Cardigans in Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo & Cotton DK - 9833 - Downloadable PDF

Stylecraft 9833: Baby and Toddler Cardigans in Naturals Bamboo & Cotton DK — Pattern Summary

Stylecraft pattern 9833 is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern featuring two distinct baby and toddler cardigan designs worked in Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo & Cotton DK. Both garments are sized to fit children from newborn through 3 years, covering chest measurements of 36 cm to 56 cm (14 in to 22 in). The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it well suited to knitters who are comfortable with cables, rib shaping, and basic garment construction. Each design is a classic button-front cardigan, and together they offer a beautiful introduction to working with natural-fibre DK yarn on a small, satisfying scale.

Design One: Cardigan with Collar

The first design is a Cardigan with Collar, shown in the colourway Ocean (7145). This garment features a richly textured cable panel running across the body, giving it a traditional, heirloom quality that suits both boys and girls. The collar adds a charming, finished neckline detail that elevates this piece beyond a simple baby knit.

Construction and Shaping

The cardigan is worked flat in separate pieces — back, two fronts, and sleeves — which are then seamed together. The back begins with a 2×2 rib welt worked on 3¼ mm needles (UK 10 / USA 3), providing a neat, elasticated lower edge. Stitches are then increased evenly across a transition row before the work is moved to 4 mm needles (UK 8 / USA 6) for the main body fabric. This needle change is a standard technique for achieving the correct tension in the patterned section while keeping the rib firm and tidy.

Stitch Patterns and Techniques

• 2×2 Rib: The welt and cuffs are worked in a classic knit 2, purl 2 rib, creating stretch and structure at the edges.
• Cable Panel: The main body fabric features a detailed arrangement of cables set against a reverse stocking stitch background. Specific cable stitches include C4F (cable 4 front), C4B (cable 4 back), C6F (cable 6 front), and C6B (cable 6 back). These are worked on a repeating 8-row cable sequence, creating a symmetrical, interlocking cable motif across the back and fronts.
• Reverse Stocking Stitch Columns: Purl columns separate the individual cable elements, a classic technique that makes the twisted stitches pop visually.
• Thumb Method Cast On: The pattern specifies the thumb method cast on for starting the back, a straightforward and stretchy cast-on well suited to ribbed edges.

Sizing and Yarn Requirements

The Cardigan with Collar is available in five sizes: 0–6 months, 6–12 months, 12–24 months, and 2–3 years, with actual chest measurements ranging from 42 cm to 64 cm and full lengths from 18 cm to 38 cm. Sleeve lengths range from 12 cm to 24 cm. The pattern requires 1 (2, 2, 3, 3) × 100 g balls of Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo & Cotton DK in Ocean (7145). Fastening is provided by 5 buttons for the two smallest sizes and 6 buttons for the larger sizes.

Design Two: V Neck Cardigan

The second design is a V Neck Cardigan, shown in the colourway Silver (7149). This version offers a cleaner, more contemporary silhouette with its open V neckline, making it a versatile layering piece for everyday wear. While the PDF content provided does not detail the full stitch pattern of this design, it shares the same yarn, needle sizes, and size range as the Cardigan with Collar.

Sizing and Yarn Requirements

Like the first design, the