Kid's Bengt Cardigan - Knitting Pattern For Kids in MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino by MillaMia

Kid's Bengt Cardigan – Knitting Pattern for Children by MillaMia

The Kid's Bengt Cardigan is a charming children's knitting pattern by MillaMia, designed to be knitted in MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino yarn. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern is rated at an improving/intermediate skill level and is sized to fit children aged 2–3, 4–5, 6–7, 8–9, and 10–11 years, with actual chest measurements ranging from 59 cm to 78 cm (approximately 23¼ to 30¾ inches). The pattern is notably designed to coordinate with a matching adult version, making it a wonderful heirloom piece to pass down through generations.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a children's zip-front cardigan featuring colourwork panels worked in a stranded technique. The finished garment has a structured, classic silhouette with set-in or tailored sleeves, making it suitable for everyday wear as well as special occasions. Length to back neck ranges from 34 cm to 46 cm depending on size, and sleeve lengths range from 24 cm to 40 cm, ensuring a well-proportioned fit across all age groups.

Construction Techniques

• Bottom-up construction: The cardigan is worked from the lower hem upward, a traditional approach that gives knitters good control over length adjustments before shaping the armholes and shoulders.
• Worked flat: Pieces are knitted flat on straight or circular needles, meaning the body and sleeves are worked back and forth in rows rather than in the round.
• Seamed finishing: The individual pieces — front panels, back, and sleeves — are sewn together using standard seaming methods, giving the cardigan a neat, structured finish comparable to a professionally made garment.
• Stranded colourwork: The pattern incorporates stranded knitting, a technique where two or more yarn colours are carried across a row, with the unused colour stranded loosely along the wrong side of the fabric. This creates the characteristic colourwork motifs associated with Scandinavian-style knitwear.
• Zipper insertion: Rather than buttons, the cardigan fastens with a zip. The pattern includes detailed hints for inserting the zip correctly — leaving the teeth exposed, tacking each side carefully to match the colourwork pattern, stab-stitching from the right side, and catching the zip tape to the wrong side for a clean, professional finish.

Stitches Used

• Stranded colourwork stitches: The decorative panels are created using stranded knitting worked in knit stitches across right-side rows, with purl stitches on wrong-side rows when working flat.
• Stocking stitch (stockinette): The main body fabric is worked in stocking stitch, which pairs beautifully with the colourwork sections and creates a smooth, even surface.
• Ribbing: Typical of MillaMia cardigan patterns, ribbed edgings are used at the cuffs, hem, and front bands to provide elasticity and a tidy finish.

Materials

• Yarn: MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino, a sport weight yarn sold in 50g/1¾oz balls. The pattern calls for 3 to 4 balls depending on size (3 balls for sizes 2–3 and 4–5 years; 4 balls for sizes 6–7, 8–9, and 10–11 years), plus additional balls in contrast colours for the stranded colourwork sections. MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino is exclusively available at LoveCrafts.
• Needles: Knitting needles appropriate for sport weight yarn, typically in the 3–3.5 mm range, though knitters should always check gauge before beginning.
• Notions: A zip/zipper is required for the front opening; length will vary by size. Tapestry needle for seaming and finishing.

Who Is This Pattern For?

The Kid's