Sweater and Hat with Cable Pattern in Schachenmayr Bravo Baby - S8653 - Downloadable PDF

Sweater and Hat with Cable Pattern in Schachenmayr Bravo Baby – Pattern S8653

This free downloadable knitting pattern, design reference S8653 from Schachenmayr, provides instructions for two coordinating baby and toddler projects: a classic cable-panel pullover sweater and a matching hat. Both pieces are worked in Schachenmayr Baby Smiles Bravo Baby sport-weight yarn and share a unifying cable motif that gives the set a timeless, heirloom quality. The pattern is written in German and includes a full stitch chart for the decorative fantasy stitch pattern.

The Pullover Sweater

Sizes and Construction

The sweater is offered in four sizes corresponding to garment sizes 80, 86, 92, and 98, making it suitable for babies and toddlers from approximately 12 months through 3 years. Instructions for each size are presented side by side, separated by hyphens, so knitters can easily follow their chosen size throughout. Where a single figure appears, it applies to all sizes.

The sweater is constructed in separate flat pieces — a back, a front, and two sleeves — which are then seamed together. The back and front pieces each incorporate the full 80-stitch fantasy stitch panel, which measures approximately 25 cm wide, flanked on each side by sections of Large Seed Stitch (Großes Perlmuster) that vary in width by size. The sleeves use the central 42 stitches of the same stitch chart, producing a narrower 12 cm cable panel centered on each sleeve.

Techniques and Construction Details

• Ribbed cuffs and hem: The lower edges of the back and front begin with a ribbed welt (Bündchenmuster) worked on smaller needles, creating a neat, elasticated border that keeps the garment in shape.
• Two-color striped rib: The ribbing begins with 5 rows in Beige before switching to Golf Green, introducing the color detail at the very base of the garment.
• Increases for size 80: For the smallest size, additional stitches are picked up from the cross-thread (verschränkt aus dem Querfaden) after the ribbing section to achieve the correct stitch count before transitioning to the main body pattern.
• Needle changes: Smaller Milward needles in size 3–3.5 mm are used for the ribbing, while the main body fabric is worked on larger Milward needles in size 3.5–4 mm to achieve the correct drape and gauge.
• Armhole shaping begins at a height of 19–20–21–22 cm depending on size, worked in the standard manner for a set-in or drop-shoulder construction.
• Reverse Stockinette (Glatt links): The background fabric of the main body is worked in reverse stockinette — knit stitches on wrong-side rows, purl stitches on right-side rows; in the round, all stitches are purled. This creates a smooth purl-faced background that makes the raised cable and textured stitches pop visually.
• Fantasy stitch panel (Fantasiemuster): This is the central decorative element of both garments, worked from a stitch chart. Only right-side rows are charted; wrong-side rows are worked as the stitches present themselves. After the first two foundation rows, the pattern repeat cycles through rows 3–14 or rows 3–18 continuously.
• Crochet hook use: A Milward crochet hook in size 3–3.5 mm is specified, likely for finishing edges, seaming, or working a crochet border.

Stitch Techniques Used

• Cable stitch (Zopfmuster): The signature cable pattern forms the heart of the decorative panel, created by crossing groups of stitches over one another using a cable needle to produce the classic twisted rope or braid effect.
• Reverse stockinette stitch (Glatt links): Used as the main body background fabric.
• Large Seed Stitch (Großes Perlmuster): A textured stitch pattern used on the side panels of the body pieces, adding visual interest beyond the cable center.