Finley Unisex Baby Cardigan knitting pattern 20 & 22" chest size

Finley Unisex Baby Cardigan Knitting Pattern

What is Being Made

The Finley is a unisex baby cardigan designed by Designs by Tracy D, available in two chest sizes: 20 inches and 22 inches. This is a classic button-up cardigan suitable for infants, featuring a structured construction with ribbed cuffs, front bands, and a stocking stitch body.

Garment Construction and Shaping

The cardigan is constructed using a traditional flat knitting method with separate pieces for the left front, right front, back, and sleeves. The left front begins with 27 stitches for the 20-inch size or 30 stitches for the 22-inch size, cast on using 3.25mm needles. The pattern includes 10 rows of knit-purl ribbing at the cuffs and front bands to create a neat, elastic finish. Arm shaping is incorporated into the pattern structure, and the cardigan features 6 buttons for the 20-inch size and 7 buttons for the 22-inch size.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This intermediate-level pattern employs several fundamental knitting techniques:

• Stocking Stitch (STST): The primary fabric used for the body of the cardigan, creating a smooth, classic appearance
• Ribbing: Used for cuffs and front bands using K1 P1 (knit 1, purl 1) ribbing pattern
• Decreasing: K2TOG (knit 2 together) and SKPO (slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over) techniques are used for shaping
• Increasing: M1 (make 1) stitch method, created by picking up the loop between the last and next stitch and working into the back of it
• Yarn Forward (YFWD): Used for creating texture or decorative elements within the pattern
• Purl 2 Together Through Back Loop (P2TOGTBL): An advanced decrease technique for refined shaping

The pattern includes optional contrast color stripes, worked on the 3rd and 4th rows of the ribbed cuffs and front bands for a decorative effect.

Materials Required

The Finley cardigan requires DK weight yarn, with a total of 200 grams for each size option. A small additional amount of contrast yarn is needed only if you choose to add the optional contrast stripes. Two needle sizes are essential: 3.25mm needles for the ribbed sections and 4mm needles for the main body in stocking stitch. The tension is set at 22 stitches and 30 rows measured over 4 inches (10 centimeters) using the 4mm needles with DK yarn. Buttons—either 6 or 7 depending on the size—complete the cardigan.

Pattern Details and Skill Level

Rated as an intermediate knitting pattern, the Finley requires familiarity with basic stitches, shaping techniques, and the ability to follow written pattern instructions. The pattern uses standard knitting abbreviations and is presented as a downloadable PDF format, making it accessible for digital reference while knitting. The structured approach to the left front piece, with its combination of ribbing and stocking stitch, demonstrates a methodical construction method suitable for knitters progressing beyond beginner projects.