"Magnum Cardigan" - Cardigan Knitting Pattern in MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino

Magnum Cardigan Knitting Pattern – MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino

The Magnum Cardigan is a beautifully structured children's cable knit cardigan pattern published by MillaMia, designed for knitters with an experienced skill level. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern produces a classically styled, seamed cardigan worked in sport weight yarn from the bottom up. It is sized to fit children aged 1–2 through 6–7 years, with actual chest measurements ranging from 66 cm to 91 cm (26–36 inches) and lengths to shoulder from 31 cm to 46 cm (12¼–18 inches). Sleeve lengths range from 19 cm to 34 cm (7½–13½ inches) depending on size.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a children's fitted cardigan featuring prominent cable panels worked across all pieces — front, back, and sleeves. The garment is finished with ribbed front bands and fastened with 8 buttons approximately 15mm/½in in diameter. The result is a polished, heirloom-quality knitwear piece that showcases intricate cable detailing throughout.

Techniques Used

• Bottom-up construction: The cardigan is knitted from the lower edge upward, a traditional approach that gives the knitter good control over length adjustments before reaching the armhole shaping.
• Seamed construction: Individual pieces — back, fronts, and sleeves — are knitted separately and then joined, producing clean, structured seams that give the finished garment excellent shape and durability.
• Cable knitting: Cable panels run throughout all pieces of the garment, making this a true cable lover's project. Cables are worked using a dedicated cable needle and require careful attention to pattern repeats across every section.
• Buttonhole construction: Worked into the front bands, buttonholes are integrated to accommodate the 8 buttons that fasten the cardigan.
• Wet blocking: The pattern specifically recommends wet blocking the finished garment, particularly to open up the ribbing on the front bands so it does not pull back from the lower edges.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (stockinette stitch): Used as the base fabric, with a tension of 25 stitches and 34 rows to a 10 cm / 4 in square on 3.25mm needles.
• Cable 6 Forward (C6F): Slip the next 3 stitches onto a cable needle and hold at the front of the work, knit 3, then knit 3 from the cable needle. This creates a classic 6-stitch left-leaning cable twist.
• Cable 12 Forward (C12F): Slip the next 6 stitches onto a cable needle and hold at the front of the work, knit 6, then knit 6 from the cable needle. This larger 12-stitch cable creates a bold, dramatic rope-like column that is a signature feature of the Magnum Cardigan.
• Garter stitch (g-st): Referenced in the abbreviations and used in finishing and edging details.
• Moss stitch (seed stitch): Listed in abbreviations, contributing texture to selected sections of the garment.
• Rib stitch: Used on front bands and lower edges; the pattern advises wet blocking the ribbing to encourage it to lie flat and wide.
• Increases and decreases: Including k2tog (knit two together) and m1 (make one), used for shaping the armholes, neckline, and sleeve cap.

Pattern Tension / Gauge

Two tension measurements are given. Over stocking stitch, the gauge is 25 stitches and 34 rows to 10 cm / 4 in using 3.25mm (US 3) needles. Over the cable pattern, the gauge is 32 stitches and 34 rows to 10 cm / 4 in using the same 3.25mm needles. The denser stitch count over the cable pattern reflects how cables