Elly Cardigan in Rowan Baby Merino Silk DK - Downloadable PDF

Elly Cardigan in Rowan Baby Merino Silk DK – Pattern Summary

The Elly Cardigan is a charming baby knitting pattern designed by Martin Storey and published by Rowan. Available as a free downloadable PDF, this pattern is rated intermediate in skill level and produces a beautifully shaped, soft cardigan suitable for babies and very young children. The design is worked in Rowan Baby Merino Silk DK, a luxuriously smooth yarn that makes it an ideal choice for delicate baby garments.

What Is Being Made

The Elly Cardigan is a classic baby cardigan featuring carefully shaped front panels, a structured back, and neat finishing details. It is sized to fit babies from 0–3 months through to 12–18 months, with chest measurements ranging from 41 cm (16 in) to 56 cm (22 in). The garment is designed to be both practical and elegant, making it a wonderful handmade gift or wardrobe staple for a newborn or toddler.

Construction and Techniques

The Elly Cardigan is knitted flat in separate pieces — including a left front, right front, back, and sleeves — which are then seamed together. This traditional construction method gives the knitter full control over shaping and finishing at each stage.

• Shaping: The pattern makes extensive use of paired decreases to create precise, symmetrical shaping throughout the fronts and back. Decreases such as K2tog (knit two together) and K2tog tbl (knit two together through the back loop) are used on right-side rows to create neat, mirrored lines of reduction. On wrong-side rows, P2tog and P2tog tbl are similarly employed.
• Stocking Stitch Body: The main fabric of the cardigan is worked in stocking stitch (stockinette), beginning with a knit row on the right side and a purl row on the wrong side, creating a smooth, classic finish ideal for showcasing the silky sheen of the yarn.
• Selvedge Detail: A purl selvedge of 2 stitches is maintained at the front edges on right-side rows (P2 at each end), with corresponding knit stitches on wrong-side rows (K2 at each end). This creates a tidy, rolled-free border along the front openings.
• Incremental Increases: The left front (and by symmetry, the right front) is shaped from a small cast-on using a series of incremental increases — one stitch increased at the beginning of successive rows, then on every third row — to build the characteristic curved or angled front edge typical of a well-fitted baby cardigan.
• Crochet Finishing: A 3.50mm (US E4) crochet hook is specified, indicating that crochet is used for edging or button loop finishing, adding a neat and professional border to the completed knitted pieces.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (stockinette) – the primary fabric stitch throughout the cardigan body and sleeves
• K2tog – a right-leaning decrease used on right-side rows
• K2tog tbl – a left-leaning decrease worked through the back loop, used for mirrored shaping
• P2tog and P2tog tbl – purl decreases used on wrong-side rows for continuous shaping
• Purl selvedge stitches – worked at front edges to maintain a clean, structured border
• Crochet edging – worked with a crochet hook for finishing

Materials

The pattern calls for Rowan Baby Merino Silk DK yarn, a DK weight yarn sold in 50g balls. The quantity required ranges from 2 balls for the smallest size (0–3 months) up to 4 balls