Cardigans in Sirdar Supersoft Aran Rainbow Drops - 5185 - Downloadable PDF

Cardigans in Sirdar Supersoft Aran Rainbow Drops 5185 – Knitting Pattern Summary

This Sirdar pattern 5185 is a downloadable PDF featuring four distinct children's cardigan designs knitted in Sirdar Supersoft Aran Rainbow Drops yarn. The collection covers babies and children from 0–6 months through to 6–7 years, making it a versatile and practical set of patterns for knitters who enjoy creating handmade knitwear for little ones. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it well suited to knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping techniques and are ready to tackle features such as raglan sleeves, collars, and button bands.

The Four Cardigan Designs

Girl's Hooded Cardigan

The first design is a Girl's Hooded Cardigan, a charming and practical garment featuring a full hood rather than a traditional collar. This style is knitted in Sirdar Supersoft Aran Rainbow Drops shade 853 and requires 2 to 3 x 100g balls depending on the size being made. The hood adds extra warmth and a playful aesthetic, making it ideal for everyday wear. The cardigan fastens with 5 or 6 buttons depending on size, and the pattern requires stitch holders to manage live stitches during construction, particularly around the hood and neckline shaping.

Girl's Flat Collared Cardigan

The second design is a Girl's Flat Collared Cardigan, a classic and neat style with a flat, lay-down collar that gives the garment a tidy, traditional finish. This version is worked in Sirdar Supersoft Aran Rainbow Drops shade 857 and requires 1 to 3 x 100g balls depending on the size. Like the hooded version, it fastens with 5 or 6 buttons. The flat collar is a straightforward finishing feature that suits a range of occasions, from casual outings to smarter events.

Boy's V Neck Cardigan

The third design is a Boy's V Neck Cardigan, worked in Sirdar Supersoft Aran Rainbow Drops shade 854, requiring 1 to 3 x 100g balls depending on size. The V-neck shaping creates a clean, open neckline that gives the cardigan a smart, classic look. This style fastens with 4 or 5 buttons depending on the size, making it slightly more streamlined than the collared versions. V-neck shaping is achieved through careful decreasing along the front edges, a technique that intermediate knitters will find satisfying to execute.

Boy's Shawl Collared Cardigan

The fourth design is a Boy's Shawl Collared Cardigan, knitted in Sirdar Supersoft Aran Rainbow Drops shade 851, also requiring 1 to 3 x 100g balls depending on size. The shawl collar is a rolled, wide collar that wraps softly around the neckline, adding a cosy and relaxed finish to the garment. This style also fastens with 4 or 5 buttons. The shawl collar is typically picked up and worked separately as a finishing step, giving the cardigan a distinctive, tactile detail.

Sizing and Measurements

All four cardigans are available in six sizes to fit chest measurements of 41, 46, 51, 56, 61, and 66 cm (16 to 26 inches), corresponding to ages 0–6 months, 6–12 months, 1–2 years, 2–3 years, 4–5 years, and 6–7 years. Actual finished chest measurements range from 44 cm to 71 cm, incorporating positive ease for a comfortable fit. Full lengths range from approximately 24 cm to 48 cm, and sleeve lengths range from 15 cm to 33 cm, with the pattern noting that sleeve length is adjustable to suit individual needs.

Techniques Used

All four cardigans share a common construction approach, with several key techniques employed throughout:

• Raglan sleeve shaping – each gar