place 2 needles on hold at right. K 4, 3 rows. (RC 174, 193. Needles in work 19, 22)
Cut yarn leaving length for tail. Take back piece off on waste yarn or garter bar.
Front Left (side facing you is right side of fabric):
Set up 33, 35, 37, 41, 43, 49 needles total between machine and ribber for 2×2 rib zig zag row. T4 on both dials. COR. Make zig zag row, adjust to T6 on both dials and make 3 rows of circular knit to create cast on.
Align needles to correct orientation for ribbing.
K 11, 15, 17, 19, 19, 19 rows.
Move all needles to main bed. T8 on carriage. Set up patterning or punch card.
Enable needle selection with patterning, but do not engage carriage to tuck.
K 1 row.
Reset RC to 000. Set carriage to tuck and patterning or punch card to advance as rows are knit.
K 124, 136, 150, 164, 176, 202 rows.
Bind off 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 6 stitches at right. K 4 rows. (RC 128, 140, 154, 168, 180, 206)
Decrease 1 stitch at right. K 4 rows.
Repeat 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3 more times. (RC 136, 152, 166, 180, 192, 222. Needles in work 26, 27, 28, 32, 34, 39)
Decrease 1 stitch at right. K 6 rows.
Repeat 1, 2, 2, 4, 4, 5 more times. (RC 148, 170, 184, 210, 222, 258. Needles in work 24, 24, 25, 27, 29, 33)
Decrease 1 stitch at right. K 27, 23, 29, 27, 31, 29 rows. (RC 175, 193, 213, 237, 253, 287. Needles in work 23, 23, 24, 26, 28, 32)
Bind off 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3 stitches at left. K 2 rows.
Decrease 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2 stitches at left. K 2 rows.
Repeat 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 3 more times. (RC 185, 203, 223, 249, 267, 297. Needles in work 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21)
Decrease 1 stitch at left. K 4 rows.
Repeat 3 more times. (RC 201, 219, 239, 265, 283, 313. Needles in work 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17)
K 4 rows.
With garter stitches of back panel facing you, hang the right most 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 22 stitches of back panel shoulder evenly on the 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17 needles as front panel. Bind off both together for shoulder seam.
Front Right:
Set up 33, 35, 37, 41, 43, 49 needles total between machine and ribber for 2×2 rib zig zag row. T4 on both dials. COR. Make zig zag row, adjust to T6 on both dials and make 3 rows of circular knit to create cast on.
Align needles to correct orientation for ribbing.
K 11, 15, 17, 19, 19, 19 rows.
Move all needles to main bed. Set up patterning or punch card. Enable needle selection with patterning, but do not engage carriage to tuck.
K 1 row.
Reset RC to 000. T8 on carriage. Set carriage to tuck and patterning or punch card to advance as rows are knit.
K 125, 137, 151, 165, 177, 203 rows.
Bind off 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 6 stitches at left. K 4 rows. (RC 129, 141, 155, 169, 181, 207)
Decrease 1 stitch at left. K 4 rows.
Repeat 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3 more times. (RC 137, 153, 167, 181, 193, 223. Needles in work 26, 27, 28, 32, 34, 39)
Decrease 1 stitch at left. K 6 rows.
Repeat 1, 2, 2, 4, 4, 5 more times. (RC 149, 171, 185, 211, 223, 259. Needles in work 24, 24, 25, 27, 29, 33)
Decrease 1 stitch at left. K 27, 23, 29, 27, 31, 29 rows. (RC 176, 194, 214, 238, 254, 288. Needles in work 23, 23, 24, 26, 28, 32)
Bind off 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3 stitches at right. K 2 rows.
Decrease 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2 stitches at right. K 2 rows.
Repeat 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 3 more times. (RC 186, 204, 224, 250, 268, 298. Needles in work 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21)
Decrease 1 stitch at right. K 4 rows.
Repeat 3 more times. (RC 202, 220, 240, 266, 284, 314. Needles in work 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17)
K 4 rows.
With garter stitches of back panel facing you, hang the left most 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 22 stitches of back panel shoulder evenly on the 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17 needles as front panel. Bind off both together for shoulder seam.
Sleeve: (make 2)
Set up 52, 52, 56, 56, 58, 60 needles total between machine and ribber for 2×2 rib zig zag row. T4 on both dials. COR. Make zig zag row, adjust to T6 on both dials and make 3 rows of circular knit to create cast on.
