Little Folk Cardigan - Knitting Pattern for Kids in MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino

MillaMia Little Folk Cardigan – Knitting Pattern for Kids

The Little Folk Cardigan is a charming, colourful children's knitting pattern designed by MillaMia, worked in their signature Naturally Soft Merino yarn. This advanced-level pattern produces a fully seamed, stranded colourwork cardigan sized to fit children aged 1–2 up to 6–7 years, with finished chest measurements ranging from 60 cm (23¾ in) to 84 cm (33 in) and lengths from 28 cm to 48 cm to the shoulder. Sleeve lengths range from 21 cm to 34 cm, making the pattern adaptable across a wide range of children's sizes.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a children's button-front cardigan featuring stranded colourwork motifs in a folk-art inspired style. The garment is worked flat in pieces and then seamed together, giving it a neat, structured finish typical of traditional knitwear construction. It features a button band with worked buttonholes and is fastened with 6 or 7 buttons depending on the size being knitted.

Colourways and Design Options

The pattern offers three colourways, each using five colours of MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino. The main colourway uses:

• Midnight 101 (Colour A) – 2 to 3 balls depending on size
• Daisy Yellow 142 (Colour B) – 3 to 5 balls depending on size
• Fuchsia 143 (Colour C) – 1 ball
• Tempest Blue 167 (Colour D) – 1 ball
• Lilac Blossom 123 (Colour E) – 1 ball

Colourway 2 substitutes Denim 172 (A), Forget Me Not 120 (B), Plum 162 (C), Butterscotch 168 (D), and Stone 202 (E). Colourway 3 uses Fuchsia 143 (A), Grass 141 (B), Lilac Blossom 123 (C), Midnight 101 (D), and Sea Green 170 (E). Each colourway creates a distinctly different look while using the same folk-inspired motif structure.

Techniques Used

This pattern is rated advanced and brings together several knitting techniques that require a solid level of experience:

• Stranded colourwork – carrying multiple yarn colours across rows to create the folk-art motifs that define the garment's character. This technique requires consistent tension management to keep the fabric flat and even.
• Worked flat – all pieces are knitted back and forth on straight needles rather than in the round, meaning knitters work both right-side and wrong-side rows.
• Seamed construction – the cardigan pieces are joined using seaming techniques after knitting, producing clean, durable garment edges and a professional finish.
• Buttonholes – worked directly into the button band as part of the flat knitting process, requiring careful placement and neat execution.
• Buttons – the pattern calls for 6 buttons for sizes 1–2 through 4–5 years, and 7 buttons for sizes 5–6 and 6–7 years.

Stitches Used

While the full stitch list is contained within the downloadable PDF, the pattern incorporates stitches and techniques standard to stranded colourwork cardigans at an advanced level, including:

• Stocking stitch – the primary stitch used across the body and sleeves, providing a smooth canvas for the colourwork motifs
• Ribbing – typically used at cuffs, hem, and