Fringes on Front Bands Sweater in BC Garn Semilla Extra Fino - 5086BC - Downloadable PDF

Fringes on Front Bands Sweater in BC Garn Semilla Extra Fino – Pattern Summary (No. 5086BC)

This charming children's cardigan pattern, Fringes on Front Bands Sweater (No. 5086BC), is designed by Lene Holme Samsøe and published by BC Garn. It is available as a free downloadable PDF and is rated as an intermediate level project. The sweater is worked in sizes (2) 4 (6) years, with chest measurements of (64) 69 (74) cm and lengths of (36) 40 (44) cm. Its most distinctive design feature is the decorative fringe trim along the front bands, giving the garment a playful, textured finish that sets it apart from a classic plain cardigan.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a children's button-front cardigan sweater with set-in sleeves, a structured garter stitch hem, and fringed front bands created using crochet. The body is worked primarily in reverse stockinette stitch, giving the fabric a softly textured, purl-faced appearance on the right side. The garment features 7 buttons and is sized for toddlers and young children.

Materials Used

• Yarn: Semilla Extra Fino by BC Garn, in shade rosa (oz105). This is a lace weight yarn, requiring (150) 150 (200) grams depending on size. Semilla Extra Fino is a fine, lightweight yarn well suited to delicate children's knitwear.
• Knitting Needles: Straight needles in sizes 2 mm and 2.5 mm, as well as circular needles in 2 mm and 2.5 mm for picking up stitches along front bands and neckline.
• Crochet Hook: Size 14 (UK) / B/1 (US), used to create the signature fringe detail along the front bands.
• Notions: 7 buttons for the button band closure.

Tension

The stated tension is 34 stitches in stockinette stitch on a 2.5 mm needle = 10 cm. Because this pattern uses lace weight yarn on fine needles, achieving the correct tension is especially important for accurate sizing in a children's garment. Knitters are encouraged to swatch carefully before beginning.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Reverse Stockinette Stitch (Rev St St): The main body fabric is worked in reverse stockinette — purl on the right side, knit on the wrong side — creating a bumpy, textured surface that is the opposite of standard stockinette. This technique gives the sweater a cozy, tactile quality.
• Garter Stitch Hem: The lower edge of the back and fronts begins with 10 rows of garter stitch on 2 mm needles, forming neat ridged hems that lie flat and provide stability.
• Selvage Stitches: A K1 selvage stitch is maintained at each end of every row throughout the body pieces, ensuring clean, even edges for seaming.
• Set-In Armhole Shaping: Armholes are shaped through a series of stepped bind-offs at the beginning of rows — binding off decreasing numbers of stitches over several rows — which is the classic method for creating a neat, fitted set-in sleeve cap and armhole curve.
• Neckline and Shoulder Shaping: The pattern includes shaping for both the back neck and the left and right fronts, with bind-offs worked to create a rounded or angled neckline appropriate for a children's cardigan.
• Front Band Stitches: On the left and right fronts, a small number of stitches are maintained in a rib-like or garter border pattern (K3 at the front edge combined with selvage stitches), forming the base of the button and