Hopp Mini

Hopp Mini Cardigan by Yarn-Madness

What Is Being Made

The Hopp Mini is a seamless, top-down knitted cardigan designed for babies and children in sizes ranging from newborn through 10 years old. The name "Hopp" means "hope" in Swedish, reflecting the designer's intention to create a cheerful garment for the youngest wearers. This cardigan was originally designed as an adult female style and has been adapted into this children's collection, making it a versatile design that grows with your child across multiple size ranges.

Construction Method

The Hopp Mini cardigan is worked from the top down using a seamless construction technique. This method eliminates the need for seaming pieces together after knitting, resulting in a smooth, professional finish throughout the garment. The top-down approach also allows for easy adjustments and custom fit modifications as you work, since you can try on the piece as it develops. Once the knitted body is complete, a crocheted button band is added as a finishing detail, combining both knitting and crochet techniques in a single project.

Design Features

The Hopp Mini cardigan showcases decorative lace patterning along the back of the garment and at the cuffs of the long sleeves, creating an elegant and eye-catching aesthetic. These lace details add visual interest and a refined touch to what is otherwise a practical everyday cardigan. The combination of smooth stockinette sections with delicate lace elements makes this design suitable for both special occasions and regular wear.

Techniques and Stitches Used

• Knit and Purl Stitches: The foundation of the cardigan, creating the base fabric and texture
• Lace Knitting: Decorative openwork patterns on the back and sleeve cuffs, created through yarn overs and decreases
• Raglan Shaping: Increases placed at raglan markers to create the sleeve cap and body shaping as you work top-down
• Kfb (Knit into Front and Back): An increase technique used for shaping the garment
• Crochet Finishing: A crocheted button band applied after the knitting is complete to frame the front opening
• Circular Needle Knitting: Worked on circular needles in the round for seamless construction

Yarn and Needle Requirements

The Hopp Mini cardigan is designed to be worked in worsted weight yarn, though it can also be adapted to aran or DK weight yarns depending on your preferred finished fabric weight and drape. Yardage requirements vary by size: newborn through 18 months require between 220 and 280 yards (200–260 meters), while the 2-year size needs 340 yards (310 meters), and the 4-year through 10-year sizes range from 400 to 640 yards (370–585 meters). The pattern calls for 5mm (US 8) circular needles for the main body, with matching size double-pointed needles available for knitting sleeves using the magic loop method if preferred, rather than working on separate circular needles.

Sizing Information

The Hopp Mini is available in ten different sizes spanning from newborn through 10 years old: Nb, 3m, 6m, 12m, 18m, 2y, 4y, 6y, 8y, and 10y. Actual garment measurements across the chest range from approximately 15.8 inches (40 cm) for the newborn size to 29 inches (74 cm) for the 10-year size, ensuring proper fit throughout childhood.

Difficulty Level

The Hopp Mini cardigan is rated as an intermediate difficulty project. While the basic construction method of top-down knitting is accessible to knitters with some experience, the inclusion of lace patterning and raglan shaping requires familiarity with reading charts, managing increases, and understanding how lace stitches interact with shaping. This project is ideal for knitters looking to expand their skills beyond basic stockinette garments while still working on a manageable project size.