Side by Side Baby Cardigan in Plymouth Jelli Beenz - F578

Side by Side Baby Cardigan in Plymouth Yarn Jelli Beenz – Pattern F578

The Side by Side Baby Cardigan is a charming, colorblock knitted cardigan designed specifically for babies, available in two sizes: 0–6 months and 9–12 months. The finished chest measurement is 21 (23) inches with a length of 11 (12) inches, making it an ideal handknitted gift or wardrobe staple for the littlest knitters in your life. This is a free downloadable PDF pattern from Plymouth Yarn Design Studio, available with yarn purchase.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a classic baby cardigan featuring a bold side-by-side two-color design — the defining feature that gives the pattern its name. The back of the cardigan is worked in two distinct vertical color blocks, each half knitted in its own color simultaneously. The right front is worked entirely in Color A, while the left front is worked entirely in Color B, creating a cohesive, mirror-image colorblock effect across the finished garment. The cardigan is finished with 5 buttons, adding a practical and decorative closure.

Two colorway options are provided in the pattern:

• Red/Blue version: Color A = Jelli Beenz 2386 Red, Color B = Jelli Beenz 2133 Blue, with buttons Dill Button style 211603
• Light Blue/Dark Blue version: Color A = Jelli Beenz 2514 Light Blue, Color B = Jelli Beenz 2517 Dark Blue, with buttons Dill Button style 201052

Materials Used

• Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Jelli Beenz — 1 x 100g ball of each color (Color A and Color B)
• Needles: US size 6 (smaller) and US size 8 (larger) knitting needles
• Buttons: 5 buttons by Dill Button (style 201052 for the blue version; style 211603 for the red/blue version)

Gauge

The pattern requires a gauge of 18 stitches = 4 inches worked in stockinette stitch on US size 8 needles, or the needle size necessary to obtain gauge. Achieving correct gauge is especially important in baby garments, where even small differences in tension can significantly affect the finished size.

Techniques Used

• Two-color vertical colorblock construction: The back is cast on in two separate color sections and worked simultaneously, with each half maintained in its own color throughout. This technique creates a clean vertical divide down the center of the back.
• Color twisting: On wrong-side rows, the two colors are twisted at the center join to prevent gaps and keep the fabric connected — a simple but effective intarsia-adjacent technique suitable for beginner-to-intermediate knitters.
• Garter stitch border: Each piece begins with 6 rows of garter stitch on smaller needles, providing a neat, non-curling edge at the hem.
• Stockinette stitch body: After the garter stitch border, the work transitions to stockinette stitch on larger needles for the main body of each piece.
• Neck shaping: Both the right and left fronts include neck shaping worked by binding off stitches at the neck edge and then decreasing 1 stitch at the neck edge on every alternate row, 4 times total.
• Increasing: Stitches are increased evenly across the final row of the garter stitch border to transition smoothly to the stockinette stitch stitch count.
• Loose bind-off: The pattern specifically instructs a loose bind-off to maintain the stretch and drape appropriate for a baby garment.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch — worked flat by knitting every row; used for the hem borders on all pieces
• Stockinette stitch — knit