Align needles to correct orientation for ribbing.
K 11, 15, 17, 19, 19, 19 rows.
Move all needles to main bed.
K 1 row.
Reset RC to 000. T8 on carriage.
K 7 rows.
Fully fashion one stitch increase at the right and left (Move the end stitch over to next empty needle. On the second to end needle, move the loop of the previous row onto newly created empty needle). K 7 rows.
Repeat 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18 more times. (RC 77, 91, 98, 112, 126, 140. Needles in work 72, 76, 82, 86, 92, 98)
K 5 rows.
Decrease 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 8 stitches at same side of carriage. K 1 row.
Decrease 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 8 stitches at same side of carriage. K 1 row. (RC 84, 98, 105, 119, 133, 147. Needles in work 58, 62, 66, 70, 76, 82)
Decrease 1 stitch on right and left. K 1 row.
Repeat 2, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1 more time. (RC 87, 101, 108, 122, 135, 149. Needles in work 52, 56, 60, 64, 72, 78)
Decrease 1 stitch on right and left. K 2 rows.
Repeat 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4 more times. (RC 91, 107, 114, 130, 143, 159. Needles in work 48, 50, 54, 56, 64, 68)
Decrease 1 stitch on right and left. K 3 rows.
Repeat 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5 more times. (RC 100, 116, 126, 142, 158, 177. Needles in work 42, 44, 46, 48, 54, 56)
Decrease 1 stitch on right and left. K 2 rows.
Repeat 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 6 more times. (RC 112, 128, 140, 156, 172, 191. Needles in work 30, 32, 32, 34, 40, 42)
Decrease 1 stitch on right and left. K 1 row.
Repeat 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5 more times. (RC 117, 133, 145, 161, 178, 197. Needles in work 20, 22, 22, 24, 28, 30)
Bind off.
Sew sleeve caps to body arm openings. Sew body sides and sleeve sides.
Neck Band:
Hang neck stitches of right front, back, and left front evenly over 93, 98, 101, 105, 111, 118 needles. Transfer stitches to ribber for 2×2 rib. T6 on carriage.
K 9, 11, 13, 15, 15, 15 rows.
Bind off.
Button Band:
With waste yarn knit across 95, 111, 123, 139, 144, 161 needles. T8 on carriage.
Changing to main yarn, K10 rows.
Using garter bar rotate fabric. K1 row to create a garter stitch edge. Rotate fabric back around. *Note – if you do not have a garter bar you can make one row of garter stitches by hand to still have this as an edge detail, or create a turning row by knitting 1 row at T10.
K10 rows.
Lay a towel over bed needles to protect garment from oil. Lay edge of left front panel over needles (right side of fabric facing up) with button edge near needle hooks. Evenly distribute panel over 95, 111, 123, 139, 144, 161 needles.
Pick up beginning band at waste yarn and hang on needles.
Hand knit each needle to create a large loop (almost take needle back to non-working position).
Crochet bind off.
Button Hole Band:
With waste yarn knit across 95, 111, 123, 139, 144, 161 needles again. T8 on carriage.
Changing to main yarn, K5 rows.
With nylon cord knit off the 3 stitches for the 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6 button holes. Leave 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4 stitches working at edges of band. Between each button hole will be 18, 22, 25, 23, 24, 27 needles in work.
K5 rows.
Using garter bar rotate fabric. K1 row to create a garter stitch edge. Rotate fabric back around. *Note – if you do not have a garter bar you can make one row of garter stitches by hand to still have this as an edge detail, or create a turning row by knitting 1 row at T10.
K5 rows.
Pick up stitches of main color that interact with nylon cord closest to garter stitch and rehang on original needles. There will be 1 extra stitch also in work with the nylon cord. Hang that stitch on one of the button hole needles also.
With a long piece of main color yarn, post bind off each button hole. Run the yarn between holes but give slack. This will be encased and you will not see it when garment is completed.
Remove yarn around posts.
Rehang the other side of the main color stitches that interact with the nylon cord to original needles.
K5 rows.
If button holes look correct remove nylon cord from button hole.
Lay a towel over bed needles to protect garment from oil. Lay edge of the right front panel over needles (right side of fabric facing up) with button edge near needle hooks. Evenly distribute panel over 95, 111, 123, 139, 144, 161 needles.
Pick up beginning band at waste yarn and hang on needles.
Hand knit each needle to create a large loop (almost take needle back to non-working position).
Crochet bind off.